The Stormers’ Wandisile Simelane, right, tries to escape from a New Zealand tackle in Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday. New Zealand won 38-21.
Photo: Reuters
After bird droppings, stray animals and air-quality concerns overshadowed badminton’s India Open in New Delhi earlier this year, organizers of the flagship World Championships on Tuesday said the city was ready to deliver a smoother spectacle. The Aug. 17 to 23 tournament is to be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, with the draw taking place on Wednesday. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) and local organizers, Badminton Association of India (BAI), said preparations were on track. “Following the India Open in January, BAI acted swiftly to address feedback relating to venue cleanliness and environmental conditions,” BWF secretary-general Thomas Lund
Before Carter Coleman traveled to Taiwan, his parents wanted to see whether he could find it on a map. The 17-year-old, 2.03m-tall American basketball prospect knew it was in Asia, but admitted he only got “close.” Later, on a flight to Taiwan, Coleman found himself contemplating something more consequential than geography. “I’m really about to go represent a country,” he said in an interview with the Central News Agency in New Taipei City on Saturday. Born to a Taiwanese mother, Charmei Coleman, who moved to the US at age 10, Coleman is making his first visit to Taiwan to train
Police yesterday raided South Korea’s soccer association as part of an investigation into the appointment of the coach in charge during their dismal FIFA World Cup campaign. Police conducted “search and seizure operations” at the Korea Football Association (KFA) offices, probing allegations of “obstruction of business” in the recruitment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, a police spokesman said. The 57-year-old resigned in June after South Korea were knocked out at the group stage of the 48-team showpiece in the US, Mexico and Canada following a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa. Questions were already dogging the association over the 2024
MEN’S WINNER: Taylor Fritz of the US defeated Rafael Jodar of Spain, despite letting four opportunities at match point slip away in a slugfest in the final game Few young players on the WTA Tour have experienced the level of expectation and support that Alexandra Eala has received since she earned a place on the elite women’s circuit, and on Monday the Filipina showed what all the fuss is about by winning the Washington Open. Eala capped her breakthrough run by rallying to defeat top-seeded Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in a rain-interrupted final that began on Sunday, becoming the first woman from her country to claim a tour-level singles crown. Along the way, the 21-year-old beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, last year’s winner Leylah Fernandez, second-seeded Elina Svitolina and