UNIVERSITY GAMES
Event starts in Germany
The Summer World University Games began in Germany on Wednesday, with Taiwanese fencer Chen Yi-tung and tennis player Yang Ya-yi leading their teammates into the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena for the opening ceremony. A total of 196 university athletes from Taiwan are competing at this year’s multisports event, held across the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region through Sunday next week. They are to compete in 15 sports, aiming to surpass their previous medal haul of 10 golds, 17 silvers and 19 bronzes at the 2021 Chengdu Universiade, Taiwan’s university sports federation said. Chen and Yang, serving as flagbearers, drew cheers from the crowd as they led about 91 athletes and support staff into the arena. Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao expressed hope for a strong performance, saying that the whole nation stands firmly behind the athletes. About 8,500 student-athletes and officials from more than 150 countries are competing in 18 sports, the International University Sports Federation said, making this one of the largest multisport events worldwide this year. The event is typically held every two years, although Taiwan was the most host in 2017.
PHoto: CNA
SOCCER
Girelli leads Italy
Cristiana Girelli on Wednesday got the better of Ada Hegerberg to send Italy into the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s European Championship. Girelli’s 90th-minute header, her second goal of the game, sealed a 2-1 win over Norway, whose captain, Hegerberg, had tied the game after missing a penalty. Italy are to return to Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday next week to face either Sweden or England for their first Women’s Euros semi-final since 1997. “It’s something magical. I felt something special since we came to Switzerland,” Girelli said.
Photo: AP
CRICKET
Das hails series success
Bangladesh captain Litton Das on Wednesday said his team’s first-ever T20 series win in Sri Lanka has been “huge” for his leadership and made the cricket-crazy fans back home happy. Bangladesh hammered Sri Lanka by eight wickets in Colombo to clinch the three-match series 2-1 and cap off their tour of the nation on a high. Chasing a modest 133 for victory, Bangladesh rode on opener Tanzid Hasan’s unbeaten 73 to achieve their target with 21 balls to spare at R. Premadasa Stadium. Spinner Mahedi Hasan set up victory with figures of 4-11 to restrict Sri Lanka to 132-7 after the hosts elected to bat first. “It is a proud moment for me as a captain,” Litton said. “I am happy that the fans are also happy seeing us win a T20 series in Sri Lanka.”
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
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