UNHAPPY: Some supporters, who were upset about controversies involving the Chinese Taipei Football Association and head coach Gary White, staged a protest

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 28, 2018
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

Taiwan yesterday edged Singapore 1-0 to finish in third place in Group E of AFC Asian

Cup qualifying at the Taipei Municipal Stadium.

Head coach Gary White handed teenager Will Donkin his first start, while Korean-Taiwanese recruit Wang Chien-ming did not make his expected debut due to last-minute issues with documents proving his eligibility.

Donkin, who plays for English Premiership club Crystal Palace’s youth team, had previously appeared as a substitute during the second half of an away match in Turkmenistan in November last year.

White elected to go with an attack-minded 4-3-2-1 formation, with Donkin and Chen Hao-wei the two wingers in support of striker Li Mao.    [FULL  STORY]

GRUELING: Venus Williams took nearly three hours to beat Kiki Bertens on the hottest day of the tournament and next faces defending champion Johanna Konta

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 27, 2018
By: Dave Carroll  /  Staff reporter, with AP, KEY BISCAYNE, Florida

Taiwan’s Chan sisters on Sunday survived a scare to advance to the quarter-finals of the

women’s doubles at the Miami Open, while Venus Williams saved three match points to rally past Kiki Bertens in the third round of the women’s singles.

Second seeds Chan Hao-ching and Latisha Chan rallied after a disappointing second set to defeat Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine and Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 6-3, 1-6, 10-7 in 1 hour, 17 minutes.

The Taiwanese duo saved five of 10 break points and converted four of eight to advance to a quarter-final against Czech sixth seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, who defeated Spanish pairing Lara Arruabarrena and Arantxa Parra Santonja 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 10-7.

In the women’s singles, Williams slammed a forehand winner on the final point to win a seesaw marathon and she had enough energy left to spin in delight at the net, a triumphant fist leading the way.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan was declared the loser in a match against Ireland, but there has been outcry over the decision by TWIF referees and  judges

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/03/24
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The 2018 World Championship of the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) concluded in Xuzhou, China on March 10, with the Taiwanese national team being denied gold in the final showdown for 560 kg competition of the tournament against the Irish national team.

However, the Irish victory caused on immediate outcry for what appears to have been some poor calls, or perhaps inattention, on the part of the TWIF referee. When the winner was announced the crowd in Xuzhou erupted into demands for a rematch, and shouts decrying the bad call from the ref.

One netizen, Yasu Zheng, angered by the situation and the TWIF’s refusal to address the misjudgment, made the following video to alert people to the poor judgement of the TWIF officials.    [FULL  STORY]

TOUGH ASSIGNMENT: World No. 61 Hsieh Su-wei next faces Czech world No. 6 Karolina Pliskova, who said she would be wary of the Taiwanese No. 1’s ‘strange game’

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 24, 2018
By: Dave Carroll  /  Staff reporter, with Reuters

Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei on Thursday upset the 32nd seed in the second round of the

women’s singles at the Miami Open, while world No. 1 Simona Halep survived a scare from Oceane Dodin.

World No. 61 Hsieh defeated Sorana Cirstea 7-5, 6-2 in 1 hour, 22 minutes in Florida to improve her career record against the Romanian to 2-0 after winning their only previous meeting on the grass courts in Eastbourne, England, last year.

The Taiwanese saved three of six break points and converted six of 11, winning 73 of the 131 points contested to set up a third-round clash with fifth seed Karolina Pliskova, who defeated Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 7-5, her first victory in four meetings with the Russian.

“I’ve never played Hsieh, but she has a very strange game; I’ve watched her a few times on TV, and with her drop shots and slices, it’s clear she’s trying to mix things up a lot,” Pliskova told the WTA Web site of her next opponent.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/22
By: Lee Chin-Wei and Ko Lin

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Ultramarathon athlete Tommy Chen (陳彥博), who won the 4

Deserts Race Series title in 2016, said Thursday his next step is to begin training as a polar explorer.

