TENNIS
Liang powers to ATX final
Taiwan’s Liang En-shuo and partner Eudice Chong of Hong Kong defeated second seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara to advance to the ATX Open women’s doubles final in Texas. Third seeds Liang and Chong needed almost two hours to overcome the Japanese duo in Austin. The Taiwanese-Hong Konger pairing converted six of 12 breakpoints and completed two aces to narrowly win 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 10-6. Liang and Chong were last night after press time to face top seeds Taylor Townsend of the US and Australia’s Storm Hunter in the WTA250 tournament.
Photo: Screen grab from Liang En-shuo’s Facebook page
? BASKETBALL
Taiwan loses in Manila
Taiwan yesterday suffered another loss in Group B of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, after losing their lead over rivals China at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines. Taiwan was leading by seven points going into the fourth quarter, when China staged a comeback to take the game 100-93. Taiwan’s Ray Chen led with 26 points over China’s Zhu Junlong with 19. Brandon Gilbeck also had 11 rebounds and four assists for Taiwan, who are at the bottom of Group A after four games. Their only win was on Thursday last week, when they bested South Korea 77-65.
Photo: AFP
BADMINTON
Lin exits in Germany
Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi on Saturday narrowly lost to France’s Christo Popov to crash out of the men’s singles semi-finals of the German Open in Mulheim. World No. 11 and fourth seed Lin forced Popov into a tight third game in 1 hour, 10 minutes, before losing 21-10, 18-21, 21-18. Lin has only won two of their five matchups. Chi Yu-jen lost his semi-final to Popov’s brother Toma Junior Popov 21-19, 21-15. Other Taiwanese exiting in the semi-finals were Chiu Hsiang-chieh and his men’s doubles partner Wang Chi-lin, Hsu Ya-ching and her women’s doubles partner Sung Yu-hsuan, and Yang Po-hsuan and his mixed doubles partner Hu Ling-fang.
BADMINTON
Sindhu stranded in Dubai
India’s double Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu on Saturday said that she was left stranded at Dubai airport on her way to the All England Open after flight operations were suspended in the city as a result of the ongoing conflict in the region. Explosions were heard across the Gulf as Iran responded to US and Israeli airstrikes, with blasts in the United Arab Emirates’ capital of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, leading to Dubai International Airport suspending all flights. “To everyone who has been messaging and checking in, thank you, it truly means a lot. I am safe right now, stuck here with my team, and we are doing okay as the situation around the war with Iran continues to evolve,” Sindhu wrote on social media. She added in an update yesterday that they have been “moved to a more secure place” while they “wait for things to settle.”
SOCCER
AFC postpones matches
AFC officers yesterday postponed first-leg knockout matches to be played by clubs in the Middle East this week, after the US’ and Israel’s strikes on Iran. “In light of the developing situation in the Middle East ... matches in the West Region, originally scheduled for March 2-3, 2026, will now be rescheduled,” it said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur.
The Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday emphatically got back to winning ways in the NBA, coasting to a 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks as their recent star signing, James Harden, scored 20 points. The Cavs took the lead barely a minute into the game with an Evan Mobley three-pointer and never gave it up in a thoroughly comfortable night for the red-hot Ohio franchise. Former NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Harden, who was brought in from the Los Angeles Clippers this month, has never won a championship, despite being one of the most decorated players in the league. That was a key
LATE RALLY FAiLS: Jalen Duren led a late Detroit Pistons fightback, but it ultimately fizzled as a resolute San Antonio Spurs saw out the game Victor Wembanyama on Monday led a defensive masterclass as the San Antonio Spurs outmuscled the Detroit Pistons 114-103 in an intense and aggressive clash between the NBA’s two most in-form teams. Sitting second in the Western Conference, the Spurs were pushed hard for their ninth straight victory by the East-topping Pistons, who had entered the home court matchup on a five-game winning streak of their own. Defenses dominated the first meeting between the two sides this season, with Wembanyama making six blocks and 17 rebounds to fuel transitions as the Spurs pulled clear in the latter stages. While the Pistons’ shooting was at
Fenerbahce on Thursday earned a rare 2-1 win in England, but were still knocked out of the UEFA Europa League by Nottingham Forest in the playoffs. Forest entered the second leg with a healthy 3-0 lead from the opener in Istanbul — where Vitor Pereira made an impact in his first game in charge — and that proved enough to advance to the round-of-16 with a 4-2 aggregate score. The result was a boost for Forest, struggling at 17th place in the Premier League, in their return to Europe after three decades. They next face Real Betis Balompie or Kerem Akturkoglu gave Fenerbahce
HAT-TRICK: In the other games, Newcastle United and Leverkusen also advanced, as did Atletico Madrid, with Alexander Sorloth scoring three goals What a difference a year makes. Or nine months to be precise. Last season, Inter reached the UEFA Champions League final in style, with thrilling victories over Bayern Munich and Barcelona, but on Tuesday, the Italian giants limped out of the competition with a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to Bodo/Glimt — knocked out in the playoff round 5-2 on aggregate — in what is being labeled as one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history. It was not the first major upset the tiny Norwegian team have pulled off this season after wins over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, and
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