Taipei Times
Date: Sep 09, 2020
By: Staff writer, with AFP, BANGKOK

The Thomas and Uber Cup Finals are to go on as scheduled, despite the withdrawal of Taiwan and two other teams over COVID-19 pandemic concerns, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Monday.

Following the announcement by Taiwan, who feature women’s singles world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying and men’s singles world No. 2 Chou Tien-chen, it was announced that Thailand and Australia would also skip the team tournaments, which are to be played in a bio-secure “bubble” in Denmark from Oct. 3 to 11.

The twice-postponed men’s and women’s world team championships are to be the first international badminton tournaments since the pandemic brought most sports to a halt in March.

Thailand blamed their withdrawal on “special circumstances related to COVID-19 in addition to injuries to key players,” the BWF said in a statement.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Immigrants Football League attracts pros and amateurs alike, nabs endorsement from FIFA subsidiary

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/09/08
By: Tim Rinaldi, Taiwan News, Staff Reporter

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan Immigrant's Football League (TIFL) is an impressive organizational feat recently launched by the nation's blue-collar foreign workers, and it looks off to a promising start.

On a recent weekend, while much of the foreign population of Taipei remained under the covers, hundreds of worker-athletes made use of what for many would be the week's sole day off, holding five successive matches at the Jinhe Sports Park in Zhonghe.

Most of the elements of a classic Taipei setup were in place: the motorcycles chugging below the overpass, the terrace houses receding up the hill, and, of course, the gratuitous heat.

Taiwan's blue-collar foreign workers, who number over 700,000, generally come from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. Many perform their jobs under unenviable work conditions, typically as fishermen, factory hands, and domestic helpers.    [FULL STORY]

Novotný dreams of direct flights between island and Prague

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/09/04
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil wrapped up his historic visit to Taiwan Friday (Sept. 4), attention focused on a compatriot of his who set up a website about running on the island.

Petr Novotný, 35, married to a Taiwanese indigenous woman, launched the site “Taiwan Beast Runners” to encourage people around the world to admire the island’s natural beauty, as well as fire up locals and expats to run across its more isolated scenery, CNA reported.

Having moved to Taiwan eight years ago, Novotný said he loved the country, and echoing his country’s senate president’s words, he said he was also Taiwanese. Having direct flights between Taiwan and the Czech capital Prague would be a dream come true, he added.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/30/2020
By: William Yen

Taichung, Aug. 30 (CNA) The Global Warriors basketball team on Sunday clinched the title of a winter basketball league for Philippine migrant workers organized by a Philippine organization that aims to help its compatriots in different countries.

The Global Warriors, a team composed of Filipino migrant workers from central Taiwan that was formed in 2019, defeated the El Norte team 86-73 to take the championship.

The Warriors started off well with several fast-break points and easy baskets from inside the key against El Norte's zone, forcing it to go to man-to-man defense.

That still failed to slow down the Warriors, however, who had the game salted away by building an 83-73 lead with just over two minutes left and were happy to slow down the game at the end to run out the clock.    [FULL  STORY]

NOT GIVING UP: Blue Whale beat Taipei Bravo 2-1, taking them to within five points of Hualien City, although their manager said it would be difficult to pass the leaders

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 31, 2020
By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter

Scoreboard leaders Hualien City and second-ranked Taichung Blue Whale won their Taiwan Mulan Football League matches on Saturday, with five points now separating them, while Hang Yuan FC and Inter Taoyuan finished with a scoreless draw.

In the first match, Hualien City beat Kaohsiung Sunny Bank 3-0 to maintain their winning streak this season.

Striker Tan Wen-lin opened the account in the 38th minute by slotting the ball into an empty net, as there was confusion between Kaohsiung goalkeeper Lee Ya-ting and the defense.

In the 70th minute, Lin Hsiao-yun took possession during a scramble inside goal area, and curved a shot inside the far post.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/21/2020
By: Lung Po-an and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) Taiwanese basketball player Benson Lin (林庭謙) was selected by China's Tianjin Pioneers on Friday as the third overall pick in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) draft.

Lin, 20, was the only Taiwanese among 64 players to declare for the CBA draft this year, doing so after his sophomore year on the basketball team at Bryant University in the United States was thrown into doubt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A graduate of Taipei Municipal Jin Hua Junior High School, Lin traveled to the U.S. to develop his talents while still in high school, and has represented Taiwan in the International Basketball Federation's (FIBA's) Under-16 Asian Championship and Under-17 Basketball World Cup.

Lin's father, basketball coach Lin Cheng-ming (林正明), said Friday that his son's selection so early in the draft shows that the team has confidence in him, but also means that he will be under great pressure to perform.    [FULL  STORY]

If successful, event expected to bring in NT$3 billion in tourism revenue

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/08/19
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei and New Taipei are joining hands to compete with two other international cities for the right to host the 11th World Masters Games in 2025.

The two northern Taiwan cities have come together for the goal of winning a bid to host an international sporting event. Competing with Paris, France and Perth, Australia, the Taiwanese twin cities made their first-stage virtual presentation on Aug. 14; New Taipei Sports Office Director Hung Yu-ling (洪玉玲) said that there will be another presentation on Oct. 21, and the final decision will be made on Nov. 3.

The World Masters Games, an international multi-sport athletic competition, is held every four years by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) for athletes over the age of 30. As participants compete as individuals instead of for their home countries, there are no national delegations, according to a UDN report.

Hung said that as more than half of participating athletes bring their families and friends to the event, tourism is an important fringe benefit to the host country.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/20/2020
By Lung Po-an, Chen Chun-hua
and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) Under rules announced by the Chinese government last year, former NBA basketball player Jeremy Lin's recent acquisition of a Taiwan passport means he will have the status of a "domestic" athlete in his current league, according to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Last November, the Chinese government introduced its "26 Measures," which it said is aimed at offering Taiwanese equal treatment to that of Chinese nationals.

The 26th measure, specifically, states that Taiwanese athletes competing in Chinese professional sports leagues can qualify as "domestic" players.

In Lin's case, the rule is significant, because the CBA has limits on the use of foreign players in order to provide an incentive in the development of local talent.    [FULL  STORY]

Route has changed since last year, masks advised at start of race

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/08/18
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2020 Taipei Marathon, which will start at Taipei City Hall Plaza on Dec. 20, has opened online registration for its drawing as of Tuesday (Aug. 18).

As a result of the pandemic, many marathons have been called off around the world. Taipei City Government announced in a press release that this year’s Taipei Marathon, which is in its 24th year, will be held as planned, and the slogan for the event is “Dare to breathe.”

Department of Sports (DOS) Director Lee Tsai-li (李再立) said at a press conference Tuesday that the biggest change this year will be in the race route. In the past, the route started and finished at Taipei City Hall Plaza; this year’s route keeps all the historic sites, shortens the riverside section, includes the area around Nangang Exhibition Center and Nanjing East Road, and finishes at Taipei Stadium.

Elite runners from many countries have been invited to participate, and arrangements are being made for them to undergo quarantine at local hotels. Temperature checks for runners will be required before the event starts, and the organizers recommend that they wear masks, at least at the beginning of the race.   [FULL  STORY]