TABLE TENNIS
Taiwan women out in Astana
Taiwan’s women’s team last night were to play the Philippines for ninth place at the ITTF Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, after failing to advance to the Champions Division following a 3-1 defeat to North Korea. Taiwan started strong on Monday, finishing at the top of Group 4 in Kazakhstan. They opened with dominating 3-0 victories over the Maldives, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which gave Taiwan an opportunity to join the top six seeds in the Champions Division, but yesterday’s loss to North Korea left them out of contention. Li Yu-jhun earned their sole win against North Korea, beating Pyon Song-gyong 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7. Taiwan’s men’s team play their quarter-finals match today, after earning an automatic berth as runners-up to China in last year’s tournament. In doubles, Taiwan’s men’s duo of Feng Yi-hsin and Lin Yun-ju and the women’s pairing of Huang Yi-hua and Olympian Chen Tzu-yu both advanced after a bye to the round-of-32, which starts on Friday.
TENNIS
Taiwan’s Wu exits Wuhan
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Ulrikke Eikeri were yesterday eliminated in the opening round of the Wuhan Open in China, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic. Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and partner Veronika Kudermetova of Russia were after press time last night to play Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy and Diane Parry of France.
BASEBALL
Ohtani ball auction still on
The auction for Shohei Ohtani’s potentially lucrative 50th home run ball has been allowed to proceed as a legal dispute over ownership of the financial proceeds continues. Chris Belanski was the man who walked out of the stadium with the historic baseball, gaining possession in the left field stands at LoanDeport Park in Miami. Max Matus and Joseph Davidov each claim in separate lawsuits that they grabbed the ball first. Attorney John Uustal — who represents Matus — confirmed on Monday that all parties involved wanted the auction to proceed. The bidding for the baseball through Goldin Auctions is at US$1.5 million, although the winner would pay US$1.83 million for the ball and added fees.
RUGBY UNION
Feel unwelcome, Cheika says
Michael Cheika has questioned whether he is welcome in English club rugby after being banned for two matches for disrespecting the independent matchday doctor following his first game as Leicester Tigers coach. A Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel determined on Tuesday last week that the former Australia and Argentina coach had been “overly aggressive with intense eye contact” when confronting the doctor after the Premiership clash. Cheika, who was unhappy with the confusion over the removal of players from the contest after sustaining hits to the head, served the first match of his ban on Sunday with the second suspended until the end of the season. “I would be lying if I didn’t say I was really disappointed,” the Australian told British media. “I felt the decision wasn’t right and it hurts my reputation. I was disappointed and I almost felt like — and it’s like I’m spitting the dummy here — but I felt they don’t really want me to be in the league here because what happened is a really minor-type thing.”
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
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
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
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