China Sports News

2012-01-31T10:19:00.000-08:00

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Major shake-up in women's rankings

2012-01-31T10:17:00.000-08:00

Source: China Daily

The status quo has been maintained at the top of the men's rankings after Novak Djokovic's dramatic win over Rafael Nadal. The same isn't true on the women's tour.

Official rankings to be released on Monday show Djokovic maintaining the No 1 spot on the ATP Tour.

Victoria Azarenka moved to No 1 on the women's tour with her first Grand Slam title, an emphatic win over Maria Sharapova on Saturday. Caroline Wozniacki dropped from No 1 to No 4, with Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova remaining in second and Sharapova moving up one place to third.

US Open champion Sam Stosur, who lost in the first round at Melbourne Park, moves into fifth from sixth despite the poor result at her home major, while Agnieszka Radwanska moves to a career-high No 6.

Marion Bartoli of France moves up to two places seventh, while Vera Zvonareva is No 8, China's Li Na ninth and Andre Petkovic, who withdrew from the Australian due to a stress fracture in her back, remains at 10.

Li dropped four places from fifth after she lost in the fourth round to defending champion Kim Clijsters in a rematch of the 2011 final.

Li had a large number of ranking points to defend as a losing finalist in 2011.

Clijsters, who lost in the semifinals to Azarenka this year at Melbourne Park, is projected to drop to 30th from 11th.

Serena Williams, who lost in the fourth round, will remain at No 12.

The only change in the men's top 10 is at No 10, where 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro replaces Nicolas Almagro.

Nadal remained at No 2 after losing his third straight Grand Slam final - all of them to Djokovic.

Roger Federer, who lost to Nadal in the Australian Open semifinals, remains in third place, followed by Andy Murray, who lost to Djokovic in the semifinals.

David Ferrer is fifth, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sixth, Tomas Berdych seventh, Mardy Fish eighth and Janko Tipsarevic ninth.

Associated Press

Former NBA star Yao Ming eying film business

2012-01-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

SHANGHAI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The retired Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming has been looking for business opportunities in the film industry, but has not entered it yet, Yao's agent said Tuesday, responding to media's reports claiming that Yao will set up a film finance fund.

Foreign media report that Jay Cohen, an American film producer, is setting up a film finance fund with Yao Ming, which has caught the attention of China's media and public.

"Yao Ming and our team has not joined or set up any such organizations as the film finance fund," Yao's agent Zhang Mingji told Xinhua, adding that they are open to such kind of business, and are looking for good investment opportunities.

Zhang said, Jay Cohen is a friend of Yao and Yao's team and they have made some discussions on investing in the film industry, but no action has been taken yet.

He went on saying that Yao is currently busy with his study and works in the Shanghai Sharks, a Chinese basketball team, and he has no plan to go to the United States to negotiate investing in the film industry.

Yao, 31, announced his retirement on July 20 last year from the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets, the U. S. team who made him a global star, and from the Chinese national team five days later.

Since his retirement, Yao has been back to school studying for a university degree in business management and helping manage the Shanghai Sharks.

In November, he set up a company to sell his own brand of wine, and he sold the first bottle for 150,000 yuan (23,766 U.S. dollars) at a charity auction.

Yao is China's first global sports superstar with a personal brand valued at more than 1 billion U.S.dollars.

2012-01-30T09:48:00.000-08:00

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Most of the winning is happening off the court

2012-01-30T09:27:00.000-08:00

Source: By Sun Xiaochen (China Daily)

MELBOURNE - There were a lot more disappointed Chinese fans watching the Australian Open this year.

That's mostly because there've been a lot more Chinese fans watching in the first place.

Even as none of the country's four players made it past the round of 16, the event is enjoying a higher profile in China and throughout Asia.

Li Na's loss to Kim Clijsters in the final last year remains one of the most-watched matches in the event's history, with almost 18 million tuning in for the clash.

It also accelerated a boom in interest from fans in Asia. Though Li lost to Clijsters again this year - this time in the fourth round - the event drew higher expectations and more spectators from the region.

The tournament's ticket sales through six operators in China increased by 30 percent, and Tennis Australia signed a groundbreaking deal with a Chinese partner to sell its merchandise through 8,000 outlets.

The sport's higher profile in the Asia Pacific region has also provided a boost to local tourism.

According to figures released by the organizers, 16 percent of international fans last year were from the Asia Pacific region, up sharply from 7 percent in 2004.

Meanwhile, the total number of Asian visitors was four times what it was in 2004.

More interest means more cash, convincing organizers of a more lucrative future encouraging them to stick to their long-term strategy in the market.

"We position our tournament as (the Grand Slam of the Asia Pacific). That is our key market that we want to serve - China especially is the major part of the market that we want to serve and part of the strategies of the Open," said Steve Woods, CEO of Tennis Australia.

The organization's commercial director, Steve Ayles, echoed Woods' sentiment, stressing the cultivation of the fan base.

"We feel the Australian Open will get a lot of growth from the bigger region," Ayles said. "We can do more in that area and hopefully have more people play tennis, more people get interested and watching on TV and finally come to the Open.

"That will be an interesting circle - more exposure gets more people interested in tennis and then brings them to our event. That's what we want to achieve."

The media are on board.

Applications for media accreditations from China increased from 15 in 2011 to 38 representatives from 17 organizations this year.

Renewing a broadcasting deal with CCTV and Shanghai Media Group that includes access to 65 million homes in China, the Open also launched a site on the nation's largest micro-blogging service.

More than half the event's global media value is now generated in the Asia Pacific area, according to the organizing committee.

The two singles trophies went on tour to three cities in China in October, and the tournament recruits ball kids from Asian countries and runs coaching and umpiring programs throughout the continent.

"We are the happy slam, the fun slam," Ayles said. "We are the most watched slam in China by a long stretch. We certainly appeal to this region with the time zone being similar. People in China can travel a reasonably short distance to watch what is the biggest tennis event in the southern hemisphere."

Li's 2011 final berth at Melbourne aside, she also made the semifinals in 2010, as did China's Zheng Jie. Li returned to the Sydney International final earlier this month after claiming the title last year.

"I think the Chinese players really feel comfortable here," Woods said. "They don't have trouble with jet lag, and they can feel the great support from the local Chinese community. The comfortable environment helps them have on-court success."

Organizers believe the talent pool will only improve.

"I think what's happening in tennis in this region is it generates a lot more top players than before. If we look forward ten years, Asia Pacific will be where a lot of good players come from. Li Na no doubt has popularized our game in the region, but it's not just her - there are other players and they will bring more in the future," said Ayles.

Tennis Australia is sowing seeds in Asia for development in region

2012-01-30T09:23:00.000-08:00

Source: AFP

THE Australian Open is backing Asia to follow eastern Europe by producing future generations of tennis stars, helping tilt the sport's balance of power towards its key market.

The tournament, branded "The Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific", traded heavily on last year's success of French Open winner Li Na, with a 30 per cent rise in ticket sales from its agents in China.

And Tennis Australia is hoping Asian players will one day become as prominent as the eastern Europeans, who are a mainstay of the women's and men's tours.

"Eastern Europeans about 15 years ago were probably not that high but if you look at the top 100 (women's) now they dominate it," said Asia-Pacific business development manager Dean Brostek.

"What's to say in 10 or 15 years it won't be like that on the Asian side? I think we'll see a significant rebalance, is my sense." Brostek says Asian tennis is still in its infancy, but Tennis Australia is trying to spur interest in China in particular, by holding a coaches conference in Shanghai, and sending the Australian Open trophies on a tour of the country.

The body has also launched a Twitter-style "weibo" microblog account in a bid to connect with Chinese tennis fans.

"We've just started truly using social media," Brostek said. "We've got a weibo page. I haven't seen the latest figures but we've got thousands and thousands of followers so this is a virtual community that I see getting bigger and bigger."

Li remains China's standard-bearer, but Peng Shuai and Zheng Jie are also in the top 50. In sharp contrast, the highest-ranked Chinese man is Zhang Ze, who was 292nd in the world at the start of the Australian Open. But Brostek and Brad Drewett, the new Australian head of the men's tour, believe it is just a matter of time before China produces a male champion, which would attract huge interest in the country.

"It's just sheer weight of numbers and the ultimate maturity in sports science, development and coaching," said Brostek, echoing earlier comments by Drewett.

2012-01-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

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World divas are no silver bullet for China soccer

2012-01-27T09:44:00.000-08:00

Source: Yahoo Sports

Soccer may be among the most popular sports in China, but when it comes to tapping the country's multi-billion-dollar sports market, it hasn't been scoring well.

Years of match-fixing, gambling scandals, corruption scandals, and violence on and off the pitch have driven fans away, and for overseas companies that have tried to market products by sponsoring soccer clubs in China, the record has been checkered, said Mark Thomas, managing director of sports marketing company S2M Group.

"We tell our customers to take a very strong look at football and be very careful with it because there's a lot of dangers in actually investing in that brand and the negative connotation that it could potentially bring you," said Thomas.

What soccer really needs is a Yao Ming, the former NBA superstar who transformed Chinese basketball.

Short of local talent, Shanghai Shenhua is attempting to buy superstars. Late last year they turned heads globally by signing Nicolas Anelka, the 32-year-old French striker from English Premier League side Chelsea, reportedly on wages of $300,000 a week.

They also employed former Girondins Bordeaux coach Jean Tigana and have been courting Anelka's old Chelsea team mate Didier Drogba to help improve on last season's 11th place finish in the 16-team Chinese Super League.

Dong Hua, spokesman for the Chinese Football Association, said the CFA has no say over clubs hiring expensive foreign players but they were supportive of the move.

"We believe bringing in high-level famous soccer players, especially those from European leagues, will definitely help improve the popularity of the Chinese Super League and the level of Chinese football," Dong told Reuters by phone.

NO SILVER BULLET

But critics say foreign players, who may come and go, can't match the influence of local stars like Yao Ming, or French Open champion Li Na in tennis.

Also, if Shenhua are hoping Anelka will be the silver bullet to clean up Chinese soccer then their recent sponsorship deal with online gaming firm The9 Limited isn't the best solution, critics say.

Earlier this month, The9 said it would pay Anelka 2.7 million Euro ($3.50 million) to promote online shooter game Firefall developed by its subsidiary Red 5 Studios. The9 will also pay 32 million yuan ($5.05 million) to Shenhua to promote the game as well.

Shenhua's owner Zhu Jun is the founder and chief executive of The9.

The9, in its press release announcing the sponsorship deal, said that "Zhu recused himself from any discussion among the board of directors regarding this matter".

"I think there's a real mis-mash and even potential compliance issue between the ownership of a software company and the ownership of a football company, that seems to be a little bit too crossed over," said Thomas.

Thomas pointed to a 10-year, 400-million pounds ($623.48 million) stadium naming rights agreement between English Premier League leaders Manchester City and Etihad Airways. Etihad Airways is part owned by Abu Dhabi's government and founded by the half brother of Sheikh Mansour, owner of Manchester City.

The deal has created a lot of discussion about how money losing international soccer clubs should be funded.

THE ANELKA POWER

Still, despite the criticism, the signing of Anelka has brought more attention to Chinese soccer in the past month than many years combined, said Thomas.

All that is great for advertising dollars for now, said Seth Grossman, China managing director of ad agency Carat.

"It's a good thing for everyone around, if they get success on the field," said Grossman. "Ultimately, there's nothing that will turnaround a passionate fan base quicker than failure on the field. So let's see how they actually do on the pitch."

Soccer fans in China will be watching closely how much of a kick multi-million-dollar global soccer stars can give Chinese soccer, and whether they can outmanoeuvre the skeptics.

($1 = 0.7708 euros) ($1 = 6.3390 Chinese yuan) ($1 = 0.6416 British pounds)

Chinese women's water polo team obtains London ticket

2012-01-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

China defeated host Japan 18-6 to win the women's water polo gold medal at the Asian Water Polo Swimming Championships in Chiba International General Swimming Center on Thursday, pocketing a ticket for the London Olympics.

The Chinese team met with little resistance throughout the game except for the third part, in which its opponent scored three goals. The split scores for the game were 5-1, 6-1, 4-3, 3-1.

Sun Yating, one of China's top scorers, said it seemed that in the third part the team lost some steam due to the easy game in the first two parts, which gave the opponent opportunity to go aggressive. < Asked about the goal for the London Olympic Games, Chinese head coach Jane Giralt Juan said the games would be difficult for the Chinese team, but "a medal will be possible".

The Asian Water Polo Swimming Championships serve as the qualification tournament for the London Olympic Games.

2012-01-25T09:54:00.000-08:00

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China wants tennis major, but Australian Open not budging

2012-01-25T09:52:00.000-08:00

Source: ABC

MARK COLVIN: The Australian Open has kicked off the tennis Grand Slam year since 1987, but could it be now under threat?

One reason for its survival is that it's labelled as the Grand Slam of the Asia Pacific.

But since the rise of stars like Li Na, Chinese people have taken a bigger interest in the sport.

Tennis is now the third most popular sport on television in the People's Republic.

So the pressure is ratcheting up for China to host its own major tournament.

So can Tennis Australia maintain its Grand Slam foothold?

Alison Caldwell reports.

ALISON CALDWELL: For close to a decade the Australian Open has been described as the Grand Slam of Asia Pacific.

The pressure to live up to that title and for the Open to maintain its status as one of the world's four tennis majors, has prompted Tennis Australia to increase the interest in tennis not here but in Asia.

Steve Ayles is the director of commercial with Tennis Australia. He says it's a no brainer for the organisation to do everything it can to increase Asian interest in the sport.

STEVE AYLES: Look I think certainly with the performances of, in particular, Li Na, you've seen a lot of growth not just in exposure in terms of TV broadcast etcetera, but I think in the interest of the sport as well there's more young people wanting to take up tennis. And because I think also of the economic development in the region, and particularly China, the infrastructure is starting to build as well. So there are more tennis courts, there are more opportunities for young people to start playing a sport like that.

So I sort of liken it to Eastern Europe 10-15 years ago, didn't have a whole lot of tennis players, now they dominate the world's top 100. And it wouldn't surprise me in 10 years or 15 years time, if we can look forward and see who was dominating was women's tennis, I think you would find a lot of Asian players coming from there.

ALISON CALDWELL: Tennis Australia has signed on with dozens of tour operators in the region.

Last year the Australian Open trophy travelled to three Chinese cities with Chinese celebrities making appearances as trophy ambassadors.

Tennis Australia has also signed a deal with a Chinese merchandiser to launch an Australian Open merchandise range for distribution in China and India.

Steve Ayles says the success of Chinese, Indian and now Japanese tennis players, such as Kei Nishikori, is helping to increase interest in the sport in Asia.

STEVE AYLES: What drives sport and interest in Asia and virtually this is the same for every Asian country, is the performance of their players.

So, for example, in Japan Kei Nishikori, if he performs well - they love their heroes.

But for us to, I guess, maintain and increase that interest the infrastructure, the programs, the IP, the coaching methodologies have all got to be there to help continue that growth. And I think that's one of the roles that Tennis Australia can help play within the region, is to assist different countries and associations with that expertise.

For us this is sort of like a circle of success for tennis if you like. The more we can get people involved the more they'll help support and grow something like the Australian Open.

ALISON CALDWELL: There has been concern for quite a few years that China wants to host a major; such a huge population, such a strong economy, it's not surprising that they'd be saying, 'well why can't we host the Asia Pacific major?

STEVE AYLES: And look, I think it's great that countries like China, and if you spoke to someone a country in Europe like Spain, they have great aspirations to have the best - the best of everything.

Ultimately when you talk about a major, whether it's golf, whether it's tennis, these are events that have been around more than a century. They have great tradition, great history, and it's not something that you can just replicate.

So from our perspective I think that's why we want to continue to grow our event, we want to continue to embrace and involve people from Asia Pacific. And I guess that's our strategy, to build the Australian Open to be, you know, ultimately one of the best tennis events in the world.

ALISON CALDWELL: And with Nishikori doing so well, how has that changed say viewers - viewership in Japan?

STEVE AYLES: We traditionally have the Australian Open on Wow Wow, which is a subscription TV channel over there with a two million potential audience. The performance he's had here has enabled us to generate interest from a free to air broadcaster, NHK (Nihon Hoso Kyokai), which actually opens up our market to 55 million.

It comes back to the same point that the performance of individuals from within those countries is what generates the interest.

What we've got to help happen there is to continue developing the infrastructure, continue the exposure and interest and ensure that more people get the opportunity to play tennis.

MARK COLVIN: That report prepared by Alison Caldwell.

Zheng Jie out of Australian Open

2012-01-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

Chinese Zheng Jie lost to Italian Sara Errani in two sets in the fourth round at the 2012 Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday.

Zheng, who reached the semifinals in 2010, lost 6-2, 6-1. She only held a serve game in the whole match, which occurred in the second set.

Source: china.org.cn

2012-01-22T07:57:00.000-08:00

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Clijsters Ends Li Na’s Open

2012-01-22T07:54:00.000-08:00

Source: By Talek Harris (AFP)

MELBOURNE — Distraught Chinese number one Li Na left the Australian Open in floods of tears on Sunday after a heart-breaking defeat to defending champion Kim Clijsters.

Li held four match points against Clijsters, who was struggling after rolling an ankle, but was unable to convert as the Belgian staged a staggering recovery and went on to take win it in three sets.

Afterwards Li, known for her jokes and charisma, gave a stony-faced press conference which was hastily brought to an end when she dissolved in tears and fled from the room.

It was a wretched end to the tournament for Li, who also went a set up against Clijsters in last year's final but lost in three sets. She insisted she had played well, but admitted being affected by nerves.

"Of course, I was nervous. If you're nervous you can't think too much, right?" she said.

Li was referring to the pivotal moment when Clijsters, facing her fourth match point in the second-set tiebreak, sent over a half-hearted drop shot which the Chinese player tamely knocked back, and was then lobbed.

"After losing the tiebreak I was worrying a little bit about myself because I had four match points, but I didn't take them," Li said.

The French Open champion had looked odds-on for the quarter-finals when Clijsters painfully went over on her left ankle in the first set and seemed on the verge of pulling out.

But after choking in the second-set tiebreak, the Chinese star went to pieces in the third set when she dished up 19 unforced errors.

"I think I played OK today. I mean, I wasn't worried about my technique. But maybe at 6-2 up in the tiebreak I was a little bit shocking," she admitted.

Li made it through the English portion of her press conference but started crying shortly after the start of questioning in Chinese.

Her defeat on the eve of Chinese new year leaves the hopes of the giant nation on the shoulders of Zheng Jie, who plays Italy's Sara Errani on Monday.

Four-time grand slam winner Clijsters said it may have been the greatest comeback of her glittering career, which will come to an end when she retires this year.

"I can't believe I won. I knew before the match it was going to be a tough match... but I didn't expect this," Clijsters said.

Li became the first Asian to reach a grand slam singles final in Melbourne last year, and she followed it up by claiming the continent's debut major singles title at the French Open in June.

Her success has been credited with boosting tennis in China, considered a key market for the sport, and with attracting Chinese fans and media to the Australian Open.

A life lived on the snowy slopes

2012-01-22T07:52:00.000-08:00

Source: By Meng Jing (China Daily)

BEIJING - For the past three winters, the training camp in Beijing run by Italian ski instructor Martina Merlet has been overbooked. The relatively cheap cost - a three-day class is 5,200 yuan ($824) per person and includes transportation, accommodation and resort tickets - keeps customers coming back each year.

So you would think that the overflow of skiing enthusiasts at the Nordica Training Camp points to an overall surge in popularity for the sport in China, but as Merlet explains, that just isn't the case. In her experience of the Chinese skiing industry over the past six years, she said most Chinese treat skiing like parachuting or bungee jumping.

"They do it once, then they are done and never come back to ski again," she said.

This Chinese fling with skiing is what keeps Merlet sticking around. She said she is committed to helping more Chinese understand the sport and to show that, with practice, and lessons, people can have fun skiing.

According to the Chinese Ski Association, there aren't many skiers in China, whose population accounts for one-fifth of the world total. In 2010, according to the association's statistics, there were just 10 million visits to ski resorts, one-fortieth of the global total. First-time skiers made up a large portion of the 10-million visits. In a nation of more than 1.3 billion people, industry insiders estimate that the number of active skiers is approximately 5 million.

The 28-year-old, who was born into a family of ski instructors, is the only foreign instructor in China with a teaching certificate granted by the Chinese Ski Association. She said she is a big fan of both skiing and Chinese culture.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Chinese language and culture from the University of Turin in Italy, she went to Beijing to fulfill her two passions.

She quickly found out that skiing is a small niche market in China. Starting in 2007, Merlet explored the industry, working at a sports equipment company in Beijing to sell winter sportswear and skiing equipment, then joining ski resort consultant Sydex Science and Technology Development Co in Beijing to help design slopes in China.

For Merlet, who has been skiing since she was 4 years old, she realized after her stint at Sydex that the best way to promote skiing in China is through teaching and allowing more Chinese to know that it is a sport they can learn.

