分类： sports

Two decades after arriving from Italy, Andrea Coatti has become an integral part of Chongli’s remarkable transformation from an unknown mountain town to an internationally recognized winter sports destination. The Italian ski professional, affectionately known as “Yibu” (meaning “one step”) among locals, initially journeyed to Zhangjiakou’s Chongli district in Hebei province without prior knowledge of the area.

Coatti dedicated his expertise to developing and maintaining ski infrastructure during Chongli’s formative years as a winter sports location. His technical contributions proved instrumental in the region’s development, culminating in his participation in constructing competition venues for the prestigious 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The Olympic legacy has propelled Chongli into a new era of growth and international recognition. The district now boasts state-of-the-art winter sports facilities connected to Beijing via high-speed rail, making it accessible to enthusiasts worldwide. This connectivity has transformed the once-quiet town into a thriving hub that attracts young skiers and snowboarders from across the globe.

Chongli’s evolution represents China’s strategic development of winter sports infrastructure and the successful integration of international expertise. The combination of foreign technical knowledge and local implementation has created a destination that meets international standards while maintaining its unique regional character.

In a high-stakes showdown at the Tokyo Dome, South Korea’s national baseball team clinched a dramatic 7-2 victory against Australia on Monday, securing their advancement to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals through a complex tiebreaker scenario. The triumph marks South Korea’s first appearance in the tournament’s knockout stage after three consecutive failures to escape pool play.

The game unfolded as a nail-biting mathematical puzzle, with South Korea requiring a victory margin of five runs or more to advance from Pool C. The team initially established a commanding 4-0 lead within the first three innings, with Bo Gyeong Moon delivering an exceptional offensive performance that included four RBIs, bringing his tournament total to an impressive 11.

Australia mounted several comeback attempts, twice narrowing the deficit to four runs, but each time South Korea responded with additional scoring. The decisive moment arrived in the ninth inning when Australian shortstop Jarryd Dale committed a critical throwing error that extended the inning. This miscue enabled Hae-Min Park to reach third base and subsequently score on Hyun Min Ahn’s sacrifice fly, providing the crucial fifth-run margin.

The drama intensified in the bottom of the ninth when South Korean right fielder Jung Hoo Lee made a spectacular diving catch off Rixon Wingrove’s line drive, preventing what appeared to be a certain double that could have scored an Australian runner and reduced the final margin to four runs—which would have eliminated South Korea from contention.

Pitcher Ju Young Son earned the victory while Australian starter Lachlan Wells was charged with the loss. South Korea now joins previously qualified Japan and superstar Shohei Ohtani as Pool C representatives in the quarterfinals, completing a remarkable turnaround after their early tournament struggles.

In an unexpected development, North Korea has officially canceled the Pyongyang International Marathon scheduled for April 5, 2026, offering no substantive explanation for the decision. The announcement was communicated to Koryo Tours, the British-operated tour agency recognized as the event’s official partner, by North Korea’s athletics association.

The notification, attributed to the association’s general secretary, cited vague “some reasons” for the cancellation while expressing gratitude to international elite and amateur runners who had shown interest in participating. According to Koryo Tours, the determination appears final and was made at a level surpassing the event’s direct organizers, suggesting higher governmental authority involvement.

This marks the first cancellation since the event’s post-pandemic revival in 2025 after five consecutive years of COVID-19 related suspensions. Established in 1981 to commemorate the birth of North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung, the marathon typically attracts foreign participants through specialized tour packages.

Koryo Tours, which operates from Beijing, had sold out its premium packages priced from €2,190 for 2.5 nights in Pyongyang including race entry and city tours. The company has committed to full deposit refunds while offering participants the option to retain credits for future events. No date has been set for the 2027 edition of the competition, which traditionally features 5km, 10km, half-marathon and full marathon distances open to both amateur and professional athletes.

In a high-stakes Group B finale at the Women’s Asian Cup, defending champions China secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over North Korea in a physically intense match at Western Sydney Stadium on Monday. The result positions China atop the group standings while setting North Korea for a quarterfinal confrontation against tournament hosts Australia in Perth this Friday.

The match marked North Korea’s return to the tournament after their 2010 final loss to Australia, requiring only a draw to claim group supremacy. Their ambitions seemed attainable when Kim Kyong Yong broke the deadlock with a clinical counter-attack finish in the 32nd minute—the game’s first shot on target.

