Sports

Taiwan’s Teresa Lu tied for lead at British Open

ADVANTAGE ASIA:Joint leaders Lu and Ko Jin-young both carded 69s on Saturday, while the best round of the day belonged to Amy Boulden, who posted a 68

Taipei Times
Date: , Aug 03, 2015
By: AFP, TURNBERRY, Scotland

Taiwan’s Teresa Lu shot a 69 in the horrendous conditions at Turnberry in Scotland on

Taiwan’s Teresa Lu watches her putt on the 14th green during the third round of the Women’s British Open at Turnberry in Scotland on 0Saturday. Photo: AP

Taiwan’s Teresa Lu watches her putt on the 14th green during the third round of the Women’s British Open at Turnberry in Scotland on 0Saturday. Photo: AP

Saturday for an eight-under 208 total to share the lead at the Women’s British Open with South Korea’s Ko Jin-young, who also shot a 69.

Lu’s only victory on the LPGA Tour was the 2013 Mizuno Classic in Japan, but she adapted well to the alien conditions.

The 27-year-old had five birdies in her 69 and she said her aim for the final day was to stay relaxed and enjoy it.

“Today I focused on playing low shots. It was fun,” she said.

World No. 30 Lu rolled a birdie putt just wide on the 18th hole that would have given her the outright lead.

“I have to try to stay relaxed because it’s going to be a tough day tomorrow,” Lu said.

Former world No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan was eight shots back on even-par after a third consecutive 72, while Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung was a shot further back after a 70.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Hulks clean up in Fast Four

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 02, 2015
By: Grant Dexter  /  Staff reporter

The brainchild of former Taiwan Touch player James Chang evolved to the next level in

Galaxy Giesen’s Kiwi Lee, center, defends against Mark Goding, left, and David Hood of the Silver Sausages in their Fast Four game in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Grant Dexter, Taipei Times

Galaxy Giesen’s Kiwi Lee, center, defends against Mark Goding, left, and David Hood of the Silver Sausages in their Fast Four game in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Grant Dexter, Taipei Times

Taipei yesterday, while premier side the Taipei Hulks returned to their winning ways.

Last year saw the first Touch Threes tournament, pitting teams of just three players against each other. At the Bailing rugby fields in Shilin District this year, it was Fast Four, which allowed a bit more creative play.

The Hulks showed no mercy, taking the men’s and mixed divisions without dropping a game.

Their mixed side romped through the preliminary rounds, notching 22 touchdowns and conceding only three. They faced Ya-Hui’s Heroes in the final and won 6-2.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan, U.S. to vie for WBSC U-12 World Cup title

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/08/01
By: Romulo Huang

Taipei, Aug. 1 (CNA) Although it was defeated by Nicaragua 2-1 in its last game played on

The agony of defeat

The agony of defeat

Saturday in the Super Group competition of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) 2015 U-12 Baseball World Cup held in Tainan, southern Taiwan, the host country remains qualified to play in the final of the championship against the United States the following day.

Nicaragua took an early lead of 1-0 in the first inning of the neck-to-neck game against Taiwan with two hits, adding another run in the third inning with two hits and an error committed by the Taiwanese baseballers, widening their lead to 2-0.

The Taiwanese nine reinforced their offense in the fifth inning, but could only score one run with one walk, one stolen base and a fielder’s choice.

It was the first defeat suffered by Taiwan in this tournament that kicked off on July 24 in Tainan with teams from 12 countries participating.

Chang to play both finals in Nanchang

COMEBACK QUEEN:Chang Kai-chen faces former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in the singles final, while Taiwan is guaranteed a champion in the doubles final

Taipei Times
Date:  Aug 02, 2015
By: Dave Carroll  /  Staff reporter with AP

Taiwan’s Chang Kai-chen will play in both finals at the Jiangxi Women’s Tennis Open in

Taiwan’s Chang Kai-chen returns to Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand in the women’s singles final at the Universiade in Yeomju, South Korea, on July 12. Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times

Taiwan’s Chang Kai-chen returns to Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand in the women’s singles final at the Universiade in Yeomju, South Korea, on July 12. Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times

Nanchang, China, today after she battled for almost three hours to overcome Lu Jiajing of China in their singles semi-final yesterday, a day after rallying from a set down to seal a spot in the doubles final.

The 24-year-old Taiwanese world No. 191, who reached a career-high 82nd in the rankings in 2010, had to come back from a set down on Center Court again yesterday, but she eventually prevailed 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3) in a marathon semi-final at the Nanchang International Sports Center that lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes

Chang, who won the gold medal in the women’s singles at the Summer Universiade in South Korea on July 12, saved six of 14 break points and converted six of 17, winning 125 of the 247 points contested to edge Lu, who saved two match points at 5-6 in the third set, but could not prevent the Taiwanese from claiming the third-set tiebreaker at the WTA 125K tournament.

In today’s singles final, Chang faces an even tougher opponent, top seed and former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, after the Serbian world No. 25 cruised past Han Xinyun of China 6-1, 6-2 in 1 hour, 27 minutes in the second semi-final on Center Court.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan clinches a berth in finals of WBSC U-12 World Cup

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/07/31
By: Romulo Huang

Taipei, July 31 (CNA) Taiwan got past the United States 11-6 on Friday to clinch a berth in the finals of the 2015 U-12 Baseball World Cup of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) being held in Tainan, southern Taiwan.

