Taipei Times
Date: Aug 18, 2020
By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter

Defending Taiwan Football Premier League champions Tatung FC collaborated with the Taiwan Foundation for Rare Disorders this weekend to organize a mini-soccer camp in Taipei for children with rare disorders to have a fun day learning about and playing soccer.

Tatung manager Chiang Mu-tsai led the camp, accompanied by team members including goalkeeper Derek Shih, midfielder Huang Chu-hsuan, Honduran defender Luis Fernando Galo and Japanese midfielder Hirokimi Harada.

The camp was held on Saturday at the indoor soccer pitch at Taipei Wanhua Sports Center. It was organized so that children living with rare disorders could interact with soccer stars and learn tips about the game, while generally having a good time running and kicking the ball around, the organizers said.

“Our players are happy to instill a passion for soccer in these children. We hope to get them to play more outdoor sports in the sunshine, for their health and enjoyment,” Tatung chairman Tsai Chao-hsiang said.    [FULL  STORY]

As US Open nears, Nishikori Kei tests positive, will self-quarantine

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/08/17
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Japanese tennis pro Nishikori Kei said on Monday (Aug. 17) that he tested positive for COVID-19 and will cancel his plans to play at the Western & Southern Open in New York, which is a US Open warm-up event.

Nishikori, 30, who has been staying at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, said in a statement that he is feeling well and has very minor symptoms. He plans to self-quarantine, according to an NHK report.

The Japanese player, currently ranked No. 31 in the world, made it to the finals of the US Open in 2014.

Many marquee players have decided to skip this year’s US Open, which will begin Aug. 31, including the No. 2 male player Rafael Nadal and the No. 1 female player Ashleigh Barty. Roger Federer, who has won an all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles, will miss this year's tournament because of knee surgery.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/17/2020
By: Huang Chiao-wen and Evelyn Ka

Taipei, Aug. 17 (CNA) Taiwanese tennis ace Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) said Monday that she will not compete in the 2020 U.S. Open Tennis Championship due to an ankle injury and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Facebook post, Hsieh said the injury has restricted her training over the past 10 months, as she has not been able to do some types of stretches.

In consideration of her ankle injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, Hsieh said, she will skip this year's U.S. Open, which will be held in New York, without fans, Aug. 31 to Sept. 13.
[FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: ug 18, 2020
By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter

Defending Taiwan Football Premier League champions Tatung FC collaborated with the Taiwan Foundation for Rare Disorders this weekend to organize a mini-soccer camp in Taipei for children with rare disorders to have a fun day learning about and playing soccer.

Tatung manager Chiang Mu-tsai led the camp, accompanied by team members including goalkeeper Derek Shih, midfielder Huang Chu-hsuan, Honduran defender Luis Fernando Galo and Japanese midfielder Hirokimi Harada.

The camp was held on Saturday at the indoor soccer pitch at Taipei Wanhua Sports Center. It was organized so that children living with rare disorders could interact with soccer stars and learn tips about the game, while generally having a good time running and kicking the ball around, the organizers said.

“Our players are happy to instill a passion for soccer in these children. We hope to get them to play more outdoor sports in the sunshine, for their health and enjoyment,” Tatung chairman Tsai Chao-hsiang said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 14, 2020
By: Staff writer, with CNA

The 2020 CTBC Ladies Open started yesterday in Taoyuan with 90 golfers, at a time when most international tournaments have been disrupted or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three-day competition is being held at the Orient Golf and Country Club in Guishan District (龜山), where golfers are vying for a top prize of NT$600,000, the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association told a news conference on Wednesday.

Due to the pandemic, the competition is not open to foreign golfers, it added.

Defending champion Hou Yu-sang, who is ranked No. 470 worldwide, yesterday faced higher ranking Taiwanese competitors Hsu Wei-ling, Lee Min, Phoebe Yao and Chen Yu-ju.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/12/2020
By: Huang Chiao-wen
and intern Eden Wang

Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) The 2020 CTBC Ladies Open will start Thursday in Taoyuan with the participation of 90 golfers, at a time when most international tournaments have been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers said Wednesday.

The three-day competition will be held at the Orient Golf and Country Club in the city's Guishan District, offering a top prize of NT$600,000 (US$20,383), the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association said at a press conference.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the competition is not open this year to foreign golfers, the association said.

When the tournament starts Thursday, defending champion Hou Yu-sang (侯羽桑), whose world ranking is No. 470, will come up against higher ranking Taiwanese competitors such as Hsu Wei-ling (徐薇淩), Lee Min (李旻), Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆), and Chen Yu-ju (陳宇茹).
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/09/2020

Taipei, Aug. 9 (CNA) It is 7 a.m. at Yonghe Elementary School in New Taipei, an old man stands on the sidelines of the basketball court, blows his whistle, and a group of students gather in the center ready for another day of training.

At 94-years-old, basketball coach Lo Yu-piao (羅毓彪) is older than many of the grandparents of his students, but his passion has not diminished over time. He still demonstrates shots and dribbles, his movements smooth and precise.

Lo, who was born in 1926, has been coaching for over 67 years. Many of his students have gone on to become professional coaches and players themselves, including Johnny Yen (顏行書) and Yang Che-i (楊哲宜), cementing Lo's status as a "national treasure."

Once a coach for military basketball teams, for the past nearly four decades Lo has focussed on teaching children, which he says he really enjoys.    [FULL  STORY]

WEEKEND MATCHES: While Tatung FC made good on their chances early on, Taiwan Steel rallied to win the game 2-3 and move to the top with Taichung Futuro

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 11, 2020
By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter

Sunday’s action saw Taichung Futuro, Taipower FC and Taiwan Steel tied for first place on 30 points in the Taiwan Football Premier League, while Hang Yuan FC picked up a point to take the No. 4 spot on 25 points after holding Taipower to a scoreless draw.

In Taoyuan, Tatung FC hosted Taiwan Steel. It was an exciting matchup, as the visitors rallied from 2-0 down to take the game with three goals.

Tatung made good on their chances early on. Honduran midfielder Elias Argueta opened the account 15 minutes into the game with a low shot from the right.

Three minutes later, Turkey-born winger Onur Dogan received a pass on the left and raced between two defenders, firing off a diagonal shot that eluded Taiwan Steel goalkeeper Tuan Hsuan.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/06/2020
By: Lung Po-an and Kay Liu

Kaohsiung, Aug. 6 (CNA) Taiwanese mixed doubles table tennis duo Cheng I-ching (鄭怡靜) and Lin Yun-ju (林昀儒) won a specially arranged match against the world No. 8 men's doubles pair Wednesday.

Cheng and Lin, who have gained a berth in the delayed Tokyo Olympics, faced off against four-time Olympian Chuang Chih-yuan (莊智淵) and Chen Chien-an (陳建安) in the finals of a table tennis competition organized by the government as part of the training for athletes who will be competing in the Tokyo Games.

Chuang and Chen, 39 and 29 years old, respectively, were the men's doubles gold medalists in the 2013 World Championship.

In the finals of the special competition Wednesday, the gold medalists went down 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3 to the world No. 4 mixed doubles pair Cheng and Lin, who had won a match against another men's team a day earlier.    [FULL  STORY]