Ben Shelton suffers Davis Cup loss in 1st match since US Open final

Inquirer.net - Sep 19, 2026

US Open finalist Ben Shelton struggled to dominate with his serve and was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by 24th-ranked Jiri Lehecka on Friday as the Czech Republic drew level 1-1 with the United States in the last qualifying round for the Davis Cup Final 8. Lehecka broke Shelton’s serve early in each set on the indoor

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Lee Jun-suk reaches men's teqball final
Sep 19, 2026

Lee Jun-suk reaches men's teqball final

NAGOYA, Japan — South Korea's Lee Jun-suk reached the final of the men's singles in teqball at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Saturday, securing at least a silver medal in the sport that made its debut at the continental multisport event. Lee was leading 12-10 and 3-2 against Zaid Eidan of Kuwait in the men's teqball semifinals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center in northern Nagoya, Japan, when the opponent retired due to a thigh injury. He will face Ali Jalil Mezher Alelayawi of Iraq in the final slated for Sunday. Lee has been undefeated since the preliminary round. After winning all five matches in the group round, Lee beat Kudaiberdi Abdilazizovich Aidarbekov of Kyrgyzstan 2-0 (12-2, 12-1) in the quarterfinals. In the first set, Lee came back from an early 4-0 deficit. Thanks to his kicks and the opponent's errors, he evened the score and extended the lead to 10-6. Despite losing some points, Lee successfully held off Eidan's rally and closed out the set 12-10. When Lee was leading 3-2 in the second set, Eidan retired from the match. Invented in Hungary

Former K League player Ahn Young-hak makes surprise Asian Games appearance to support NK team
Sep 19, 2026

Former K League player Ahn Young-hak makes surprise Asian Games appearance to support NK team

Former member of the North Korean national football team Ahn Young-hak, who also played in the K League, made a rare appearance in Japan to watch and support his former teammates and younger players at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Ahn attended the men's Group B opening match between China and North Korea on Wednesday at Wave Stadium Kariya in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture. Born in 1978 in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, near Hiroshima, Ahn is a third-generation Korean resident of Japan. Ahn, who played for North Korea at international tournaments, made 40 appearances for the national team between 2002 and 2012, scoring three goals. He made his professional debut with J.League club Albirex Niigata in 2002 and later played for Nagoya Grampus. In 2006, he joined K League club Busan I'Park, beginning his football career in South Korea. He spent two years with Suwon Samsung Bluewings from 2008 before returning to the J.League with Omiya Ardija in 2010. Ahn, who met with Xportsnews at halftime, said he has been working as a youth soccer coach since retiring as a player. "I run football classes

'We used to talk like sisters': Ji So-yun reflects on changed ties with NK players
Sep 19, 2026

'We used to talk like sisters': Ji So-yun reflects on changed ties with NK players

Ji So-yun of Suwon FC Women, who is entering her 20th year as a member of South Korea's national team, expressed regret over the complete lack of communication with North Korean women's national team players, despite the two teams staying at the same hotel. "When I played at my first Asian Games in Doha in 2006, the North Korean players were like older sisters to me because I was the youngest. We became close and talked a lot," 35-year-old Ji said, reflecting on how interaction between players from the two Koreas has been cut off even at international sporting events where they share a common language. Ji made the remarks after South Korea's 6-0 win over Bangladesh in the second Group F match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Nagai Stadium in Osaka on Thursday. "But now, the North Korean players have become much more stiff in their attitude. Even when we greet them first, they don't respond." The change in relations between the two teams has been particularly noticeable at this year's Games, as they are staying at the same hotel. At every meal, Ji can hear North Korean players spea

Team Philippines at 2026 Asian Games: September 20 schedule for Gilas Pilipinas Women, Alas Pilipinas Women, Soft Tennis, and other sports
Sep 19, 2026

Team Philippines at 2026 Asian Games: September 20 schedule for Gilas Pilipinas Women, Alas Pilipinas Women, Soft Tennis, and other sports

Check Team Philippines" September 20 schedule at the 2026 Asian Games, featuring Gilas Pilipinas Women, Alas Pilipinas Women, soft tennis, and other events.

LOOK: Team Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony
Sep 19, 2026

LOOK: Team Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony

Team Philippines joined the Parade of Nations at the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony on Saturday in Japan.

