RUGBY SEVENS
Taiwan lose in final
Taiwan yesterday fell at the last hurdle at the Asia Rugby Men’s Sevens Trophy in Kathmandu, losing 27-14 against the Philippines in the final. Taiwan advanced to the Cup competition at the Dasharath Stadium by winning all of their matches in Group D on Friday. They topped the group with a 26-1 win against Afghanistan, a 33-7 victory over India and a 43-0 drubbing of Bangladesh. In yesterday’s Cup quarter-final, they eased past Jordan 27-7 and blanked Uzbekistan 24-0 in the semi. The Philippines also won the women’s final, beating India 7-5.
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
BASKETBALL
Howard scammer convicted
A Georgia businessman on Friday was convicted of scamming former NBA star Dwight Howard out of millions of dollars in a bogus scheme to buy the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. The jury returned its verdict against Calvin Darden Jr after a trial in New York City. Darden was also convicted of cheating former NBA forward Chandler Parsons in a separate ruse. Howard — who played for the Taiwan Mustangs at The Asian Tournament in July and August — testified during the trial that Darden fooled him into giving him US$7 million by convincing him that it was an investment toward the purchase of the Dream. In reality, a three-member investor group that included former player Renee Montgomery bought the team in 2021. When a prosecutor asked him if he got anything in return for his US$7 million, Howard testified that he got “a slap in the face.”
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
CRICKET
India bemused at decision
India star Jemimah Rodrigues on Friday described a run-out decision that went against her team as “harsh” as the Asian giants slumped to a shock defeat to New Zealand at the Women’s T20 World Cup. The Black Ferns won by 58 runs after making 160-4 before bowling out India for 102 as they ended a 10-match losing streak. There was controversy in the 14th over of the New Zealand innings when India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur ran out Amelia Kerr with a throw from the deep to the wicketkeeper. However, the umpire called the batter back because the ball had been declared “dead” when the end of the over was called. Kaur remained unhappy and had a long discussion with the umpires before grudgingly getting back to the game, but Kerr was out for 13, caught, two balls later in the next over. “New Zealand were pretty sure that it was a double run and Amelia Kerr went out, which showed that the over was not called out yet and we all thought that: ‘Okay, I mean, we got that run out,’” Rodrigues said. “At the end, we respect the decision of the umpire and we were okay with that, but yeah, it’s a bit harsh when Amelia Kerr herself walked out, because she knew she was out.” Footage of the match indicated that square-leg umpire Jacqueline Williams had not seen the run out. She was on one knee, apparently tying a shoelace as the bails came off. In Friday’s other game, South Africa pasted the West Indies by 10 wickets.
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
SPEEDSKATER: Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s run at the Asian Winter Games without a medal since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990 Speedskater Chen Ying-chu yesterday made history as the first athlete representing Taiwan to secure a medal at the Asian Winter Games. Competing at the HIC Speedskating Oval in Harbin, China, Chen clocked 10.510 seconds in the women’s 100m event, finishing third behind South Koreans Lee Na-hyum and Kim Min-sun, who posted times of 10.501 and 10.505 seconds respectively. Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s drought at the Asian Winter Games since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990. This year’s Games mark Chen’s debut at the event. Previously excelling in roller speedskating, she won six medals at world championships before transitioning
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38
Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju and Kao Cheng-jui were defeated by their Chinese counterparts 3-0 on Saturday in the men’s doubles final at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash. Lin and Kao received their silver medals after being defeated by third-seeded duo Lin Shidong and Wang Chuqin of China 2-11, 4-11, 11-13. The Taiwan pair were left playing catch-up early in the match after the Chinese duo proved unstoppable in the first and second game. Although Lin and Kao picked up their pace in the third game and at one point took a 10-8 lead, they were crucially unable to take