"A lot of people in China cannot become active skiers, mostly because they don't get trained before skiing. They don't know how to control themselves. The first experience of skiing is so unpleasant, they don't want to do it again," she said.

She got a job as a ski instructor in 2009 at the Ole Sports Center in Beijing, which is run by Italian businessman Fabio Ries, the co-founder of Duolemeidi Mountain Resort on the outskirts of the capital.

Merlet trained Chinese ski coaches and taught children. She also started her winter training camp that year to train more Chinese beginners to ski at an intermediate level. Still, she said, promoting the sport was tough, especially to Chinese children.

She said that although the number of families that participate in the Ole Sports Center's children ski club doubled from 2009 to 2011, only 20 percent of the children are from Chinese families.

Merlet said it is easier for expatriate parents to understand the value of the activity because they are more familiar with skiing. But most Chinese know little about the sport.

"Six or five years ago, when I took my equipment to ski resorts in Beijing, most of the taxi drivers thought I was going fishing, because they'd never seen skis," she said.

Chinese parents, because they have limited knowledge about the sport, see it as a dangerous activity, Merlet said. That has made it difficult for them to allow their children to ski.

Remigio Brunelli, an Italian advanced skier, said safety concerns are not the only major obstacle for the sport. The manager of Beijing Tecnica Sport Equipment Co Ltd, a company headquartered in Italy, said the difficulty of promoting skiing in China is rooted in the nation's natural resources.

He said China doesn't have enough natural snow. In Italy, he said, they have new snow every year.

"Every year, Beijing has snow for two or three days. Kids can have fun with snowmen but there is not enough snow for skiing," he said.

Despite the disadvantages of promoting the sport in China, Merlet and Brunelli both see a promising future in China's skiing industry as they find more and more participants, especially children.

"We call them Xueerdai, which means the second generation of Chinese skiers. Before 2010, you could never find a kid on the slopes. But now, there are more and more xueerdai on China's ski resorts," said Merlet, who added that the children are the future of China's skiing industry.

With a commitment to help more Chinese understand skiing as a sport, Merlet took a test in 2010 to gain a ski instructor's qualification from the Chinese Ski Association.

"I think since I want to share as much as I have learned from Europe with Chinese skiers, it would be better if I have a Chinese certificate," Merlet said, who is known as an instructor with both great skiing and Chinese language skills.

She said she is never satisfied with her current set of skills. Every time Merlet goes back to Italy, she learns from the best ski instructors to keep her skills fresh.

This winter, she has had a full-time job at Beidahu ski resort, one of the largest ski resorts in China with 67,000 visits in 2010, to run a training school for 70 instructors.

"It is challenging and exciting. Through teaching ski instructors at Beidahu, I can pass the most advanced ski methodology in Italy on to China, which will influence more Chinese skiers," she said.

2012-01-21T10:28:00.000-08:00

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Walkover puts Li Na into fourth round

2012-01-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

At the Australian Open in Melbourne on Jan. 20, 2012, Li Na was leading 2-0 in the first set and on her serve in the third game when 26th-seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues sprained her ankle after returning a ball. Li Na made into the fourth round. [Source: CRI]

Zheng Jie Joins Favorites through to Last 16 in Melbourne

2012-01-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

Source: by Yu Yachen for CRI Sports

Saturday's action at Melbourne Park saw Zheng Jie of China join talented tennis players in the fourth round of the Australian Open, while Richard Gasquet of France upset ninth-seeded Janko Tisparevic.

The 2008 Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova enjoyed a 6-1, 6-2 win over Germany's Angelique Kerber at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday morning. Fourth-seeded Sharapova managed a first-serve percentage of 73 and a first-serve winning percentage of 71 during the match.

"I played a really good first set, but she certainly stepped up in the second," the 24-year-old Russian said, referring to her opponent. "The second set was a lot tougher than the score-line suggests."

World number-two Petra Kvitova raced to the next round following Maria Kirilenko's retirement due to a left leg injury. The Czech now will play against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, who knocked out Vania King of the United States 6-3, 6-4.

China's Zheng Jie ousted ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France to join compatriot Li Na in the last 16 at Melbourne Park.

Former Australian Open's semifinalist Zheng provided a strong start as she broke two of Bartoli's serves in a row and led the first set 4-0. Bartoli battled back hard in the following game, but Zheng retained her form to win the game 6-3, 6-3.

Elsewhere, seventh-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia was shocked by compatriot Ekaterina Makarova, 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, as Zvonareva lost her gear after losing the intense tiebreaker in the first set. Germany's Sabine Lisicki survived three sets against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Despite securing the first set after an 8-6 tiebreaker, Sorana Cirstea of Romania failed to retain her momentum while Italy's Sara Errani made a strong comeback in the following set 6-0, 6-2.

Meanwhile, world top-ranked Novak Djokovic cruised into the last 16 by smashing France's Nicolas Mahut 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 after 74 minutes.

The Serbian praised Mahut's spirit for playing with an injured leg.

"Credit to him, we saw some taping around his knee, and I felt sorry for him," Djokovic said. "Evidently he was not playing his best or moving too well, but he did not want to retire from the match."

Both David Ferrer of Spain and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France had a joyful Saturday in the sun. Fifth-seeded Ferrer beat Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina in a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 straight sets, while Tsonga swept Portugal's Frederico Gil three 6-2 earlier on the court.

Serbia's Janko Tisparevic was eliminated by Richard Gasquet at the Margaret Court 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. For Tisparevic, the defeat marked his eighth consecutive Australian Open to have ended before the fourth round. Gasquet will challenge Ferrer in earning a last-eight berth in the campaign.

Chinese dominate at Lake Placid

2012-01-21T10:19:00.000-08:00

Source: Yahoo Sports

China dominated the first of two aerial events at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in Lake Placid with Jia Zongyang and Xu Mengtao both taking gold as the nation claimed all but one medal.

Jia recorded a score of 128.51 in the men’s competition to take his fourth-career World Cup win in 12 starts while Xu was awarded 93.06 in the ladies’ for her first win in just over a year.

Both were absent from the opening aerials round of the season last weekend in Mont Gabriel but catapulted themselves up the aerials World Cup rankings courtesy of claiming 100 points.

Jia moves to third while Canadian Olivier Rochon took the overall lead from winner last time out Pavel Krotov having finished fourth to the Russian’s tenth in Lake Placid.

Xu also slots straight into third with Olga Volkova building on her overall lead after finishing fourth as American Emily Cook only managed eight to remain second.

Jia was joined on the podium by Chinese team-mate and Olympic bronze medallist Liu Zhongqing, who scored 127.83 while Anton Kushnir of Belarus was not far behind after being awarded a score of 126.47.

World bronze medallist Kushnir was the only non-Chinese athlete to win a medal in Lake Placid with Cheng Shuang and Kong Fanyu joining Xu on the podium with scores of 85.65 and 81.2 respectively.

Resorts hope skiing won't go downhill

2012-01-21T10:13:00.001-08:00

Source: By Meng Jing (China Daily)

BEIJING - If the magic of the snow does not pull them in, it seems you have to start looking for other ingredients. Duolemeidi Mountain Resort, one of China's most modern and advanced ski resorts, is providing its visitors with accommodation from this month in an attempt to offset its financial losses in the ski business.

The resort, in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, has not turned a profit for its Italian investors since it opened in 2006. A lack of real snow, bad weather and China's lack of a ski culture make the country a difficult proposition, said Fabio Ries, co-founder and chairman of the board of Duolemeidi Mountain Resort.

Duolemeidi is not alone in this predicament. Only a handful of China's 20 big ski resorts are in the black, the Chinese Ski Association says.

But instead of packing up their skis and heading home, more and more resort developers are betting on the formula b+b=s, where the "b"s stand for "bigger" and "better" and the "s" stands for "success".

The logic behind the equation is that the growth of China's ski industry coincides with the expanding economy, and with more wealthy Chinese pursuing a healthy lifestyle and recreational holidays, the future of China's ski resort market can be only one thing: sensational.

Next to Duolemeidi Mountain Resort, VXL Capital Ltd, one of Malaysia's leading investment companies, is building a mega project called Secret Garden, and the company wants it to become to China what Whistler, the colossal ski resort in British Columbia, is to Canada.

The first ski slope at the Chinese resort, two hours' drive from Beijing, opened this winter, but the project of 82 ski slopes is not due to be completed for another 10 or 12 years, with investment of more than $1.5 billion.

Dalian Wanda Group, one of China's largest property developers, is also a strong adherent of the theory. "If you build it, they will come". The group, leading five other Chinese investors, including Lenovo Group, the world's second-largest personal computer maker, is spending 20 billion yuan ($3.2 billion), building a vast ski resort in Changbai Mountain, in Northeast China's Jilin province.

The resort features 43 slopes with a skier capacity of 8,000, and is expected to be the largest in China when it opens late this year.

Beidahu Ski Resort, also in Jilin province and one of China's largest ski resorts, with skier visits of 67,000 in the 2010-11 season, is also expanding, with new ski slopes, hotels and condo units, even though the resort has not turned a profit since its new developer took over in 2009.

Liu Xiaoshan, chairman of the board of the Qiaoshan Group of Beijing, which is developing the Beidahu resort, is confident about the prospects.

"The development of the leisure industry moves into top gear when a country's per capita GDP reaches $3,000, which China has already achieved. Experiences from other countries all demonstrate that."

In the US, just 2 million people visited ski fields in 1962, but by the 1980s that figure had climbed to 50 million, he said. In Japan, the rise in the sport's popularity was almost as phenomenal, a 20-fold increase in visits being recorded between the 1970s and the 1990s.

"All kinds of statistics show that China's ski industry is about to take off. China is the largest market for cars and will soon be the largest market for luxury goods. Why can't it become the largest market for skiing?"

The Chinese Ski Association said there were just 20,000 visits to the country's ski fields in 1996. By 2010, that figure had risen to 10 million, a 500-fold increase. The association estimates the number will have doubled to 20 million by 2014.

However, Ries of Duolemeidi Mountain Resort, in which Italy's largest ski resort operator, Dolomiti Superski, has a stake, said the number of China's skier visits can mislead.

"The skier visits may be 10 million but the number of active skiers is probably less than 5 million. And the number of dedicated skiers in China is far fewer than that. Many Chinese go to ski once in their life, get an experience and never come back."

Ries decided to open Duolemeidi because in the early 2000s there was no decent resort in China for an experienced skier like him.

Skier visits in Duolemeidi are said to be increasing steadily every year, but the growth rate is a lot lower than investors had envisaged. According to their plan, Duolemeidi was supposed to have seven lifts and 14 ski slopes before the 2011-12 ski season, but there are only four lifts and 10 slopes.

"There are not as many skiers in China as we expected," Ries said, adding that unlike European countries with 100 years of skiing, China has no ski culture.

Figures from the International Report on Mountain Tourism, issued last year by Laurent Vanat, an independent ski industry analyst in Switzerland, show that even with a small population of about 64 million, average annual skier visits in France over five years exceeded 54 million, the most of any European country.

Average annual skier visits in China, with a population of 1.3 billion, in the past five years have been about 6 million.

Ries said that the development of a ski resort cannot be sustainable in China if the income relies solely on ski tickets. "With the opening of our first condo units this winter, we can have income from those who stay overnight and we can also earn money from those who want to hold conferences in our resort."

He expects to make ends meet this winter, he said.

Beidahu Ski Resort also expects a surge in revenue this winter with the opening of two new five-star hotels. Liu of Beidahu says revenue will at least double, to 40 million yuan, this winter, because his resort has more new beds this season.

A ski ticket for two days in Beidahu costs 640 yuan per person on holiday and a twin-bed room in its five-star hotel costs 1,500 a day.

Liu estimated skier visits to his resort will reach about 90,000, a rise of 45-50 percent from the previous ski season. "The reason for the boom is that China's ski industry is undergoing a transformation from ski sport to snow holiday. People are no longer satisfied with the excitement of skiing from the top of a slope. They also want to have a nice place for a winter holiday and to truly relax."

There is no doubt China's ski resort developers are making every effort to cater to customers' desires. In Changbai Mountain Ski Resort, developed by Dalian Wanda Group, the ski area is the least a visitor can expect. The resort plans show a theater, a museum, a shopping street, a large conference center and nine hotels ranging from three-star to super five-star.

With all kinds of facilities and the latest recreational facilities, the outlay needed to set up a resort is substantial. Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd, the Canadian company that prepared the master plans for Changbai Mountain, Beidahu and Secret Garden, says it takes about five years for a new ski resort to start making a profit.

"Assuming suitable facilities have been developed and the resort is big enough to attract guests from major population centers, it takes a further five years to pay off the accumulated losses from the first years of operation," said Don Murray, vice-president of Ecosign.

"The supply of China's ski facilities is currently greater than the demand. But the Chinese resort market is developing very quickly. What may have taken 40 or 50 years to develop in North America or Europe will develop in five to 10 years in China," said Murray, who has 37 years' experience in the ski industry.

But in some cases the wait for profits may well be shorter. In Yabuli Sun Mountain Resort, reportedly the best ski resort in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Club Med (Club Mditerrane SA), the operator, broke even last winter, after three months of operating the resort.

"The snow-vacation market is much bigger in the EU and the US," said Olivier Horps, managing director of Club Med Asia-Pacific. "That is why we see China as the next big snow-vacation market and we have already successfully created this market and will continue to make it bigger and bigger." Horps said he can tell that the snow-holiday market is booming in China, not only from Club Med Asia-Pacific's sales figures, but also from consumer feedback.

"We've already had repeaters come back to us this winter. It is for sure an emerging trend in the China travel market."

He expected double-digit growth in business this winter.

With the help of Club Med, the high-end resort operator, Melco China Resorts (Holdings) Ltd, which has invested 2 billion yuan in the resort, sees a very promising future in its business.

Cao Yue, executive vice-president of corporate development at Melco China Resorts, said the number of visitors almost doubled last ski season right after Club Med started operating.

"At the beginning, none of our board members thought it was a good idea to invite Club Med to run our place, because the price is very high. But I insisted (on inviting) Club Med here, because a resort is a place for leisure and fun. It is the experience that truly matters, not the price," Cao said.

In Club Med's Yabuli resort, skiing is no longer the only choice for visitors in winter. Cao said that about 48 percent of visitors go for the skiing and others are there to enjoy a snow holiday. Guests who are not into skiing can still relax with yoga, mahjong, and an outdoor Canadian bath and spa.

2012-01-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

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China's Li through, Lu crashes out of Aussie Open

2012-01-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

Source: By John Weaver (AFP)

MELBOURNE — China's French Open champion Li Na reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday after her opponent pulled out injured, as Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun crashed out to Juan Martin del Potro.

Fifth seed Li got off to a flier in the late night match against Anabel Medina Garrigues, winning the first two games before the Spaniard turned her right ankle in the third, collapsing in agony on the court.

After a medical timeout to have strapping applied, the 26th seed returned to the court in the Rod Laver Arena but was unable to move freely, breaking down in tears as she quit when trailing 0-3.

Li reached the Melbourne final last year en route to becoming Asia's first grand slam singles winner at Roland Garros, a result that catapulted her to superstar status in China.

Li, whose next match is a replay of last year's final against Belgian Kim Clijsters, said it was difficult to restart the match knowing her opponent was injured.

"It was really tough, because after she has the tape and then she tried to continue to play. So I don't know it's like real or fake, you know. I mean, some players they do that," she said.

"After two points I saw she couldn't run and she started to cry. I have to say so sorry for her, because I know the injury for tennis athletes is bad thing."

Speaking about the prospect of her clash with Clijsters, she said last year's final had given her confidence she could win a grand slam, even though she was beaten.

"Of course it was tough match, so just another challenge for myself," she added.

China's Zheng Jie, unbeaten this year after winning the Auckland Classic, plays France's Marion Bartoli, the ninth seed, in the third round on Saturday while Japan's Kei Nishikori, seeded 24th, takes on Julien Benneteau of France.

But Taiwan's Lu, ranked 79, was unable to match his previous heroics against big-name players, slipping to a straight-sets defeat at the hands of 2009 US Open champion del Potro.

Lu beat David Nalbandian at the 2009 Australian Open and Andy Murray at the Beijing Olympics a year earlier.

"I played I think the best match of the year. Only four matches in this year, but I was really confident with my forehand in every part of the match," del Potro said.

"I served much better than the last two matches, and my game is still improving. So it's a good sign for the next round."

China's Peng Shuai, Japanese players Kimiko Date-Krumm and Ayumi Morita, and Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn have already fallen by the wayside, leaving Li, Zheng and Nishikori as Asia's last singles hopes.

Breaking the ice about skiing

2012-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

Source: By Meng Jing (China Daily)

For the past three winters, the training camp in Beijing run by Italian ski instructor Martina Merlet has been overbooked. The relatively cheap cost - a three-day class is 5,200 yuan ($824, 644 euros) per person and includes transportation, accommodation and resort tickets - keeps customers coming back each year.

So you would think that the overflow of skiing enthusiasts at the Nordica Training Camp points to an overall surge in popularity for the sport in China, but as Merlet explains, that just isn't the case. In her experiences in the China's skiing industry over the past six years, she says most Chinese treat skiing like parachuting or bungee jumping.

"They do it once, then they are done and never come back to ski again," she says.

This Chinese fling with skiing is what keeps Merlet sticking around. She says she is committed to helping more Chinese understand the sport and to show that with practice and lessons, people can have fun skiing.

According to the Chinese Ski Association, there aren't many skiers in China, whose population accounts for one-fifth of the world total. In 2010, according to the association's statistics, there were just 10 million visits to ski resorts, one-fortieth of the world's total. First-time skiers made up a large portion of the 10 million visits. In a nation of more than 1.3 billion people, industry insiders estimate that the number of active skiers is approximately 5 million.

In steps Merlet. The 28-year-old from a family of ski instructors in Italy is the only foreign instructor in China with a teaching certificate granted by the Chinese Ski Association. She says she is a big fan of both skiing and the Chinese culture.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Chinese language and culture from the University of Turin in Italy, she went to Beijing to fulfill her two passions.

She quickly found out that skiing is a small niche market in China. Beginning in 2007, Merlet explored the industry, working at a sports equipment company in Beijing to sell winter sportswear and skiing equipment, then joining ski resort consultant Sydex Science and Technology Development Co in Beijing to help design slopes in China.

For Merlet, who has been skiing since she was 4 years old, she realized after her stint at Sydex that the best way to promote skiing in China is through teaching, making more Chinese know that it is a sport they can learn.
"A lot of people in China cannot become active skiers mostly because they don't get trained before skiing. They don't know how to control themselves. The first experience of skiing is so unpleasant, they don't want to do it again," she says.

She got a job as a ski instructor in 2009 at Ole Sports Center in Beijing, which is run by Italian businessman Fabio Ries, the co-founder of Duolemeidi Mountain Resort on the outskirts of the capital.

Merlet trained Chinese ski coaches and taught children. She also started her winter training camp that year to train more Chinese beginners to ski at an intermediate level. Still, she says, promoting the sport was tough, especially to Chinese children.

She says that although the number of families that participate in the Ole Sports Center's children ski club has doubled from 2009 to 2011, only 20 percent of the children are from Chinese families.

Merlet says it is easier for expatriate parents to understand the value of the activity because they are more familiar with skiing. But most Chinese know little about the sport.

"Six or five years ago, when I took my equipment to ski resorts in Beijing, most of the taxi drivers thought I was going fishing because they'd never seen skis," she says.

Chinese parents, because they have limited knowledge about the sport, see it as a dangerous activity, Merlet says. That has made it difficult for them to allow their children to ski.

Remigio Brunelli, an Italian advanced skier, says safety concerns are not the only major obstacle for the sport. The manager of Beijing Tecnica Sport Equipment, a company headquartered in Italy, says the difficulty of promoting skiing in China is rooted in the nation's natural resources.

He says China doesn't have enough natural snow. In Italy, he says, they have new snowfall every year.

"Every year, Beijing has snow for two to three days. Kids can have fun with snowmen but there is not enough snow for skiing," he says.

Despite the disadvantages of promoting the sport in China, Merlet and Brunelli both see a promising future in China's skiing industry as they find more and more participants in China, especially children.

"We call them xueerdai, which means the second generation of Chinese skiers. Before 2010, you could never find a kid on the slopes. But now, there are more and more xueerdai on China's ski resorts," says Merlet, who adds that the children are the future of China's skiing industry.

With a commitment to help more Chinese understand skiing as a sport, Merlet took a test in 2010 to be qualified as a certificated ski instructor by the Chinese Ski Association.

"I think since I want to share as much as I learn from Europe with Chinese skiers, it would be better if I have a Chinese certificate," Merlet says, who is known as an instructor with both great skiing and Chinese language skills.

She says she is never satisfied about her current set of skills. Every time Merlet goes back to Italy, she learns from the best ski instructors to keep her skills fresh.

This winter, she has had a full-time job at Beidahu ski resort, one of the largest ski resorts in China with 67,000 visits in 2010, to run a training school for 70 instructors.

