分类： sports

The final chapter of women’s figure skating at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics unfolds Thursday night with an unprecedented potential podium sweep by Japanese athletes, while American champion Alysa Liu carries her nation’s golden aspirations against formidable competition.

Japan’s formidable trio—Ami Nakai (17), Kaori Sakamoto (25), and Mone Chiba—stand positioned to achieve what no nation has accomplished in Olympic history: a complete women’s figure skating podium domination. Nakai, inspired by legendary skater Mao Asada, leads the competition after delivering one of only two successful triple axels during Tuesday’s short program. Sakamoto, the 2022 Beijing bronze medalist, trails by a mere point in what she暗示 might be her Olympic finale.

Challenging the Japanese dominance is American skater Alysa Liu, who has positioned herself as the only non-Japanese contender within striking distance of the podium. The 20-year-old from California’s Bay Area has staged a remarkable comeback after a two-year retirement, during which she rediscovered her passion for skating. Her victory at last year’s World Championships—ending a 16-year American drought since Kimmie Meissner—preceded her current quest to become the first U.S. women’s Olympic champion since Sarah Hughes in 2002.

The competition’s unpredictable variable arrives in the form of Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian (18), who competes as a neutral athlete amid Russia’s ongoing exclusion from international events due to geopolitical circumstances. As the latest prodigy from controversial coach Eteri Tutberidze’s stable, Petrosian represents the only contender capable of executing quadruple jumps—a technical element that could dramatically alter the competition’s outcome. Despite limited international exposure and concerns about inflated domestic scores, her Milan performances have demonstrated medal-winning potential.

This showdown marks another chapter in Russia’s figure skating dominance, with no non-Russian athlete having claimed Olympic gold since South Korea’s Yuna Kim at the 2010 Vancouver Games. The evening promises not only technical excellence but compelling narratives of perseverance, national pride, and athletic legacy across generations of skaters.

CHONBURI, Thailand – The LPGA Tour’s Asian swing commenced with impressive performances at the Siam Country Club Old Course, where Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and local favorite Chanettee Wannasaen seized a joint lead after Thursday’s opening round of the LPGA Thailand tournament.

Hataoka, a five-time LPGA individual champion and 2021 U.S. Women’s Open runner-up, demonstrated exceptional precision throughout her bogey-free round. The 27-year-old golfer carded a 7-under 65, attributing her success to superior tee shots and iron play that created abundant birdie opportunities.

Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen matched Hataoka’s score, delighting home crowds with an equally impressive performance that positioned her atop the leaderboard alongside the Japanese standout.

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh delivered the day’s most explosive start, opening her round with an eagle followed by three consecutive birdies. Dryburgh finished one stroke behind the leaders at 6-under 66, sharing third position with South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi and Somi Lee.

The tournament features a tightly bunched leaderboard with world-class talent lurking close behind. Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and former world number one Lydia Ko posted solid 67s, placing them among a ten-player group tied for sixth position just two strokes off the pace.

Defending champion Angel Yin opened her title defense with a respectable 3-under 69, remaining within striking distance of the leaders.

Notably absent from the Asian swing is world number two Nelly Korda, who won the season-opening Tournament of Champions in February under unusual circumstances when adverse weather conditions forced cancellation of the final round. Korda has opted to skip the three-tournament Asian segment for the third consecutive year, missing events in Thailand, Singapore, and China.

In a stunning display of composure and skill, Philippine tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala extended her remarkable campaign at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a decisive victory over seasoned Romanian Sorana Cîrstea. The 20-year-old sensation secured her quarterfinal berth with a 7-5, 6-4 triumph before an enthusiastic crowd that included numerous Filipino supporters.

Eala’s performance demonstrated both tactical maturity and offensive prowess as she navigated a tightly contested opening set before dominating the second with aggressive shot-making. This victory follows her impressive upset against world number eight Jasmine Paolini in the previous round, cementing her status as a rising force in women’s tennis.

The win propels the history-making Filipina—currently ranked 40th globally and her nation’s highest-ranked player ever—into a highly anticipated quarterfinal confrontation with American star Coco Gauff. The two-time Grand Slam champion survived her own dramatic encounter, saving three match points against Belgium’s Elise Mertens in a three-set thriller.

