TENNIS
Taiwan’s Hsieh exits
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday exited at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Hsieh and partner Elise Mertens of Belgium were beaten 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 at King Saud University by the US’ Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in a match they had to win to advance to the semi-finals of the US$15,250,000 hardcourt event. Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US and Australia’s Ellen Perez defeated Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-1, 6-3. In the singles on Wednesday, Zheng Qinwen of China defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-1 and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan beat Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
GOLF
Chien Pei-yun trails Kim
South Korea’s Kim A-lim on Wednesday shot a six-under-par 66 to gain a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Lotte Championship at Ewa Beach in Hawaii, while Taiwan’s Chien Pei-yun was in a five-way share of second. The other four players in second after carding five-under 67 at the Hoakalei Country Club were Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines, China’s Liu Ruixin, Polly Mack of Germany and France’s Perrine Delacour. Three other Taiwanese were further down the leaderboard: Hou Yu-sang was in a share of 21st after shooting a two-under 70, Min Lee was even-par with 72 for a share of 57th and in a share of 88th was Cheng Ssu-chia, who carded a 74.
FORMULA 1
Hamilton rumors denied
Lewis Hamilton is to drive for Ferrari next year, but rumors that the seven-time champion is exiting Mercedes before the end of this season reportedly were denied by Mercedes. Rumors of Hamilton making an immediate split with his current team arose after his poor showing last week in Brazil, where he placed 11th in the sprint on Saturday and 10th in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday. Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 after the racing that instead of driving in the final three events of the year, he “could happily go and take a holiday.” However, media reported on Wednesday that Mercedes confirmed that Hamilton would remain behind the wheel at Las Vegas on Nov. 24; in Lusail, Qatar on Dec. 1; and in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 8.
BOXING
Benn suspension lifted
Conor Benn said he was eager to return to the ring after his provisional suspension over two failed drugs tests in 2022 was lifted following a decision by the National Anti-Doping Panel. Benn had been scheduled to take on Chris Eubank Jr before the bout was called off when he returned a finding for trace amounts of fertility drug clomifene. The 28-year-old was cleared of intentional doping last year, but had a provisional suspension reimposed in May after successful appeals by British anti-doping authorities and the British Boxing Board of Control. However, the British authorities on Wednesday said they had received the panel’s decision and that Benn’s provisional suspension had been lifted. Benn, who has a 23-0 record, said on Instagram that he was ready to move forward. “As someone who is so passionate about boxing and an advocate for clean sport, I hope now I have been cleared it can be understood why I have maintained my innocence so strongly throughout,” he said.
New Taipei Kings guard Jeremy Lin on Friday was named the Taiwan Professional Basketball League’s (TPBL) Player of the Month, the first domestic player to win the award, while the Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers are to welcome their third head coach in less than a year. Lin averaged 22 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists over five games in October and last month, helping the Kings to second in the standings with a 4-2 record as of Friday. The Kings last night defeated the Lioneers 96-78 to move level with the top-of-the-table Formosa Dreamers (5-2), while in the night game, the New Taipei
‘REMARKABLE’: Gaelic football is a traditional Irish sport that blends the skills of soccer and rugby, and hurling is an ancient sport played with a wooden stick and ‘sliotar’ The Taiwan Celts Gaelic Football Club marked a milestone achievement at the Asian Gaelic Games in Bangkok on Nov. 23 and 24, with two sides advancing to the knockout stages and competing at hurling for the first time. The event brought together 68 teams from 16 clubs across Asia, with more than 800 players in men’s and women’s tournaments. Gaelic football is a traditional Irish team sport that blends the skills of soccer, rugby union and basketball. Hurling is an ancient Irish sport played with a wooden stick, called a hurley, and a small ball, or sliotar. The Taiwan Celts’ women’s team reached
LIVERPOOL WIN: The 50th Champions League goal by Mohamed Salah helped the leaders of the Premier League to keep their perfect record intact Real Madrid’s big stars on Tuesday turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering UEFA Champions League title defense. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win against Serie A leaders Atalanta BC. However, Madrid still had to ride their luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage-time when handed a golden chance to level the game. It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champions in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. “It’s a very important win. Not everyone wins
TO NO AVAIL: The Denver Nuggets’ Serbian center Nikola Jokic surpassed his 53-point performance in the 2023 Western Conference semi-finals against Phoenix The Washington Wizards withstood a 56-point explosion from Denver star Nikola Jokic to beat the Nuggets 122-113 on Saturday and snap their 16-game NBA losing streak. Jokic, who won his third NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award last season, posted a career scoring high — surpassing a 53-point performance in game four of the 2023 Western Conference semi-finals against Phoenix and a 50-point regular-season best against Sacramento in 2021. The Serbian big man added 16 rebounds and eight assists, but it was all to no avail as Washington, buoyed by 39 points from Jordan Poole, won for the first time
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