"It is challenging and exciting. Through teaching ski instructors at Beidahu, I can pass the most advanced ski methodology in Italy to China, which will influence more Chinese skiers," she says.

Basketball chief rises to challenge

2012-01-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

Source: By Todd Balazovic (China Daily)

David Shoemaker has had some tough months since becoming head of NBA China

Stepping into the position as CEO of NBA China seven months ago, David Shoemaker could never have predicted just how quickly basketball in China was about to change.

On July 1, exactly one month after starting the job, the dispute between the NBA and its players over salary caps reached a breaking point, resulting in a lockout that resulted in Shoemaker's debut season being cut in half.

One week later China's basketball superstar Yao Ming, who played a critical role in drawing in many of China's 37 million strong NBA viewers, announced he was retiring from the court after an awe-inspiring 10-year career.

Now, as the delayed 2011 season begins, players such as J. R. Smith and Kenyon Martin, who signed to play with the Chinese Basketball Association during the lockout, find themselves in a difficult position, wishing to return to the NBA but under full-year contracts in China.

It has been a busy few months for Shoemaker.

But despite rocky waters, the 39-year-old Ottawa native continues driving the NBA's decade-long China hot streak, getting back to the sport's grassroots and continuing the search for China's next Yao Ming.

"What I find so fascinating about this role is that no single day repeats itself," Shoemaker told China Daily in an interview on the 19th-floor of the NBA's Beijing headquarters, overlooking the central business district.

"The experiences are so varied because the business runs the gamut, whether it's dealing with sponsors one day or the government the next day."

And Shoemaker is no stranger to the everyday challenges of running a sports franchise in China.

He was introduced to the rigors of China's sports industry in 2005 when, working with the Women's Tennis Association, he began traveling east to promote the sport at a time when Li Na had yet to popularize it.

Officially becoming the head of the WTA's China operations in 2007, Shoemaker had the task of opening and operating the association's first Beijing office as China was beginning to prove itself on the global stage.

"For tennis in particular at the time the opportunity was quite ripe. It had been just at the Athens Olympic games where a Chinese pair had won the doubles gold and kind of surprised the world in doing so," he says. "Olympic success had come early for women's tennis in China."

The same year Shoemaker became head of the WTA, in the US, the NBA's top two Chinese players, Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian, were making NBA history as their respective teams faced off, drawing a record 200 million Chinese viewers and making it one of the most watched games in NBA history.

Shoemaker recalls that when he was with the WTA he looked to the NBA as a model.

"I was always looking at the NBA as really the gold standard of professional sport in China. It's something we always set our sights upon when we were trying to model our business. It seems so funny to be saying that as I sit here today."

He attributes the NBA's success in China to the number of partnerships it has managed to forge with Chinese media and social networking sites.

With 25 seasons hosted on the sports channel of the China Central Television (CCTV 5), partnerships with Chinese web portals Sina and Tencent, and more than 36 million followers on micro blogs, he says the NBA is the most followed US sports code in China.

"That's more than double the combined fans and followers of Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Hockey League globally. And that's just what we have here in China."

Even as the NBA enters its protracted season following the lockout, with no Yao to draw the Chinese audience, Shoemaker remains confident that the NBA will continue to enjoy success in China.

"So much credit should go to Yao for how far the popularity of basketball has come in this country. So much so that he helped create a whole generation of highly sophisticated basketball fans who now cheer for more than one player and more than one team."

With Yao spearheading China's fascination with the NBA, China's fan base has now become a self-propelling force, with basketball fans across the country fascinated by what Shoemaker calls a "captivating sport to watch both on and off the court".

"For me the NBA is not just the biggest sports brand in China. For me it's one of the biggest commercial brands, period, in China."

Shoemaker started his working career as a lawyer in 1996 after graduating in law from the University Western Ontario in Canada. Shoemaker soon found himself working for Cravath, Swaine & Moore, the same law offices that once employed the NBA commissioner David Stern.

Given the chance to join the WTA as a litigator, Shoemaker was able to combine his passions.

"What I was able to do at a young age was transition from practicing law to combine my professional interest in law with my personal interest in sport."

Now as he steps into a position where he can influence the NBA's direction, he says he will focus on continuing to develop basketball in China.

By working with the Chinese Basketball Association organizing referee programs and opening the Dong Guan Elite basketball school, he says he is staying "true to the core of the NBA".

"My strategy is to make sure we develop the game of basketball. More dribbling of balls and shooting of basketballs."

2012-01-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

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Li Na makes quick work of Rogowska

2012-01-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

Source: china.org.cn By Xiang Bin

After two rounds in the Australian Open, Li Na is already proving that she is a serious title contender.

The fifth seed of the tournament took a swift 62-minute match to dismiss local hopeful Olivia Rogowska at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.

Li, the reigning French Open champion, who made a brilliant run to the finals at Melbourne last year, appeared in fine touch. She landed nearly 80 percent of her serves and overwhelmed her 20-year-old opponent with raw power from the baseline.

"This year there's more fans come to watch me play, the fans aren't just from China, they're from all over the world," Li said after the match.

Li will next face Anabel Medina Garrigues in the third round after the Spaniard ousted Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-1 6-0.

NBA, broadcast partners tip off Chinese New Year Celebration

2012-01-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

Source: NBA

The NBA announced Tuesday it will host its first-ever NBA Chinese New Year Celebration Jan 21-28. The comprehensive, week-long NBA Chinese New Year Celebration 2012 will pay tribute to the league's Chinese fan base with live games, customized coverage and a variety of NBA-themed events in China and the U.S.

The NBA, with the support of its television and digital partners in China, will recognize and celebrate the Year of the Dragon with customized coverage of 21 games across CCTV 5, BTV, GDTV, GZTV, NowTV, NBA TV, Sina, and Tencent. NBA China marketing partners Boshiwa International Holding Limited, Dongfeng Aeolus and PEAK Sports are co-presenting partners of the NBA Chinese New Year Celebration 2012.

During the celebration, Chinese fans will be able to watch top NBA teams, including the 2010-11 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks, featuring Chinese player Yi Jianlian, as well as the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

To tip off Chinese New Year and continue throughout the week, the Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors will host in-arena celebrations on Jan. 23 and Jan. 28 respectively. Fans in attendance will experience a variety of elements and activities that pay tribute to Chinese culture. In addition, the players will wear specially designed Chinese New Year shooting shirts from adidas, the league's official on court apparel outfitter, which will be available for fans worldwide at NBAStore.com.

Fans in China will be able to vote for the most valuable player of all games broadcast on Sina and Tencent on the official NBA microblogs on Sina, Tencent and Tencent Q zone.

"Chinese New Year is a fun time of year and we wanted to join in the festivities and show appreciation to our fans," NBA President of International Heidi Ueberroth. "With the help of our great partners, we will celebrate the Year of the Dragon with exciting matchups, customized content, and a variety of Chinese New Year-themed fan activities in China and the U.S."

"We are pleased to provide our viewers with a special week of NBA games as they enjoy the Spring Festival holidays with their families," said Jiang Heping, CCTV 5 Head of Sports.

There will be special programming, features and player greetings throughout the week on NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA.com/China and NBA Zhizao, an NBA lifestyle program that airs throughout China.

To tip off the 21-game schedule, CCTV 5 will televise the Jan. 21 game between the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by the league's reigning Most Improved Player, Kevin Love, and rookie Ricky Rubio, and the Los Angeles Clippers featuring the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin and All-Star guard Chris Paul.

To wrap up the festivities, the league will host a fan viewing party in Beijing on Jan 28.

NBA CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 2012
All dates and times are Beijing time

Game Date Time Broadcaster

Chicago @ Cleveland Jan. 21 8:30 a.m. SINA
LA Lakers @ Orlando Jan. 21 9:00 a.m. GDTV
Minnesota @ LA Clippers Jan. 21 11:30 a.m. CCTV 5/GZTV
Philadelphia @ Miami Jan. 22 8:30a.m. BTV
San Antonio @ Houston Jan. 22 9:00 a.m. SINA
Charlotte @ Chicago Jan. 22 9:00 a.m. GDTV
Dallas @ New Orleans Jan. 22 9:00a.m. CCTV 5
Boston @ Washington Jan. 23 9:00am NBA TV/CCTV 5
Indiana @ LA Lakers Jan. 23 10:30a.m. GZTV/BTV/SINA
Orlando @ Boston Jan. 24 8:30 a.m. BTV
Phoenix @ Dallas Jan. 24 9:30 a.m. CCTV 5/GDTV/SINA
Memphis @ Golden State Jan. 24 11:30 a.m. GZTV
Cleveland @ Miami Jan. 25 8:30 a.m. GDTV/SINA/TENCENT/CCTV 5
LA Clippers @ LA Lakers Jan. 26 11:30 a.m. GDTV/BTV/SINA/CCTV 5
Miami @ Detroit Jan.26 8:30 a.m. TENCENT
Boston @ Orlando Jan. 27 9:00 a.m. GDTV/SINA
Memphis @ LA Clippers Jan. 27 11:30 a.m. CCTV 5
New York @ Miami Jan. 28 9:00 a.m. GDTV/TENCENT
Milwaukee @ Chicago Jan. 28 9:00 a.m. SINA
Utah @ Dallas Jan. 28 9:30 a.m. GZTV/BTV
Oklahoma @ Golden State Jan. 28 11:30 a.m. CCTV 5/NBA TV/GDTV

China dominant in figure skating as athletes enjoy cultural performance

2012-01-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

INNSBRUCK, Austria, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China showed its dominance in the figure skating at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games by clean-sweeping the two gold medals on offer here on Monday.

While the competition was on-going, the Culture and Education Program was also attractive.

Chinese flag bearer Yan Han overcame a fevered physical condition to win the men's singles gold medal, while Jin Yang and Yu Xiaoyu claimed the pairs' gold medal with a huge advantage.

The 15-year-old Yan, who ranked first after the short program, collected 132.80 points in the free skating though he suffered a stumble in a jump, and took the gold medal with a total score of 192. 45 points.

Shoma Uno of Japan took the silver medal with a total score of 167.15 points, while Feodosi Efremenkov of Russia ranked the third at 163.46 points.

"I didn't perform well as I got a fever yesterday. It wasn't until this morning that I felt a bit comfortable," said Yan, who finished the juniors' second place in 2010-2011 ISU Grand Prix Finals.

Jin and Yu scored 153.82 points to win the pairs, with Russia's two pairs earning the silver and bronze medal.

Sarah Warren, a short track speed skater from the U.S., learnt something new from the booth of her own country. "There are some quotes on the wall from famous people, whom I don't know," she said.

The booth is located in the World Culture Village, a platform for the young athletes to know the culture of all the participants. Innsbruck local students have been called up to prepare for culture exhibition booths and gave services in the booths in turn during the Winter YOG.

30 high-school students from BHAK Schwae prepared a culture show of the U.S., dressing themselves into the symbol of the country, from Captain Jack Sparrow in Caribbean to superstar Paris Hilton while presenting the brief history of the country.

"We have prepared for the one-day performance since last November," said Giso Schhae, teacher of the 30 students. "I think it is worth because students learn a lot from the process, for example the team-work spirit."

2012-01-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

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Zheng advances, Zhang ousted at Australian Open

2012-01-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

Chinese Zheng Jie advanced into the second round of the 2012 Australian Open on Tuesday with an easy 6-2, 6-1 win over American Madison Keys, while Zhang Shuai was downed by Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak, failing to advance in her seventh effort in the Grand Slam event.

Zheng Jie has been troubled over the past year by a wrist injury. The 28-year-old is competing in Melbourne for the first time since 2010, when she reached the semifinals.

"Last year I missed the Australian Open because of the injury, " said Zheng. "So I am happy to be here this year."

Keys made a strong start, holding her first two serves to make it 2-2, but once the Chinese clicked into gear it turned into a one-sided contest as Zheng rattled through the 10 out of next 11 games to move in to round two.

Zheng captured the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand early this month. It was Zheng's fourth WTA title, but her first since 2006.

"I had a good training this winter and I stepped on court with confidence," said Zheng. "However, the title in Auckland is still a surprise to me and I think the title gave me much more confidence when I came here in Melbourne."

It is a good day for Zheng, but not for her young compatriot Zhang Shuai. Aleksandra Wozniak defeated the Chinese 6-3, 6-3 early on Tuesday to earn her first career Australian Open victory.

Wozniak came out firing against wild card Zhang. The Canadian got out to a 4-0 lead. After missed on two set points, she finished the set on her fourth chance with a winner after 39 minutes.

The second set was more competitive, but Wozniak broke for 5-3 and served out the victory a game later as Zhang returned long.

"I didn't get used to the windy day," said Zhang, "and I think I was not confident on court. I am stronger than I think, but I couldn't show it on court."

Zhang had never reached the second round of the Grand Slam in her previous six appearances.

China's First World Ladies Championship at Mission Hills Hainan

2012-01-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

Source: World Golf

HAIKOU, China -- Mission Hills China announces it will host a new ladies professional golf tournament - the World Ladies Championships (WLC).

It will be played on Mission Hills Hainan's Vintage Course, March 2-4, 2012 and hosted by the China Golf Association (CGA) and Department of Culture of Radio, Television, Publication and Sports of Hainan Province. With the inaugural World Ladies Championship, Mission Hills Group will have staged a 'grand slam' of major events in all competition formats.

The World Ladies Championship, co-sanctioned by Ladies European Tour and China LPGA Tour, will adopt a unique three-in-one format, featuring 54-hole individual play, professional team play and individual amateur play. In accordance with the Women's World Golf Rankings, two players from each of 18 countries or regions will be invited to participate in the team portion. Results will be calculated by aggregating the total points scored by each golfer. In competing against the best players in the world, the host nation China will field two teams.

Invitations for the individual category of the 108-player field are dictated by the Women's World Golf rankings and 2011 European Tour Order of Merit. Participants will include top-ranked players from the Ladies European Tour (LET), China LPGA Tour, Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Korean Professional Ladies Golf Association (KLPGA), Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan (JLPGA) and Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG). Amateur players will be drawn from winners of select R&A-sanctioned golf competitions in major countries. The WLC will award points to LET and China LPGA Tour members.

Mr. Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Golf Club said, "The stage has long been set for a brand new world women's golf championship in the professional game and we are very glad to see it finally happen. We are very thankful to the CGA, LET, China LPGA Tour and all the other parties for their collaborative input and contributions to this new event. The World Ladies Championship is the only three-in-one game in world golf today.

"Mission Hills has always been devoted to popularizing and promoting the sport through competitions. Golf is once again approved as an Olympic event and we proactively cooperate with different industry bodies to support the development of professional women's golf and achieve breakthroughs in the women's game," added Chu.

Commenting on the new competition, Mr. Zhang Xiaoning, Vice Chairman & Secretary General of China Golf Association said, "For a long period of time, Mission Hills has made significant contributions to organizing world-class tournaments and creating international, competitive platforms for Chinese golfers. We are delighted to see the first World Ladies Championship and Mission Hills host another international event for our players. This time the stage will be larger, involving more local challengers. I believe it will definitely bring in a new era for the women's golf industry in our motherland.

As Zhang pointed out, "the developmental strategy of the CGA is to set our sights on the Olympics, to further develop the professional game in China and to attain break-through in women's golf development." The formation of World Ladies Championship is entirely consistent with that strategy and provides a solid foundation for the realization of those goals.

"Being the first China LPGA Tour stop in 2012, the World Ladies Championship is sure to take a leading role on the tour. Strict entry requirements are imposed so as to ensure high quality of play. Since the sport itself is highly marketed, professional tournaments can foster the growth of developing players. The World Ladies Championship boosts the confidence of players in our nation and encourages more female golfers to strengthen their determination in pursuing their career," revealed Ms. Li Hon, General Manager of China LPGA Tour.

Mr. Fan Xiao Jun, Director-General, Department of Culture Radio, Television, Publication and Sports of Hainan Province said," Through various international sports events staged in Hainan, the Culture and Sports industry plays an important role for the Hainan International Tourism Island development strategy. The World Ladies Championship is another important tournament staged in Haikou and it will definitely enhance the awareness of Hainan province in the World."

"The World Ladies Championship 2012 is an integral part of LET as well as an unprecedented women's professional golf competition in China. As Mission Hills has already arranged numerous international tournaments with success, I believe the upcoming Championship will certainly draw more attention to women's golf and thus further popularize the sport on a global level," said Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of Ladies European Tour.

Designed by Brian Curley, the host Vintage Course pays homage to the classic American golf courses built at the turn of the 20th century. It has a distinct, authentic feel - holes were routed to leave the densely forested site as undisturbed as possible. Abrupt mounding; deep pot bunkers; severe ridges; blind shots; varied, sometimes geometric, bunkering; an array of green sizes and wicker basket pins are highlights.

The Golf & Tourism Forum, the annual major event in the industry, will take place concurrently with the Championship in March 2012. Already in its third year, the Forum has emerged as a "must attend" convention for politicians, businessmen and the golf industry leaders.

About Mission Hills Group

Mission Hills Group (www.missionhillschina.com), owner and operator of Mission Hills Shenzhen, Mission Hills Dongguan and Mission Hills Hainan, is the pioneer in China's fledgling hospitality, sports and leisure industry.

Mission Hills, recognized as the leading golf brand in the world and synonymous with high-end, luxurious residences of rare and exquisite design, has created two world-class leisure and wellness resorts. It has held more than 100 international tournaments, including the 1995 World Cup of Golf and the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001. In 2007, Mission Hills began its role as host of an unprecedented 12 editions of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.

Mission Hills Hainan

Mission Hills Hainan lies in the volcanic region of exotic Hainan Island, China. The resort sets a new standard in leisure, recreation and wellness experiences. Nestled amid lush, green gardens, it caters to golf enthusiasts and features 10 acclaimed golf courses, each designed by American Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design. Other state-of-the-art features include 518 elegantly designed guest rooms and suites, a three-story clubhouse, China's first Hank Haney Golf Academy, meeting facilities, 12 world-class restaurants, a fully-equipped sports and recreation center, Hainan's only aquatic theme park, therapeutic volcanic mineral springs, a spa oasis, and shopping arcade.

Mission Hills Hainan's Blackstone Course hosted the inaugural Mission Hills Star Trophy in October 2010, a ground-breaking celebrity pro-am golf tournament for Asia, and the 56th World Cup of Golf in November 2011. A magnificent addition to Hainan's tropical island paradise, Mission Hills Hainan is poised to become the island's premier sanctuary, attracting visitors from around the globe.

Getting There: Mission Hills Hainan is 15 minutes from Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK). Flights from major cities throughout Asia -- including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore -- to Haikou are available.

About the Ladies European Tour

The Ladies European Tour (LET) is Europe's leading women's professional golf tour and formed as the WPGA in 1978, before taking its current title in 2000. Over the last 32 years, the tour has developed into a truly international organisation. In 2012, the schedule features 24 tournaments in 19 different countries, with more than 300 members who represent over 30 different nationalities. For further information please go to www.ladieseuropeantour.com.

China LPGA Tour

China LPGA Tour is the only ladies professional golf tour in China officially sanctioned by the China Golf Association and Multi-ball Games Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China.

Since its establishment in December 2008, the China LPGA Tour has developed quickly. In 2009, six tournaments were held, followed by eight events in 2010 and over ten events in 2011. Laying the foundation for Chinese women to go out in the golf world and prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games, the aim of the China LPGA Tour is to organize more than 20 events each year before 2016 and make Chinese women's golf become recognized around the world in the near future.

Diego Maradona attends charity activity in Shanghai

2012-01-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

Argentine football star Diego Armando Maradona greets the fans at a children charity activity in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 17, 2012. (Xinhua/Fan Jun)

Li Na, Sun Yang win 2011 CCTV Sports Personality of Year

2012-01-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

Source: (chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua)

BEIJING - Though both absent from the 2011 CCTV (China Central Television) Sports Personality Awarding Ceremony, China's leading women tennis ace Li Na and swimming world champion Sun Yang dominated the Best Athlete Awards at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Li, 29, made history as the first Asian and Chinese tennis player to enter a Grand Slam singles final in 2011 Australian Open. Later in June, Li was crowned as the first-ever Grand Slam title for China and Asia in the French Open final, downing defending champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-4, 7-6(0).

Li was voted the Best Female Athlete, beating the other four candidates, including diving world champion Wu Minxia, table tennis world champion Ding Ning, swimming worlds gold medalist Jiao Liuyang and world discus winner Li Yanfeng.

"I'm now in Melbourne, preparing for the Australia Open to be open here on January 16. I'm happy that I'm almost 30, but I'm still hungry for winning and still focusing on tennis," Li Na said through a VCR showed on the ceremony.

The 20-year-old Sun snatched the Best Male Athlete as he swept the men's 800 and 1,500 meters freestyle gold medals at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai in July. Sun clocked 14 minutes 34.14 seconds in 1,500m to break the world record of 14:34:56 set by Australian Grant Hackett 10 years ago.

Sun, who is training in Gold Coast in Australia, said through telephone: "I'm honored to have this award because the other four candidates also performed very well. Though I'm in Australia, my parents take the award for me at the ceremony. The award will boost my confidence and winning desire in 2012. To be honest, my new year wish is to win at the London Olympic Games."

