Taiwan asks for investigation into a fan at Olympic badminton having a sign taken away and ripped up

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s government on Monday called on French authorities to investigate an incident at the Paris Olympics men’s doubles badminton final against China when a Taiwan supporter had her sign reading, “Let’s go Taiwan,” ripped from her hands and torn up.

The Taiwan Foreign Ministry described the incident as violent and against the Olympic values of friendship and respect. A towel with a similar sentiment was also stolen off a fan during the match, in which Taiwan's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin beat China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang to win gold.

The Badminton World Federation did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the situation.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary and rejects all manifestations of the island’s independent identity. Chinese students and undercover officers living abroad are frequently deployed to disrupt support for Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet and the traditionally Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang, according to Taiwan’s de-facto ambassador to France, Wu Chih-chung.

China constantly subjects Taiwan to political isolation and military threats, and the island is only allowed to participate in the Olympics and other international competitions under the name Chinese Taipei. It cannot fly its own flag or play its national anthem.

Despite that, Taiwanese fans at the match sang the anthem during the medal ceremony, drawing a huge wave of support online and in local media.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Medalists, from left to right, China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, silver, Taiwan's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, gold, and Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, bronze, stand on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's doubles badminton at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Medalists, from left to right, China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, silver, Taiwan's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, gold, and Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, bronze, stand on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's doubles badminton at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Taiwan's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, left, greet China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang after defeating them at the end of their men's doubles gold medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Taiwan's Lee Yang, left, and Wang Chi-Lin celebrate after defeating China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang at the end of their men's doubles gold medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Chinese Taipei, China and Malaysia flags are raised during the medal ceremony for the men's doubles badminton at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Members of Team China walk past fans of Taiwan who gathered outside Porte de la Chapelle Stadium, the venue for badminton, after Taiwan's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin defeated China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in their men's doubles gold medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

A fan hold a sign that reads "Sure Win" during the men's doubles gold medal match between China and Taiwan, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Fans display the flags of Taiwan as they cheer outside Porte de la Chapelle Stadium, the venue for badminton, after Taiwan's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin defeated China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in their men's doubles gold medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Fans display flags of Taiwan as they cheer outside Porte de la Chapelle Stadium, the venue for badminton, after Taiwan's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin defeated China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in their men's doubles gold medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

A fan hold a sign that reads "Sure Win" during the men's doubles gold medal match between China and Taiwan, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Attanasio, a baseball agent since before the start of free agency whose clients ranged from Bobby Valentine to Ichiro Suzuki, has died. He was 84.

Attanasio died Aug. 30 at his home in San Diego following a long illness, according to his son Michael.

Attanasio’s first client was Valentine in 1972 and his last was Suzuki in 2014. Attanasio was widely regarded as a standout in salary arbitration.

Born on Oct. 24, 1939, in Stamford, Connecticut, Attanasio was the youngest of two sons and a daughter born to Cosimo Attanasio, a carpenter, furniture-maker and garment industry presser who was an Italian immigrant, and the former Mary Gervasio, a seamstress.

A graduate of Stamford High School and the University of Connecticut, he played baseball and soccer in college and was an honorable mention on the 1960 college soccer All-America team.

Attanasio was a minor league infielder in the Cleveland organization from 1961-65, rising to Triple-A.

He spent seven years selling life insurance and was introduced to Valentine through a mutual friend in Stamford. Another friend, Richard Mangiarelli, invited Attanasio to join his agency in San Diego, and Attanasio later went out on his own.

He married the former Marion Tyson in 1961. She died in 2015, and three years later he married the former Brenda Gilmore.

In addition to his son and wife, Attanasio is survived by daughter-in-law Susan; grandsons Nick and Max; sister Kathryn and brother Robert. Michael Attanasio was among Roger Clemens’ lawyers when the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was found not guilty in federal court in 2012 of charges he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

A celebration of life is planned for this fall.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, left, and agent Tony Attanasio, Friday, July, 13, 2007, at the Mariners headquarters in Seattle. (AP Photo/Andrei Pungovschi, File)

FILE - Yokahama BayStars ace closer Kazuhiro Sasaki, left, and his agent Tony Attanasio, right, address reporters during a press conference at Safeco Field in Seattle, Saturday, Nov. 20, 1999. (AP Photo/Ralph Radford, File)