TOUCH
Taiwan team dominated
Taiwan’s men’s over-45 team are winless so far at the Asia Pacific Seniors Touch Cup in Japan over the past few days. Taiwan face New Zealand, England, Japan and Australia in the grade, one of nine at the Federation of International Touch-run tournament in Utsunomiya. Taiwan opened their campaign with a 14-1 loss to New Zealand on Wednesday before falling 12-0 to England later on the first day. The challenge continued on day two yesterday. Taiwan were defeated 10-0 by the hosts before taking on Australia, one of the sport’s traditional powerhouses, losing 14-1. In a second meeting with New Zealand, Taiwan went down 14-2. Pan Ci-ruei, Pai Keng-hao, Chien Hao-shiang and Pan Chih-ming scored Taiwan’s touchdowns over their first five matches. “The tournament is a first international touch experience for all players, and they are truly embracing it,” Taiwan coach Fershad Irani said.” The team is building into the tournament and improving with each game.” Taiwan’s game against England today is scheduled to be broadcast on the internationaltouch YouTube channel at 11:20am Japan time. They are to play Japan later in the day and Australia tomorrow. The tournament, which runs through tomorrow at the Tochigi Sports Park, has senior and masters age categories in men’s, women’s and mixed formats, with Canada, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa and the US also attending.
Photo courtesy of Mr Wu
SOCCER
Brawl ends Kenyan game
Outrage erupted in Kenya on Wednesday after a referee was attacked and chased out of a Nairobi stadium by fans for awarding a penalty during a key match. The Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United were vying over who would get to play in the top division next season. The Nairobi-based Sharks were leading 2-1 when referee John Sulwe awarded the other side a penalty. The team’s players surrounded Sulwe and began to shove him, before the crowd invaded the pitch — a plastic seat at one point flying through the air and narrowly missing his head. He was forced off the field, escorted by stewards, and the match was abandoned in the 68th minute.
SOCCER
Southampton coach fined
Southampton coach Tonda Eckert has been fined amid other sanctions for his part in the spygate scandal last season. Southampton were expelled from the Championship playoff final in May after admitting to spying on other teams, including semi-final opponents Middlesbrough. Eckert was charged for his involvement in three incidents. The English Football Association said Eckert admitted to the charges and on Wednesday, and that he had been reprimanded and fined ￡28,000 (US$37,000). He was also suspended for six weeks, with the sanction suspended until the end of next season.
Novak Djokovic on Monday advanced to the China Open final after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified late in the second set, when a ball that came off the Russian’s racquet hit a spectator. Taiwanese player Hsieh Su-wei and her partner, Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, yesterday defeated Chinese duo Wang Xiyu and Jiang Xinyu 6-1, 1-6 and 10-4 to reach women’s doubles round of 16. Hsieh was the only Taiwanese player to advance as compatriots Wu Fang-hsien, Chan Hao-ching and Liang En-shuo were eliminated in round of 32. A man sitting in the stands behind Medvedev’s side of the court was seen holding
China’s Wang Xiyu, fresh from conquering top seed Alexandra Eala, toppled Zhang Shuai to win Asian Games women’s tennis singles gold yesterday — and a ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics. The 25-year-old Wang breezed past her compatriot 6-2, 6-1 in 66 minutes at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya. Tennis is one of seven sports at the Games where the winners receive an Olympic qualification place. Wang paid tribute to the 37-year-old Zhang, who has won multiple Grand Slam doubles titles and has now added a second Asian Games singles silver medal to the one she won in 2018 in
Hong Kong’s men’s rugby sevens team romped to a third consecutive Asian Games gold with a dominant display in a 26-0 victory over China yesterday. Wing Harry Sayers scored a pair of first-half tries, added to by Dafydd Phillips to put Hong Kong in charge 21-0 at the break. When flying wing Juan Esono Mba Oyana scored Hong Kong’s fourth try straight from the second-half kick-off the result was beyond doubt. “Amazing, amazing. The Asian Games has been a dream of mine for so long now,” said Sayers. Hong Kong’s success was built not only on scoring prowess but also a defense that conceded
Taiwanese tennis players Hsieh Su-wei and Chan Hao-ching on Saturday revived their feud at the Asian Games, with Chan fuming at Hsieh for a handshake snub at the end of their women’s doubles final in Nagoya, Japan. The pair last month did not shake hands following a tense US Open doubles match in which Hsieh’s playing partner Jelena Ostapenko roared at Chan’s coach, who is also her older sister, in the player’s box after sealing victory. The Taiwanese rivals later traded barbs on social media about the incident. Chan on Saturday said she had been willing to put all that
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