Eala acknowledged the significance of facing an established champion, stating: ‘I view this as an exceptional opportunity for growth. Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, the experience against a player of Coco’s caliber in a prestigious quarterfinal represents invaluable learning for my development.’

Gauff, recognizing both Eala’s talent and the electric atmosphere expected for their match, commented: ‘Such vibrant crowd engagement ultimately benefits our sport. Alexandra has demonstrated her capabilities by defeating top-ten opponents convincingly, ensuring our match will present considerable challenges.’

The marquee quarterfinal is scheduled for 7 PM Thursday on Centre Court, where Eala’s supporters are expected to create a passionate, football-like environment. Other quarterfinal matchups feature defending champion Mirra Andreeva against Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula versus Clara Tauson, and Elina Svitolina taking on Antonia Ruzic.

DUBAI – Despite the withdrawal of Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina due to illness, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships continue to deliver high-stakes drama as defending champion Mirra Andreeva advances to a captivating quarterfinal showdown.

The 18-year-old Russian phenom, who became the youngest WTA 1000 champion in history with her Dubai triumph last year, secured her place in the final eight with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 victory over Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian in a match featuring an extraordinary 13 service breaks.

Andreeva now faces American powerhouse Amanda Anisimova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, who demonstrated dominant form with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 dismissal of Indonesian wildcard Janice Tjen in just 70 minutes.

The defending champion acknowledged her imperfect performance after experiencing disrupted preparation due to Daria Kasatkina’s late withdrawal, which granted her a walkover in the second round following a first-round bye. ‘It’s kind of breaking the rhythm of your play a little bit,’ Andreeva admitted. ‘I was pretty far from perfect today, but I’m super happy that I stayed focused and tried to reset for every single point.’

Andreeva now stands at the threshold of history, seeking to join tennis legends Justine Henin, Venus Williams, and Elina Svitolina as only the fourth player to claim consecutive Dubai titles. ‘I feel so much more motivated here than any tournament,’ she revealed. ‘I’m going to give it all tomorrow.’

In other quarterfinal action, Lucky Loser Antonia Ruzic capitalized on Rybakina’s withdrawal, advancing when the Russia-born Kazakh retired after Ruzic claimed the second set 6-4. The Austrian will face Svitolina, who prevailed in a three-set battle against Swiss opponent Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Meanwhile, Denmark’s Clara Tauson, last year’s Dubai finalist, delivered an impressive performance with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Poland’s Magda Linette. Tauson will next confront fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula, who overpowered rising star Iva Jovic 6-4, 6-2.

Australian women’s football team coach Joe Montemurro has unveiled his squad selection for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup, set to commence on home soil in just ten days. The announcement confirms superstar striker Sam Kerr will captain the side in her fifth appearance at the continental tournament.

In a significant development, Montemurro has included Manchester City forward Mary Fowler, marking her return to international duty following a lengthy rehabilitation from a serious knee injury. Fowler sustained an anterior cruciate ligament rupture during last April’s Women’s FA Cup semifinal, requiring reconstructive surgery and limiting her to merely fifteen minutes of competitive play since.

The squad features experienced veterans Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter as vice-captains, providing leadership support to Kerr as Australia seeks its second Asian Cup title, having previously triumphed in 2010. This tournament, along with next year’s World Cup in Brazil, potentially represents the final major international competitions for many Matildas veterans who featured prominently in the 2023 World Cup.

Montemurro emphasized the selective process, stating: “Selecting a squad is never easy. But it is a privilege to bring together players who truly represent the identity and spirit of the Matildas, and who understand the responsibility of representing Australia.”

Australia begins its campaign against the Philippines in Perth on March 1, followed by group stage matches against Iran on the Gold Coast (March 5) and 2022 finalists South Korea in Sydney (March 8). The twelve-team tournament, featuring defending champions China, will conclude with the final at Sydney’s Olympic stadium on March 21, with matches distributed across five venues in Perth, Sydney, and the Gold Coast.