Speaking at a promotional event for the Taoyuan 100, an international trail running race to be held in Taoyuan next month, Chen said he is looking to improve his ice climbing, abseiling, and polar survival skills.

“My aim is to become a polar explorer in the future,” Chen said, adding that he hopes to have many adventures.

The Taoyuan 100, part of the North Face 100 Ultimate Trail Challenge Asia Pacific Series, will be held at Shimen Reservoir in Taoyuan on April 21.    [FULL  STORY]

Baseball fans can look forward to lux bathrooms, better food options, and bigger screens on their next visit to Xinzhuang Stadium

Taiwan News  
Date: 2018/03/21
By: Renée Salmonsen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Fubon Guardian Stadium CEO, Chris (蔡承儒), led media around the Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium Tuesday to reveal the stadium’s NT$120 million (US$4 million) renovations.

The stadium update includes the addition of an LED electronic scoreboard, big screen TV, better athlete locker rooms, and a more “invisible” safety net between the audience and the players, according to CNA.     [FULL  STORY]

Team donated 2 million yen to Taiwan representative Frank Hsieh

Taiwan News 
Date:2018/03/20
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Japan’s Yomiuri Giants baseball team donated 2 million yen

(NT$547,800 or US$18,800) to help fund reconstruction after the February 6 earthquake which killed 17 people in Hualien.

The donation was made public as Taiwan’s representative in Japan, Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), opened a game between the Giants and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Tokyo Tuesday, the Chinese-language Apple Daily reported.

The Giants count two Taiwanese players in their ranks and have also visited Taiwan for exchanges and games.

Hsieh welcomed the donation and said he would transfer the funds as quickly as possible to the Hualien County Government. Several buildings collapsed in the earthquake, but the donation issue has recently been overshadowed by a controversy over use of the money.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/20
By: Joseph Yeh, CNA staff reporter 

“What does it feel like being Taiwanese? It feels likes being human,” American-born Taiwanese basketball star Quincy Davis told CNA.

Davis first came to Taiwan in 2011 to play in the local Super Basketball League (SBL). After helping his team clinch its first championship title in 2012 and being named Most Valuable Player, the 203-centimeter player was given the chance to join Taiwan’s national team.

The offer prompted him to renounce his U.S. citizenship and obtain Republic of China citizenship in 2013. He has since become a household name in Taiwan, playing a major role in lifting the international competitiveness of Taiwanese basketball, including some surprising victories over stronger and taller opponents, including China.
[FULL  STORY]

UNHAPPY: Taiwanese world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying said she was not happy with her performance and wanted to return next year and play better

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 20, 2018
By: Staff writer, with CNA and AFP, BIRMINGHAM, England

Badminton world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying on Sunday became the first woman to defend the All

England Open title in the past 10 years by defeating Japanese world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi 22-20, 21-13 in Birmingham, England.

The two have competed 10 times, with each having won five matches each.

The first game saw the two struggle to keep a lead as the scores remained very close until Tai scored two straight points at 20-20 to edge ahead.

Tai then cruised in the second game, at one point opening a seven-point lead, and when the score reached 18-13 Tai won three straight points to wrap up the win.

Despite the victory, Tai said she was not happy with her performance, especially after she had to save a game point in the first game.    [FULL  STORY]

UNHAPPY: Taiwanese world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying said she was not happy with her performance and wanted to return next year and play better

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 20, 2018
By: Staff writer, with CNA and AFP, BIRMINGHAM, England

Badminton world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying on Sunday became the first woman to defend the All

England Open title in the past 10 years by defeating Japanese world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi 22-20, 21-13 in Birmingham, England.

The two have competed 10 times, with each having won five matches each.

The first game saw the two struggle to keep a lead as the scores remained very close until Tai scored two straight points at 20-20 to edge ahead.

Tai then cruised in the second game, at one point opening a seven-point lead, and when the score reached 18-13 Tai won three straight points to wrap up the win.
[FULL  STORY]