https://www.scmp.com/rss/322868/feed Paul Ryding is a sports writer who has been based in China since 2007. The Beijing Olympics took him to the Far East for six months, and the food, the people and the excitement surrounding the rise of sport in China kept him there until now. He spent eight years in Beijing before moving to Hong Kong in 2015. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Defending champions China were stunned in the final of the Thomas Cup on Sunday night as they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Indonesia in the Aarhus, Denmark showpiece. It was Asian Games gold medal hero Jonatan Christie who delivered the final blow for Indonesia as the 24-year-old beat China’s rising star Li Shifeng 21-14, 18-21, 21-14 to secure a record-extending 14th title for the event’s most successful nation. But it was Indonesia’s first title since 2002, with China dominating the Cup... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3152707/china-stunned-thomas-cup-final-indonesia-end-19-year-wait-glory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3152707/china-stunned-thomas-cup-final-indonesia-end-19-year-wait-glory?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Oct 2021 04:38:25 +0000 Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and her Belgian playing partner Elise Mertens celebrated another high-profile doubles title on Saturday when they captured the Indian Wells Masters after a comfortable victory against Veronika Kudermetova and Elena Rybakina. Hsieh and Mertens prevailed in straight sets, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, in just over 90 minutes. The second-seeded duo grabbed the US$414,000 first prize and assured their spot at the lucrative season-ending WTA Finals in Mexico next month. Hsieh and Mertens... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3152649/hsieh-su-wei-claims-third-indian-wells-title-partner-elise-mertens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3152649/hsieh-su-wei-claims-third-indian-wells-title-partner-elise-mertens?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Oct 2021 08:26:25 +0000 John Higgins gave a sensational performance as he romped past Masters champion Yan Bingtao on Saturday night to set up a Northern Ireland Open final against hometown hero Mark Allen. Higgins comfortably made his way 6-2 past a potential banana skin in China’s Yan, who overcame world number three Ronnie O’Sullivan in the third round. It was a measure of revenge for the Scot – Yan sealed his Masters title back in January with a win over Higgins. Higgins, the world number seven, is looking for his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3152643/northern-ireland-open-john-higgins-downs-yan-bingtao-set-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3152643/northern-ireland-open-john-higgins-downs-yan-bingtao-set-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000 Tyson Fury got up from two fourth-round knockdowns and stopped Deontay Wilder in the 11th round on Saturday night, retaining his WBC title in a thrilling conclusion to a superlative heavyweight trilogy. Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) finished Wilder for the second straight time, but only after a wild back-and-forth bout featuring five knockdowns. Wilder was knocked down in the third round and appeared to be on his way out, but he improbably rallied to knock down Fury twice in the final minutes of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3151816/tyson-fury-knocks-out-deontay-wilder-heavyweight-trilogy-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3151816/tyson-fury-knocks-out-deontay-wilder-heavyweight-trilogy-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Oct 2021 04:44:39 +0000 China’s top player Zhang Shuai lasted barely 90 minutes in this year’s Indian Wells Masters singles draw in California, before she was eliminated by world No 58 Marta Kostyuk in three sets at tennis’ unofficial “fifth slam”. Zhang, the world No 48, went down 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 to the 19-year-old and leaves Zheng Saisai as the only Chinese player left in the singles draw. She meets Polish qualifier Magdalena Frech in her first assignment on Thursday night. The 32-year-old Zhang has endured a mixed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3151462/china-no-1-zhang-shuai-dumped-out-indian-wells-masters-singles-opener?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3151462/china-no-1-zhang-shuai-dumped-out-indian-wells-masters-singles-opener?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Oct 2021 04:13:36 +0000 China defeated Japan 3-1 in a final that was high on quality to seal a 12th Sudirman Cup title and once again stamp their dominance on badminton in Finland on Sunday. It was a repeat of the result in 2019, with China besting their great rivals, who were looking to become just the fourth country to claim a Sudirman Cup title. It was also a night of redemption for some in the China camp, not least for Shi Yuqi who had endured a difficult Sudirman Cup campaign this year. The match score was poised... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3151098/china-claim-12th-sudirman-cup-crown-against-rivals-japan-high-quality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3151098/china-claim-12th-sudirman-cup-crown-against-rivals-japan-high-quality?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Oct 2021 05:51:23 +0000 China led a tense FIBA Asia Cup final against Japan for three quarters in Jordan on Sunday, only to let the trophy slip from their grasp on the home straight. Japan’s Saori Miyazaki was the difference in the end, top-scoring for the defending champions with 26 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists in a 78-73 win against the tournament favourites China. The Tokyo Olympics silver medallists, Japan secured a fifth straight Asia Cup triumph, their second in two outings against China in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3151056/fiba-womens-asia-cup-japan-complete-fourth-quarter-fightback-down-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3151056/fiba-womens-asia-cup-japan-complete-fourth-quarter-fightback-down-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Oct 2021 14:14:27 +0000 China thrashed South Korea in the semi-finals of the Sudirman Cup on Saturday to set up a grudge final match against Japan as they look for a record 12th title in Finland. China will meet regional rivals Japan in a repeat of the 2019 Cup final after the Japanese overcame Malaysia 3-1 in the other last-four clash. It will be the third time China and Japan have contested the final, and China glided into the decider with mixed doubles pair Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping, Shi Yuqi and Chen Yufei... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3151027/china-set-japan-showdown-sudirman-cup-final-after-routing-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3151027/china-set-japan-showdown-sudirman-cup-final-after-routing-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Oct 2021 05:25:02 +0000 China notched a third straight victory in the group stage of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Amman, Jordan on Wednesday as they eased into the semi-finals of the tournament. Favourites to take the title in the Middle East, China had already thrashed Philippines and Taiwan in their group campaign, but were expected to face a decidedly trickier test against the Opals, as the Australian national team are known. In the event, the well-fancied Chinese outfit were far too strong for their overmatched... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3150736/china-ease-past-australia-reach-fiba-womens-asia-cup-semi-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3150736/china-ease-past-australia-reach-fiba-womens-asia-cup-semi-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Sep 2021 09:34:48 +0000 China edged past Thailand to make it three wins from three in the group stage of the Sudirman Cup on Wednesday and comfortably eased into the knockout stages. They were made to work hard for the win, though. China got off to a slow start when the doubles pairing of He Jiting and Tan Qiang lost out in a come-from-behind win for Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren 21-11, 8-21, 11-21. “We could not find the solutions when we faced difficulties in the second set,” Tan said. “We tried to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3150696/sudirman-cup-china-secure-quarter-final-spot-hard-earned-win-against?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3150696/sudirman-cup-china-secure-quarter-final-spot-hard-earned-win-against?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Sep 2021 06:47:03 +0000 Chinese Formula 2 racer Zhou Guanyu endured a horror Russian Grand Prix and now sits 36 points adrift of championship leader, rookie Oscar Piastri of Australia with a potential Formula 1 seat on the line. Zhou, who began the weekend in Sochi just eight points behind the 20-year-old Melbourne man, added just eight points to his tally courtesy of a sixth place in the feature race on Sunday. He now sits just seven points clear of Prema Racing’s Robert Shwartzman in third. The UNI-Virtuosi driver... https://www.scmp.com/sport/motorsport/article/3150258/chinas-zhou-guanyu-cedes-more-ground-formula-2-leader-oscar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/motorsport/article/3150258/chinas-zhou-guanyu-cedes-more-ground-formula-2-leader-oscar?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Sep 2021 07:42:46 +0000 Hong Kong’s sevens team claimed a hugely creditable seventh-place finish for a second straight week as Paul John’s men scored a fine win against Ireland on the final day of the Edmonton Sevens in Canada. Sunday had started on a worrying note for John’s team, competing outside of Asia on this Canada swing of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the first time in 14 years. After a chastening 43-5 loss during pool play on day one against South Africa, they failed to register at all against the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3150239/edmonton-sevens-hong-kong-secure-another-seventh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3150239/edmonton-sevens-hong-kong-secure-another-seventh?