Mon, Mar 18, 2024 page7

• SPORTS BRIEFS

  • Staff writer, with agencies
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  TABLE TENNIS

  Taiwanese exit Singapore

  Taiwanese paddlers Cheng I-ching and Li Yu-jhun on Saturday crashed out of the women’s doubles final at the Singapore Smash. The world No. 5 pairing, who had together won the women’s doubles title at last year’s WTT Contender Amman title, lost 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 to China’s Chen Meng and Wang Manyu in a just over 20 minutes. In the men’s singles, world No. 8 Lin Yun-ju dragged China’s Liang Jingkun into a six-game match, but ultimately could not overcome the world No. 5 player, losing 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 in nearly 56 minutes.

  OLYMPICS

  Paris to include few Russians

  International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president John Coates is unsure how many Russian athletes are to compete as neutral athletes at the Paris Games, but thinks reports that it might be as few as 40 could be close to the mark. Under sanctions put in place because of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the IOC is allowing only some Russian athletes to compete in Paris. “The issue is how many of them are going to be there too, because they’re not going to be in any team sports because they can’t compete as Russia,” Coates said in yesterday’s edition of Sydney’s Daily Telegraph. “And then anyone who is prepared out of the Russian military clubs, they’re not going... I mightn’t be right, but I think that I’ve read something that it might be as little as 40.”

  SOCCER

  Comments wrong: Hayes

  Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes said she was wrong to describe intrasquad player relationships as “inappropriate.” On Thursday, Hayes, who is to take over as coach of the US women’s team, said that player-to-player relationships in a team are “ inappropriate “ because they have the potential to create extra challenges to manage. “I didn’t think it was right for me to use the term ‘inappropriate’ for the players,” Hayes said on Friday night after Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-1. Chelsea players Jess Carter and Ann-Katrin Berger are in a relationship. After Hayes’ initial comment, Carter liked a post on X that said it was “beyond bonkers” to bring player relationships into the conversation about player-coach relationships. Hayes said post-match that she spoke to Carter and other players about her choice of words. The manager regretted creating “clickbait headlines” and in that respect, “I let myself down yesterday,” she said.

  MOTOR SPORTS

  Employee files complaint

  The female Red Bull employee at the center of allegations against Christian Horner has lodged an official complaint to Formula One’s governing body, the BBC reported on Saturday. Allegations of inappropriate behavior against Red Bull’s embattled team principal have overshadowed the opening weeks of the the F1 season. Horner was cleared of wrongdoing by an internal investigation by Red Bull’s parent company last month. However, the next day, an anonymous e-mail was sent to F1 staff and media containing alleged messages from Horner to a female member of the team. Red Bull suspended the employee at the center of the allegations, but she has appealed that suspension with Red Bull GmbH.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    First person arrested as Danjiang Bridge opens

  • 2

    TSMC shares stumble on report, but losses minor

  • 3

    Police identify man who engaged in indecency at park

  • 4

    TSMC expects global chip revenue to hit US$1.5tn

  • 5

    Trump weighs Taiwan arms package