Liu Xiang, men's 110m hurdles champion at the Athens Olympic Games and runner-up of World Championships 2011, was a surprised winner to take the Judging Committee's Special Award.

"It was a shock for me! I've never thought to win this award though I've won many honors in past years. I felt sad and sorrow when I watched out many athletes' retirement. However, I don't want to retire. I hope I can run in a happy mood as long as I can."

Wang Haibin was named the Best Coach of the year as he led his men's foil team to crown at the World Fencing Championships. China's women volleyball team was awarded the Best Team.

With their men's doubles title at the worlds, Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng won the Best Pair and chess world champion Hou Yifan retained her title as the Best non-Olympic athlete. Short-track speed-skater Fan Kexin was the winner of the Best Rookie.

Former Winter Olympic champion Yang Yang, now an IOC member and a launcher of Champions Funding for retired athletes in 2011, received the honor of Sports Special Contribution.

The annual CCTV Sports Awards, recognized as the Chinese version of the Laureus World Sports Awards, is taken as the premier honors on the Chinese sporting calendar. The 11 titles came from the votes cast by 120 sports specialists.

2012-01-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

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Li Na starts Australian Open in style

2012-01-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

Source: china.org.cn By Xiang Bin

Last year's beaten finalist Li Na made a strong start to her Australian Open campaign with 6-3 6-1 win over Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan.

Li, the 5th seed of the tournament, took a while to find her rhythm on Monday but eventually proved too much for her 21-year-old opponent.

"I was feeling end of the first set really heat on the court. Also I was feeling no air. I couldn't breathe. But so lucky I win so easy in the second set," Li said after the match.

Li will next face Oliva Rogowska or Sofia Arvidsson in the second round.

Ding blames Masters' schedules after first-round exit

2012-01-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

Defending champion Ding Junhui showed his dissatisfaction to the Masters' schedules, which was always close to Chinese Lunar New Year, after his first round defeat to the British veteran Ronnie O'Sullivan at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

China's top snooker player, 24, was knocked out by the four-time winner of the event O'Sullivan 6-4 and in bad mood due to the fixtures running from January 15 to January 22, blaming it for inconsideration to the foreign players as the final day would be the eve of Spring Festival, most important Chinese festival and a traditional occasion for family reunion.

"They don't care, but I care. I miss my family so much and want to go home," said Ding, who beat Marco Fu from China's Hong Kong to win his first Masters title in 2011.

"No Chinese players want to play near the spring festival. It will affect players' mood and form definitely.

"It's the same, just like on Christmas Day no Brisith snooker players compete too," Ding added.

Apparently slow to get his form, Ding was in the danger of an early exit after local favourite O'Sullivan gained the momentum and took a 4-1 lead.

However, Ding, receiving less supports in a sold-out crowd of 1,500 at the new home of the Masters, showed his stamina and fought back to win the next three frames, levelling the score to 4-4.

"He didn't play well in those frames. And in general, I also played badly and always felt confused," Ding recalled after the match.

Boosted by the home fans, the nicknamed "Rocket" found a second wind to win the critical ninth frame, gaining the match point.

Then, O'Sullivan gave no chance to his opponent and sealed the 6-4 victory in style with a break of 125, arousing a succession of applause and advancing to the last eight.

"The crowd was great," said O'Sullivan. He will face either Judd Trump or Stuart Bingham, who play on Monday.

"Ding is one of the players I would pay to watch so it's a shame we had to draw each other in the first round." the winner added.

Ding also showed his respect to the former world number one.

"He is a great man and very kind to people. Congratulations to him," Ding said.

"For Chinese players, it is always not easy to play here," said Ding, adding that the organisers clearly considered more about their home players than the foreigners.

"I plans to go back to China tomorrow. Having a good festival with family is what I need now," he said.

As the non-ranking invitation event, the Masters, started in 1975, is recognized as one of the three most influential snooker events following the World Championship and UK Championship for its high level of prize and the world's top 16 players' attendances.

The yearly event is moved into Alexandra Palace in 2012, the first time since its more than 30-year stay at Wembly.

"Hungry" Li declares dark days are over

2012-01-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

Source: Reuters By Ian Ransom

(Reuters) - Crises of confidence, shouting matches with her husband-coach and alternate waves of criticism and adulation from a nation of 1.3 billion - tennis has rarely been a smooth ride for China's Li Na.

The tattooed 29-year-old returns to Melbourne Park, the scene of her trailblazing run to the final that set up a platform for an unlikely French Open victory over champion Francesca Schiavone in June.

The first grand slam singles winner from an Asian nation, Li has made a career of defying convention, from breaking away from China's Soviet-style sports regime to manage her own team, to shattering the stereotype of the humorless Chinese athlete with her acerbic wit.

Li also dashed expectations by crashing spectacularly after her French Open title, when many thought it a precursor to a golden run.

Li was knocked out in the second round at Wimbledon and the first at the U.S. Open and finished the season in torment with tennis watchers at home claiming she had slacked off training to do fashion shoots and pander to sponsors.

And yet, with the knives out and tennis writers polishing their obituaries, Li has declared she is back after an encouraging run at the Hopman Cup and a final appearance in the Sydney International.

"I won six matches in a row," said Li, who upset world number two and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the semi-finals at Sydney before losing to third-ranked Victoria Azarenka in the final.

"In the second half of last year, I think I couldn't win three matches in a row. I mean, it was always like it was easy to lose the match. Also, I feel I lost all the confidence on the court.

"For me, I was not hungry anymore on the court in the last half of year. But now I feeling hungry again. I am still tough and I'm back."

Having complained that her off-court distractions were hurting her game, Li took a month-long boot-camp in Munich at the end of the season.

STUPID THINGS

Her husband-coach Jiang Shan was shunted aside after Melbourne Park last year in favor of training with Denmark Fed Cup captain Michael Mortensen who helped prepare her for her French Open title, but Jiang is now back in the players' box.

Li joked in Sydney that Jiang's snoring that kept her awake during her run to the Australian Open final last year had improved after she demanded he lose weight, but the pair still squabble to the amusement of spectators and media.

Li remarked in the warm-up tournament that her university sweetheart Jiang "sometimes does stupid things" and confessed that her eyes sometimes glaze over listening to his advice.

Jiang can bank on some more fun at his expense at Melbourne Park, where Kvitova believes Li could go deep into the second week.

"I think she's playing very well," the Czech said after a practice session with Li on Sunday. "She's very good on the legs, she's moving, playing really fast. I mean, she can go really far in this tournament."

Li will be accompanied by her usual cohorts Zheng Jie, a former semi-finalist at Melbourne Park and Wimbledon, and the fast-improving Peng Shuai.

Twenty-six year-old Peng has shown signs of emerging from Li's shadow with fourth-round appearances at three of the grand slams last year which had her break into the top 20 for the first time.

Li has tipped them both to follow her into the top 10 if they can stay fit and determined.

"I believe both Zheng Jie and Peng Shuai can break into the top 10 because I've trained with them both in the national team," Li told reporters in Chinese.

"Chinese players' training regimes, overall, are a bit more rigorous than foreigners... so if they work hard they'll both get there."

China to stage new women's event

2012-01-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

Source: Golf Monthly By Emily Stacey

Mission Hills Golf Club in China is set to host a new ladies' professional golf tournament, The World Ladies Championship (WLC).

The event which takes place on The Vintage Course at Mission Hills from March 2nd-4th, will be hosted by the China Golf Association and Department of Culture and Radio, Television, Publication and Sports of Hainan Province.

Co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and the China LPGA Tour, The World Ladies Championship will adopt a three-in-one format, featuring 54-hole individual play, professional team play and individual amateur play.

Invitations for the individual category of the 108-player field will be dictated by the Women's World Golf Rankings along with the 2011 European Tour Order of Merit. Amateur players will be taken from winners of select R&A sanctioned golf competitions in major countries.

Zhang Xiaoning, vice chairman & secretary general of China Golf Association said: "For a long period of time Mission Hills has made significant contributions to organising world-class tournaments and creating international, professional platforms for Chinese golfers."

Vice chairman of Mission Hills Golf club, Tenniel Chu, added: "The stage has been set for a brand new world women's golf championship in the professional game and we are very glad to see it finally happen."

Former NBA star, new adviser

2012-01-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

Source: By Xie Yu (China Daily)

SHANGHAI - Retired NBA star Yao Ming, who once dominated the basketball court, is out to try his skills in a new venue: the halls of power.

On Sunday, Yao took his seat as a new member of the standing committee of Shanghai's political advisory body during its annual session.

"There are about 142 members in the group, and Yao is the youngest," said Kong Rong, who works in the service office of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Shanghai Committee.

Yao is not the first Chinese sports star to become a Shanghai political adviser. Former Chinese female football star striker Sun Wen took up this job five years ago.

"Yao said the new title shows trust coming from the people in the city. He had said before that once he decides to do something, he will try his best to accomplish it. So we can trust him that he can balance all aspects of his work and study, and do well in this job," said Yao's spokesman Zhang Chi.

But Zhang denied that Yao has any ambitions to have a "political career".

"The responsibilities for a CPPCC member include offering political consultation, and supervision. What Yao wants is to use his influence to do good deeds for society but not to seek a political position," Zhang said.

Under the new title, Yao is supposed to attend regular meetings, make suggestions or raise written proposals for the advisory body and government departments.

Yao has remained very low-key during the organization's ongoing annual plenary session. The information office of the CPPCC Shanghai Committee said they have not received any proposals from Yao yet.

Yao explained earlier that he prefers to "listen and learn because he is new to the organization".

"Raising proposals is very serious business, and I do not want to be hasty," Yao said, adding that he is paying more attention to sports education, a field he is familiar with.

Zhang also said Yao is very interested in issues regarding sports and charity. "He will make proposals in future, of course," said Zhang.

Yao announced his retirement in Shanghai in July 2011. A Shanghai native, he played for eight seasons in the NBA after being the top overall pick in the 2002 draft and has been named to the NBA All-Star team eight times. Later in his career, Yao was afflicted with a series of injuries.

Yao now runs a restaurant, basketball club and winery while studying at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Georgetown basketball repairing China brawl image

2012-01-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

Source: By Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON -- The American-Chinese basketball relationship took a step back last summer when Georgetown's exhibition game against the Bayi Rockets in Beijing ended in a benches-clearing brawl.

Friday, Georgetown worked toward repairing it.

The Hoyas hosted a Chinese high school basketball team, opening their practice gym for a meet-and-greet with Georgetown men's basketball coach John Thompson III.

The Chinese players took photos with Thompson, and they also received pins and Georgetown T-shirts from the coach.

More than most, Thompson understands and appreciates foreigners welcoming a basketball team with open arms and helping them explore a new culture.

"We had a great experience over there, the time we were in Beijing and Shanghai," Thompson said. "Part of that, above and beyond the basketball component is the cultural exchange, learning about their culture.

"This team is coming over here for a couple of games, and they contacted us. We just wanted to welcome them here and show them a little bit of Georgetown."

The players attend Nanyang Model High School, which is located in Shanghai. The school has 1,800 students and is similar to a charter school in the U.S. Former NBA star Yao Ming played basketball at the school.

"This is the first time a Chinese high school team has ever toured the United States," said Joe Cooley, who has been organizing the trip for more than a year. "They're very, very excited. None of the kids -- only the head coach -- had ever been to the United States."

The team's tour has already included stops in Chicago, Erie, Pa., and Buffalo. The players have trained, played games, stayed with American host families and done sightseeing activities. They will play the Field School in DC Friday night before traveling to New Jersey for a game and New York City for a New York Knicks game and shopping.

"The basketball games are incidental," Cooley said. "This is a cultural experience."

Azarenka wins Sydney title, beating Li Na

2012-01-13T09:54:00.001-08:00

Source: china.org.cn

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus beats China's Li Na in the final to claim Apia International Sydney title.

The No. 3 seed Azarenka took out the defending champ Li Na in a match that featured extraordinary tennis, winning 6-2 1-6 6-3 in front of a spirited Ken Rosewall Arena crowd.

2012-01-12T10:19:00.000-08:00

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Comeback win boosts Li Na into Sydney finals

2012-01-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

Source: china.org.cn

French Open champion Li Na will defend her Sydney International title after a lion-hearted display in today's first semi-final against world No. 2 Petra Kvitova.

Li, who reached the Australian Open final last year, displayed all the fighting qualities that delivered her a maiden grand slam in Paris last June. Today in Sydney she came from a set down and a break down to claim the semi-final 1-6 7-5 6-2.

Li will meet the winner of second semifinal between Belarus' Victoria Azarenka and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the finals on Friday.

Li has not successfully defended any of her five WTA Tour titles, but has put the defence of her Sydney International crown this week ahead of her Australian Open preparations.

"Right now I'm still in Sydney, so I'm not thinking about Melbourne, you know. I have to focus on this tournament first," Li said.

Sands of time work in Chinese pair's favor

2012-01-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

Source: China Daily

A bronze medal capped a fine Olympic debut in beach volleyball four years ago in Beijing for Xue Chen and Zhang Xi, but with that success has come great expectations for the London Games.

China's leading female beach volleyball pair knows how heavy that burden is, but remains upbeat about delivering an even bigger surprise at this year's Olympics.

"Our goal for the London Games is simple; performing better than (we did) in Beijing and hopefully to finish on top of the podium," Zhang told China Daily recently at a press conference to launch the partnership between the Chinese Volleyball Association and Red Bull.

After claiming a silver medal in Beijing, China's other veteran pair of Tian Jia and Wang Fei retired last year and passed on the country's golden aspirations to Xue and Zhang.

From unseasoned budding players to spearheads of the nation's hopes, Xue and Zhang have had four years to further hone their beach craft.

"At Beijing, we were the underdogs. We played as challengers. So there was no pressure on us," Xue said. "But it's different in London. We know what we are capable of and people already expect much from us. We are indeed working under huge pressure now. But we have to find a balance, not to relax too much nor get too nervous."

"It actually feels great (to be the nation's top pair). We are no longer rookies and could draw a bunch of young followers," Zhang said.

Training in Hainan, China's famous tourism island and beach sports base, the world No 3 pair knows how to handle the pressure.

"Playing between the blue sky and sea is already a way to release the pressure. We like to lie down on the soft sand and free our minds if we feel depressed. And the improvement in our skill level helps a lot. Once we master a new technique, we feel more confident and less pressure," said 22-year-old Xue.

Xue, at 1.9 meters, and the 1.83-meter Zhang form a formidably tall pairing which, along with its superior physical conditioning, dazzled over the past year on the FIVB World Tour.

Taking part in 14 of the year's 15 tournaments, Xue and Zhang claimed three titles which tied them with the two-time Olympic champion pair of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States. Brazil's team of Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta won six events to claim the year-end world No 1 ranking.

"They are more mature and more capable of controlling the game's rhythm now. Their skills are honed and more experience has been gained (since 2008). They are a much better team," said national head coach Miu Zhihong, who has been mentoring the pair since 2006.

"We had a slow start at the beginning of this season. But we made some adjustments and steadily regained our form. We need to maintain the momentum approaching the new season and try to make a quick start," said 26-year-old Zhang.

According to Miu, the pair will start a two-month winter camp in Hainan before flying to the US for warm-up games in March. The team will return to the tour in April for a final stage of preparations for London.

Xue and Zhang had to overcome some "inner troubles" when they were separated and played with unfamiliar partners from their home provinces Fujian and Jiangsu, respectively, at the National Games. That mandatory duty in 2009 apparently harmed their chemistry.

Xue and Zhang's international performances slumped dramatically at the beginning of 2010 after they had played a whole year with local partners the previous year in preparation for the National Games.

However, they have learnt from that experience.

"At the beginning, it did bring some negative effects. It's a big difference to play with them and with her. It took a lot to tune in with new partners and then to regain chemistry after reuniting with her. But in the bigger picture, it helped me to get used to different styles and make myself more versatile," said Xue.

2012-01-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

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Li, Wozniacki survive early jolts

2012-01-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

Source: Shanghai Daily via china.org.cn

World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki received some glowing words of support from French Open champion Li Na after both players flirted with early exits at the Sydney International yesterday.

Denmark's Wozniacki trailed Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 0-4 in the third set of their second round encounter before the top seed eked out a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 victory. Chinese fourth seed Li was also taken the distance in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers, digging deep to draw on her improved fitness garnered from an intensive off-season spent in Germany.

Despite holding the No. 1 spot for two years, Wozniacki's lack of a major title has left some observers to question her credibility but No. 5 Li believes the Dane deserves to be regarded as the best.

"I would like to say she's a really tough player," Li told reporters. "Really. I mean, every time I am against her, I'm tired and cramping. She has improved a lot on her forehand because I used to see her miss a lot on the forehand," she added.

"Now she doesn't have any mistakes. She has two years in a row as world number one and of course the goal for her now is to win a grand slam.

"It is not easy to do, but I think she will keep going and never give up."

Li said an extended match on another hot Sydney day was the perfect way to acclimatize for the Australian Open starting in Melbourne next week. "I have to get used to the heat," Li said.

"Melbourne will be the same weather, the same thing. At the beginning of the match I was feeling so relaxed. But she (Scheepers) can hit the ball so deep and every ball comes back. I was trying to hit too many winners."

Four weeks of fitness work in Munich during the off-season had paid off.

"Every day I had two hours for tennis and three hours for fitness. I did weights, jumping, footwork, everything... because I want my body to be healthy and fit for the whole year," she said.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, ranked No. 2, also struggled against an unseeded opponent before advancing to the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win over Alexandre Dulgheru of Romania. Also, third-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus beat Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-2 and seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland defeated Andrea Petkovic of Germany 7-5, 6-4.

Li Na seeded 5th for Australian Open

2012-01-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Source: china.org.cn via Sina

China'sLi Nais seeded fifth as the seedings for this month's Australian Open have been released.

The seedings for this month's Australian Open have been announced, with Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki receiving top billing.

Djokovic, after his superb 2011 season that saw him become world No1, tops the men's side of the draw from Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, with Britain's Andy Murray the fourth seed.

On the women's list, world number one Wozniacki is still searching for her first Grand Slam but she's in danger of losing her top ranking to Czech Petra Kvitova, who is seeded second for the Melbourne event. Belarusian Victoria Azarenka is the third seed ahead of 2008 winner Maria Sharapova.

Last year's Australian Open runner-up, China's Li Na, is seeded fifth, with the US Open champion and local hope Samantha Stosur sixth. Russia's Vera Zvonareva is the seventh seed, in front of Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, with Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli and Andrea Petkovic of Germany making up the top ten.

2012-01-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

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Hainan surfing festival attracts competitors all over the world

2012-01-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

Trevor Thornton of USA competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Brandon Jackson of South Africa competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Romain Cloitre of France competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Charles Martin of France competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Carlos Zapata of Peru competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Miguel Tudela of Peru competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Charles Martin of France competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Leandro Usuna of Argentina competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Brandon Jackson of South Africa competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Rafael Pereyra of Venezuela competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world.

Wiggolly Dantas of Brazil competes during the International Surfing Association China Cup in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 8, 2012. The three-day event attracts 48 surfers from eight top-ranked countries all over the world. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

China aiming for a clean team at Games

2012-01-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Source: By Tang Zhe (China Daily)

Anti-drug body taking stringent steps to stamp out doping

CHANGCHUN, Jilin province - With the London Olympics approaching, China's top sports authority has set a target of zero positive dope tests at the sports extravaganza.

Zhao Jian, deputy director of the China Anti-Doping Agency (CADA), told China Daily the State General Administration of Sport of China has started to implement strict procedures, including the education of athletes, specific tests and food safety control, at the country's 12th National Winter Games in Changchun.

"Anti-doping is a long-term job, not only for the Olympics, but we will face more pressure this year because the Olympic Games is the most prestigious event for athletes and there might be some driven to take the (doping) risk," Zhao said.

According to Zhao, China now conducts more than 10,000 doping tests annually. There may be a slight increase in that number this year, but the authority's priority is educating the athletes, which is seen as the most crucial aspect.

Besides outstanding performances, Chinese athletes will also need to pass an anti-doping qualification assessment, in which they must go through a series of tests - such as integrity education, basic knowledge (of drugs), to qualify for the Olympic team.

"Most of the athletes at the Olympics are the country's elite, who experience a lot of doping tests throughout the year, and know what to expect," Zhao said. "But we can't afford any mistakes in anti-doping, because there is no room for regret in this regard. Therefore, education is the most important thing."

Meanwhile, the sports authority has started to carry out specific examinations targeting the country's top athletes.

"Though we can't decide the line-up of the Olympic delegation right now, we are sure it will comprise the country's best athletes and a certain amount of them will become targets of our tests this year," Zhao said.

Food safety is another major concern as several athletes, including Chinese judo Olympic champion Tong Wen, have failed drug tests due to the alleged unintentional intake of banned anabolic steroid clenbuterol, which can be used to speed up and increase muscle mass in animals. Tong's two-year suspension was rescinded by the International Judo Federation.

