分类： sports

MIAMI — The Dominican Republic baseball team delivered a stunning performance Friday night, securing their spot in the World Baseball Classic semifinals with a decisive 10-0 victory over South Korea that ended prematurely under the tournament’s mercy rule. The game concluded dramatically in the seventh inning when Austin Wells, a late-game defensive substitution, launched a walk-off three-run homer on the first pitch from South Korean pitcher Hyeong Jun So.

The Dominicans demonstrated complete dominance throughout the tournament, maintaining a perfect 5-0 record while showcasing exceptional offensive power. The team has outscored opponents by a remarkable 51-10 margin, batting an impressive .312 collectively. Their 14 home runs in the tournament equaled the single-event record set by Mexico in 2009.

Fernando Tatis Jr. continued his outstanding performance, driving in two runs during the game and bringing his tournament total to 11 RBIs. This places him tied for third in single-tournament RBI production, trailing only Japan’s Masataka Yoshida (13 in 2023) and the Netherlands’ Wladimir Balentien (12 in 2017).

Starting pitcher Christopher Sánchez set the tone with a dominant performance, striking out eight batters over five innings while allowing just two hits. The Dominican offense provided ample support with three runs in the second inning and four in the third, effectively putting the game out of reach early.

For South Korea, the loss marked another disappointing exit despite reaching the quarterfinals for the first time after three consecutive first-round eliminations. The team struggled offensively with just two hits in the game and finished the tournament with a .222 batting average and 5.91 ERA.

The Dominican Republic will face the winner of the United States-Canada matchup in Sunday’s semifinal, with Luis Severino scheduled to start on the mound as they pursue their second WBC title and first since 2013.

Haikou, Hainan Province served as the groundbreaking host for the 2026 Council of British International Schools (COBIS) Primary Games this week, marking the prestigious event’s first-ever staging in China. The international gathering brought together over 100 young athletes representing 25 diverse countries and regions for a celebration of sports and cross-cultural exchange.

The three-day competition, which commenced on March 12 at Harrow International School Haikou, featured students aged 10-11 from nations including Britain, Russia, Georgia, and Thailand. Participants competed across multiple disciplines including soccer, basketball, and various track and field events, creating a vibrant atmosphere of international camaraderie.

Event organizers highlighted the significance of hosting within the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), which implemented island-wide special customs operations in December 2025. The FTP’s visa-free access policy for citizens from 86 countries proved instrumental in facilitating smooth entry for international athletes, coaching staff, and support personnel.

“Hosting these games represents both an honor and a profound responsibility,” stated Olly Wells, Headmaster of Harrow Haikou, who spearheaded the bid to bring COBIS to China. “We take immense pride in uniting students, educators, and institutions from across the COBIS network here in Hainan—individuals from different nations and cultural backgrounds, yet united through athletic spirit and friendship.”

Wells acknowledged the school’s international event experience and facilities as contributing factors, but emphasized the FTP policies as a decisive advantage. “Hainan provides a fantastic organizational location,” he noted. “Beyond our year-round fabulous weather, the Hainan Free Trade Port policies significantly simplify travel arrangements for numerous nationalities.”

Delegates consistently praised the efficient border processing experience. Hannah M, Head of Lower School Sport at Harrow Hong Kong, commented: “Immigration personnel were exceptionally accommodating and friendly, facilitating remarkably quick processing upon our arrival.”

Beyond the athletic competitions, the games served as a platform for meaningful cultural exchange. Harrow Haikou organized city tours for participants, featuring visits to scenic landmarks and opportunities to sample local specialties. Students also engaged in traditional cultural activities including lacquer fan painting and zodiac rubbing workshops.

“This is my first visit to China, and it’s genuinely exciting,” shared Noelle Binner, a student participant from Austria. “China possesses remarkable beauty and positive energy. Hainan radiates happiness and hospitality.” Binner particularly valued the cultural activities, noting: “I can bring these creations home! The experience proved fascinating and allowed me to appreciate the charm of Chinese culture.”

Yu Yao, Chinese Principal of Harrow Haikou, characterized the gathering as a significant advancement for international engagement within the province. “Having students from numerous countries congregate here in Haikou vividly demonstrates Hainan’s growing role in international education,” she remarked. “We remain committed to further promoting international exchange and cultivating global talent development within this region.”

PERTH, Australia — In a thrilling quarterfinal clash at the Women’s Asian Cup, Australia secured both a tournament semifinal berth and automatic qualification for the 2025 World Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against a dominant North Korean side. Despite being significantly outplayed in possession and facing relentless offensive pressure, the Matildas demonstrated remarkable defensive resilience and clinical finishing to advance.