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Sep 2021 05:56:31 +0000 World-renowned Hong Kong surgeon Dr Freddie Fu Ho-keung died at home in Pittsburgh, USA aged 71 on Saturday. Fu was famously credited with saving the career of superstar footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Swede suffered a career-threatening knee injury while playing for Manchester United in March 2017. After performing surgery on the striker’s seriously ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, Fu told the Post that Ibrahimovic had “many years” left at the top of the game. Ibrahimovic made a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3150166/dr-freddie-fu-hong-kong-surgeon-who-saved-zlatan-ibrahimovics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3150166/dr-freddie-fu-hong-kong-surgeon-who-saved-zlatan-ibrahimovics?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Sep 2021 08:12:22 +0000 A last-ditch display of dogged determination dragged Hong Kong’s Jason Hak Shun-yat back into medal contention on Thursday during the third round of the men’s golf event at the National Games. After a fine start of three birdies through the first five holes, the 27-year-old began to struggle for consistency around the turn. His round was petering out at one-under par for the day, which would have seen him slump down the leader board and back into the pack as the field began to get to grips with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3149829/national-games-jason-hak-drags-himself-medal-contention-late-birdie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3149829/national-games-jason-hak-drags-himself-medal-contention-late-birdie?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:48:00 +0000 Hong Kong’s Jason Hak Shun-yat moved into an early share of second place following the opening round at Xi’an Qinling International in the individual golf event at the National Games on Tuesday. Hak, who has enjoyed a sensational 2021 season finishing in the top five in six of his seven events so far this term on the China Tour, registered a fine six-under-par opening round, which included six birdies and no blemishes. It looked likely the 27-year-old would hold onto the overnight lead before a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3149572/national-games-hong-kongs-jason-hak-sits-second-after-faultless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3149572/national-games-hong-kongs-jason-hak-sits-second-after-faultless?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Sep 2021 09:29:19 +0000 Fu Yuanhui re-emerged at the National Games of China on Monday to cruise into the semi-finals of her preferred 100-metre backstroke event, but revealed she has no expectation of medalling at the Olympic Sports Centre in Xian. Fu, a bronze medallist in the 100m back at the Rio Games in 2016 was a surprise absentee from the China team for the Tokyo 2020 Games – she was disqualified in the semi-final of the Olympic qualifiers in May, and failed to show up to compete at a last-ditch qualifier event... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3149449/national-games-prehistoric-fu-yuanhui-advances-semi-finals-100m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3149449/national-games-prehistoric-fu-yuanhui-advances-semi-finals-100m?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Sep 2021 10:29:04 +0000 Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey maintained her incredible form in 2021 as she led her team Energy Standard to victory in match eight of the International Swimming League (ISL) in Naples, Italy on Sunday. First up, Haughey claimed second place in the 100-metre freestyle narrowly trailing Australia’s Emma McKeon and ahead of her Energy Standard teammate Sarah Sjostrom. McKeon returned in 51.05 seconds, just 0.11 off Haughey’s league record time of 50.94. Later, Haughey dominated her pet event, the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3149416/isl-2021-hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-continues-fine-form-winning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3149416/isl-2021-hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-continues-fine-form-winning?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Sep 2021 07:25:22 +0000 Hong Kong made a solid start to the 2021 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday as they grabbed seventh place at the Canada Sevens, their first Series appearance outside of Asia in 14 years. The Series has returned this year, although it consists of only two stops, in Vancouver and Edmonton, with Covid-19 ensuring that all other legs were cancelled for this campaign and limiting participation. After finishing third in their pool on Saturday behind Ireland and Great... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3149373/canada-sevens-hong-kong-claim-seventh-place-opening-stop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3149373/canada-sevens-hong-kong-claim-seventh-place-opening-stop?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Sep 2021 03:11:02 +0000 Hong Kong teenager Coleman Wong Chak-lam made history at the US Open in New York on Saturday when he became the first Hongkonger to claim a boys’ doubles grand slam title. Alongside his playing partner, Max Westphal, 17-year-old Wong defeated the eighth-seeded pairing of Viacheslav Bielinskyi from Ukraine and Bulgarian Petr Nesterov to seal the championship 6-3, 5-7 (10-1). Teenaged phenoms Raducanu and Fernandez turn the world on its ear as their lives get set to change dramatically Wong, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3148445/us-open-hong-kongs-coleman-wong-makes-history-citys-first-boys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3148445/us-open-hong-kongs-coleman-wong-makes-history-citys-first-boys?