"The athletes should form healthy living habits and avoid eating carelessly, after all, they are different from normal people," Zhao said. "As far as I know, those in the national teams are not allowed to eat outside (the team camps).

"Another important aspect is the control of food sources," Zhao said. "All of our national teams have training bases, and the food provided to the bases are bought via reliable channels. It's an effective method to avoid potential risks if we control the sources."

There are also ways for athletes who fail tests to appeal their innocence, Zhao said.

"Athletes and sports governing bodies are responsible to set up investigations if any use of medicine or accidental consumption of drug-tainted food leads to a positive result," Zhao said. "We have certain procedures for athletes to defend themselves, such as open a hearing at which they can explain how they may have tested positive. We may also offer (investigative) assistance if necessary."

2012-01-09T09:18:00.000-08:00

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Zheng Jie wins Auckland title

2012-01-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Source: china.org.cn

China's Zheng Jie won the rain-delayed Auckland Classic in New Zealand yesterday after fourth seed Flavia Pennetta retired hurt with a back injury when trailing 2-6, 6-3, 2-0.

It is Zheng's first WTA title since 2006 when she was the winner in Estoril and Stockholm.

"I am so excited and so happy to win this title because this is the first time I've won my first tournament of the year," Zheng said. "I want to say sorry for Flavia and the problems with her back. I hope she is better for next week."

The match was played indoors at the ASB Tennis Centre because the rain that washed out play outdoors yesterday continued to fall all morning in Auckland.

Pennetta, Italy's first top-10 player, quickly seized the initiative by breaking Zheng twice to seal the first set and raced to a 2-0 lead before her diminutive opponent roared back by peeling off five consecutive games. Zheng, a former semifinalist at Wimbledon and Melbourne Park, held a nervy service game to clinch the second set and broke Pennetta early in the third before the Italian decided enough was enough.

Sichuan native Zheng was once China's highest-ranked player ahead of French Open champion Li Na but her ranking has dipped to 48th after a disappointing 2011. She has shown strong form in the leadup to the year's first grand slam, however, upsetting former world No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Auckland semifinal.

Streaking Sharks ease past Lions

2012-01-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

Source: Shanghai Daily by china.org.cn

The Shanghai Sharks extended their winning streak with an 94-88 win over the Guangsha Lions in Hangzhou.

With Liu Wei pulling the strings in attack and his teammates sharing out the scoring opportunities, Shanghai had managed to open up a 25-12 lead after the first 12 minutes.

However, the introduction of Guangsha's towering center, P.J. Ramos gave the Lions extra steel to their game. As gaps began to emerge due to the physical demands of keeping the 7"3 Ramos under control, the Lions began to come storming back in the game.

It would take the deft finishing of Mike Harris to steady the ship and by the time the halftime buzzer came, the Sharks had retained their advantage to lead 49-40 at the break.

With both Ramos and Wilson Chandler on the court after the interval, the Sharks had to dig deep to not only contain the pair but also pour forward and keep the scoreboard moving. It was pulsating stuff and players from both sides began to look exhausted.

Still leading 74-64 as the final quarter began, the Sharks continued to stay ahead of the increasingly desperate Lions and with Harris continuing to make clutch shots whenever he fashioned himself the space to shoot, Guangsha was running out of time to save the game.

Barring a couple of turnovers late in the quarter, the Sharks were smart enough to run the game clock down and suffocate Guangsha's destructive offense in the crucial final minutes. A buzzer beating three-pointer by newly-signed small forward Marcus Landry was the icing on the cake after a fantastic performance saw the Sharks record another improbable victory.

Harris made 29 points, Liu picked up 13 while Landry and Meng Lingyuan scored 12 points each but the game was ultimately won by an excellent defensive performance from the entire Sharks side.

For Guangsha, Chandler grabbed 23 points while Jin (17), Ramos (14) Lin Zhijie (12) and Zhang Wei (10) all picked up double-digit scores.

Elsewhere in the CBA, the Zhejiang Bulls lost 110-128 to the Shanxi Dragons. Also, the Beijing Ducks' poor form continued with a 105-109 home defeat to the Fujian Sturgeons. Defending champion Guangdong outlasted the Qingdao Eagles 127-117 in Dongguan.

Guangzhou Evergrande denies Drogba import

2012-01-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Source: China Daily via china.org.cn

China's super league defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande denied the link with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba on Sunday.

"We have no contact with Drogba whatsoever, nor the club have authorized anyone to contact him," the club said in a "solemn announcement" on its official website.

"The recent Drogba report is pure speculation, he is not in our plan," said a club's top official.

"Our reinforcements will be under strict standard including the player's age and potential," said the announcement.

Guangzhou does not lack of ambition in the transfer market. Last season, Argentine Dario Conca smashed the league record of $7 million to join Guangzhou Evergrande, the club also splashed out $7.5 million on Brazilian forward Cleo and Muriqui.

The club's owner Xu Jiayin also promised to pour in more than $100 million for the team this year as they set sight to international fame after winning first CSL title.

But Guangzhou's announcement concluded the involvement of the CSL defending champions in the chasing of Drogba, which may leave Shanghai Shenhua the only possible buyer of the Chelsea Striker who is embroiled in a transfer saga.

The 34-year old Cote d'Ivoire was reported to have a "great possibility" to move from the London Blues to China, according to both English and Chinese media.

Shanghai Shenhua, who had already signed Drogba's teammate Nicolas Anelka, were believed as the most likely to double their sharpness with Drogba.

But the Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou said last month that they are waiting for next Anelka in CSL.

"I am waiting for next Anelka to join our league," said Liu Yongzhuo, president of Guangzhou Evergrande football club. "We will wait Guangzhou for ten days, if they do not act, we will do (to sign Drogba)", Shanghai Shenhua's owner Zhu Jun said on Saturday.

The two clubs' ambiguity triggered various guesses that both clubs are running to sign the Chinese the second Chelsea forward. But Guangzhou's clear denying may leave Shanghai the sole buyer of Drogba in China.

"They may already signed Drogba, 80 percent possibility, Zhu's words may be just for hyping," a Guangzhou club official said.

2012-01-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

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Mavericks sign Chinese forward Yi Jianlian

2012-01-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

The Dallas Mavericks officially signed 6- foot-10 Chinese forward Yi Jianlian to a one-year deal contract on Friday.

Yi is expected to begin his stint with the Mavericks on the team's D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends in Frisco, when the club returns home on Sunday to play the Maine Red Claws.

"Time will determine that," coach Rick Carlisle said in regards to when Yi will join the Mavs. "It's going to take him awhile to get used to what we're doing. I can't give an accurate answer right now as far as when exactly he's going to be up and on the roster."

Yi, 24, has spent the past four seasons in the NBA but was still available in free agency thanks in part to a knee injury Yi suffered during a brief stint playing for the Guangdong Southern Tigers, after helping the Chinese national team clinch a spot in the 2012 London Olympics earlier in the summer.

Yi averaged 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in three games with Guangdong but has been recovering from a knee injury after a teammate fell on him during a game.

Playing in the D-League will reunite him with Legends coach Del Harris, who coached China to an eight-place finish at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

In 2011 with the national team under American coach Bob Donewald, Yi averaged 16.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks and earned tournament MVP honors while leading China to the championship.

Yi was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, thanks to Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson's longstanding connections to China.

Dallas was the first NBA team to successfully sign a Chinese player, drafting Wang Zhizhi with the 36th overall pick in 1999 and ultimately bringing him over during the 2001-02 season.

Yi spent last season with the Washington Wizards and has career averages of 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Chinese revolution: Open cashes in on Li's 200 million fans

2012-01-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald By Georgia Wilkins

MOST of the top players at the Australian Open come with an entourage of fans, a dedicated band of supporters that grows with each round.

Few, however, can claim a cheer squad of 200 million. That is what sets Chinese trailblazer Li Na apart.

The extraordinary popularity of the world No. 5 in her home country is a game-changer for the sport and a huge opportunity for the Open. Travel packages, social media campaigns and even a leg of the trophy tour dedicated to Li Na's home town have been used to promote the Open to China, in the hope sponsorship deals and tourism dollars will follow.

A new broadcast deal with Shanghai Media Group will give an additional 65 million homes in China access to live coverage of the tournament, meaning a potential Chinese audience of 200 million.

Ticket sales through tour operators in China have also increased - up 30 per cent on the more than 2500 visitors who attended last year.

''This is an important future market for us,'' Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said. ''Our objective is to bring over as many people from the Asia-Pacific region during that time of year, so they can spend money.''

Li's potential value to the Open was evident in the decision - for the first time - to include three cities outside Australia in the tour of the Open singles trophies. Those cities were all in China - Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan, Li's home town.

Applications for media accreditation from journalists in China have increased this year, from 15 in 2011 to 38 people from 17 organisations.

Li's success last year as the first Chinese player to win a grand slam title led to a huge boom in interest in the sport there. Chinese news agency Xinhua reported 65 million viewers watched her 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) victory over Francesca Schiavone at the French Open in June. When the 29-year-old made her first run to the final of the Australian Open earlier that year - losing to Kim Clijsters - 135 million people in China watched, raising viewer numbers there from 59 million in 2010.

Tennis Australia commercial director Steve Ayles said: ''You cannot underestimate what a successful person will do to drive interest in a sport. Her personality is very unique and welcoming, so that has also helped generate exposure for her and for tennis.''

But Mr Ayles denied Tennis Australia was making investment decisions based on the success of one player, adding: ''Li Na has hit a new benchmark but it's not just about Li Na.

''There are other top-20 female players in China and many other top-100 players in the region.''

Last month, tourism bodies and Tennis Australia launched an interactive tennis game on Weibo, a Chinese website similar to Twitter with 250 million users.

''It is critical for us to keep growing in exposure in those regions and continue to attract more investment to the event,'' Mr Ayles said.

Tennis Australia has also signed a deal with the Chinese company Erke, which has 8000 shops in the country, to launch an Australian Open range with local company Spartan Sports.

2012-01-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

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China unveils squad for initial Youth Winter Olympics

2012-01-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

CHANGCHUN, Jilin province - China has picked a 43-strong delegation for this month's initial Youth Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria.

Xiao Tian, vice-minister of the State General Administration of Sports, will head the Chinese delegation, including 23 athletes averaged 15.7 years old.

The oldest is the 17-year-old ice hockey player Sun Jiayue, and the youngest is Lv Xiucheng of short track speedskating, who's just turned 14 years old.

Among the 23 athletes, only ten have competed on world stage. There're men's singles figure skater Yan Han who finished the juniors' second place in 2010-2011 ISU Grand Prix Finals, and his counterpart of the women's Li Zijun, twice runner-up in ISU Grand Prix junior competitions.

Yu Xiaoyu/Jin Yang have been crowned at a Grand Prix as the junior pairs figure skating winners, and speed skater Yang Fan was the title holder of the men's 3,000m and team pursuit at the 2011-2012 world youth championships.

"Rather than winning medals, the Chinese delegation will focus more on promoting friendships and communications between us and others from all over the world," said Xiao.

The Youth Winter Olympic Games are open to junior athletes between 14-18 years old, featuring 63 events of 15 disciplines in seven sports, namely skating, skiing, biathlon, luge, bobsled, curling and ice hockey.

Over 1,000 athletes from more than 60 countries and regions are expected to take part in the January 13-22 Games.

Drogba to join Anelka in Shanghai?

2012-01-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

Source: By Tang Zhe (China Daily)

BEIJING - Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua has reportedly reached an agreement with Didier Drogba, and it appears just a matter of time before he joins the club.

According to Oriental Sports Daily, a newspaper in Shanghai, Zhou Jun, chairman of Shenhua, arrived in Paris on Thursday to secure another foreign player for the club. That player reportedly is the 33-year-old Chelsea forward.

The paper said Drogba's agent promised Shenhua will be the Ivorian striker's first choice if he chooses to play in China. The relationship between Shenhua and the Blues was formed during the sides' negotiations over former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka.

The recruiting of Anelka and French coach Jean Tigana in December were also seen as factors making Shenhua the most suitable club for Drogba in China.

According to another Chinese newspaper, Soccer, Shenhua had already planned to bring in Drogba while also negotiating with Anelka.

But the captain of the Cote d'lvoire national team, whose contract with the Blues will expire this summer, had wanted to stay in the English top league and was expecting a new two-year contract with the club.

However, English media reported negotiations between Drogba and Chelsea have come to a deadlock, and three Chinese clubs, including Shenhua, Dalian Aerbin and Guangzhou Evergrande, have been competing for the forward's services. Evergrande is believed to have offered 400,000 pounds ($ 624,100) per week for Drogba, and Dalian confirmed it had contacted Drogba.

Guangdong takes CBA lead after win at Beijing

2012-01-05T10:17:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

Defending champions Guangdong Hongyuan defeated Beijing Ducks 112-99 to grab the pole position of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Wednesday.

Guangdong foreign duo Aaron Brooks and James Singleton united to dominate the game. Brooks totaled 32 points and 8 assists, while Singleton contributed 29 points.

It was Beijing's fifth loss in their recent six games. The capital-based team had swallowed 18 straight defeats on home court against Guangdong since 2001-2002 season.

Guangdong started the game with 11-5. Ji Zhe and Marbury made a couple of jump shots to draw back the score to 14-13. Neither side was able to establish a commanding lead and the score was 29-30 at the end of the first quarter.

Guangdong sent Aeron Brooks on court in the second quarter, in which they took the upper hand and set up an 11-point lead at 58-47.

Mabury totaled 19 points in the first half, while Brooks got 14.

Beijing shooter Zhu Yanxi pulled his trigger in the third quarter, firing three straight three pointers to trim the gap to five points.

Guangdong lost their rhythm afterwards, letting Fang Shuo to put Beijing ahead with a three-pointer.

In the final quarter, Guangdong players took every shooting chance to score, while Beijing struggled to find the basket. After a three pointer from Wang Shipeng, Guangdong sealed the victory.

Beijing's Stephon Marbury had game-high 35 points. Zhu Yanxi and Randolph Moris scored 17 and 16 points respectively.

Also on Wednesday, another CBA powerhouse Zhejiang Guangsha survived a thrilling battle in which they edged Shandong Gold from veteran Jin Lipeng's final three-point shot.

When Shandong were leading 97-95 with 1.7 seconds remaining, Guangsha coach called a time-out and then Jin stood out to fire from downtown and made the basket.

After winning the game, Guangsha recorded 14 victories out of 19 games, surpassing Beijing to become the second-placed team.

In Wednesday's other games, Fujian SBS beat Zhejiang Chouzhou 102-78, Xinjiang Guanghui beat Bayi Fubang 102-83, Qingdao Doublestar beat Jilin Northeast Tigers 116-90, Shanghai Sharks beat Foshan Long Lions 95-88, Dongguan Marco Polo beat Jiangsu Dragons 108-84, Liaoning Hengye beat Tianjin Ronggang 103-82.

2012-01-04T10:36:00.000-08:00

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Year of Dragon could be China’s time to lead Asia

2012-01-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Source: By John Duerden, Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)—This is the Year of the Dragon in China, one for bold decision-making and strong leadership, and one that may see the country emerge as the political power of Asian football.

The Asian Football Confederation can hold elections for its presidency any time from June onward to replace Mohammed bin Hammam, who is appealing his life ban from the sport for vote-buying in the FIFA presidential election.

China’s Zhang Jilong has been the acting president since May 2011 and is the favorite to win this year’s vote but faces some strong challenges, particularly from west Asia.

After the turmoil following Bin Hammam’s expulsion, Zhang has provided steady and uncontroversial leadership. He also has the backing of people such as Peter Velappan, who was the AFC General Secretary from 1978 to 2007.

“Zhang will be a good choice,” Velappan told The Associated Press. “He has gone through the different levels of Asian football. I remember him from the Chinese FA and from there he has been with AFC for around 30 years and he knows football and politics in Asia. He deserves a term as AFC president at least.”

For Velappan, it is not just about Zhang’s credentials. Geography also plays a part. For 42 of the 44 years from 1958 to 2002, the AFC president was supplied by host country Malaysia. That changed 10 years ago when Bin Hammam, a Qatari, took control. Velappan, also from Malaysia, believes that it is time for East Asia to supply its first leader in more than five decades.

“Now it is time for regional rotation,” he said. “The presidency should not last more than two terms and then go around the regions if they have candidates that are good enough. Compared to my day, there are more people who have the potential and the leadership skills to be good candidates in the future.”

Zhang’s first challenge is to unite his region behind him, but he first faces a potential challenge from Japan’s Kozo Tashima, a member of the AFC’s Executive Committee and vice president of Japan’s FA. Tashima is popular but his relative lack of profile outside East Asia means that a win is unlikely. He could, however, damage the Chinese challenge.

Whatever happens in his backyard, Zhang’s fiercest challenge will come from the western reaches of the continent.

The fact that Qatar has provided the president for nine years does not mean that the Gulf and Middle East nations will be content to allow East Asia to have its turn in charge, according to James Dorsey, senior fellow of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the author of The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer blog.

“This is about a region with Qatar and to a lesser degree Bahrain and the UAE in the lead that is projecting itself as a global sports hub and a player,” Dorsey told The AP. “In doing so it is competing with East and Southeast Asian nations.”

At the turn of the year there are two leading candidates from the region. Yousuf Al Serkal is a current vice-president of the AFC. The former president of the United Arab Emirates Football Association is close to Bin Hammam and the only potential candidate to talk openly of running for the post.

According to Dorsey, Serkel’s relationship with the deposed president will not be a negative and he “is viewed as honest and not corrupt and as a result could emerge as an Arab compromise candidate.”

His rival is Sheik Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the Bahrain Football Association. The member of the country’s ruling family, Salman is a well-known figure in Asia. In May 2009, he challenged Bin Hammam for his seat on FIFA’s Executive Committee only to lose a bitter election by only two votes.

Salman has been actively campaigning behind the scenes but according to Dorsey, his chances have been damaged over the last few months due to his family’s crackdown on Bahraini protests that started in 2011, particularly the imprisonment of a number of athletes and footballers.

“My sense is that there is a growing understanding in West Asia that Salman is controversial because of last year’s events in Bahrain and the ongoing protests,” Dorsey said. “That is not to say that he is not able to garner some Arab support but it would not be unanimous.”

The wrangling between east and west could allow AFC vice president Prince Abdullah Ibni Sultan Amhad Shah to emerge as a compromise candidate from Malaysia.

Disputed Olympic champ Wang Meng keeps far away from national winter games

2012-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua by Sportswriter Zhang Han

CHANGCHUN, Northeast China, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Four-time Winter Olympic champion Wang Meng, who's expelled from the Chinese national short track speedskating team last August after an internal drunken brawl, exiled herself to the other end of the world while the national winter games was putting on show in Northeast China.

The 27-year-old Wang has been banned from the 12th edition of the Chinese top level multi-sport winter tournament, unveiled here Tuesday evening, and to get away from the storm center, she flew to the United States two weeks ago, citing of looking for a cure to her injured hand there.

Last July, Wang, the most decorated winter sports athlete of China, hit the headlines for punching national team manager Wang Chunlu in the short track team's training base in eastern Qingdao after being criticized for an late returning night out with other five teammates.

The bad tempered skater, who was said to be visibly drunk at the time of the incident, smashed furniture in her dormitory after the brawl and hurt her hands. She was suspended in August under an interim castigation.

Wang Chunlu, a native of northeastern Jilin province which is hosting the 12th national winter games, was also stellenbosched from the national team manager post.

"Wang Meng kept a low key this time. She told only the local sports bureau of Heilongjiang province that she's not feeling well about her injured hand and went to the America to treat the injury," said an anonymous source close to the athlete.

"But in my personal opinion, Wang might want to get away from all the chaos and to calm herself down," added the source.

Wang Meng's father Wang Chunjiang told Xinhua that his daughter is now doing well in the U.S., dealing with some school issues, taking some rehab and training in a local club and will be back home ahead of the Chinese New Year.

"Thank you all for concerning about Wang Meng. She's experiencing some difficult time alone and abroad. Hopefully we could soon welcome her home for the Spring Festival," said Wang Chunjiang via a phone interview.

The 12th national winter games of China, featuring 1,067 athletes of 43 delegations to compete for 115 gold medals of 105 events from 12 disciplines in five sports, is set to be through to Jan. 13 with skating events being held in capital city Changchun and skiing events in the Beidahu resort of Jilin city.

2012-01-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

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UFC making inroads in China one fighter at a time

2012-01-03T09:29:00.000-08:00

Source: Yahoo Sports By Kevin Lole

LAS VEGAS – Zhang Tiequan returned to Beijing after making his UFC debut in Australia last year and was in for a shock when he sat down at his computer.

Weibo is a social networking site in China, similar to Twitter. When Zhang logged into his account after returning home, he had 100,000 friend requests awaiting him.

In a country of 1.3 billion people, 100,000 might not seem like a significant number. But Zhang, who is working with the UFC in an effort to develop mixed martial arts in his country, expects that one day MMA will surpass basketball as the most popular sport in China.

