South China Morning Post - Other Sports

Tokyo 2020 spectators not a ‘must-have’ and ‘it’s either 2021 or nothing’, says ...

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:53:48 GMT

Veteran International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound on Wednesday reaffirmed his belief the Tokyo Games will happen this summer despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, saying the Olympics can go ahead without fans in attendance.“The question is, is this a ‘must-have’ or ‘nice-to-have.’ It’s nice to have spectators. But it’s not a must-have,” Pound said.“Nobody can guarantee [that the Olympics will go ahead as planned]. But I think there’s a very, very, good chance that they can,…

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games may be too big a gamble, disease expert says –‘Is it like the ...

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:10:29 GMT

As embattled Tokyo 2020 organisers enter the final six months of preparations for the delayed Olympic Games on Saturday, virus experts believe hosting the world’s biggest sporting event may be too big a gamble.The Olympics are due to start on July 23 but with much of Japan in a state of emergency and growing public opposition, organisers are under increasing pressure.Japan has been less severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic than many other advanced economies, but a recent surge in cases…

Hong Kong rowers back in business with virtual regatta in bid to qualify for indoor Worlds

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:00:19 GMT

Hong Kong’s rowers will compete in their first race in more than a year this weekend at the Asian qualification for the World Rowing Indoor Championships, and possibly their only international race before the all-important qualifiers in May for the Tokyo Olympics.Chiu Hin-chun, Chan Chi-fung and Winnie Hung Wing-yan will spearhead a strong 19-member Hong Kong team, with the “regatta” taking place on rowing ergometers and through virtual competition. Chiu and Chan are the 2019 Asian…

Covid-19 continues to hit Thailand Open, but Hong Kong’s Angus Ng safely through to second round

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 08:19:24 GMT

Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka-long won his first-round match in men’s singles relatively comfortably at the Toyota Thailand Open, but there was a certain unease at the tournament after an Indian player became the latest to test positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.Despite a runner-up finish in the first Bangkok tournament last weekend, the Hong Kong number one was stretched in his opening game at Impact Arena by Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen, the 2019 World Championships bronze medallist. The home…

The next Ding Junhui? ‘All I can do is be the best Yan Bingtao’ says China’s new snooker star

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:00:08 GMT

China’s new snooker superstar Yan Bingtao has been catapulted into snooker superstardom overnight with his win in the 2021 Masters on Sunday.The comparisons to China’s first elite player Ding Junhui have come thick and fast for the world No 11.Ding, 33, burst onto the scene with his China Open win in 2005, aged 18. He followed that with victory at the UK Championship a year later and then the Masters in 2011 in a career that also saw him rise to world No 1 in 2014.It is safe to say that Ding…

Covid-19 pandemic makes Tokyo 2020 Olympics ‘unlikely’, says London 2012 chief executive

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:25:04 GMT

It is approaching six months to the opening ceremony of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the message from organisers remains the same: Japan will host “no matter what”.That was reaffirmed by beleaguered Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday, who said the Games are going ahead despite the country’s battle with the Covid-19 pandemic.However, a senior member of the London 2012 organising committee has warned its Japanese successor that it is time for “making plans for a…

Mixed doubles pair Tang and Tse return to action in bid for World Tour finals spot

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 08:20:24 GMT

Mixed doubles pair Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet are putting a disappointing week behind them in Bangkok as they take part in the second back-to-back Thailand Open, hoping to qualify for next week’s HSBC World Tour finals.Last week, the Hong Kong pair withdrew from their last-16 round match in the opening tournament after the coach of their German opponents tested Covid-19 positive on the eve of the match. Following the health guidelines provided by the Sports Institute back home, they chose…

Masters winner Yan Bingtao tipped to be China’s first snooker world champion

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 07:53:20 GMT

After winning his first triple crown event by beating John Higgins in the Masters snooker final on Sunday, the question now is can Yan Bingtao be the first Chinese world champion?The title has so far eluded the country’s first snooker superstar, Ding Junhui, who reached the final in 2016, but many are tipping Yan to end China’s wait.Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan is among those who back the 20-year-old Masters winner to go on to win the World Championship.“I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t…

Masters snooker 2021: Yan Bingtao beats John Higgins to win debut triple crown

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 01:50:33 GMT

Chinese snooker star Yan Bingtao came from behind once more to win his first Masters snooker title by beating John Higgins in Milton Keynes on Sunday, becoming only the second Chinese champion after Ding Junhui.The 20-year-old, who took home £250,000 (US$340,000) for winning, also became the youngest Masters champion since a 19-year-old Ronnie O’Sullivan lifted the trophy in 1995.Sheffield-based Yan, who finished the 10-8 winner in the best-of-19 match, was 7-5 down to the veteran Scot, who was…

Hong Kong’s Angus Ng bolsters his World Tour finals bid

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 14:40:51 GMT

Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka-long is on course to qualify for the season-ending BWF World Tour finals after his best performance in a Super 1000 tournament on Sunday in Bangkok.The 26-year-old was beaten 21-14, 21-14 by Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the final of the Thailand Open, surpassing his semi-final appearance at the 2019 All England Championships in Birmingham.Ng was ranked ninth in the World Tour standings before the Bangkok event but his impressive run to the final boosts his chances of…

China reaction to Sun Yang appeal sees fan delight but media warns of defeat at new CAS hearing

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 08:10:49 GMT

The news of why Sun Yang’s eight-year ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sport was overruled by the Swiss Supreme Court was met with mixed reaction in China, as fans backed the star swimmer while the media warned of another defeat at the new hearing.In a media statement issued on Friday, the Swiss Supreme Court explained that their December decision was based on the tweets of Italian president of the panel Franco Frattini, who had used racial and violent language towards China over animal…

Masters snooker 2021: China’s Yan Bingtao to meet John Higgins in debut final after beating ...

