BEIJING // The defending Olympic champion Zhang Ning of China recovered from a shaky start to defeat Thailand's Salakjit Ponsana in three sets.
Zhang, seeded second in the women's singles, defeated Ponsana 21-23, 21-17, 21-7 to advance to the third round of the tournament at the Beijing University of Technology.
"I wasn't too worried after losing the first set," said Zhang, who had a first-round bye. "I've played her before so I knew what to expect." She is only seventh in the world rankings and has struggled with injuries this year but was picked over 2007 world champion Zhu Lin, who is third in the world rankings.
Zhang, 33, looked rusty in the first set but quickly took control of the match with smashes that were too powerful for her opponent. Zhang will face the South Korean Jun Jae-youn next, who posted a 21-12, 21-14 win over Chloe Magee of Ireland.
China won three out of five gold medals in badminton at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and are expected to dominate on home soil.
Today was the first day China's players were in action and the capacity crowd was in full voice in support of their players. Xie Xingfang, top-seeded in the women's singles, plays later today against Cheng Sha-chieh of Taiwan.
In other matches, sixth-seeded Tine Rasmussen of Denmark coasted to a 21-6, 21-8 win over Akvile Stapusaityte of Lithuania. Fifth-seeded Pi Hongyan of France defeated the Peruvian Claudia Rivero 21-6, 21-9.
In a men's singles first-round match, the South Korean Park Sung-hwan defeated the Canadian Andrew Dabeka 21-11, 21-11. Lin Dan of China is top-seeded in the men's singles and will play his first match in the second round tomorrow against unseeded Ng Wei of Hong Kong.
*AP
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Mobile phone packages comparison
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
more from Janine di Giovanni
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
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Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
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The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order