And that’s also why the UFC is making such a concerted effort to develop Chinese talent. Zhang, along with Yao Honggang, Li Jinliang Li, A Mu Ri Ji Ri Ga La and Cui Liucai, are in Las Vegas for the month, training with some of the city’s top fighters and trainers.

The plan, according to UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, is to properly train the Chinese fighters so they can train others in an attempt to tap into the country’s love of martial arts.

“We’ve talked a lot about our international expansion and China is one of the focal points for the company,” Fertitta said. “We know it’s going to be a long-term play there. It’s got a tremendous amount of potential, primarily for two reasons. One, obviously, is because of the size of the market. It’s a huge market. And two, there is a long-standing martial arts background that the country has from a cultural standpoint.

“Consumers like fighting and we feel very strongly that once the UFC becomes more exposed in China that it will become a top sport there.”

The UFC has found from experience that a market will develop much quicker if there is local talent to display when the first event is held in a particular country.

The UFC’s first trip to the United Kingdom in 2002 spawned a growth spurt in MMA and the UFC benefitted by landing a number of talented British fighters, including “The Ultimate Fighter” winners Michael Bisping and Ross Pearson.

Fertitta has seen the pattern repeat around the world and believes it’s particularly important in China.

“We also know one of the keys to being successful in a lot of these countries is having local talent,” he said. “We’re very popular in Canada, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that [welterweight champion] Georges St. Pierre is from Canada. Look at the success we’ve had in Brazil and a lot of that is because there’s so much talent in Brazil. In America sometimes, we kind of take things for granted and we’re not as nationalistic as a lot of other countries. Places like Brazil, places like Japan and, obviously, places like China, it’s huge. As you’ve seen, when a Chinese athlete medals in the Olympics, or wins a gold medal, it’s a very big deal.

“When you see someone like Yao Ming have success on an international level, the whole country stops and watches when he plays. The idea when we went over and assessed the market … we realized there were a lot of great athletes there, but they weren’t up to speed on the different styles of fighting.”

The UFC sent Sean Shelby, one of its matchmakers, to China. He spent two weeks touring the country and evaluating fighters in various gyms.

Shelby reported that the Chinese fighters were quality strikers, but were lacking in wrestling and jiu-jitsu skills. There were many men whom Shelby watched work out who were athletic enough to be successful fighters in the UFC, but they were primitive in their knowledge of MMA and their training methods.

Fertitta wanted to change that because of the potential in China. Zuffa, the UFC’s parent company, already has a six-person office in Beijing, headed by Mark Fischer. UFC programming is shown in 10 provinces in China and already reaches 200 million people. Zuffa has also partnered with several prominent Chinese Internet portals that reach 500 million people.

Fischer said the results of that groundwork are just beginning to be seen.

“Over the past year, we have made significant progress toward building our long-term goal of building our fan base in China, mainly by building up media presence across the mainland,” said Fischer, the executive vice president and managing director of UFC Asia. “Online, our events are covered on all the top portals such as Sina, Sohu, and QQ, and we have recently set up accounts for both UFC and Zhang Tiequan on Weibo.com, which is the Chinese equivalent of Twitter and is hugely popular there now.

“On TV, our events have been on Guangdong, Chongqing, and Shanghai TV for most of the past year and will be carried either live or on delay by more than 10 regional TV channels across China by early 2012. We have also built important infrastructure here to set the stage for long-term growth in China, such as the Beijing office and development relationships with leading China MMA groups such as the China Top Team.”

Zhang is the founder of the China Top Team and he has worked closely with Fischer, Fertitta, Shelby and trainer Mark DellaGrotte to help improve the sport.

Fertitta said it made sense to bring the fighters to Las Vegas given the large number of gyms as well as elite fighters and coaches based there.

“Vegas is kind of the Mecca of mixed martial arts in a lot of ways,” Fertitta said. “We just said, ‘Hey, let’s get them exposure with, literally, the best trainers in the world.’ … They literally will go from gym to gym every day to train and learn different aspects of MMA.”

Among the trainers will be UFC fighter Fredson Paixao, noted jiu-jitsu coach Robert Drysdale, wrestling and grappling expert Ricky Lundell, striking coach Jimmy Gifford and DellaGrotte. The Chinese fighters will spar at Wanderlei Silva’s gym.

Shelby said they may expand the program to include other trainers, but they’re going to take it on a day-to-day basis.

“Really, what this is is an effort to find our version of Yao Ming,” Fertitta said. “There’s more than a billion people in China and I guarantee you, somebody there can fight. Our goal is to find that guy.

“The U.K. is a great example of what we’re trying to do. Before we got there, there were a lot of tough guys. The Brits have a lot of tough, brawler-type guys, but they really weren’t competitive in the UFC. After we brought [UFC 38] there, in three or four years, we found guys like Bisping and John Hathaway and Ross Pearson and guys like that who were coming up. Once we were there and they were getting exposure to trainers from the U.S. and around the world, the level of their competitiveness went through the roof. That’s what the idea here is.”

The population of the U.K. is 65 million, which is about five percent of the population of China.

Fertitta is excited by the possibilities and expects a show to be in Macau in the fourth quarter of this year. He plans to move slowly in regard to mainland China and said it may be as long as four years before a UFC card goes there.

The possibilities, he said, are significant. The UFC has a name recognition of about 15 percent, according to research done by the UFC Asia office. As the Chinese fighters develop and the television exposure continues, Fertitta expects the 15 percent figure to rise substantially.

“This is a small little deal with a few fighters here trying to learn, but its impact on our overall strategy in China can’t be understated,” he said. “Once we develop that market and there are world-class gyms with world-class instructors working there, the type of talent that will come out of that will be very significant. That’s going to lead to a lot of big things.”

Li Na Beats Garrigues 2-0 at Hopman Cup

2012-01-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via CRI
Li Na of China returns a shot during the women's singles match against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain on day 4 matches between China and Spain at Hopman Cup tennis tournament in Perth, Australia, Jan. 3, 2011. Li Na won 2-0 and Team China led 1-0. [Photo: Xinhua/Bai Xue]

12th National Winter Games of China Opens

2012-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via CRI

Chinese state councillor Liu Yandong declared open the 12th National Winter Games at the Rings Stadium in Changchun, captial of northeast China's Jilin province, on Tuesday evening.

It is the fifth time the quadrennial event is staged in Jilin Province, a traditional powerhouse in winter sports, since the Games were launched in 1959.

The 12th edition, which runs through Jan. 13, offers 115 gold medals for grabs in 12 disciplines of five sports, namely skating, skiing, biathlon, curling and ice hockey.

A total of 1,067 athletes of 43 delegations, including the teams from Hong Kong and Macao, will be competing in the 11-day games, with ice competitions to be held in the provincial capital city of Changchun and snow races in the Beidahu skiing resort of Jilin city.

Four-time Olympic champion Wang Meng, China's most decorated winter Olympian, is set to miss the nation's top level winter event due to a domestic suspension following a brawl last July.

In spite of Wang's absence, Olympic gold medalist Zhou Yang and world champion Liang Wenbao, both short track speed skaters, will lead the field for the 95-member Changchun delegation.

Team Harbin, the hosts' archrivals, will be spearheaded by pairs figure skating world champions Pang Qing/Tong Jian and Wang Bingyu, skipper of the world title winning Chinese women's curling team.

At Tuesday's evening opening ceremony, representatives of referees and delegations paraded into the stadium amid a carnival atmosphere.

A five-part performance, which was designed, directed and performed mainly by students and teaching staff of Changchun Standard University, took center stage following the parade.

Winter Olympic pairs figure skating gold medalists Shen Xue and Zhang Hongbo hit the rink with a romantic routine themed "Here We Met", taking the whole scene to a climax.

A quartet of former winter sports stars Ye Qiaobo, Chen Lu, Li Jiajun, and Zhou Yang, a Jilin native who won a short track gold at Vancouver, took part in the final leg of the "torch" relay and lit the electronical main cauldron with digital flame.

2012-01-02T09:40:00.000-08:00

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Mavericks sign Chinese star Yi for one year

2012-01-02T09:38:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

The Dallas Mavericks is set to sign free agent forward Yi Jianlian on a one-year deal, according to an ESPN report on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Chinese averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds with Washington last season.

Yi's best season came in 2009-2010 when Yi averaged 12.0 points and 7.2 rebounds with New Jersey.

Why MLS Will Continue to Compete for Players with China: Fan View

2012-01-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

Source: Yahoo Sports By Lana Bandoim

The approach of the 2012 MLS season is highlighting a new dimension to the competitive soccer player market. In 2011, the emerging popularity of soccer in China jeopardized potential MLS transfers. I think this trend will continue in 2012. MLS will simply have to adjust to competition from foreign leagues for popular players.

China's Obsession

FIFA's statistics reveal that China has more than 26 million soccer players and more than 2,000 clubs. Despite the inability of the men's national team to qualify for the World Cup and ongoing failures in other matches, the popularity of this sport continues to increase in China. Now, the country is competing more with other foreign leagues to capture skilled players, and it will continue in 2012.

China Ruins a Deal

In 2011, the power of China to ruin a potential MLS deal became fully visible. Initial rumors about Nicolas Anelka's move to MLS, a Chelsea striker who was leaving the Premier League, changed quickly. It was reported by several sources that the Montreal Impact and other Major League Soccer teams had attempted to secure a deal with Anelka. Instead, he chose China's Shanghai Shenhua. Recent rumors indicate that Chelsea's Michael Ballack is also considering a transfer to China.

Money Rules

Once Nicolas Anelka's salary became public, it was easy to see why he chose Shanghai Shenhua. He is estimated to be earning $300,000 a week with China's team. Money is China's ticket to securing talented players, and the MLS' designated player rules are not enough to save the clubs in many cases.

Flaws that Kill

China's willingness and ability to make large salary offers gives the country a strong edge over other foreign leagues. Most MLS clubs simply cannot compete with some of the offers that China provides. However, internal problems in China's teams could be the flaws that kill its ability to contend with other leagues. Corruption is an ongoing issue with bribery and fixed matches. Currently, several Chinese soccer clubs are facing trials stemming from corruption, and Shanghai Shenhua is one of them. The punishment has not been determined, but this may only provide a temporary respite for MLS teams searching for new players.

Pro Surfing Headed To China

2012-01-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

Source: Transworld Surf By Justin Cote

2012 Surfing Contest Calendar To Begin With Groundbreaking Two-Event Festival In China

World’s Best Surfers Competing For Country and Career in China

January 7 to 14, 2012

Wanning, Hainan Island, China

The sport of surfing will have an exciting beginning to the 2012 contest calendar, with the ISA China Cup and the Hainan Classic taking place at Hainan Island in China as part of the Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival Presented by Quiksilver.

The two-event Festival will begin on January 7 with the ISA China Cup and conclude on January 14 with the final day of competition for the Hainan Classic, an ASP Men’s 4-Star. This is an unprecedented happening in China, a country of 1.4 billion people and 9,000-plus miles of coastline with very little surf culture to speak of. The hope is that the Festival may serve as the initial spark in cultivating a rich surfing presence. The Festival is the work of the ISA and Womei Media, a Beijing sports and media organization that is exclusively representing the ISA’s commercial interests in China.

“This will be a unique and different start to the year: a series of ground-breaking events that are happening because of the joint efforts of the ISA and Womei Media,” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre, who initiated the idea for the ISA China Cup. “I can’t wait for the horn to blow for the first heat.”

The four-day ISA China Cup will feature the finest surfers from the top eight qualifying countries, based on the results of the 2011 ISA World Surfing Games. National Team surfers will include former World Tour competitors Chris Ward and Cory Lopez for the USA, Sofia Mulanovich for Peru, and Dion Atkinson from Australia, and others. Each country will field a National Team of 4 men and 2 women vying for team and individual gold medals.

Immediately following completion of the event, the Hainan Classic, an ASP Men’s 4-Star with a $ 95,000 USD prize-purse, will commence. Much like the ISA China Cup, the contest will draw surfers from all over the globe, but instead of competing for their country, surfers will be vying for individual ASP World Ranking points. Aside from many of the top male competitors from the ISA China Cup, other surfers confirmed to be attending include former ASP World Tour competitor Nathaniel Curran (USA), Mitch Crews, an up-and-coming talent from Australia, and Yujiro Tsuji, one of the top prospects in Japan.

The Festival opens on January 7 with the traditional ISA Opening Ceremony, the Parade of the Nations and the Sands of the World Ceremony, which will be held at the Le Meridian Hotel in the city of Wanning, Hainan Island, China.

Aside from the ISA China Cup, the ISA will also host the World Standup Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship in Peru in February, the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Panama in April, as well as the ISA World Surfing Games, the ISA World Bodyboard Championship, and the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship.

Registration for the Hainan Classic is open now on http://www.aspaustralasia.com/.

The event will be webcasted live on http://www.hainaninternationalsurfingfestival/.com beginning January 7 and until the final day, January 14.

China harvests in 'backyard' sports

2012-01-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

BEIJING - China is traditionally strong in sports like diving, table tennis and badminton, from which the world's most populous nation has reaped piles of international titles.

In the year of 2011, China still enjoyed a solid dominance in their backyard of sports, yet with challenges looming ahead of the London Olympics

The "dream team" of Chinese divers topped the 14th FINA World Championships' diving medal tally in Shanghai this July, sweeping all 10 golds plus four silvers. It was the first time in history that Chinese divers swept the board at the worlds.

China bagged seven out of eight golds on offer at the 2008 Beijing Games, and took seven out of 10 at the 2009 Rome worlds. This time in Shanghai, the diving powerhouse finally achieved the ultimate glory.

The retirement of "diving queen" Guo Jingjing had little impact on the Chinese team, which was made up of both veterans and teenage talents and once again showed its undisputed domination in the sport.

In table tennis, Chinese clean-swept gold medals and women's singles quarterfinal spots in the Rotterdam World Championships this May.

Zhang Jike, 23, and Ding Ning, 21, beat more fancied teammates to win the men's and women's singles title, proving China is never short of new blood in the game.

In the six previous Olympic Games which featured table tennis, China swept the gold medals in 1996, 2000 and 2008. Moreover, Chinese paddlers also took everything on offer at the 2009 world championships.

Although the International Table Tennis Federation's decision to deduct one player each from the men's and women's singles events next year in London increased uncertainty for China, the stake to win all is still high with their vast reserve of talent.

The Chinese badminton team failed to complete a title sweep in 2011, but the shuttlers' sound performance still proved their tight grip of the game.

With the loss of the Uber Cup, the women's team top trophy, China made up with a fourth straight Thomas Cup victory in Kuala Lumpur in May.

The Chinese team went on to win all the five singles and doubles golds in the World Championships in Paris this August, repeating their title-sweeping feat 23 years ago.

However, with only seven months to go before the London Olympic Games, Chinese sports officials also see challenges amid the encouraging achievements in their own backyard.

"Generally speaking, we maintain our advantage in the sports that Chinese athletes traditionally excel in, but there is no much room for them to improve or win more gold medals in these sports," said Cai Jiadong, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC).

Thirty-nine out of 51 gold medals China won in the 2008 Olympics came from gymnastics, weightlifting, diving, shooting, table tennis, badminton and judo.

While China's specialty events continue to contribute medals to the Chinese delegation in London, it is unrealistic to expect Chinese athletes in these sports to be as good as in 2008.

For example, the Chinese gymnasts, who had snatched an amazing nine golds at the Beijing Games, slipped to a record of four golds, five silvers and three bronzes at this year's World Championships in Japan.

With the retirement of the "Diamond Generation" including Yang Wei, Huangxu and Li Xiaopeng, it will be a mission impossible for Chinese gymnasts to copy the 2008 glory.

"The competition of the London Games will be really tough. We are going to face stiff challenge," said head coach Huang Yubin.

Chinese weightlifters pocketed eight gold medals in Beijing, but in the World Championships in Paris last month, they only won six overall golds.

Chinese men's weightlifters competed in five categories and claimed four overall titles but their women's counterparts suffered a big setback, grabbing merely two overall golds out of seven categories they participated in.

"Although our men's team won four overall titles, the competition was very close," said Yang Binsheng, professor of the Beijing Sports University who also worked as a referee during the weightlifting worlds in Paris.

"For example, Zhang Jie won the 62-kilogram category but the runner-up from DPRK only trailed one kilogram. During the London Games, the competition may be even closer, and a small mistake may cost gold medal."

"And for the women's team, Chinese young lifters failed to deliver a satisfactory performance. They still need more training and experience before they can be relied on," Yang added.

China's judo team, who won three golds in Beijing, is also suffering from under-performance by their young athletes, with the reigning Olympic champion Tong Wen taking the only gold for China in this year's judo worlds.

"We know that we will meet tough challenge next year in London, but we will try our best to keep China in the leading positions on the overall medal standings," said Cai Jiadong.

2011-12-29T10:18:00.000-08:00

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Top 10 athletes of China in 2011

2011-12-29T10:06:00.001-08:00

1. Li Na (tennis)

The 29-year-old made history as the first Chinese and Asian tennis player to enter a Grand Slam singles final at the Australian Open. Later in June, Li was crowned as the first-ever Grand Slam champion for China and Asia in the French Open, beating defending champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-4, 7-6 (0).

2. Sun Yang (swimming)

The 20-year-old won the men's 800 and 1,500 meters freestyle gold medals at the 14th FINA World Championships in July. Sun clocked 14:34.14 in 1,500m to break the world record of 14:34.56 set by Australian Grant Hackett 10 years ago.

3. Zhang Jike (table tennis)

The 23-year-old dethroned top seeded Wang Hao to clinch the men's singles title at the World Table Tennis Championships in May. Zhang beat Wang again at the World Cup to become only the third player to sweep both World Championships and World Cup singles titles in the same year after Swede Jorgen Persson in 1991 and Chinese Kong Linghui in 1995.

4. Lin Dan (badminton)

The 28-year-old garnered eight titles in 2011, including April's Asian Championships, August's World Championships and December's World Superseries Finals.

5. Hou Yifan (chess)

The 17-year-old successfully defended her world championship title in November.

6. Li Yanfeng (athletics)

The 32-year-old won the women's discus event with a throw of 66.52 meters in the World Athletics Championships in August and triumphed in the Brussels Diamond League in September.

7. Wu Minxia (diving)

The 26-year-old won the women's 3m springboard title at the 14th FINA World Championships in July. She was also awarded as the 2011 FINA Best Female Diver in December.

8. Li Na (fencing)

The 30-year-old won the women's epee final at the World Fencing Championships in October.

9. Chen Yibing (gymnastics)

The 27-year-old led China to the men's team title in the World Gymnastics Championships in which he also won the rings gold.

10. Liu Xiang (athletics)

The 28-year-old hurdler recovered from injuries to clock an impressive time of 13.00 seconds at the Prefontaine Diamond League meeting and later took a silver medal in the World Athletics Championships.

Sharks thrash Golden Lions to extend win streak

2011-12-29T10:04:00.000-08:00

Source: Shanghai Daily via china.org.cn

The Shanghai Sharks have gained a reputation for close, nail-biting games, but they took it easy last night with an easy 93-81 win over the Tianjin Golden Lions.

The Sharks lost the lead early in the second quarter, but regained it minutes later. Mike Harris finished off the quarter with an off-balance buzzer beater putting the lead at 47-38.

The feisty Lions stuck around in the second half thanks to forward Zhang Nan's sharpshooting, but never seriously threatened the lead after halftime.

Each time Tianjin would put together a few points in a row you could count a fadeaway jumper from Mike Harris or an open three pointer from Ryan Forehan-Kelly finding the net. Harris finished with 27 points and Forehan-Kelly had 24.

Point guard Liu Wei ran the offense to perfection, tossing a lob from half court for a Harris slam and driving and kicking to Taiwanese big man Tseng Wen-ting. Liu had 12 points and 4 assists.

Shanghai head coach Daniel Panaggio said his team's plan was to limit Tianjin's inside opportunities and make them hit outside shots. The plan worked to perfection as Tianjin took 35 three point shots and made only 8. Former NBA swingman Donnell Harvey worked hard inside gathering 17 rebounds and coming up with 27 tough points. Zhang finished with 21.

Without forward Peng Fei, Shanghai went with a three-guard lineup for much of the second quarter. Liu, Meng Lingyuan and Feng Tian sped up the game and picked apart a Tianjin zone defense. The trio combined for 6 assists in the quarter as Shanghai hit 5 of 8 three pointers.

The Sharks have been winning with their defense holding opposing teams to the least points a game in the league.

At the season's halfway point they are rounding into shape. Shanghai has won six of its last seven games and has as many wins as losses for the first time this season.

2011-12-28T12:53:00.000-08:00

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Guangzhou lands four more stars

2011-12-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

Source: China Daily via china.org.cn

Chinese Super League (CSL) champion Guangzhou Evergrande upgraded its squad by signing another four Chinese national team players on Monday.

With the recruitment of Rong Hao, Zhao Xuri, Li Jianbin, members of the senior national team, and Peng Xinli, a youth squad player, Evergrande now boasts 10 national players, the most in the league.