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Sep 2021 04:53:28 +0000 Hong Kong concluded its Tokyo 2020 Paralympics campaign on a high note yesterday on the final day of competition as the curtain fell on a largely successful summer of sport in a Covid-19-beleaguered Japan. China, which finished second on the medal table behind the United States at last month’s Olympics, went one better at the Paralympics and dominated the count. It was a timely boost for China whose focus now quickly shifts to its National Games later this month before the final preparations for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147648/tokyo-paralympics-hong-kong-claims-two-medals-final-day-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147648/tokyo-paralympics-hong-kong-claims-two-medals-final-day-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Sep 2021 11:52:05 +0000 Hong Kong grabbed its second Tokyo Paralympics medal of the day when Chu Man-kai took the silver medal in the final of the SH6 badminton, narrowly beaten by India’s Krishna Nagar. Nagar, the Asian Para Games bronze medallist, hadn’t dropped a single game on his run to the final where he beat 30-year-old Chu 2-1 (21-17, 16-21, 21-17). Chu, the Asian Para Games gold medallist from Jakarta, will rue having led by five points in the opening game before the Indian launched a stirring fightback and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147624/tokyo-paralympics-chu-man-kai-takes-badminton-silver-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147624/tokyo-paralympics-chu-man-kai-takes-badminton-silver-after?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:39:29 +0000 Hong Kong’s Daniel Chan Ho-yuen claimed Tokyo Paralympics badminton bronze on Sunday morning at Yoyogi National Stadium, the city’s fourth medal of these Games. Second-seeded Chan won a tense bronze medal match against South Korea’s Kim Kyung Hoon in a nervy encounter 2-0 (24-22, 21-10). Chan said he was forced to overcome a bout of nerves in the opening game. “I felt so, so, so, so nervous in the first game because there’s no way to step back on court again. If I lose then I get nothing from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147621/tokyo-paralympics-daniel-chan-ho-yuen-grabs-badminton-bronze-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147621/tokyo-paralympics-daniel-chan-ho-yuen-grabs-badminton-bronze-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Sep 2021 03:27:37 +0000 Hong Kong’s women’s foil team were forced to settle for another fourth-place finish in the Makuhari Messe Hall at the Tokyo Paralympics on Sunday night after falling agonisingly short in a nail-biting bronze medal match. Hungary grabbed third place after winning a thrilling clash 45-44 with eight seconds remaining. The result capped a miserable fencing campaign for Hong Kong, and confirmed Tokyo 2020 as the first Paralympics it has failed to win a medal at in over 40 years. Hong Kong also... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146802/tokyo-paralympics-hong-kong-fall-agonisingly-short-team-foil-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146802/tokyo-paralympics-hong-kong-fall-agonisingly-short-team-foil-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Aug 2021 11:42:24 +0000 Day three of the Tokyo Paralympics began with more disappointment for Hong Kong as top medal hope Tang Wai-lok failed to progress to the final of the men’s 200-metre freestyle swimming. Tang was the defending Paralympic champion and holds the Paralympic record for his one minute, 56.32-second run in Rio five years ago. He won one of Hong Kong’s two gold medals at the 2016 Paralympics. His time of 1:59.77 in the heats was just the 10th quickest of the round meaning he missed out on the chance to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146566/tokyo-paralympics-disappointment-hong-kong-defending-champion-tang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146566/tokyo-paralympics-disappointment-hong-kong-defending-champion-tang?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Aug 2021 02:09:35 +0000 Chinese No 2 Zhang Shuai completed a hard-fought straight-sets win over USA’s Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the round-of-16 of the Tennis in the Land event in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday night. In an epic one hour and 50-minute clash, the 32-year-old from Tianjin battled through 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) against the American veteran. Zhang did not face a single break point in the match, while Mattek-Sands saved 12 of the 14 she faced. The victory set up a quarter-final clash against the seventh-seeded Spaniard... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3146426/chinas-zhang-shuai-marches-cleveland-open-quarter-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3146426/chinas-zhang-shuai-marches-cleveland-open-quarter-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Aug 2021 04:06:18 +0000 Hong Kong sport received a timely boost on Wednesday evening when this year’s embattled edition of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon was finally given approval to go ahead after months of high-level talks. The Marathon, which was cancelled outright in 2020 due to the spread of coronavirus, will be held on Sunday, October 24, with a vastly reduced field of 18,500 runners across all three race categories, and with strict Covid-19 regulations in place. 74,000 runners took part in the last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3145503/hong-kong-marathon-huge-boost-city-sport-blue-riband-athletics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3145503/hong-kong-marathon-huge-boost-city-sport-blue-riband-athletics?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Aug 2021 10:41:43 +0000 China could be in line for a late addition to its Tokyo 2020 medal haul after the Athletics Integrity Unit announced a provisional ban on British sprinter Chijindu Ujah over suspected doping. The body announced that there were adverse findings in the tests of 27-year-old Ujah, who ran the opening leg for Team GB’s 4x100-metre sprint quartet as it was narrowly beaten by Italy and claimed Olympic silver ahead of Canada last week. China’s team of Su Bingtian, Asia’s fastest man; Tang Xingqiang; Wu... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144880/tokyo-2020-china-going-boost-its-olympic-medal-tally-4x100m-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144880/tokyo-2020-china-going-boost-its-olympic-medal-tally-4x100m-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Aug 2021 02:49:10 +0000 Unparalleled success, joy unmatched, Sarah Lee Wai-sze capped Hong Kong’s greatest Olympics ever with a bronze on Sunday to add to the five other medals her teammates had already won against a backdrop of Covid-19. Putting the exclamation mark on the best performance in the city’s history, that Lee’s win was tinged with disappointment at what might have been spoke volumes for what was achieved – and desired even more – compared with the sober, modest predictions beforehand. That the next Games... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144299/tokyo-olympics-hong-kongs-greatest-games-ever-brings-joy-unmatched?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144299/tokyo-olympics-hong-kongs-greatest-games-ever-brings-joy-unmatched?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Aug 2021 15:27:23 +0000 In one of the closest run contests of the entire Tokyo 2020 Games, Team USA pipped fierce rivals China in the gold medal race on Sunday. China, who had led the medal table for 11 straight days, were pipped at the post by the USA when Chinese athletes failed to win a gold medal on the final day. Team USA finished with 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals, against China’s 38 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze. How China’s diving darling strove for Tokyo gold to help ill mother “We are thrilled by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144290/tokyo-olympics-chinas-gold-medal-haul-hailed-despite-usa-stealing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144290/tokyo-olympics-chinas-gold-medal-haul-hailed-despite-usa-stealing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Aug 2021 12:08:11 +0000 It is perhaps a measure of Hong Kong’s spectacular performance at the Tokyo Games, that Sarah Lee Wai-sze’s bronze medal win in the sprint on the last day could even remotely be considered a minor disappointment. After all, it is a tremendous feat that was celebrated ecstatically when she first achieved it at the London 2012 Games, where she won Hong Kong’s only medal and just the city’s third ever. In Japan, Hong Kong has now trebled its all-time medal haul, which perhaps explains why... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144281/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lees-bronze-tinged-mild-disappointment-which?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144281/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lees-bronze-tinged-mild-disappointment-which?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Aug 2021 08:56:18 +0000 Just as the murmurs grew louder about Tokyo 2020 being a campaign too far for veteran Hong Kong rider Sarah Lee Wai-sze, the London 2012 Olympic medal hero delivered a soaring performance on Saturday to silence her doubters and book her spot in the sprint semi-finals at the Izu Velodrome. Lee now has the chance to compete for a second Olympic medal on what is likely to be the last day of Olympic competition in her sparkling career, and grab a sensational sixth medal for Hong Kong. These have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144243/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lee-poised-write-perfect-closing-chapter-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144243/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lee-poised-write-perfect-closing-chapter-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Aug 2021 14:01:57 +0000 Sarah Lee Wai-sze dashed into the quarter-final of the sprint event at Tokyo 2020 on Saturday after catching up-and-coming star Mathilde Gros in a late dash for the line. It was an assured, tactically on-point showing from the 34-year-old who has endured a tricky Tokyo 2020 campaign so far, catching the Frenchwoman with a last-ditch lunge for the line after a competitive last-16 heat. Hong Kong’s Lee, a bronze medallist in keirin at the London 2012 Games, has had to make her progress the hard... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144219/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lee-remains-medal-hunt-after-moving-sprint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144219/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lee-remains-medal-hunt-after-moving-sprint?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Aug 2021 07:17:50 +0000 Welterweight Gu Hong grabbed China’s first boxing medal of these Games at the Kokugikan Arena on Saturday after an ugly final bout against Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli went against her on the judges’ scorecards. The Chinese second seed was unable to implement the game plan that had been so effective for her during the welterweight campaign. Attempting to fight at range, she was continually stymied by the aggressive Surmeneli’s willingness to make the fight a shoot-out at close quarters. Gu was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144217/tokyo-olympics-gu-hong-takes-silver-after-split-decision-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144217/tokyo-olympics-gu-hong-takes-silver-after-split-decision-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Aug 2021 06:55:51 +0000 Carlo Paalam was beaten on a split decision as he fell narrowly short in his bid to become Philippines’ first boxing gold medal winner at Kokugikan Arena on Saturday. Galal Yafai of Great Britain took the Tokyo 2020 flyweight gold after a fight where he outclassed 23-year-old Paalam for the first two rounds. Paalam fought back gamely in the final round, but by then he needed an unlikely knockout to steal the gold. Paalam got off to the worst possible start after being sent to the canvas with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3144210/tokyo-olympics-silver-carlo-paalam-means-disappointment-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3144210/tokyo-olympics-silver-carlo-paalam-means-disappointment-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Aug 2021 05:18:11 +0000 China’s Liu Shiying is the Olympic champion in javelin after a first attempt distance of 66.34 metres secured her top spot on the podium at the Olympic Stadium on Friday night. A season’s best effort for the 27-year-old was enough to win the Olympic gold to add to her Asian Games gold and her silver medal from the 2019 World Championships. It was China’s second track and field gold of the Games and inches China ever closer to the coveted top spot on the overall medal table with two days of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144163/tokyo-olympics-more-athletics-gold-china-liu-shiying-secures-javelin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144163/tokyo-olympics-more-athletics-gold-china-liu-shiying-secures-javelin?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 13:15:24 +0000 Hong Kong’s Sarah Lee Wai-sze qualified for the third round of the sprint event at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday evening, but not before “scaring” her supporters. The 34-year-old was forced to dig deep again at the Izu Velodrome to keep her medal dreams alive. Just as she had to in the keirin event on Thursday, Lee was made to come through a last-16 repechage to secure her path to the next round. She comfortably beat USA’s Madalyn Godby to ensure her involvement into the weekend. Earlier in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144140/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lee-squeaks-through-last-eight-jessica-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144140/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lee-squeaks-through-last-eight-jessica-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 10:47:34 +0000 Chinese middleweight Li Qian will fight for a Tokyo 2020 gold medal after overcoming the Russian Olympic Committee’s Zemfira Magomedalieva in their semi-final clash at the Kokugikan Arena on Friday. Li dominated her 33-year-old opponent, a two-time world amateur champion at light-heavyweight and heavyweight, with superior ring craft during a largely untidy fight. Li was handed the fight by a unanimous judges’ decision, with all five judges awarding the Henan native each of the three... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144064/tokyo-olympics-chinas-li-qian-fight-middleweight-boxing-gold-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144064/tokyo-olympics-chinas-li-qian-fight-middleweight-boxing-gold-after?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 05:39:09 +0000 It was another tough day for Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe City on Thursday as the city’s number one player struggled to a three-over-par 74 to move to nine-over for the tournament. The round that saw her remain tied for 58th in the 60-strong field included five bogeys and two birdies and all but ended any faint hopes she might have had of a medal push at Tokyo 2020. It was a three-shot improvement on her opening round, but the deficit to USA’s Nelly... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3143972/tokyo-olympics-tiffany-chan-struggles-improve-day-two-nelly-korda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3143972/tokyo-olympics-tiffany-chan-struggles-improve-day-two-nelly-korda?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:07:32 +0000 Hong Kong medal prospect Sarah Lee Wai-sze failed in her attempt to add to her London 2012 keirin bronze on Thursday when the city’s only track cycling Olympic medallist was eliminated at the semi-final stage at Izu Velodrome. Lee was ranked the No 2 rider in the world in the latest UCI rankings. None of her rivals in her semi-final heat on Thursday were ranked inside the top 10 and Lee could reasonably have been expected to advance from a heat in which she was easily the most decorated rider in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3143940/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lee-fails-repeat-london-2012-heroics-keirin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3143940/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lee-fails-repeat-london-2012-heroics-keirin?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Aug 2021 08:52:17 +0000 Eumir Marcial was forced to settle for a Tokyo 2020 bronze medal after he was beaten in an enthralling middleweight semi-final bout against top seed Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine in a nail-biting split decision at the Kokugikan Arena on Thursday. Marcial, 25, had edged the first two rounds, landing the bigger punches in a fight that buzzed with a series of huge exchanges. But Khyzhniak dug deeper than the Filipino in the final round and narrowly took the victory, the judges split 3-2. It was a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3143911/tokyo-olympics-eumir-marcial-misses-out-gold-medal-final-he-loses-semi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3143911/tokyo-olympics-eumir-marcial-misses-out-gold-medal-final-he-loses-semi?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Aug 2021 06:38:12 +0000 Filipino flyweight Carlo Paalam completed a unanimous decision win to move within one fight of a gold medal as he dominated Ryomei Tanaka of Japan from start to finish in their semi-final bout at Kokugikan Arena on Thursday. Paalam’s win guarantees at least a silver medal for Philippines, to add to the gold weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz claimed earlier in the Games, and the boxing silver Paalam’s teammate Nesthy Petecio scored on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Paalam was all class in a consummate win... https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3143903/tokyo-olympics-carlo-paalam-gold-medal-fight-he-eases-past-japans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3143903/tokyo-olympics-carlo-paalam-gold-medal-fight-he-eases-past-japans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Aug 2021 05:55:15 +0000 It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t Sarah Lee Wai-sze at her imperious best, but Hong Kong’s first and only Olympic cycling medallist made it into the quarter-finals of the women’s keirin on Wednesday, at the second time of asking and avoided an inevitable bout of soul-searching. Lee Wai-sze, and her teammate Jessica Lee Hoi-yan, were relegated to the repechage after each finished outside the top two automatic qualifying positions in their opening round heats. Lee Wai-sze was more than... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3143822/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lees-olympic-medal-chances-become-clearer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3143822/tokyo-olympics-sarah-lees-olympic-medal-chances-become-clearer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 12:00:06 +0000 China’s Gu Hong wrapped up an impressive split decision victory against USA’s Oshae Jones at Tokyo’s Kokugikan Arena on Wednesday to ensure her country will win at least one Olympic boxing medal at these Games. Gu, 32, was always in control in the welterweight semi-final bout and the second-seeded veteran enjoyed the luxury of seeing out the final round in comfort – though she also swept it on the scorecards – after racing into a commanding two-round lead. The victory means China is guaranteed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143759/tokyo-olympics-chinas-gu-hong-moves-gold-medal-fight-she-dispatches-usa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143759/tokyo-olympics-chinas-gu-hong-moves-gold-medal-fight-she-dispatches-usa?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 06:26:43 +0000 Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching got her Tokyo Olympics campaign off to a poor start on the opening day of play at Kasumigaseki Country Club on Wednesday as she signed for a six-over-par 77 to leave her 11 shots off the early pace. Chan’s round was good enough only for a share of 58th place in the field of 60. Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom topped the leader board after day one following a flawless round of five-under par 66 that put her a shot clear of USA’s Nelly Korda and India’s Aditi... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3143748/tokyo-olympics-hong-kongs-tiffany-chan-toils-during-tough-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3143748/tokyo-olympics-hong-kongs-tiffany-chan-toils-during-tough-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 05:12:36 +0000 Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah created history on Tuesday night as she became the first woman to do the “double-double” defending both titles as she added 200-metres gold to the 100m gold she won three days ago at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. Thompson-Herah retained the 200m crown she won in Rio five years ago with a blistering run of 21.53 seconds in the final, a new Jamaican record. She steamed home ahead of Namibia’s Christine Mboma, who produced a barnstorming run to take silver in 21.81,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3143696/tokyo-olympics-double-double-elaine-thompson-herah-she-storms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3143696/tokyo-olympics-double-double-elaine-thompson-herah-she-storms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:59:14 +0000 USA’s Athing Mu took the 800-metres gold in a national record time of one minute, 55.21 seconds at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday to confirm her status as the world’s best over the distance at just 19 years old and end the country’s long wait for another 800m triumph. Mu, a former Youth Olympics silver medallist, led from the starter’s gun until she crossed the line after pulling well clear down the home straight. Double-double for Elaine Thompson-Herah as she storms to 200m gold “I wasn’t... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3143693/tokyo-olympics-chinas-wang-chunyu-800m-athing-mu-claims-800m-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3143693/tokyo-olympics-chinas-wang-chunyu-800m-athing-mu-claims-800m-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:42:58 +0000 China secured gold and silver in the men’s three-metre springboard event at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Tuesday to maintain its almost total dominance of the diving pool at these Tokyo Games. Xie Siyi scored 558.75 in the final to ensure he claimed gold, adding the Olympic title to his world title, and fending off his 3m synchro partner – with whom he already secured the gold at Tokyo 2020 – Wang Zongyuan, who took silver with 534.90. “I’ll give myself full marks,” Xie said. “It’s really not... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143633/tokyo-olympics-china-takes-gold-and-silver-3m-springboard-diving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143633/tokyo-olympics-china-takes-gold-and-silver-3m-springboard-diving?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 07:32:57 +0000 Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio fell just short in her bid to add Tokyo Olympic gold to her 2019 World Championship win, losing by unanimous points decision to Sena Irie of Japan in the featherweight final at the Kokugikan Arena on Tuesday. The 20-year-old Tokyo-based fighter leapt for joy before bursting into tears as the judges awarded her a unanimous points win, the first elite title of her short career. Who are Asia’s top gold medal hopes at the Olympic Games? It was heartbreak for 29-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3143605/tokyo-olympics-nesthy-petecio-falls-short-her-bid-gold-irie-sena-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3143605/tokyo-olympics-nesthy-petecio-falls-short-her-bid-gold-irie-sena-win?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 04:35:04 +0000 Philippines’ Carlo Paalam scored a sensational victory over the defending Olympic champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in their flyweight quarter-final bout to guarantee another Tokyo 2020 medal for his country at the Kokugikan Arena on Tuesday. It was a controversial conclusion to an enthralling, albeit brief, last-eight encounter that guaranteed the winner at least Olympic bronze in the fabled home of sumo. Who are Asia’s top gold medal hopes at the Olympic Games? A clash of heads, deemed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3143586/tokyo-olympics-carlo-paalam-beats-olympic-champion-zoirov-guarantee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3143586/tokyo-olympics-carlo-paalam-beats-olympic-champion-zoirov-guarantee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 02:30:35 +0000 China kicked off the track cycling programme at the Tokyo 2020 Games in style on Monday as it defended its team sprint Olympic title and took gold in a world record time at the Izu Velodrome. China’s team of Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi beat the World Championship gold-medallist German pairing of Lea Friedrich and Emma Hinze in the final by just five hundredths of a second to secure China’s second track cycling Olympic medal. The ROC took the bronze medal edging Netherlands into fourth... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143528/tokyo-olympics-china-sets-new-world-record-it-claims-first-track?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143528/tokyo-olympics-china-sets-new-world-record-it-claims-first-track?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Aug 2021 11:05:20 +0000