BADMINTON
Taiwan exit in China
Taiwan yesterday were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Sudirman Cup at the Xiamen Fenghuang Gymnasium in China, losing 3-0 to Japan, while hosts China advanced to the semi-finals after beating Malaysia by the same score. Japan took three hours to defeat Taiwan. Hiroki Midorikawa and Arisa Igarashi breezed past Ye Hong-wei and Hu Ling-fang 21-18, 21-18 in the mixed doubles before world No. 16 Koki Watanabe overcame seventh-ranked Chou Tien-chen 21-13, 20-22, 21-14 in the men’s singles and world No. 4 Akane Yamaguchi downed Wei Chi-hsu 21-9 17-21 21-18 in the women’s singles to seal Japan’s sixth straight semi-final appearance. China face Japan in today’s semis at the team tournament, which is held once every two years. The teams in other semi were to be determined by the Denmark-South Korea and Thailand-Indonesia quarters.
Photo: AFP
BASEBALL
Man in critical condition
A man who fell from the 6.4m-high Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park on Wednesday during the MLB game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs was in a critical condition on Thursday morning. Pittsburgh Public Safety, which includes Pittsburgh Police and Emergency Medical Services, wrote on X that the “incident is being treated as accidental in nature.” The man who fell was identified as Kavan Markwood, according to information supplied by the Southern Alleghany School District. District Workforce Development Coordinator Laura Thomson said in a statement that the district is keeping the “former student and standout athlete” in its thoughts and prayers. Thomson’s statement said that Markwood “is best known for his resilience, strength and kindness. He is a friend to all — someone who lifts others up and faces challenges with courage and grace.” Markwood fell onto the warning track in right field just as Pirates star Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double.
Photo: AP
SOCCER
Spain superfan dies
Manuel Caceres, the drum-pounding Spanish superfan known worldwide as “Manolo el del Bombo,” died on Thursday, silencing the rhythmic heartbeat that had accompanied Spanish soccer for more than four decades. He was 76. With his trademark oversized Basque beret and red No. 12 shirt, Caceres became as much a fixture at Spain matches as the players themselves — a percussive national treasure whose relentless drumming provided La Roja’s unofficial soundtrack. “My aim is to retire after 12 [FIFA] World Cups, which will make me 77, if Spain qualify for all of them. I’ll be there even if I have to go with a walking stick,” he told reporters at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Caceres fell two tournaments short of his ambitious goal, attending 10 World Cups, having missed the 2022 showpiece in Qatar. His final appearance came at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium during their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands in March. “I’ve given up everything for football — my businesses and everything — but I’m still alive. I’m happy, I can follow Spain wherever I go. What more could I ask for?” he told reporters at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. “One of our most loyal fans has passed away, someone who was always with us through thick and thin. We know you’ll keep rocking our hearts. Rest in peace, Manolo,” the Spain team wrote on X.
Photo: Reuters
Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday fought through a second-set slump to post a roller-coaster 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard, playing his first tournament since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, raced through the first set, but completely lost his way in the second, dropping his serve twice against the 33-year-old Bosnian. Alcaraz regained his intensity and cut down his errors in the third set as a seventh ace took him to a match point that was converted when Dzumhur fired wide. “It was just a roller coaster,” said the second
NEXT ROUND: World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka opened their title defenses with straight-sets wins, while Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz also advanced Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men’s and women’s top seeds, each ranked No. 1 in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon, where Sinner lifted the title and Sabalenka bowed out in the women’s semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather, while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game
Taiwan’s men’s basketball team on Monday clinched a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup quarter-finals with a 78-64 win over Jordan in Saudi Arabia, securing their best finish in the tournament since placing fourth in 2013. The win was sweet revenge for Taiwan, who were denied a quarter-final spot by Jordan at the same stage of the previous Asia Cup in 2022 after blowing a nine-point lead in the final minute and losing 97-96 on a half-court buzzer-beater. “History is part of the journey,” Taiwan head coach Gianluca Tucci said when asked about the 2022 collapse of the team, who he did
TECH ISSUES: Before Sinner’s match against Diallo the lights went out at the courts, and during it the electronic line-calling system partly failed and an alarm sounded Jannik Sinner on Monday ignored technical issues interruptions and a blaring alarm to defeat Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) on a day of distractions at the Cincinnati Open. The top-seeded defending champion got down to business against the 35th-ranked Canadian, who was plagued by eight first-set double faults and 49 unforced errors in the match as he faced the best in the world. Sinner recovered smoothly from an early break down and had his hands full on his way into the fourth round, sending over an ace on match point after saving a set point in the tiebreaker. Play was stopped briefly with
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