According to Chinese newspaper Soccer, the Cantonese club spent 22 million yuan ($3.5 million) in acquiring the four players, which includes a 12-million yuan deal for Hangzhou Greentown lynchpin Rong.

"Chinese soccer is becoming better, and there is no doubt that clubs will invest more into the transfer market," said Liu Yongzhuo, chairman of Evergrande. "In my opinion, the cost of domestic players must exceed 10 million yuan, which is one of the conditions of soccer development in China."

Evergrande was undoubtedly the biggest-spending club last season, as it spent 500 million yuan upgrading the team on the way to its first CSL title. It also created the league's biggest deal by bringing in Argentine midfielder Dario Conca for $10 million.

However, Shanghai Shenhua broke that record at the end of the season by signing French striker Nicolas Anelka. Liu said the coming of Anelka is good for the league, but refused to talk about his club's reported bid to lure Ivorian forward Didier Drogba, who is also apparently being chased by several other Chinese clubs.

"We will only talk about domestic players today," Liu said. "But I think the participation of players like Anelka will help improve the Chinese league and will make domestic games more attractive. I hope more distinguished players like Anelka will come to China.

"Each club has its own policy in introducing new players. I have said, for our club, the player's capability is more important than his fame, and his potential is more crucial than his experience. The list of our targeted players is proposed by the coaching team, and the club just works on it according to the coaching team's requirements."

Meanwhile, he said Evergrande will make more efforts to improve the medical treatment of its players next year. A new physical therapist from Germany will arrive on Jan 2, and the club has also reached an agreement with Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen to assist in that regard.

"We have signed a long-term contract with Leverkusen's recovery center, which means our players will be able to be diagnosed by German doctors while being treated in China, and we will also arrange for them to have surgery in Germany, if necessary," Liu said.

China's rookie stars rise in 2011

2011-12-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

One year before London Olympic Games, women fencer Sun Yujie and a group of Chinese rookie stars could hardly wait to blossom in their own field. The best season for them is yet to come.

As a 19-year-old fencer, Sun dominated the women's epee rankings in the 2010/2011 season. She won the silver medal in the individual event at the World Fencing Championships in Catania and has achieved two podium positions during the season.

"I've been training for epee for eight years. The world No. 1 ranking has given me some boost. But I believe it's just a springboard for me to get closer to my dream," Sun said.

Besides the world top ranking, Sun also collected a silver medal in the individual event and a gold in the team event at the 2011 Junior World Championships in Jordan.

"London Olympic Games is my first Olympics, I hope I can smile at last," Sun said.

China is always lack of stars in the women's all-around gymnastics until the 16-year Yao Jinnan snatched a bronze in her first World Championships on Oct. 13 in Tokyo. Three days later, she finished runner-up on the beam.

According to Lu Shanzhen, women's head coach of the Chinese gymnastics team, Yao is a rare all-rounder.

"Yao is well-balanced in all the four apparatus with some trademark routines of high difficulty of degrees. What she needs is experience," Lu said.

Zhou Lulu, 23, set an aggregate world record to win the gold medal in the women's super heavyweight category at the World Weightlifting Championships in Paris on Nov 13.

Zhou lifted 146 kilograms in the snatch session and 182 in the clean and jerk for a 328 total to beat the previous mark of 327 set by Tatiana Kashirina of Russia at the European championships in April.

Li Jun, 26, shot a dramatic final of the men's double trap at the 2011 ISSF Shotgun World Championship in Serbia on Sept. 10, winning the event's sole Olympic quota place for China. It was only Li's third appearance at a World Cup event but he shone, having also won bronze earlier this year.

Yang Junjing emerged as a roaring star for the Chinese women volleyball team.

The 22-year-old Yang played a vital role in her team's victory at the World Grand Prix Hong Kong leg and Asian Women's Volleyball Championships as well as a bronze medal winning at the World Cup.

Since Yang's parents were both volleyball players, Yang was raised with volleyball as toys. She entered the national team last April and sparkled as a key scorer.

"I'm lucky that I entered the first-string team after veteran Xue Ming was injured. I have competed in many big events this year and gained more experience through the hard battles against the teams of United States, Russia, Serbia, etc..." Yang said. "My biggest dream is to stand on the podium of the Olympic Games. I'm trying my best to learn and to grow up."

China saw stunning string of victories

2011-12-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

Source: By Lei Lei (China Daily)

BEIJING - In 2011, big names left deep footprints in China's sports world.

Tennis ace Li Na fulfilled the nation's Grand Slam dream when she won the French Open in June. It is the first major title for a Chinese women's tennis player.

Star hurdler Liu Xiang, who has been suffering from a serious foot injury for almost three years, announced his strong comeback to the world championship stage by claiming the silver medal in August.

Badminton player "Super Dan", Lin Dan, claimed an unparalleled fourth world championship title and completing the super "Grand Slam" after winning the final at the BWF World Superseries Finals in December.

While NBA all-star Yao Ming impressed his fans in another way - announcing his retirement because of injury and starting a new life in the university.

However, we cannot ignore the remarkable performances of the youngsters below. They are shouldering the hopes of China's sports in the future.

Sui Lu, 19, gymnastics

The 2011 World Gymnastics Championships in October in Tokyo marked a new beginning for Sui.

The 19-year-old clinched her first world championship title on the balance beam and secured a silver medal in the floor exercise. She also helped the women's team to take home bronze.

Sui distinguished herself as early as in 2007 at the National Intercity Games, where she helped the Shanghai gymnastic team win gold after a 27-year drought.

But her inconsistent performances the following year cost her the opportunity to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Sui shined again at the Guangzhou Asian Games last year, where she bagged four gold medals - in the balance beam, floor exercise, women's all-round and team events.

The victory in Tokyo was an opportunity for her to gain confidence and push for a place at the London Olympics.

"This is my first world championship title. Previously, I had always disappointed people, but they never gave up on me. I am really grateful for their support," said Sui after the championships in Tokyo.

"There is still a long time before the London Olympic Games. I hope I can adjust my weight and psychology, and also avoid injury."

Despite Sui's modesty, Lu Shanzhen, the women's team coach, praised Sui for her leadership skills.

"Having Sui back on the right track is our biggest achievement at the world championships," Lu said. "She finished three events with a strong performance and proved herself the best gymnast on this Chinese team, especially when veterans like He Kexin and Jiang Yuyuan were in a slump."

"She finally solved the problems that have hovered around her for three years, and I believe she will have a bright future at the London Olympics."

Ye Shiwen, 15, swimming

Ye is one of the great hopes for the future of Chinese swimming, and the year 2011 saw her first appearance on the highest podium at the world championships.

At the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai in July, Ye captured the crown of the 200m individual medley, beating a star-studded field, including defending champion and world-record holder Ariana Kukors of the US and Australia's Olympic champion Stephanie Rice.

Later, at the National Intercity Games, the 15-year-old pocketed five gold medals, including the 200m and 400m individual medley.

Ye has drawn attention since the Guangzhou Asian Games in November 2010. As the youngest Chinese athlete at the Guangzhou Asiad, Ye clinched the gold medal of women's 400m individual medley, beating teammate and Asian record holder Li Xuanxu.

Beginning swimming training at age 6, Ye, who was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, stood out because of her outstanding physical condition.

"Ye was different from the others when I first saw her," said her first coach Wei Wei. "Her hands and feet were bigger than other children's of the same age, which is an advantage."

Sun Yujie, 19, fencing

Sun is only 19 years old but she has already established herself internationally. Sun surged to No 1 in the world rankings in women's saber after her impressive showing at the recently concluded world championships, where she took silver in individual and team events. She also won two gold medals at the National Intercity Games.

The 1.92-meter-tall fencer had a consistent year as she won bronze medals at the Spain and German World Cup meets.

At the year-end ranking in women's saber, Sun was No 1, edging out teammate and world champion Li Na.

Tian Yuan, 18, weightlifting

Tian's debut on the international stage ended in success this year.

Tian broke the world junior record for the clean and jerk in the women's 48kg category at the National Intercity Games in October.

Later, at the world championships in November, she claimed the gold medals in women's clean and jerk, snatch and total results in the 48kg category.

To the surprise of all, Tian used to be a sprinter at primary school, where she won the 100m and 200m titles. But she caught the eye of a weightlifting coach and turned to the sport in 2006.

Only two years later, Tian was crowned the national champion in women's 48kg and set the world junior record at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

Her next goal is the "gold medal at the London Olympics", as she said.

2011-12-26T12:16:00.000-08:00

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Christmas cheer in city as Sharks edge Ducks

2011-12-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

Source: Shanghai Daily via china.org.cn

The Shanghai Sharks pulled off a Christmas Day miracle yesterday, upsetting the top-ranked Beijing Ducks 96-87 in front of a raucous crowd in Santa hats.

Shanghai has now won five out of its last six games while Beijing dropped its second game in a row after winning its first 13.

Mike Harris sparked a final fourth quarter comeback with a thunderous slam and guard Meng Lingyuan gave the Sharks the lead with an acrobatic fastbreak layup with two minutes left to send the Shanghai crowd into a festive frenzy.

In the final minutes, the Shark defense frustrated former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury into misses and mistakes, as Beijing lost control of the lead and the game. A Ryan Forehan-Kelly three pointer that hit nothing but net sealed the victory.

Beijing held a 47-39 halftime lead, but the Sharks launched a 18-5 run to start the third. Harris attacked the basket and put up 13 points in the quarter while Zhang Zhaoxu set the tone on defense with two powerful swats.

By the end of the third quarter it looked like Beijing had taken back control with its physical center Randolph Morris. But Shanghai guard Feng Tian came through with an improbable three. He then converted a transition layup to shorten the lead to two and set up an exciting fourth quarter.

Forehan-Kelly ended the game with 25 points and three 3 pointers, Harris had 21 and 13 rebounds and Zhang had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Morris led Beijing with 26 points and Marbury struggled with just 15 points and 5 assists.

Shanghai head coach Daneil Panggio said that his team was starting to turn the corner.

"I'm really proud of my team," he said. "I think they keep working and getting better, and they're really starting to believe in themselves."

The Sharks had a good start to the game with a balanced inside and outside attack getting 7 points from both Forehan-Kelly and Zhang in the first quarter to take a four point lead.

In the second quarter, the Shanghai offense couldn't get in sync, while Marbury was able to penetrate and find shooters Zhai Xiaochuan and Ji Zhe open for jumpers. The two combined for 24 points in the first half.

The Shanghai Sharks continue their five game homestand on Wednesday night against the Tianjin Gold Lions.

Chinese Christmas for former NBA stars

2011-12-26T12:09:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

BEIJING - This could be their most memorable Christmas abroad: basketball games, as usual; cheers and tears, as usual; Christmas night, in China.

Their old friends, at the same night in North America, were embracing the hard-won NBA openers, while Aaron Brooks, Macus Williams and J.R. Smith were playing hard here in China.

"I miss my home, but I love my bros in this team," said Brooks, who scored 21 points on Sunday and gifted the CBA defending champions another victory against Shanxi.

The 26-year-old former Houston Rockets and Phenix Suns player joined the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) club Guangdong Hongyuan only a month ago, marking the latest NBA player to escape -- only 10 days after he signed his name on the contract with Guangdong, the 149-day lockout broke up.

"I am playing here with no regret, although I desire to continue my career in NBA," he said.

Brooks averages 18 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists in 13 CBA games. It is certainly not a highlighted statistics, but he brings the team sharpness and energy.

"He is sharp in attacking and he is getting into character," said Guangdong's coach Li Chunjiang.

At this Christmas night, Brooks could easily find one of his old friends here: Macus Williams, a former Nets player who played for Shanxi this season, scored a game high 35 points.

Williams averaged 28.8 points this season, only paled before two players. One of them is J.R. Smith.

The former Nuggets guard is now enjoying his most favorable time in China. He scored 33 points with 7 3-pointers made to lead Zhejiang Chouzhou a comfortable away win at Christmas night.

However, the "bad boy" had experienced his bad days. Getting injured in his CBA debut, the 3-pointer elite said he was disappointed at CBA. Then he was doubted by many that he would go back to NBA.

But two days later, he came back to the court, beyond the imagination of many more.

The 26-year-old now averages 35.5 points in 14 games, topping the CBA scorers list. However, he owed his outstanding performance to Steven Marbury, the former Knicks All-Star player who came to China in 2009.

After Smith got injured, the 34-year old told him "how to do and how to say" in CBA.

Brooks, Williams, and Smith are obligated to play the full season in China, according to their contracts, But Marbury's words might become their comfort when they miss home.

"Merry Christmas, China. I love you because you say you love me. Love is Love!" Marbury, who has more than 1.8 million followers on his microblog said at the Christmas Eve.

Pakistan complete China hockey clean-sweep

2011-12-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

Source: AFP

LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistan on Sunday completed a clean sweep of China in their four-match series, the first international hockey event in the troubled country since 2004.

Pakistan won the final match 2-1 to emerge unbeaten in the series after taking the first three games in Karachi and Faisalabad earlier this week by 3-0, 5-3 and 3-1.

Pakistan gained the early lead when Vice-captain Shakeel Abbasi made a field goal in the first major attack of the match.

Fareed Ahmed drew the second in the 26th minute to double the lead, while China's lone goal came in the 33rd minute when Dong Yang dodged Pakistan's defence in the final moments of the first half.

"The Chinese played a much improved game today. They kept us tight," said Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran.

"We had a clear edge on them in the first two matches but they had a good come back in the last two," he added.

Pakistan, however, gifted the series trophy to their rivals to acknowledge their support for the violence-hit country.

A campaign of Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, made Pakistan a virtual "no go" zone for international sport.

"China lost the hockey series but won the friendship series by coming to Pakistan. So, we will give this trophy to them," Asif Bajwa, the secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation, said at the awards ceremony.

"They have proved that there is no security threat to any foreign team in Pakistan and sport is fully protected over here," he said.

Pakistan, which last hosted an international major hockey event seven years ago, hopes the Chinese tour will help convince other foreign teams to visit.

The country is also working to resume a bilateral hockey series with arch-rivals India, after they were suspended following the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

Less popular sports take hold

2011-12-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

BEIJING - Wang Kaidong's face turned red when he launched an attack with a foil, and his mother watched his every move with a content smile on her face.

The seven-year-old had a 45-minute private fencing lesson and another 90-minute group combat lesson one recent afternoon at the Vango Fencing Club in Beijing.

As Chinese urbanites have become better-off in the recent years, they have shown a growing interest in traditionally less popular sports such as fencing and equestrian-related activities.

Wang's parents spend 6,000 yuan ($950) annually on Wang's group lessons, almost a month's salary for many Beijingers, and another 150 yuan for each session of private coaching.

But the sport's costs have not hampered its development in China.

Vango Club was founded in 2007 with only several dozen members. In less than five years, its enrollment has increased to more than 8,000 members. Two more Vango outlets will soon open in the southern cities of Foshan and Shenzhen.

"Vango is now the largest fencing club in the world!" said Cong Dawei, the assistant head coach. "We are thinking about starting a fencing league among all the clubs in China, so our members can have more competitions."

Chinese parents see the sport as a gentleman's game that can help build character, as it is often associated with knighthood and nobility.

"Fencing is a gentleman's game and I want my son to be a gentleman," Wang's mother Yang Ning said. "It is especially helpful for boys, as the sport is very competitive and it requires a brave and concentrated mind."

Meanwhile, equestrian sports also have noble and aristocratic connotations, and have sprung up in China in recent years, too. There are currently more than 300 equestrian clubs around the country, and 300,000 people are taking part in the sport.

Ten-year-old Wang Xinyue started her riding classes in Qiji Equestrian Club in Beijing during the May Day Holiday, and has had more than 30 riding sessions so far. She believes the horse is her good friend, and she pets it and feeds it a carrot after class.

"It is great fun. I like it very much," Wang said.

Wu Di, manager of Qiji, said that among its 300 members, one-third of beginners are parents and their kids. The rate tends to increase during summer vacation.

"The sport promotes children's physical development and is very effective in character building. Spending time with animals is beneficial to children," Wu said.

Parents say that the club offers a respite from their children's heavy homework loads, and that riding horses in the countryside can give them a chance to breathe fresh air, as well as teach them courage, responsibility and fulfillment.

In Qiji, the cost of hiring a coach can range from 100 and 300 yuan, depending on their experience.

As the number of people participating in the sport multiplies and more equestrian clubs pop up around China, more and more horses from around the world are being brought to the country.

Cheng Qing, the Secretary-General of the Chinese Equestrian Association, feels proud of the progress.

"With the development of the economy and the promotion of people's cultural lives, they have gradually learned that equestrianism combines movement with serenity. So the sport has great energy," Cheng said.

2011-12-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

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Beijing suffers first defeat in 14 CBA games

2011-12-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

FOSHAN, South China, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Ducks suffered a bitter 105-101 defeat to Foshan LongLions here on Friday to conclude their 13- game winning streak in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league.

"Our boys believed each other at the court, that's the way they won by," said Foshan's coach Jay Humpheries, who believed it was the home team's most beautiful ever victory in CBA this season.

However, Beijing, who are enjoying the team's best ever start in CBA, could hardly believe their eyes when they were trailing by 23 points in the third quarter against the home team who only got 4 victories in their 13 games.

It was yet not too late for the Capital Five to struggle on the slenderest of odds when Steven Marbury made a crucial 3-pointer to cut to a 3 points game with 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter, only to see Foshan's Marcus Haislip answer one from downtown to regain the 6-point lead with only 45 seconds to go.

Marbury, who had become the leader and soul of the team, never gave up his leadership in the whole game with the team-high 31 points, but had to accept the bitter result after losing their foul strategy.

"We hope the defeat could release our pressure, the pressure of continuing our winning streak was huge, you could not image," Beijing's coach Min Lulei said at the press conference after the game.

"There is not a single vulnerable team in this league, you should spare all of your efforts to confront them," Min said.

Yao Ming retires while Chinese basketball keeps moving

2011-12-24T13:05:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua By Sportswriter Shan Lei

BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The year of 2011 is remarkable for Chinese basketball as the past 12 months witnessed not only the retirement of superstar Yao Ming, but also the continuous development of the sport in China since the flag-bearer stepped out.

The date of July 20, 2011 has been inked in the history book of the Chinese basketball as the Houston Rockets center Yao Ming announced his retirement from professional career in his hometown of Shanghai.

Five days later, the Chinese pivot announced retirement from the national team in Beijing, concluding his playing career at the age of 30 years and 10 months old.

The news hit headlines of most Chinese media and fans all over the world sent their wishes to Yao on the website.

The national team retired Yao's jersey, the first time for a Chinese basketball player to receive such honor.

Yao is quite a rare example of a successful Chinese athlete without spectacular title or medal achievements. He led China to the quarterfinals twice at the Olympic Games (2004 and 2008) and finished 12th at the World Championships in 2002. His best mark in the NBA was a second-round finish in the playoffs in 2008-2009 season.

Although Yao had never won an Olympic medal or the championship of the National Basketball Association (NBA), praises and compliments were still piled up for him on his retirement as Yao's success is beyond the basketball court.

Yao was known by the world when he was selected as the No.1 pick by the Rockets in 2002, and was loved as a new idol by fans around the world for his diligence, determination and passion in basketball.

As a basketball icon, Yao led Chinese basketball to the center stage of the sports field, making basketball one of the most watched and popular sports in China.

However, when some were still regretting for Yao's decision to retire, his former national teammates had already satisfied the fans desire.

Two months after Yao left, China's men's and women's basketball teams both qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The Chinese girls beat South Korea 65-62 to win the title of the Asian Women's Basketball Championships in Japan on Aug. 28 to clinch the only automatically qualification berth for the finals in London.

The men's team survived a 70-69 final against Jordan to reclaim the continental title for the first time in six years in Wuhan on Sept. 25, also notching the ticket to London.

The domestic league of Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) raised its curtain for the 16th season in November and hit a series of records of audiences, TV viewers and sponsors.

An unofficial release from Infront Ltd., CBA's promoting company, showed the TV viewers of 86 matches of the past 11 rounds had surpassed the whole number of last season. The CBA said audiences rate rose from 75 percent last season to the current 85.

Yao's stepping out has not hindered the development of the game in China. Instead, China's basketball is moving forward for a brighter future.

Liaoning's Guo Shiqing becomes third CBA coach to be sacked

2011-12-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Guo Shiqiang, head coach of Liaoning, was sacked on Saturday, becoming the third coach in five days to lose his job in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league.

Guo's assistant Li Ge will take charge of the first team, the club said.

Former Chinese international Guo, who took over as the Liaoning head coach in June 2006, led the team to runners-up in 2008 but his team slumped to the 12th place in 2009 and have never found their best form since.

Liaoning are ninth in the season with seven wins and seven defeats after eding out Shanxi 120-117 away Friday night.

Jiangsu coach Xu Qiang resigned on Monday for health reasons and American Robert Donewald Jr. was replaced by veteran coach Xiang Xingquan on the same day.

Liu Xiang, Sun Yang lead China to London

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

With the retirement of basketball legend Yao Ming, who led the Chinese sports delegation to the 2008 Olympic opening ceremony, Liu Xiang and Sun Yang will spearhead the Chinese athletes next year in London in pursuit of another golden harvest.