Asian Games opens with unity message after troubled build-up
Sep 19, 2026

Asian Games opens with unity message after troubled build-up

NAGOYA, Japan — The 20th Asian Games opened in Japan on Saturday with a message of unity following a troubled build-up to the multi-sport spectacular that has more athletes than the Olympics. There were however a large number of empty seats at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Nagoya, where a subdued crowd saw a colourful opening ceremony with the main stage in the shape of a giant heart. Japan's Emperor and Empress were given a respectful reception as they took their seats, with International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry also in attendance. The first gold medal will be won on Sunday morning, likely in the men's individual triathlon, as the continent's finest athletes compete in more than 40 sports before the curtain comes down on October 4. The event in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs in seven sports and will be graced by global stars and fast-rising prodigies. But it has been dogged by a series of problems in the lead-up. The more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials stretched organisers to the limit as they scrambled to find accommodation for everyone. To save money there is no traditional athletes' village, competitors instead staying in a combination of temporary container-style huts, hotels and cruise ship the Costa Serena. There was a record deluge last week which flooded parts of Nagoya and now a typhoon is approaching eastern Japan threatening further disruption in the coming days. Some athletes were left stranded at the airport when transport failed to turn up and several teams have complained about the quality of the huts, including the beds being too short. In the latest mishap, North Korea's national anthem was played on Friday for South Korea's men's hockey team. - Cheers, empty seats - Two-time Asian Games silver medallist Zahra Kiani was a flag-bearer for Iran and hopes to win another medal in the Chinese martial art of wushu -- by watching how it's done on YouTube. "I have been training with movies. I watch videos of Chinese athletes and I try to copy them," she said. The Olympic Council of Asia said the continent's premier sporting event, featuring 45 countries and territories, came at a vital moment. "The opening ceremony message is to show and demonstrate the unity of Asia against the conflicts around Asia (and) the political conflicts of the Middle East," OCA president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said before the show swung into action. There was no mistaking, however, the rows of empty seats, despite organisers saying all tickets had been taken. Apart from Japan's athletes, the biggest cheer was reserved for China's competitors as they filed into the arena. China will again expect to top the medals table after winning a whopping 201 golds and 383 medals on home soil in Hangzhou at the Covid-delayed Games in 2023. - Prodigies in spotlight - Basketball, football and cricket are among the sports already under way. As always at the Asian Games -- which started in 1951 -- Olympic staples such as athletics and swimming will sit side-by-side with regional favourites like sepak takraw and kabaddi. There will be eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling. Padel and MMA will make their Asian Games debuts. Among those competing will be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of prodigies in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi. Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting will also be competing, two years after she won Paris Olympics gold in the middle of a major gender row that saw her eligibility questioned. North Korea will have more than 100 athletes competing across 14 sports, aiming to "bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un". Sooryavanshi will be part of an India cricket team looking to make a statement before the sport returns to the Olympics in Los Angeles after an absence of 128 years. India could face bitter rivals Pakistan in the final at Nagoya's new purpose-built cricket ground -- if rain does not intervene. AFP

UAAP: NU routs UE for first win in Season 89
Sep 19, 2026

UAAP: NU routs UE for first win in Season 89

National University broke through in the UAAP Season 102 men"s basketball tournament after routing the University of the East, 76-56, on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Team Philippines parades in Francis Libiran 'Malaya' barong at 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony
Sep 19, 2026

Team Philippines parades in Francis Libiran 'Malaya' barong at 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony

MANILA, Philippines — Team Philippines was formally seen during the parade of nations at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The national delegation wore "Malaya," a modern Barong Tagalog designed by fashion designer Francis Libiran. Leading the march for Team Philippines were Paris Olympics boxing bronze medalist Aira Villegas and weightlifter Ian Delos Santos as flag bearers. TMT

NCAA: Denzil Sison-Walker shines for Letran in 2-0 season opener
Sep 19, 2026

NCAA: Denzil Sison-Walker shines for Letran in 2-0 season opener

Denzil Sison-Walker is feeling right at home in the NCAA.

Bulldogs bite Warriors for rebound win in UAAP 
Sep 19, 2026

Bulldogs bite Warriors for rebound win in UAAP 

MANILA, Philippines — The National University (NU) Bulldogs bit the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors hard, 76-56, to recover from their season-opening loss in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum Saturday. Bouncing back from its opening defeat to defending champ De La Salle, NU jumped on UE with a 15-2 start capped by a Reinhard Jumamoy trey at the 4:44 mark of the first quarter. Leading by as many as 23 points, 39-16, in the second frame, the Bulldogs repeatedly denied the Warriors' comeback attempts for the rest of the way. Mo Diassana pumped 12 points and 12 rebounds for NU as Jumamoy aided him with 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Olamilekan Ajani paced amassed 11 points and 10 rebounds for UE, which dropped to 0-2 this season and suffered its 21st straight loss dating back to Season 87.

LOOK: NU def. UE (76-56)
Sep 19, 2026

LOOK: NU def. UE (76-56)

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament NU def. UE, 76-56 Kenshin Padrones Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

Sibol MLBB grouped with Kazakhstan, Jordan in Asian Games bid
Sep 19, 2026

Sibol MLBB grouped with Kazakhstan, Jordan in Asian Games bid

The Philippines will seek to become the firs-evert Mobile Legends: Bang Bang gold medalist in the event"s debut at the 2026 Asian Games.

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