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 03:11:19 GMT

Chinese snooker star in the making Yan Bingtao is into the Masters snooker final on his first appearance in the prestigious, invite-only tournament after beating top seed Stuart Bingham in Saturday’s semi-final.The 20-year-old did it the hard way once again, coming from behind to seal the deciding frame for a 6-5 victory over the reigning champion in Milton Keynes, sealing victory with a steely 74 break in that final frame.Yan has now beaten fourth seed world No 2 Neil Robertson, ninth seed…

Sun Yang: Franco Frattini dog meat tweets saw CAS ban overturned, Swiss Court says

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 07:26:08 GMT

The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland has explained the reason why it overturned the original ruling from Chinese star swimmer Sun Yang’s hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, saying that CAS panel president Franco Frattini had shown a possible bias against Chinese people.The 29-year-old swimmer, who was originally banned for eight years by CAS last February, filed an appeal with the SFT that April.Switzerland’s highest court, which has the power to overturn rulings made by the…

Masters snooker 2021: China’s Yan Bingtao powers past Stephen Maguire into debut semi-final

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 02:51:31 GMT

Chinese snooker star Yan Bingtao has reached the semi-finals of his debut Masters tournament after beating Stephen Maguire on Friday, becoming the youngest semi-finalist since Ding Junhui in 2007.“I‘m absolutely over the moon and really excited about the result. At the beginning I didn’t expect to get through the first round, now I am in the semi-finals,” Yan told World Snooker Tour after his win.The 20-year-old beat Scotland’s Maguire 6-5 in a match that went back and forth. Yan began by…

Angus Ng hits top form to beat Hong Kong teammate Lee Cheuk-yiu and reach the Thailand Open ...

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:40:02 GMT

Hard work paid off as Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka-long reached the semi-finals of the HK$7.8 million Thailand Open after beating fast-improving teammate Lee Cheuk-yiu in straight games at the Impact Arena in Bangkok on Friday.Despite struggling early in the first game, the Hong Kong number one took seven points in a row when 17-14 down to win the game 21-17. Ng then dominated the second 21-12 to wrap up a men’s singles last-four place.“I think I played my best match of the week so far,” said the…

Yonex Thailand Open: Hong Kong shuttlers will pull out if they find playing conditions unsafe, ...

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 02:19:32 GMT

Hong Kong shuttlers will pull out of the event if they feel unsafe playing as Covid-19 continues to batter the Yonex Thailand Open, the first of three back-to-back events in Bangkok as the Badminton World Federation attempts to restart the world tour amid the pandemic.“Our foremost concern is the safety of our players and we will not hesitate to pull them out of the event if there is any potential risk,” said head coach Tim He Yiming. “The organisers have set up a ‘bubble’ to guarantee safety…

US Olympic swimmer Klete Keller charged with taking part in US Capitol riot

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 03:39:49 GMT

Five-time Olympic swimming medallist Klete Keller was charged on Wednesday with participating in a deadly riot at the US Capitol after video emerged that appeared to show him among those storming the building last week.An FBI complaint filed in US District Court, citing screenshots from the video, requested a warrant charging Keller with knowingly entering a restricted building to impede an official government function, disorderly conduct and obstructing law officers during the frightening…

Tokyo Olympics: windsurfers Hayley Chan and Michael Cheng confirmed for Tokyo as Covid-19 ...

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 00:02:22 GMT

Windsurfers Hayley Chan Hei-man and Michael Cheng Chun-leung will be making their second Olympic appearances after their selection was confirmed for the delayed Tokyo Games this summer.Chan and Cheng had secured their 2020 tickets for Hong Kong in the women’s and men’s RS: X after competing at the 2019 world championships in Torbole, Italy. The pair had their spots confirmed after going through a two-round internal selection that was completed last February.However, with the Tokyo Games being…

Hong Kong camp put on high alert in Bangkok after Covid-19 cases at Thailand Open

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 10:54:22 GMT

Hong Kong shuttlers have been put on high alert in Bangkok after several players in the Thailand Open tested positive for Covid-19 in the first international tournament of the year.Former women’s world number one, Saina Nehwal of India was among the three players cleared to play despite having initially tested positive, along with fellow Indian player HS Prannoy and Germany’s Jones Ralfy Jansen but Adham Hatem Elgamal, of Egypt, had to be withdrawn from the HK$7.8 million tournament because of…

Tokyo Olympics: another Covid-19 postponement ‘absolutely impossible’ but organisers face ...

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 04:19:32 GMT

The head of the Tokyo Olympic organising committee said it is “absolutely impossible” to postpone this year’s Olympic Games again because of the coronavirus pandemic.Speaking in an event organised by Kyodo News, the committee’s president, Yoshiro Mori, said putting off the Games again is not an option because many officials who have played a key role in the preparations are loaned from other organisations, including the Tokyo metropolitan government.Mori, a former Japanese prime minister, also…