Struggling hard in the last three years to recover from the foot injury that dragged him off the field in a full packed Bird's Nest at the Beijing Games, star hurdler Liu Xiang is widely expected to repeat his title-winning feat in Athens Games in 2004, but senior sports official said that a medal of any color would be satisfactory.

"I think Liu is much more mature. He has recovered well from injury and has maintained good form this season," said Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) president Duan Shijie.

"I am convinced that he will achieve good results if he has a normal race. I think everybody will be satisfied whatever medal - gold, silver or bronze - he wins because he has spared no efforts in his sport."

The 28-year-old Liu, a former world record holder in the men's 110m hurdles, became China's most famous athlete after winning gold at the 2004 Olympic Games and 2007 Osaka World Championships.

But he winced in pain and limped off the track during the men's 110m hurdles first heat at the Beijing Games, leaving the 60,000-plus spectators at the Bird's Nest stadium and millions of TV audience in shock.

Three years after his sudden withdrawal with the Achilles injury, Liu regained honor after dramatically taking silver at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu this August.

Disrupted by Dayron Robles of Cuba running next lane at the last hurdles, Liu claimed a silver in 13.27, but he had already proved his competitiveness for London.

"I have been through two Olympic Games. It will be just another competition," said Liu Xiang. "I will try to get myself into good shape and we will see what happens."

Liu Xiang will not be the only hope for Chinese track and field team in London. Newly crowned world champion Li Yanfeng in the women's discus, hammer thrower Zhang Wenxiu and a bunch of young walk racers will share Liu's burden in charging for medals in London.

Also in the limelight is double world champion and men's 1,500m freestyle swimming world record holder Sun Yang, who is set to be another Chinese star in focus next summer in London.

The 20-year-old Sun became the most famous swimmer overnight by claiming the men's 800m and 1,500m freestyle gold medals at the Shanghai World Championships and broke the 1,500m freestyle world record held by Australian Grant Hackett for 10 years.

"I can still swim better in the 1,500m freestyle next year. My coach has set me a new target, but it's not the right time to release it now," said Sun, who will be a strong competitor in the men's 400m and 1,500m freestyle swimming at the London Games.

The Chinese swimmers reaped five golds, two silvers and seven bronzes at the Shanghai World Championships in July, harvesting their best results since 1994. Next year in London, it will not be surprising if they surpass their one-gold finish at the Beijing Games.

Three years ago in Beijing, athletes from gymnastics, weightlifting, diving, shooting, table tennis, badminton and judo contributed 39 out of 51 gold medals of the hosts. Looking ahead to London, these sports will continue to contribute medals to the Chinese delegation, but it will be difficult for them to maintain the dominance they showed on home soil.

For example, the Chinese gymnasts, who had snatched amazing nine golds at the Beijing Games, slipped to four golds, five silvers and three bronzes at this year's World Championships in Japan.

"The competition of the London Games will be really tough. We are going to face stiff challenge," said head coach Huang Yubin.

In weightlifting and Judo, Chinese also need to work really hard to gain as many as acquired in Beijing, while the teams of diving, shooting, table tennis and badminton are as powerful as ever.

"Generally speaking, we have maintained our advantage in the sports that Chinese athletes traditionally excel in, but there is no much room for them to improve or win more gold medals in these sports," said Cai Jiadong, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC).

Chinese athletes also won a handful of gold medals in archery, rowing, canoeing, wrestling three years ago at home, but their competitiveness in these sports has slid.

"We know that we will meet tough challenge next year in London, but we will try our best to keep China in the leading positions on the overall medal list," Cai added.

For Chinese ball teams, the road to London is not smooth. With early elimination of the soccer teams, the nation's only medal hope in team ball sports will be shouldered by their women's volleyball team, which won the bronze medal in Beijing three years ago.

Following lackluster performance in last year's World Championships and a disappointing bottom eighth finish at this year's World Grand Prix Finals in Macao, the Chinese women's volleyball team, led by new head coach Yu Juemin, surprisingly rebounded to win the title at the Asian Championships and the bronze medal at the World Cup in Japan.

"I strongly believe they will have a big chance to win a medal next year in London," said former head coach Chen Zhonghe, who guided China to back-to-back titles at the World Cup in 2003 and the Athens Games in 2004.

Without Yao Ming, is it possible for the Chinese men's basketball team to repeat their consecutive top eight finishes in Athens and Beijing?

It seems to be a Mission Impossible.

Robert Donewald Jr has just been sacked as head coach of Chinese Basketball Association's (CBA) Xinjiang Guanghui club. It's bad news for the American, but now he can focus on the Chinese national team and work out a plan to make them more competitive than when they sluggishly won the Asian Championships in Wuhan, China this summer.

Power forward Yi Jianlian, who is still struggling to keep his position in an NBA team, and former NBA player Wang Zhizhi, will lead the Chinese offense in the absence of Yao, but they obviously need more support from their teammates.

2011-12-22T13:24:00.000-08:00

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Fujian ends Guangdong's winning streak

2011-12-22T13:21:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua via china.org.cn

Fujian SBS led all the way for a 90-85 upset against defending champion Guangdong Hongyuan Wednesday in a 14th-round match of the Chinese Basketball Association league (CBA) at home.

Moaning at the 13th placing with a 5-8 record, Fujian need a victory to recover confidence. The defending champion Guangdong was on a seven-game winning streak before the match.

The home team went all out from the very beginning of the match to take a 13-1 lead before Guangdong closed it by seven points at the end of the first quarter.

Guangdong looked not concentrated on the match as they let Fujian run away by 37-22 in the second quarter. Another 12-0 run in the third quarter gave Fujian double-digit number lead again when Guangdong closed it by seven points.

Guangdong tried everything in the decisive period to cut the lead by two points, 87-85 in the final minute. Fujian hung on with three free-throws to nail down the win.

William McDonald had 20 points for Fujian, while Zaid Abbas had 17 points and 14 rebounds.

James Singleton had 20 points and 15 rebounds for Guangdong.

Beijing Ducks extended the winning streak to 13 games as it used a fourth-quarter surge-up to beat Shandong Gold 86-79 at home.

Trailing 68-62 to enter the last quarter, Zhu Yanxi made the first three-pointer for Beijing to initiate a 17-2 run to usurp the lead by 77-70.

Beijing missed all the 17 three-pointer attempts in the first three quarters before they shot half of the six ones in the final 12 minutes.

Randolph Morris scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Beijing with Stephon Marbury adding 17, Chen Lei 16.

Shandong's Tegba Hunter had 29 points and 12 rebounds. Alan Anderson contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Jiang Xingquan replaced national coach Robert Donewald Jr. to lead Xinjiang Guanghui to a 98-96 win over Liaoning Hengye.

Guard Yang Ming made all his six shots to score 17 points in the first quarter to open the game for the visiting Liaoning.

But the away team failed to continue the attacking power in the fourth quarter to let Xinjiang turn a 11-point deficit to a two-point winning game.

Kenyon Martin had another dismal game with 13 points and his future in Xinjiang is in doubt.

In other matches, Jiangsu Dragons lost the 10th game as being beaten by Foshan Long Lions 111-106 at home. Zhejiang Guangsha defeated Bayi Fubang 96-90, Shanxi Zhongyu beat Jilin Northeast Tigers 115-107 while Tianjin Ronggang beat Qingdao Doublestar 89-78.

In Tuesday's earlier match, Zhejiang Chouzhou defeated Shanghai Sharks 89-86 in overtime.

Top China football referee admits taking bribes

2011-12-21T14:02:00.001-08:00

Source: AFP

BEIJING — A top Chinese referee confessed in court on Wednesday to taking bribes for fixing local matches, state media said, amid a series of high-profile corruption hearings involving top football officials.

Lu Jun, who has refereed matches at the World Cup and Olympic Games, told a court in northeastern China that he pocketed 810,000 yuan ($127,786) for fixing seven domestic league games, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The games included four first-division matches in 2003.

The report did not say if Lu, nicknamed the "Golden Whistle" by Chinese media because of his successful international career, had been accused of fixing World Cup or Olympic Games matches.

Shanghai Shenhua club -- which recently signed a two-year contract with Chelsea star Nicolas Anelka -- was also accused of spending 5.5 million yuan to bribe numerous officials and referees, including Lu, the report said.

Corruption hearings against some of China's top football officials kicked off Monday with Zhang Jianqiang, the former head referee of the Super League, making a court appearance to face charges of accepting match-fixing bribes totalling $409,600.

The latest admission comes after well-known referee Huang Junjie confessed on Tuesday to taking more than $246,000 in bribes for fixing local and international matches between 2005 and 2009, according to Xinhua.

About 20 other former officials and referees are to appear in court later this week.

Chinese state media on Wednesday called for harsh punishments to be meted out to those officials found guilty of corruption, which they described as a "cancer" in the sport.

The hearings are part of a crackdown on corruption that have reached the top echelons of the game in China.

It led to the downfall of the head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Nan Yong, who was charged last year with fixing matches and accepting bribes.

Such allegations and poor performances by the national team made the sport the laughing stock of increasingly indifferent fans, and a matter of state concern.

According to state media, CFA officials routinely fixed matches, including national team and league games, by allegedly buying off the teams or referees involved.

Association officials also reportedly accepted pay-offs from players who wanted to be selected in the national team -- a practice also widespread among league clubs.

"China's football has become the hotbed of illegal benefits," an editorial in the People's Daily, the Communist Party's print mouthpiece, said.

It added the trials were a "wake up call" for football officials and called for "the eradication of the cancer in order to allow the regrowth of fresh muscle".

Chinese Sports Minister Liu Peng said the government would launch an "education revamp for all officials" in football and emphasise "self-discipline" and "clean governance", according to Xinhua news agency.

2011-12-20T13:22:00.001-08:00

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Marbury makes the difference for Beijing Ducks

2011-12-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Jumping from last season's eighth to the top of the standings of the Chinese Basketball Associational League, every Beijing Ducks fan knows that Stephon Marbury has made the difference.

The Beijing side made history on Sunday after extending their winning streak to 12 games with a 105-97 win over Qingdao DoubleStar.

Nicknamed "Starbury," the 34-year-old New-York-born point guard, shone as always by contributing 28 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Marbury, who used to play with Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in his 13-year NBA career, moved to China in January 2010 and joined Beijing Ducks, his third team in China, four weeks before the season started.

With his extraordinary leadership in the court and easy-going personality behind the spotlight, he has earned praise from not only teammates, coaches, but also millions of Chinese fans.

Beijing Ducks head coach Min Lulei was more than happy when he commented on Marbury's first match with 29 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, "Marbury is the one that I am always eager to find."

Marbury also helped his young teammates a lot in training and competitions. Zhai Xiaochuan and Zhu Yanxi, both rookies in CBA, played exceptionally well with great confidence after being coached by Marbury.

"That was an All Star move. He's going to be one of the best players in China in the coming years," Mabury commented on Zhai Xiaochuan's amazing slamdunk.

In NBA, Mabury was considered a lone wolf because he always enjoyed individualistic heroism and ignored the strategies of the whole team on the court. He was also a trouble maker off court with his drunk drive and smoking marijuana.

In Beijing Ducks, however, Mabury transformed into a team player and a true leader. Now he's in charge of organizing the team and is more willing to pass balls to other teammates.

Former Denver Nuggets star J.R. Smith, who played for China's Zhejiang Chouzhou, also expressed his appreciation for Marbury after his team lost to Beijing Ducks.

"I take my hat off to Stephon Marbury. Great game! Great leadership!" Smith said.

Now, Beijng fans always cheered loudest for their hero Marbury.

Mabury has its own slogan "love is love," which always appears in his microblog, articles and interviews. He explained, "love is the key to all things in life. If you give love, you will receive it. Love is love!"

Mabury attributes the success of the team to all the fans. He said, "This excellent beginning would have been nearly impossible if it were not for the help of our sixth man - the Beijing fans. They have given us a great deal of confidence because we feed off their energy and support."

Beijing Ducks fans love Mabury because they find the New York has become part of the city. The New Yorker takes the subway to training no matter how crowded it is. He just enjoyed the intimate feeling with Beijingers in the subway. He also goes to cheer for Beijing Guoan Football Club, wearing Guoan's special shirt.

"People in the United States keep asking me if I'm going back to NBA. I keep telling them I don't have a desire to play in the NBA," Marbury said on his microblog, the Chinese version of Twitter. "The CBA is my home and what I love. I'm letting everyone know on my page now that I will be retiring in China. I want to hang my jersey up here."

Many fans were touched by Marbury's sentiment towards China. Some Chinese netizens even compared him with Dr. Norman Bethune of Canada, best known for his service in China's war against Japan with the Communist Eighth Route Army.

Marbury is also dreaming of coaching Chinese men's basketball team to play in the Olympics. "That will be the highlight of my life," he said.

Now Marbury has started his exclusive weekly column in China Daily, called Starbury Daily. He takes advantage of this platform and his microblog to keep connected with Chinese fans. Now he has over 170,000 fans of his Sina weibo, one of the most popular microblog websites in China.

After 12 consecutive wins, Marbury and the Beijing Ducks have their eyes on the CBA championships.

"History in Beijing has been written. We have to take it one game at a time in order to continue playing Beijing style basketball," Marbury wrote on his microblog.

China starts football corruption trials

2011-12-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Source: AFP

BEIJING — The former head referee of China's football Super League went on trial on Monday on charges of bribe-taking, kicking off a series of corruption hearings involving top officials.

A handcuffed Zhang Jianqiang appeared in court in the eastern city of Dandong charged with accepting match-fixing bribes totalling 2.6 million yuan ($409,600), state television showed.

He is the first senior official to go on trial after a crackdown on corruption that reached the top echelons of the game, and led to the downfall of the head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA).

Gambling, match-fixing, crooked referees and poor performances by the national team made the sport the laughing stock of increasingly indifferent fans, and a matter of state concern.

According to state media, CFA officials routinely fixed matches, including national team and league games, by allegedly buying off the teams or referees involved.

The suspect CFA officials also reportedly accepted pay-offs from players wanting to be named to the national team -- a practice that was also widespread among league clubs.

Sponsors abandoned the sport, and state television network CCTV refused to broadcast Super League games.

More than 20 former football officials and referees including former CFA vice head Yang Yimin and Lu Jun, a Chinese referee who officiated at 2002 World Cup, will go on trial this week, the state Xinhua news agency said.

2011-12-18T14:38:00.000-08:00

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"Super Dan" completes super "Grand Slam" as Denmark denies China's clean-sweep at BWF Finals

2011-12-18T14:36:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

LIUZHOU, Guangxi, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's "Super Dan" Lin Dan completed his super "Grand Slam" after beating Chen Long in the final at the BWF World Superseries Finals here on Sunday.

Meanwhile, defending champions Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark denied China's clean-sweep by defeating Chinese young pair Chai Biao and Guo Zhendong in straight sets in the men's doubles.

Lin Dan, arguably the best shuttler in the world, has won four world titles, and is also the reigning Olympic and Asian Games champion as well as the Asian championships gold medalist.

However, he had never participated in the Finals before. This time in Liuzhou, a southern Chinese city, he finally completed his collection of trophies.

The 29-year-old southpaw met little challenge from his teammate Chen, who stunned world No.1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in Saturday's semifinals, before wining the final 21-12, 21-16.

"In fact, I didn't care too much about the results. The important thing is Chinese team secured the men's singles gold medal after the semifinals," said Lin, who won all five matches in the year-ending elite tournament.

In women's singles, newly-crowned world champion Wang Yihan of China came from behind to defeat India's Saina Nehwal, India, 18-21, 21-13, 21-13 and capped a brilliant year with the World Superseries Finals title.

It wasn't until May that Wang won her first tournament -- the Malaysia Open Grand Prix -- in 2011, but she found back the rhythm in the second half of the year as she won the world championships and the Asian championships titles.

"My dream is to win the gold medal in next year's Olympics," said the 23-year-old Wang.

In men's doubles, Boe and Mogensen saved six set points in a row to take the first set 25-23, and continued their momentum in the second set to conclude the match against Chai and Guo 21-7.

"When we led 20-17 in the first set, they (Boe and Mogensen) made some changes in service while we were too eager to win the set. After losing the first set, we lost the rhythm," said Chai.

BWF Players of the Year Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli were too good for South Korean pair Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung, winning in straight sets 21-8, 21-12 in just 33 minutes.

The Chinese pair have made 13 consecutive finals appearances with seven Superseries titles to their name in 2011.

"To be honest, we are the pair to beat in women's doubles nowadays. The biggest opponents for us are ourselves as injuries and downturns troubled us sometimes in the season," said Yu.

In mixed doubles, world No. 1 Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, who defeated their teammates Xu Chen and Ma Jin in three sets in the group stage, did it again as they won the final 21-13, 21-15.

Beijing, Guangdong extend winning streak

2011-12-18T14:34:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- League leaders Beijing Ducks and defending champions Guangdong Hongyuan maintained their winning run in the 13th round of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league on Sunday.

Playing at home after four consecutive away games, Beijing defeated Qingdao Double Star 105-97 to improve to a perfect 12-0 record. Beijing is the only unbeaten side in the 17-team CBA since the new season kicked off a month ago.

Beijing guard Stephon Marbury, supported by his wife and two children in the Shougang stadium, harvested 28 points and dished out game-high 7 assists. Center Randolph Morris added points. Local rising star Zhai Xiaochuan had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Qingdao turned out to be the more hot-handed game by establishing an 8-2 lead at the very beginning of the game. Beijing shooters got in shape quickly afterwards, delivering a 15-7 run to grab the advantage.

Neither team could have a complete control on court until Beijing made a 13-2 spurt to end the first half 54-44.

Beijing kept widening the gap in the third, and after Mabury knocked down a free throw, the home team led as many as 20 points.

But Qingdao refused to surrender, trimming the gap to seven points in the fourth quarter. Beijing then managed to fend off the visitors' late charge and clinched the victory.

Lester Hudson, top scorer of CBA this season, paced Qingdao with 31 points. Olumide Oyedeji and Li Gen scored 22 and 14 points respectively.

Reigning champions Guangdong rejuvenated after a slow start to the season by winning their seventh straight game, a 128-104 win over Dongguan Marco Polo.

Guangdong guard Aaron Brooks had 27 points and 10 assists. James Singleton added 24 points and 10 rebounds. Local stars Wang Shipeng and Zhu Fangyu tallied 18 points respectively.

Dongguan's Joshua Akognon shot down game-high 34 points.

In Sunday's other games, Shanghai Sharks beat Bayi Fubang 94-85, Zhejiang Chouzhou beat Foshan Long Lions 103-96, Zhejiang Guangsha beat Shanxi Zhongyu 126-112, Liaoning Hengye beat Fujian SBS 108-94, Shandong Gold beat Jiangsu Dragons 99-91, Xinjiang Guanghui beat Jilin Northeast Tigers 94-89.

Chen Long sets up all-China final, ousting Lee

2011-12-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

Source: Xinhua

Chen Long overcame world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia on Saturday to set up an all-Chinese men's singles final against teammate Lin Dan at the BWF World Superseries Finals, as the hosts have already secured two titles after Saturday's semifinals.

The mixed doubles final will also be contested between two Chinese players, after Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei defeated Shintaro Ikeda/Reiko Shiota of Japan 21-17, 21-11 and Xu Chen/Ma Jin swept past Joachim Fischer Nielsen / Christina Pedersen of Denmark 21-19, 21-14 in the semifinals.

"Super Dan" proved too good for Danish veteran Peter Gade, winning 21-12, 21-15 in just 41 minutes, while Chen demolished Lee's hopes of claiming his fourth consecutive Finals title with a 21-16, 16-21, 21-18 victory.

It was the third time that Chen beat Lee this season following triumph at the Japan Open and Denmark Open.

"Lee is the No. 1, so playing with him I felt less pressure than him," said the 22-year-old Chen.

In the women's singles, China's newly-crowned world champion Wang Yihan outclassed compatriot Wang Xin 21-19, 21-16 to reach the final.

In Friday's final group B match, Saina Nehwal of India upset Wang Xin in straight sets to finish ahead of the Chinese, while Wang Yihan topped group A by virtue of winning more sets than Danish Tine Baun. Therefore two Wangs had to face each other in the semifinals.

Wang Yihan said she didn't want to meet Wang Xin in the semifinals. "If Wang Xin had won yesterday, the clash between us could have been avoided, which means we both have an opportunity to enter the final," she said.

Wang Yihan will take on Nehwal in the final. The Indian top player, who has been struggling with poor form this year, snapped her three-match losing streak against Baun with a 21-17, 21-18 win.

World No. 7 Chai Biao and Guo Zhendong kept China's title hope alive in men's doubles after the country's top pair Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng were knocked out in the group stage, as they stood with the pressure to squeeze past South Korea's Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae 21-17, 21-18.

BWF female World Player of the year Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli eased into the women's doubles final after teammates Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei retired.

Yu and Wang face South Korean pair Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung, who beat Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark 23-21, 21-18.