North Korea controlled the match tempo from the outset, maintaining nearly two-thirds of possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Their aggressive approach resulted in 21 total shots with 10 on target, but they struggled to convert against Australia’s determined defensive line and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s crucial saves.

Australian striker Sam Kerr emerged as the decisive factor, contributing significantly to both goals. In the 9th minute, Kerr dispossessed North Korean captain An Kuk Hyang in the right corner and delivered a precise cross into the area. The ensuing deflection fell to Alanna Kennedy, who converted with a left-footed strike for her fifth goal of the tournament.

Kerr extended Australia’s advantage just two minutes after halftime, capitalizing on a defensive error to score with a left-footed shot. The North Koreans intensified their efforts and reduced the deficit in the 65th minute when Kim Kyong Yong’s pass from the left found Chae Un Yong for a close-range finish.

Despite sustained pressure in the final stages, Australia’s defense held firm to preserve the victory. Kerr acknowledged the team’s defensive performance, stating: ‘It was a really good team performance defensively. They’re a good side and they had a lot of the ball and there was a lot of pressure. The crowd was immense today, got us over the line.’

The victory guarantees Australia’s place in both the Asian Cup semifinals and next year’s World Cup in Brazil. They await the winner of the quarterfinal between defending champion China and Taiwan. North Korea will have another opportunity to qualify for the World Cup through upcoming playoffs, with fifth and sixth-place finishers in the tournament also securing spots.

The tournament continues with South Korea facing Uzbekistan in Sydney, while Japan prepares for their quarterfinal against the Philippines after an impressive group stage performance that saw them score 17 goals without conceding.

A landmark study reveals a significant transformation in India’s sporting landscape, with female participation in cricket and badminton reaching unprecedented levels. Commissioned by the BBC and Collective Newsroom, the comprehensive 2026 survey encompassing 10,304 respondents across 14 Indian states demonstrates remarkable progress in gender parity within sports.

The data indicates that one in ten Indian women now actively participate in cricket, representing a substantial increase from previous years. The gender gap in cricket participation has notably narrowed from a 5:1 male-to-female ratio in 2020 to a 3:1 ratio in the current findings. Among female cricket players, 40% engage in the sport at least weekly, demonstrating serious commitment to athletic pursuits.

This surge in female sports involvement coincides with extraordinary achievements by Indian sportswomen on the global stage. The inspirational performances of shooter Manu Bhaker, who secured two Olympic medals at the 2024 Paris Games, coupled with the Indian women’s cricket team capturing their inaugural World Cup title on home soil in 2025, have created a powerful ripple effect throughout the nation.

Young women aged 15-24 emerge as the primary catalysts driving this sporting revolution, with 26% considering athletics as a viable career path—a significant increase from 16% in 2020. Viewership patterns reflect this growing engagement, with 51% of respondents following women’s sports coverage, approaching the 63% who follow men’s sports.

Despite these advancements, the study reveals persistent societal challenges. Concerningly, 43% of respondents believe women’s sports are less entertaining than men’s (up from 38% in 2020), while nearly half of those surveyed maintain that sportswomen should prioritize appearing attractive—a sentiment more prevalent among female respondents than male.

The research, conducted by Kantar India using consistent methodology for comparability with the 2020 baseline, also highlights structural barriers to sports participation, with two-thirds of Indians citing time constraints as their primary obstacle to athletic involvement.

DHAKA, Bangladesh — In a strategic move at the toss, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz opted to field first against Pakistan in the pivotal second One-Day International on Friday. This decision comes on the heels of a dominant performance that has the home team leading the three-match series 1-0.

The opening game witnessed a spectacular bowling display from Bangladeshi fast bowler Nahid Rana, who dismantled the Pakistani batting order. Rana’s career-best figures of 5-24 bundled out the visitors for a meager 114 runs, paving the way for a comprehensive eight-wicket victory last Wednesday.

Demonstrating confidence in a winning combination, Bangladesh has retained the exact same playing XI. In contrast, Pakistan has been forced into a tactical adjustment following their batting collapse. Despite a collective failure from their debutant quartet—Sahibzada Farhan, Shamyl Hussain, Maaz Sadaqat, and Abdul Samad—who struggled against the pace of Rana and the off-spin of Captain Miraz, the team management has persisted with its inexperienced top order.

Pakistan’s sole change comes in the bowling department. Seeking to exploit what is anticipated to be a pace-friendly wicket, they have recalled express fast bowler Haris Rauf, replacing leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.

The lineups for the crucial encounter are:

**Pakistan:** Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.

**Bangladesh:** Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman.