Macao News https://macaonews.org Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:20:29 +0000 Mon, 11 Dec 2023 15:20:30 +0800 Kenny Fong 68242 2023-12-11 16:53:13 2023-12-11 15:20:30 The 47-year old bodybuilder and trainer bagged three prizes during yesterday’s competition, which he said was tougher than previous events.]]>Bodybuilder, Joe Iao, was crowned Mr. Macao for the eleventh time during the Macao Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship, which was held in the Tap Seac Multi-sports Pavillion yesterday.  The 47-year-old also took home first prize for the men’s bodybuilding open division (over 75 kilograms) and the open group division.  In an interview with local media after the event, Iao said that he had been investing more time in his role as a trainer for Macao’s sports teams, which meant that preparation for this year’s contest was more arduous than before.  Nonetheless, he stated that there was an improvement over his performance last year because “this year I participated in the competition with a weight of almost 90 kilograms, but I was 87 kilograms last year, so [my physique] has become bigger.”  [See more: Macao Fitness: Macao’s first locally owned gym celebrates 10 years in business] As for his future plans, Iao revealed that he hopes to spend more time cultivating young contestants. Other prizes awarded during the competition included the popularity award which was decided by a live vote and won by Choi Nga Peng of the female division. The top prize for the female sports model division was awarded to Cherry Kong.  In total, nearly 250 participants took part in the event’s various divisions which were split into 23 classes based on categories weight, height and age.  New divisions to the contest this year included a female one-piece swimsuit event and a mixed male and female pair event.  ]]> Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:22:45 +0800 Erico Dias 68211 2023-12-08 22:09:41 2023-12-08 18:22:45 Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play Hong Kong’s best eleven for their first-ever global tour game on 4 February.]]>Inter Miami led by eight-time Ballon d'Or and World Cup winner Lionel Messi are set to play in Hong Kong on 4 February 2024 at the 40,000-seated Hong Kong Stadium.  The Herons will play their first-ever global tour game against top players from the Hong Kong First Division League as part of the inaugural Tatler XFEST.  “Hong Kong is a beautiful city with a great sports scene,” said David Beckham, president and co-owner of Inter Miami in a press release. “Throughout my career, I have spent a lot of time in Asia – I am so pleased to have the opportunity to bring Inter Miami to play our first international tour match in this fantastic city.” [See more: Will Lionel Messi and Inter Miami be playing in Hong Kong?] Messi’s last visit to the city was in 2014 against Hong Kong in a 7-0 defeat. Will the World Cup winner make a double in Hong Kong? Inter Miami have looked a much better side since the Argentinian signed for the club in July, along with his former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The Athletic even reported that another of Messi’s ex-teammate and friends Luis Suarez is set to join Beckham’s team.  Jorge Mas, Inter Miami’s managing owner said, “From the very beginning we set out to be a global club at Inter Miami. This is a wonderful opportunity to do just that; we hope to enthuse and inspire new Inter Miami fans in Hong Kong and across Asia who share our passion for football.” The match-day ticket sales will go up on 15 December and cost between HK$880 and HK$4,880 only on the travel app Klook. Inter Miami will also hold an open training session costing between HK$580 and HK$780 on 3 February.  ]]> Thu, 07 Dec 2023 07:49:14 +0800 Macao News 68164 2023-12-07 07:49:14 2023-12-07 07:49:14 But Ronnie O’Sullivan’s fondness for competing in Macao and Hong Kong is controversial – landing him in hot water with the World Snooker Tour.]]>The world’s top-ranked snooker player, Ronnie O’Sullivan, is headed to Macao later this month for the 2023 Macau Snooker Masters – kicking off on Christmas day. “I’m looking forward to Christmas in Macao,” he told British media.  The Briton has drawn ire from the World Snooker Tour (WST) – whose tournaments he is contractually obliged to play in – by backing players’ decisions to compete in non-tour games that are significantly more lucrative. These include the Macau Snooker Masters and Hong Kong Masters (which O’Sullivan won last year), as well as exhibition games. “I get paid so much more for going to do [those] and it’s really hard for me to turn them down,” the 48-year-old, seven-time world champion has said. “I’ve got to think of my family and all of that sort of stuff.” [See more: David Beckham talks food, football and his new namesake suites in Macao] Recently, the BBC reported that Ronnie O’Sullivan threatened to quit the WST after its governing body told five top snooker players they would face disciplinary action for opting to play in Macao instead of the WST’s Northern Ireland Open.  