China’s response was immediate and spectacular. Just two minutes later, Chen Qiaozhu unleashed a breathtaking strike through defensive traffic from the edge of the penalty area, leveling the score with her powerful equalizer.

The match turned decisively in first-half stoppage time when Wang Shuang’s goal underwent VAR review after initially being flagged for offside. The video assistant referee overturned the on-field decision, awarding China the crucial go-ahead goal. The controversial ruling sparked vehement protests from the North Korean bench, resulting in a yellow card for coach Ri Song Ho and delayed the team’s return to the pitch for the second half.

Both sides created significant opportunities after the break. North Korean goalkeeper Yu Son Gum made a spectacular full-stretch save to deny Wang Shuang in the 78th minute, while 19-year-old substitute Choe Il Son saw her apparent equalizer nullified by another VAR offside review minutes later.

China, guided by former Australian women’s team coach Ante Milicic, now advances as group winners seeking their record-extending tenth Asian Cup title. The tournament format sees the top two teams from each group plus the two best third-place finishers progress to the quarterfinals.

AHMEDABAD — In a career-defining performance, Indian cricketer Sanju Samson emerged as the unexpected architect of India’s T20 World Cup victory against New Zealand on Sunday, culminating a decade-long journey of perseverance and dedication to traditional batting fundamentals.

The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who nearly missed selection due to prior inconsistent performances, delivered a tournament-transforming performance that ultimately secured India’s title defense with a decisive 96-run victory. Samson’s remarkable statistics—275 runs at a staggering strike rate of 199 throughout the knockout stages—belied his conventional technique that prioritizes precise footwork, impeccable balance, and textbook strokeplay over modern power-hitting aesthetics.

Samson’s path to glory was nearly derailed multiple times. After struggling to translate his Indian Premier League success to international cricket—managing just one half-century in his first 23 innings—he had effectively played himself out of contention during bilateral series preceding the tournament. His inclusion came partly due to Rinku Singh’s personal circumstances, while his promotion to opener was initially intended to relieve pressure from struggling teammate Abhishek Sharma.

The tournament’s turning point came during India’s virtual quarterfinal against West Indies in Kolkata, where Samson’s unbeaten 97 demonstrated the enduring value of classical batting in the T20 format. His mature innings throughout the knockout phase provided the foundation upon which India’s campaign was built, though individual accolades frequently went to teammates like Jasprit Bumrah, who received Player of the Match honors in the final despite Samson’s 89-run contribution.

What made Samson’s triumph particularly noteworthy was his refusal to compromise his technique despite pressure to adopt more contemporary approaches. In an era dominated by high-risk, high-reward batting philosophies, Samson’s success validated the enduring relevance of traditional cricketing values—patience, process-oriented preparation, and technical discipline developed through years in unglamorous domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.

His journey from teenage IPL prodigy to World Cup hero represents not just personal redemption but the validation of cricket’s fundamental virtues, proving that in the modern game’s relentless evolution, there remains room for classical excellence executed with humility and perseverance.

India has cemented its cricketing dominance by achieving an unprecedented consecutive victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, defeating New Zealand by a commanding 96-run margin in Sunday’s final. The championship match, held in Ahmedabad, witnessed India’s formidable performance against twenty competing nations, solidifying their status as the first team to retain the T20 World Cup title.

The victory ignited spontaneous nationwide celebrations as ecstatic fans adorned in team jerseys flooded streets across the country. From Delhi’s India Gate to Mumbai’s airport vicinity, Chennai’s Marina Beach to Kolkata’s urban centers, impromptu gatherings featured drum-beating, flag-waving, and fireworks that illuminated the night sky. The celebrations commenced even before the final delivery, with stadium crowds and outdoor viewers expressing their euphoria simultaneously.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the team’s exceptional achievement, stating: ‘This remarkable triumph reflects exceptional skills, determination and teamwork. They have shown outstanding grit through the tournament. This victory has filled every Indian heart with pride and joy.’ The win marks India’s third T20 World Cup victory (2007, 2024, 2026) and follows their recent Women’s Cricket World Cup success four months prior.

Fans expressed overwhelming emotion, with Mumbai supporter Shraddha Mokal telling news agencies: ‘I have no favorites, I love each member of the team. I can’t express in words how happy I am today.’ Another fan from Gurgaon noted: ‘Once again our team has proved that this is the best in the world.’

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to organize formal victory celebrations where team members will present the trophy to thousands of adoring fans, continuing the cricketing nation’s celebration of this historic achievement.