Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/11/16
By: William Yen

Taipei, Nov. 16 (CNA) Taiwan's Fubon Braves fought back a strong challenge from the Macau Black

Bears to clinch their debut game 95-91 on the first day of the new ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) season that tipped off in Taipei Saturday.

The braves, led by national team guard Lin Chih-chieh (林志傑) and forward Tseng Wen-ting (曾文鼎), as well as NBA veteran forward O.J. Mayo, took advantage of height and speed to take a 10-0 lead just minutes into the first period.

Lin's double cross over dribble created space down the lane for Tseng to create a mismatch in the paint. Mayo and teammate American import forward Charles Garcia rocked the home crowd at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium with a combination of powerful drives and fast breaks to the basket.

The Black Bears answered with stellar performances from American forward Kenny Manigault, who led the scoreboard in the first half with 23 points to tie the game 48-48.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/11/15
By: William Yen

Taipei, Nov. 15 (CNA) Taiwan's national women's football team drew with Thailand 1-1 in an

international friendly in Taipei on Friday in a preview of an Olympic qualifying match to be played in February 2020.

Taiwan, which reached the third round of the Olympic qualifying tournament for Tokyo 2020 with seven consecutive wins in the first two rounds, put on a show for the home fans by dominating play but could not find the finishing touch needed to pull off the victory.

Thailand opened the scoring just before halftime when Thai forward Rattikan Thongsombut sent a drive from the left edge of the penalty area over the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Cheng Ssu-yu (程思瑜), who was caught six yards off the goal line.

Taiwan equalized seven minutes into the second half when forward Chen Yen-ping (陳燕萍) took a cross from Lin Hsin-hui (林欣卉) and one-touched the ball into the left corner of the net.   
[FULL  STORY]

FADING HOPE: Sitting at the bottom of Group B with no wins or points, Taiwan’s chances of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar are dimmer than ever

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 16, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Taiwan’s national soccer team on Thursday suffered a massive defeat against Kuwait, falling 9-0 to the

hosts in the second round of qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

While Taiwan are above Kuwait in the FIFA world rankings, they never looked like a match for the hosts, who smashed goal after goal into the back of the net, starting with a header by forward Yousef Nasser in the first 22 minutes.

At kickoff, Taiwan seemed eager to play further up the pitch, and even after Nasser’s goal they maintained their offensive play, but this left their defense vulnerable.

Kuwait kept putting crosses into the box and it was not long before midfielder Fahad al-Ansari scored, giving his team a 2-0 lead by the end of the first half.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/11/14
By: Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Nov. 14 (CNA) Taiwan's national baseball team needs to win its next two games in the Premier12 championship to keep its chances open for a berth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, local baseball commentators said Thursday.

Team Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei, now has a 1-2 record in the six-team Super Round of the Premier12 in Japan, after toppling defending champions South Korea 7-0 on Tuesday.

Taiwan will face the United States (1-3) on Friday before going head to head against Australia (1-3) the following day. If Team Taiwan fails to win both of those games, its only remaining chance for a ticket to Tokyo will be the Olympic Final Qualifying Tournament next year, according to sports commentators.

Even with a victory in both upcoming games, however, Taiwan will not secure an automatic berth in the 2020 Summer Olympics, the commentators said. To do so, Taiwan needs to finish above South Korea (2-1) and Australia in the Super Round, which is currently led by Mexico (3-1) and the hosts Japan (3-1).    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 13, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Taiwan’s national baseball team crushed defending champions South Korea 7-0 last night, securing a

crucial victory in the Premier12 championship in Japan that keeps alive the nation’s hopes of securing an automatic berth at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Taiwan drew first blood in the top of the second inning with two consecutive RBI hits by Kao Yung-chieh and Hu Chin-lung off South Korea starter Kim Kwang-hyun, bringing the score to 2-0.

The lead was extended to 3-0 in the fourth inning with an RBI single by Wang Sheng-wei, bringing back runner Lin Li, who reached first base with a single.

In the top of the seventh inning, Chen Chun-hsiu blasted a three-run homer off South Korea reliever Won Jong-hyeon, before Lin Hung-yu added another RBI single in the ninth to give Taiwan a comfortable 7-0 lead, which they held until the end of the game.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 12, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Taiwan were shut out 2-0 by Mexico in the opening game of the Premier 12 Super Round in Japan

yesterday, dealing a severe blow to their hopes of securing a berth at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Both teams managed only three hits in a game dominated by pitching, but Mexico made more of what little offense they produced in the game played at Zozo Marine Stadium in Chiba.

Ali Solis broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out solo homer to left off Taiwan starter Chiang Shao-ching.

Mexico widened the lead to 2-0 an inning later on hits by the first two batters in the inning and an RBI sacrifice fly by Esteben Quiroz off Chiang.

In Mexico’s six other at-bats, only one batter reached base — Noah Perio in the fourth on a walk — but their two runs held up for the victory against Taiwan’s anemic offense, which has scored only one run in their past 18 innings of Premier12 play.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 11, 2019
By: Staff writer, with AFP, SHANGHAI

Kento Momota won his 10th title of a remarkable year as Japan’s world No. 1 defeated Chou Tien-

chen of Taiwan to retain his Fuzhou China Open crown yesterday.

Home hope Chen Yufei also defended the women’s title with a gritty victory over Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara.

Reigning two-time world champion Momota battled past world No. 2 Chou 21-15, 17-21, 21-18 in a repeat of last year’s final.

The 29-year-old Chou is in the unusual position of not having a coach and instead relies on his longtime physio to guide him courtside during matches.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 09, 2019
By: AFP, SHANGHAI

Defending champion and world No. 1 Kento Momota yesterday battled past former No. 1 Viktor

Axelsen to reach the China Open semi-finals.

Japan’s Momota, who is chasing his 10th title of the season, suffered a second-game wobble before beating Axelsen of Denmark 21-18, 12-21, 21-16 in their quarter-final.

The 25-year-old Momota next faces Axelsen’s compatriot, Rasmus Gemke, or Angus Ng Ka-long of Hong Kong in today’s last four.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/11/07
By: Jhang Jin-de

Taipei, Nov. 7 (CNA) Taiwan's national baseball team on Thursday finished in second place in

Premier12 baseball championship Group B after losing to Japan 8-1 at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium.

The first loss for Team Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei, in the opening round of the international tournament, means it will take a 0-1 record into the next round which will be held in Japan next week.

Meanwhile, Japan finished top of the group undefeated with their third win and head into the Super Round with a 1-0 record.

Earlier Thursday, Venezuela defeated Puerto Rico 7-1 to finish third in Group B.   [FULL  STORY]

STRONG STARTS: Chang Yi and Henderson Alvarez kept the game close in the early innings, while Japan’s Rei Takahashi’s submarine pitch befuddled Puerto Rico

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 07, 2019
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

Taiwan last night advanced to the next round of the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier 12

tournament after breaking a deadlock against Venezuela with late runs in their Group B game to win 3-0, while Japan shut out Puerto Rico 4-0 in Taoyuan to advance to the next round.

It was a tight affair over six innings at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, beginning with a duel of starting pitchers Chang Yi of Taiwan and Henderson Alvarez of Venezuela.

The hosts broke through for two runs in the seventh inning on two hits and a walk against Venezuela’s fifth pitcher, Miguel Socolovich.

Centerfielder Lin Che-hsuan reached first base on a walk before pinch hitter Chu Yu-hsien tagged Socolovich with a line drive near third base for a double, driving Lin home for Taiwan to take a 1-0 lead.    [FULL  STORY]