SPO - Related News - Formosa News

Category：Sports

Taiwanese baseball fans flock to New York for 22nd MLB Taiwan Day

The New York Mets’ Taiwanese Heritage Day celebrated its 22nd anniversary on July 26, but this year had a special first: Taiwanese-American NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren threw out the first pitch. Lindgren faced stiff competition from two other celebrity pitchers: CPBL commissioner Tsai Chi-chang and Ive vocalist Jang Won-young, a pitcher whose change-up might’ve stolen the hearts of Taiwanese K-pop enthusiasts.

NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren throws a pitch and CPBL commissioner Tsai Chi-chang hurls another strike. The Taiwanese duo is in Citi Field, home of the New York Nets. But today the Big Apple is full of Taiwanese baseball fans who are wearing Taiwan No. 1 shirts for Taiwanese Heritage Day, which celebrated its 22nd anniversary this year.

Kjell N. Lindgren
Taiwanese-American NASA astronaut
I’m more nervous about throwing out a first pitch than I was ever about launching into space.

Born in Taipei in 1973, Lindgren fulfilled his lifelong dream back in 2015 when he first went into space. Regardless of whether he’s on Planet Earth or in the cosmos, Lindgren has always cherished maintaining his connection to Taiwan.

Kjell N. Lindgren
Taiwanese-American NASA astronaut
Celebrating Taiwan Day for 22 years at Citi Field with the Mets, and I’m excited to be here.

For years Taiwanese fans have called on the MLB to hold games in Taiwan, and even CPBL Commissioner Tsai Chi-chang promised he’ll be extending an invite to the world’s biggest professional baseball league.

Tsai Chi-chang
CPBL Commissioner
For Asia, MLB currently only holds regular season games in South Korea and Japan. We have many fans who are looking forward to the day when games might be played in Taiwan. So, I’ll bring this matter up with the MLB’s commissioner.

It may have been Taiwan Day, but Asian neighbor South Korea also had its talent on display in the ballpark. Ive’s Jang Won-young threw the game’s official first pitch.

Jang must’ve practiced her wind-up as well as that coquettish pose for the camera. Overall, it was a great day for Taiwanese baseball fans, who were able to witness Taiwan sports diplomacy blended with a touch of K-pop entertainment.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#K-pop #Ive # JangWon-young #KjellLindgren #NASA #MLB #baseball #Mets #NewYork

2026-07-27

Taichung junior-high team wins US baseball tournament

2026-07-17

Restaurant boss and footie fan gets out flare and gets in trouble

2026-07-16

482 athletes to compete for Taiwan at Asian Games in Nagoya

2026-07-14

Kinmen to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Kinmen Marathon

The Kinmen Marathon will hold its 20th anniversary on January 16 next year. The Kinmen county government has announced various activities, including a nostalgia exhibition area and upgraded Kaoliang liquor and other special gifts for contestants. Let’s find out more.

Bang! The starting guns fire simultaneously as a massive pack of runners surges forward like wild horses, filling the air with excitement. The annual Kinmen Marathon is a major event in the sporting world; to welcome next year’s milestone 20th anniversary, the county government has specially produced a promotional video.

Chen Hsiang-lin
Deputy Kinmen County Commissioner
The 2027 Kinmen Marathon marks its 20th edition. For any brand, reaching a 20-year milestone is quite an achievement. We hope the Kinmen Marathon will continue to thrive and establish itself as a premier brand on the international marathon circuit.

Ou-yang I-hsiung
Kinmen County councilor
It began when I was a student at National Quemoy University. Seeing all this along the way until today makes me very moved.

The Kinmen County Government held a press conference to officially announce that the 20th Kinmen Marathon will be held on January 16th next year. This 20th-anniversary limited edition not only features a "nostalgia exhibition" at the event but also offers a rich variety of commemorative gifts for finishers. Additionally, to encourage former participants to return, a secret “homecoming gift" will be provided.

Chen Hsiang-lin
Deputy Kinmen County Commissioner
For the gift for completing the race, we have made a special upgrade to the Kaoliang liquor. We also encourage all the runners who have participated in the Kinmen Marathon to keep coming back to Kinmen to relive their past memories here. That is why we are offering a special “homecoming gift.”

The Kinmen County Government invites runners from all over the world to embark on this internationally certified course, experience the charm of battlefield culture and the warmth of Kinmen residents, and together, write the most exciting chapter of the Kinmen Marathon.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Kinmenmarathon #Kinmen #Kinmenactivities #marathons

2026-07-09

Sports lottery rep who criticized Olympian apologizes after backlash

2026-07-08

New York Yankees sign 18-yo pitcher Lai Chien-fan

An 18-year-old has been signed to the New York Yankees. After 16 years, Lai Chien-fan has become the third Taiwanese player to join the Yankees, after Wang Chien-ming in 2000 and Kuo Fu-lin in 2009. Lai has just graduated from Taoyuan’s Daxi Senior High School. The signing ceremony on Friday was attended by his Yankees Taiwanese predecessors. Let’s hear from all of them.

Lai Chien-fan
New York Yankees pitching prospect
I am the New York Yankees’ Lai Chien-fan. I had chosen to attend high school in Taoyuan, which is very far away from home, but my family had supported my decision. Now, I’m going even farther. I will work harder and hopefully reach the Majors. I hope to achieve what Wang Chien-ming has. What he had achieved really wasn’t an easy feat.

