BADMINTON
Taiwan’s Wang exits Madrid
Taiwanese shuttler Wang Tzu-wei on Saturday crashed out of the men’s singles semi-finals at the Madrid Spain Masters, losing to Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew 21-13, 8-21, 21-13. World No. 24 Wang was flying high early last month when he defeated world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the French Open. His loss on Saturday came shortly after Taiwan’s top player Chou Tien-chen fell to France’s Toma Junior Popov 21-15, 20-22, 21-18. The world No. 39 Taiwanese duo of Chang Ching-hui and Yang Ching-tun were dominated 21-11, 21-9 to Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakaishi in the women’s doubles. Compatriots Lee Chia-hsin and Teng Chun-hsun suffered a similar defeat, losing 21-12, 21-7 to Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi.
HORSE RACING
Macau holds final race
After more than 40 years, Macau on Saturday hosted its final races, bringing an end to the sport in the territory famous for its massive casinos. In January, the government said it would terminate its contract with the Macau Jockey Club this month. Gamblers congregated in the half-full stands and placed their final bets. Some tourists also visited the track. Mai Wan-zun, a student from mainland China in Macao, said she wanted to get a taste of the atmosphere. “We could come to see horse racing here in Macau, but not in mainland China,” she said. Helena Chong, a Macao resident, decided to visit the race course for the first and last time to see what it was all about. “It’s a pity to see the end of all this gambling and entertainment,” she said.
OLYMPICS
Russians not welcome: mayor
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Saturday said that Russian and Belarusian athletes “were not welcome” at the Olympics being staged in the French capital this year. “I want to tell Russian and Belarusian athletes that they are not welcome in Paris and to tell Ukrainian athletes and all the Ukrainian people that we support them very strongly,” Hidalgo said in a video posted by Ukrainian YouTube channel, United News. Hidalgo made her comments on a trip to Kyiv where she visited a training center for Ukrainian athletes. Russian athletes can compete in the Paris Olympics, which run from July 26 until Aug. 11, but only as neutrals.
BOXING
Fundora unifies world titles
American southpaw Sebastian Fundora on Saturday stunned previously unbeaten Australian Tim Tszyu to unify the WBO junior middleweight title and the vacant WBC crown in a bout that became a bloody spectacle. After a strong start, Tszyu struck his head accidentally on the left elbow of the 1.97m challenger in the second round, sustaining a deep bleeding gash above his forehand. Judges scored the fight 116-112 and 115-113 for Fundora and 116-112 for Tszyu, giving the US fighter a split decision victory. “I’m just happy Tim Tszyu gave me the opportunity and I made it a dream come true,” Fundora said. Tszyu said the blood affected his effort. “I couldn’t see,” Tszyu said. “But all credit belongs to the man who won. These things happen. The momentum was rolling. I was swinging hard. Then boom, you’re blinded.”
Taiwan’s participation in the Olympic Games has been a story of politics as much as sports, with the name it has competed under since 1984 — Chinese Taipei — drawing as much attention as its athletes. However, with the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad set to begin in Paris on Friday, the exploits of Taiwan’s athletes past and present who have won 36 medals since the country’s debut in Melbourne in 1956 deserve a nod. Many of Taiwan’s medal winners have gained considerable name recognition, but only two have achieved legendary status — Maysang Kalimud and Chi Cheng, the only medal winners
Shohei Ohtani on Sunday hit a 473-foot (144m) home run as the Los Angeles Dodgers went deep six times in a 9-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Gavin Lux, Austin Barnes and Jason Heyward also connected as Los Angeles swept the three-game series. “Going into the break, we weren’t playing good baseball, and then to come out fresh against a really good ball club and to play the way we did — the offense came to life,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. It was the 25th time the Dodgers launched at least six homers in a game
Canada women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman on Wednesday said she would step away from the team’s opening game against New Zealand at the Paris Olympics in the wake of a drone scandal. New Zealand complained to the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit after it said drones were flown over closed practice sessions earlier in the week. As of press time last night, Canada, the defending Olympic champions, were set to open the Paris Games against New Zealand in Saint-Etienne. In the fallout of the complaint, two staff members — assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi — were sent home, the
Conventional wisdom dictates that the average retirement age for elite female players in the intense and physically demanding sport of badminton is well under 30 years old. Five female shuttlers are set to turn that on its head when they make their fourth Olympic appearances at the Paris Games, a feat never accomplished before. Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying, 30, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, 29, Belgium’s Lianne Tan, 33, and Hong Kong’s Tse Ying Suet and Canada’s Michelle Li, both 32, are to compete for Olympic glory at Porte de La Chapelle Arena from Saturday to Aug. 5. “These achievements get missed because they’re women,” said