Taiwan remained unbeaten in the competitions of the Super Group consisting of six national teams who are vying for the title of the championship.

In another two games played on Friday, Cuba beat Japan 5-2 and Venezuela topped Nicaragua 9-3.

As of Friday, Taiwan was in the lead of the group with 4 wins and no losses, followed by the U.S. with 3 wins and 1 loss. Cuba and Nicaragua were tied at the third with 2 wins and 2 losses, Venezuela was fifth with 1 win and 3 losses, and Japan was at the bottom of the standing with five losses and no wins.     [FULL  STORY]

Overworked Chang advances to semi-finals

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 01, 2015
By: Dave Carroll  /  Staff reporter with AP and Reuters

Taiwan’s Chang Kai-chen defied a heavy workload to advance to the semi-finals of the singles at the Jiangxi Women’s Tennis Open in Nanchang, China, yesterday, while fellow Taiwanese Lee Ya-hsuan crashed out of the quarter-finals of the doubles.

Chang survived a titanic battle with Chinese seventh seed Wang Yafan on Center Court at the Nanchang International Sports Center after being handed a punishing two-match schedule for the second consecutive day.

The world No. 191 saved 10 of 17 break points and converted seven of five as she survived a second-set meltdown to wrap up a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory in 2 hours, 10 minutes at the WTA 125K tournament.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan’s Lu beaten twice in Atlanta

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 31, 2015
By: AP, ATLANTA, Georgia

Vasek Pospisil overcame sweltering heat and cramps to outlast Taiwanese No. 1 Lu Yen-hsun

Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan returns to Vasek Pospisil of Canada during the Atlanta Open at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan returns to Vasek Pospisil of Canada during the Atlanta Open at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

at the Atlanta Open on Wednesday.

Pospisil, the Canadian second seed, beat Lu 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4. The match ended on Lu’s second double fault.

The temperature was 35oC, with a heat index of 38.

Pospisil looked unsteady on his feet after losing the second-set tiebreaker. He left the court following the set, prompting speculation he might not be able to finish the match.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan trounces Canada in Big League World Series opener

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/07/29
By: Lin Hung-han and S.C. Chang

Taipei, July 29 (CNA) Taiwan’s baseball team, representing the Asia-Pacific region, trounced

Photo courtesy of Xiyuan High School.

Photo courtesy of Xiyuan High School.

Canada 17-0 in a five-inning called game on the opening day of the 2015 Big League World Series, Tuesday in South Carolina.

Taiwan scored 6 runs in the first inning on 2 walks, three hit-by-pitches and 4 hits. In the second inning, Taiwanese batters scored 2 runs. The team scored 8 more runs in the third inning with nearly all batters striking hits. In the fourth inning, Taiwan’s Yeh Chang-chih (葉長智) hit a home-run.

In contrast with Taiwan’s 11 hits and 2 errors, Canada managed only 1 hit and made 3 errors.

Taiwan was scheduled to take on the European-African regional champion, the Netherlands, on Wednesday.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan’s Lee stuns Nanchang fourth seeds

Taipei Times
Date:  Jul 30, 2015
By: Dave Carroll  /  Staff reporter

Taiwan’s Lee Ya-hsuan won a topsy-turvy first-round doubles clash at the Jiangxi Women’s Tennis Open in Nanchang, China, yesterday to advance to the quarter-finals.

Lee and Alison Bai of Australia survived a second-set fightback to stun fourth seeds Liang Chen of China and Zhang Lin of Hong Kong 6-2, 2-6, 14-12 in a thriller at the WTA 125K tournament.

Bai and Lee, who celebrated her 20th birthday on Monday last week, saved three of seven break points and converted four of six.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan, U.S. remain unbeaten in WBSC U-12 World Cup

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/07/28
By: Lin Hung-han and Romulo Huang

Taipei, July 28 (CNA) Taiwan came from behind to beat Venezuela 5-2 Tuesday in the 2015

Taiwan, U.S. remain unbeaten in WBSC U-12 World Cup Focus Taiwan Date: 2015/07/28 By: Lin Hung-han and Romulo Huang Taipei, July 28 (CNA) Taiwan came from behind to beat Venezuela 5-2 Tuesday in the 2015 U-12 Baseball World Cup of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC), remaining unbeaten in the just-concluded opening round of the championship and advancing together with another five teams to the next round of the competition. The Taiwanese under-12 baseballers scored 2 runs with 2 hits and one error committed by their Venezuelan rivals in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie at 2-2. They scored another three runs in the fifth inning with 3 hits and 3 walks. In the five other games played that day, Cuba blanked Korea 5-0, Brazil topped Russia 16-2, Japan got past Mexico 2-1, Nicaragua whipped Australia 17-2 and the U.S. beat France 12-1.

U-12 Baseball World Cup of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC), remaining unbeaten in the just-concluded opening round of the championship and advancing together with another five teams to the next round of the competition.

The Taiwanese under-12 baseballers scored 2 runs with 2 hits and one error committed by their Venezuelan rivals in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie at 2-2. They scored another three runs in the fifth inning with 3 hits and 3 walks.

In the five other games played that day, Cuba blanked Korea 5-0, Brazil topped Russia 16-2, Japan got past Mexico 2-1, Nicaragua whipped Australia 17-2 and the U.S. beat France 12-1.     [FULL  STORY]