Matt Slater
Yankees global player acquisition supervisor
Chien-fan displays tremendous abilities that we believe can make him a Major League player. It has been 16 years since the New York Yankees signed a player in Taiwan… 12 years since we signed a player in Asia.

Wang Chien-ming
CTBC Brothers pitching coach
Of course we hope he could stay in Taiwan. But on second thoughts, even if he did, it’s not completely certain that we will get him on our team. So it’s great that he’ll be challenging himself in the US. I hope he’ll continue on his endeavors over there.

Kuo Fu-lin
TSG Hawks player
There will be excellent players from around the world. Don’t be intimidated when you see how tall and buff they are. You’ll also become even better.

Born in Taitung to an Amis family, Lai was selected to join the country’s U18 team in Grade 11. He had thrown a fastball with a speed as high as 154km/h. According to reports, his contract is worth US$850,000, around NT$25 million. He is expected to arrive in the US before the end of the year to hopefully join the Yankees’ off-season training.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#MLB #baseball #yankees #athlete #amazingteens

2026-06-26

Judo king Yang Yung-wei sets sights on Asian Games, Olympics

Taiwan’s judo king Yang Yung-wei burst into the spotlight at the Tokyo Olympics, etching his name into history by winning Taiwan’s first medal in the sport. Shortly after securing that silver, he captured gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Although his campaign at the Paris Olympics was cut short in the quarterfinals, he’s taken the setback as motivation to work harder. Now he’s moving out of his rut and has high hopes for the Nagoya Asian Games in September.

At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 23-year-old judoka Yang Yung-wei represented Taiwan for the first time on the greatest sporting stage in the world. He clinched silver in the 60kg event, making history by winning Taiwan’s first Olympic medal in judo.

Discussing his favorite student, coach Liu Wen-teng said that Yang has extraordinarily high standards and self-discipline. But more importantly, he has the humility to listen to instruction.

Liu Wen-teng
Judo coach
He has high expectations for himself, and he has great discipline. Whenever he strives for something, he always seeks out advice.

In 2023, Yang won gold in the 60kg division at the Hangzhou Asian Games. But when he returned to the Olympics in 2024, despite entering as a top seed in Paris, he fell to an opponent from Kazakstan in the quarterfinals. He was then defeated again in the repechage round, missing the chance to stand on the podium in two consecutive Olympics.

Yang Yung-wei
Judoka
Especially right after you lose, it’s hard to adjust your mindset right away. You have to let yourself experience the weight of the loss, because at the end of the day, it’s you on the mat, not anyone else. Not your coach—you. So you have to be aware of what you need to change and what you need to do to get there.

Although it’s been an arduous journey, it’s because of his losses that Yang could learn a deeper truth: Only by enduring hardship can you change and improve. Having weathered setbacks, he’s ready to persevere and push himself toward greater heights.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#judo #YangYungwei #athlete #sports #Olympics #discipline #hardwork #AsianGames

2026-06-23

Student hammer thrower breaks record at high school sports tournament

Chen Sheng-hsien, a student at Su’ao Junior High School in Yilan is in the spotlight after he broke a record for hammer throw at Taiwan’s National High School Sports Tournament. Despite winning gold in the junior high school men’s hammer throw event, he’s had to overcome a lot of challenges in his life. He used to carry gas cylinders for a gas shop to help with the family finances and he injured his lower back just before the contest. Let’s find out more.

Chen Sheng-hsien, a hammer thrower from Su’ao Junior High School in Yilan, grips at the hammer with both hands, spins his body to move the metal ball, and then throws it out, where it lands far away.

Screams erupted everywhere from the stands as Chen broke the tournament record again. This was the junior high school boys’ hammer throw event at this year’s National High School Sports Tournament. Chen may have broken a record, but his gold medal was hard won.

Chen Sheng-hsien
Su’ao Junior High School hammer thrower
To be honest, I told my coach back then that I just wanted to give up and skip the competition. But then I figured, ’Well, I’m already here anyway.’ The results completely blew me away.

Chang Ya-ting
Su’ao Junior High hammer throw coach
Actually, he was injured for a while, including the week before this tournament. Because that’s how the National High School Sports Tournament works: you either win glory or get injured.

Before the tournament, Chen injured his lower back and had even considered giving up the competition. But since he was already there, he gritted his teeth and endured the pain to compete. The back story to this gold medalist does not involve a proper training facility, but only day after day of hard training.

Chang Ya-ting
Su’ao Junior High hammer throw coach
Because our school didn’t have a basic throwing area, we drew a throwing circle on the cement ground with chalk and then started practicing like that.

Chen’s parents divorced when he was young and he lived with his grandmother. To help with the family finances, he would carry gas cylinders at a gas shop during his spare time after school. Despite the limited resources, Chen achieved the best possible results. He hopes that his success will make Su’ao synonymous with hammer throw in Taiwan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Taiwansports #hammerthrow #studentsports #studentathletics #Suao

2026-06-19

‘Eagle Eye’ AI-powered baseball tracking tech at U-15 competition

2026-06-19