The two tournaments’ dates overlapped, and players would rather go to the SAR – where they could earn more money. But doing so would be in breach of their WST contracts. While there are no Macao-based tournaments in the WST, the tour does include the Shanghai Masters and the Wuhan Open – along with several other mainland events. The Macau Snooker Masters are slated to take place at Wynn Palace’s Grand Theatre, between 25 and 29 December. The tournament has a £150,000 (1.53 million patacas) prize pool.  ]]> Wed, 06 Dec 2023 15:36:54 +0800 Kenny Fong 68158 2023-12-06 15:36:54 2023-12-06 15:36:54 The famed Portuguese footballer will meet with fans and sign autographs during the three-day Asia Sports Collectors Convention. ]]>Portuguese football superstar, Luís Figo, is scheduled to make an appearance during the inaugural Asia Sports Collectors Convention (ASCC), to be held at the Venetian Macao between 8 to 10 December.  Considered to be one of the greatest footballers of his generation, the 51-year-old Luís Figo has had a remarkable career, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2000 and the Golden Foot award in 2011. He retired from professional football in 2009.  The former FC Barcelona and Real Madrid winger will be joined by other big-name footballers, including Christian Vieri, Carles Puyol and Pu Wei.  [See more: Will Lionel Messi and Inter Miami be playing in Hong Kong?] The sporting legends will be participating in signing sessions and greeting fans over the course of the ASCC, which “combines investment and sports collectibles, covering an area of 8,000 square metres with over 400 card vendors,” a statement from the organiser reads.  Some 5,000 professional buyers are expected to turn out for the exhibition and there will be a variety of activities such as workshops, competitions and card unwrapping. A one-day ticket for the event costs US$10, although Macao residents are eligible for free admission. Opening hours for the three-day event are between 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm.   ]]> Tue, 05 Dec 2023 07:36:05 +0800 Macao News 68101 2023-12-05 07:36:05 2023-12-05 07:36:05 The MJC needs more money and the government wants Macao to stage more international sports events. Could widening the racecourse’s remit help both causes?]]>Lawmaker Leong Sun Iok has suggested that the beleaguered Macau Jockey Club (MJC) be redeveloped into a general sports and leisure facility, while retaining its horse racing identity, according to a report in specialist publication Inside Asian Gaming. Leong spoke at a Legislative Assembly (AL) session earlier this week, outlining a plan to turn Macao into a destination for international sporting events. The city’s racecourse occupies a large swathe of land in the city – one that could, perhaps, accommodate “more sports events and activities such as cycling and football,” Leong said, and become “an iconic sports and leisure destination in Macao.”  The lawmaker’s comments come after the MJC’s recent proposal to slash its prize pool was met with industry outrage. Last month, the club did an about turn in order to avoid a strike by jockeys and horses trainers. [See more: Hold your horses: What’s next for the Macau Jockey Club] Making its land available for use by other sporting groups could be an alternative way for the MJC to improve its dire financial situation – which has fuelled speculation around horse racing’s long-term future in Macao. The last two decades have seen a sharp fall in the MJC’s fortunes, with the club announcing accumulated losses of 2.1 billion patacas in 2022.  IAG reports that the MJC’s betting turnover was just 51 million patacas in the third quarter of 2023, a 63 percent decline on the same period in 2019.  The Macau Jockey Club was granted a 24-year lease extension in 2018, contingent on it spending billions of patacas on upgrading its facilities – including the construction of two hotels, smart stables, an equine theme park, and a riding school.   ]]> Mon, 04 Dec 2023 15:59:15 +0800 Macao News 68087 2023-12-04 15:59:15 2023-12-04 15:59:15 The talented Dutch player looked like a star in the making as he overpowered his Croatian opponent Borna Ćorić.]]>Calm and confident up-and-comer Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands proved more than a match for Croatian Borna Ćorić at the inaugural MGM Macau Tennis Masters on Sunday, taking home top prize after an entertaining final. The Dutchman, ranked no. 23 in the ATP, refused to be intimidated by the former world no. 12, and pulled off an authoritative 6-3, 6-4 victory in just over an hour before a small but captivated crowd at Macao’s East Asian Games Dome. The victory continues Tallon Griekspoor’s run of good form this year. He won his first ATP title at the Tata Open Maharashtra, held in the Indian city of Pune in January, and in June became the second consecutive home champion at the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. His victory over Ćorić in Macao will boost his confidence for the United Cup in January, when Croatia faces the Netherlands in Group F. [See more: Here’s where to learn tennis in Macao] Sunday’s final followed a third-place playoff between world no.10 Taylor Fritz of the US and local favourite, China’s Zhang Zhizhen – currently ranked no. 58. Fritz was clearly not on form and Zhang clinched a 6-3, 7-6 (1) victory, firing an impressive 10 aces during the match. Earlier in the afternoon, an evenly matched women’s singles showdown took place between WTA no. 18 Daria Kasatkina of Russia and China’s Wang Xinyu, ranked no. 22. Kasatkina won 6-4, 6-4. The excitement continues for Macao’s tennis fans this week, with the 2023 Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) Tour Professional Finals and the National Tennis Championships. Top players in the national rankings will compete in four categories – men’s and women’s singles and doubles – from today until 10 December.  ]]> Sun, 03 Dec 2023 13:56:17 +0800 Macao News 68046 2023-12-11 15:47:42 2023-12-03 13:56:17 The 42nd edition drew 12,000 athletes, with Ethiopian runners Kebebe and Ambi taking the top spots.]]>The 42nd Macao International Marathon drew 12,000 athletes, with 1,400 in the marathon, 4,800 in the half marathon, and 5,800 in the mini marathon.  This edition of the marathon marked the return of international competitors after a pandemic-induced hiatus. While the marathon continued during the pandemic years, border closures prevented the participation of foreign athletes. This year, Ethiopian runners Debele Fikadu Kebebe and Zinashwork Yenew Ambi clinched first place in the men's and women's marathon races respectively. Kebebe completed the course in 2 hours 14 minutes 5 seconds, closely followed by Kenyan Kiptoo Edwin Kibet.  Ambi won the women's race in 2 hours 33 minutes and 38 seconds, with Kenyan Rodah Jepkorir Tanui a mere second behind. [See more: 12,000 take part in 2022 Galaxy Entertainment Macao International Marathon] The best performers from Macao were Kun Wang and Tong Tong Chio, who ranked 14th and 15th in the men's and women's races respectively. In the mini marathon, 65-year-old Portuguese runner Rosa Santos Mota, invited by the organising committee, secured first place with a time of 24 minutes and 16 seconds. Mota, is a highly decorated Portuguese marathon runner, recognised as the greatest female marathoner of all time and the first Portuguese woman to win an Olympic gold.  Athletes from mainland China, Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco and Russia, including He Jie, the men's marathon winner at the Hangzhou Asian Games, were invited to this edition of the event. Participants also came from Portuguese-speaking countries and regions, such as Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and Goa, India. The 42nd Macao International Marathon was sponsored by Galaxy Entertainment Group and co-organised by Galaxy, the Sports Bureau, and the General Association of Athletics of Macau.  ]]> Sun, 03 Dec 2023 10:28:22 +0800 Erico Dias 68034 2023-12-03 11:03:50 2023-12-03 10:28:22 Macao faced an abysmal 16-0 defeat in the first match against Chinese Taipei and a 6-0 loss against Guam yesterday, with one more game to go.]]>The Macao women’s football team lost 6-0 against Guam on Saturday in the second preliminary match of the East Asian Football Federation’s Women’s Football Championship.  The defeat, was followed by an extraordinary 16-0 loss against Chinese Taipei on Thursday. Macao has one more game left to be played on 6 December against Group B's third-placed team. Guam kicked off the match, held at the Suoka sports centre in Zhuhai.  While Macao ​​started better than it did against Chinese Taipei, it again looked quickly outclassed – not having played a game since 2019 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Guam had a couple of shots on goal in the first 20 minutes and took the lead in the 35th. A good corner from Kaia Malakooti found midfielder Jenae Perez, who headed the ball towards goal, and forced a save from Macao’s Oriana Wong. The keeper failed to grab hold of the ball, however, and a second attempt from Perez saw the ball in the back of the net.  Guam gained momentum from that point and scored another goal in the 40th minute. A beautiful, left-footed strike from Rebecca Bartosh to the top corner gave the Macao keeper no chance for a save. The Pacific islanders led 2-0 at half-time.  [See more: What’s next for football in Macao?] [caption id="attachment_68037" align="alignnone" width="1440"] The Macao and Guam women's football team lined up before the match[/caption] Macao remained under sustained pressure from the start of the second half. Guam scored a third goal after a strike from defender Malakooti in the 53rd minute. Another goal, by forward Mariah Anaya, followed in the 66th minute as Guam’s attackers left Macao scrambling. Bartosh grabbed her second goal of the game just four minutes later.  Guam’s Inyssa Perez – who was substituted on the pitch in the 73rd minute – delivered the coup de grace with the sixth goal.  ​​Before the match, Macao goalkeeper Wong told Macao News “We are grateful for everyone’s support in our first games in four years and attention towards women’s football. There are many experiences to take away and learn from these games.” [See more: Macao’s women’s football team loses its EAFF match against Chinese Taipei 16-0] Meanwhile, Macao’s neighbouring SAR, Hong Kong, saw its women’s football team go down to a dismal 0-11 loss against DPR Korea in its first game on Thursday. However, Hong Kong won 6-1 against the Northern Mariana Islands yesterday and have a game in hand. They will face Mongolia on 4 December in Zhuhai.  The current leader from Group A is DPR Korea, pipping the Northern Mariana Islands to the number one spot on goal difference. The Group B leader is Chinese Taipei, which also leads Guam by goal difference.  The winners of Groups A and B will face off in the finals of the Women’s EAFF preliminary competition on 7 December at the Macau Olympic Stadium.  ]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:16:01 +0800 Erico Dias 67973 2023-12-01 16:07:00 2023-11-30 16:16:01 A drastically outclassed SAR squad goes down against a dominant opponent in a humiliating fiasco.]]>Macao soccer fans hoping that the women’s team would make up for a string of recent defeats suffered by the men’s side were in for a dramatic disappointment on Thursday, as the SAR squad got battered 16-0 by Chinese Taipei  The match – part of the preliminary competition of the East Asian Football Federation’s Women’s Football Championship – was held at the Suoka Sports Training Base in Zhuhai. Macao kicked the game off but the Taipei side got hold of the ball in the opening minutes. In the 4th minute, Taipei’s Pi-Han Chan took a shot from outside the box and Taipei went one-up. Minutes later, Taipei’s number 9 chipped the ball outside the box and nearly made it two-nil, but the ball hit the top of the post.  Taipei’s second goal came in the 18th minute after the team combined a few good passes before Hsin-hui Lin placed the ball to her teammate Yi-wen Li who slotted a comfortable goal. [See more: What’s next for football in Macao?] [caption id="attachment_67975" align="alignnone" width="1440"] The Macao squad in a pre-match huddle at the Suoka sports ground in Zhuhai[/caption] The Taipei side kept Macao under merciless pressure, with the SAR conceding five goals between the 20th and 26th minutes. In the 35th minute, Taipei’s Yi-Yun Hsu played a good cross into the box which saw Hsin-Hui Lin unmarked. The attacker’s first shot hit the post but the next found the back of the net, making it two goals to her name. Taipei went into half-time leading by eight goals. The second half was equally woeful for Macao, with eight more goals conceded. The defeat must rank as one of the most demoralising in women’s competition – considerably worse than Thailand’s 13-0 battering at the hands of the US in 2019 or Germany’s 11-0 victory over Argentina in 2007. The Macao women’s team plays its next match this Saturday against Guam, starting in Zhuhai at 1:00 pm.   ]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2023 07:45:01 +0800 Erico Dias 67951 2023-11-30 08:24:22 2023-11-30 07:45:01 Rumours that the Argentinian soccer legend is heading for Macao’s neighbouring SAR have been stoked by a visit from Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham.]]>Argentina’s eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and Inter Miami could be playing at Hong Kong’s annual Lunar New Year Cup in February, according to the South China Morning Post, which cited an unnamed person familiar with the matter.  The soccer icon’s last game in Hong Kong was with Argentina in 2014. He scored twice after coming off the bench, with the game ending in a 7-0 defeat for hosts Hong Kong.  Rumours of his return to Hong Kong have been fuelled by the presence of Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, who is in Hong Kong today after visiting Macao. The anonymous source told the Post that “Inter Miami and related parties are working on the process … there is a chance this will happen.” [See more: David Beckham talks food, football and his new namesake suites in Macao] Beckham signed Messi for Inter Miami in July, along with the Argentinian’s former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, and told UK broadsheet The Times that signing Lionel Messi “still gives me goosebumps.”  Inter Miami has since enjoyed a good run of games and won its first-ever trophy – the Leagues Cup. The team were also runners-up in the Open Cup, where Messi was left out of the squad due to an injury. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year Cup, previously known as the Carlsberg Challenge or the Carlsberg Cup, is back from a pandemic hiatus. It was last won by China’s Shandong Luneng in playoffs against Japan’s Sagan Tosu, Auckland City and a combined Hong Kong League XI. Teams for the 2024 Lunar New Year Cup have not been announced.  ]]>