IN BRIEF (Page 22)
BASKETBALL
Anta signs endorsement deal with Scola
Chinese sports equipment brand Anta signed Houston Rockets power forward Luis Scola on Friday.
The 27-year-old Argentine, who joined the NBA this season, was the second Rockets' player to sign an endorsement deal with Anta after Steve Francis signed with them earlier this year.
Scola was a household name in Argentina after he led his national team to a gold medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Though he was drafted to play in the NBA in 2002, this is his first year in the league.
Because of Yao Ming, the Rockets have become China's adopted NBA team - Chinese shoes companies have also endorsed Houston forwards Shane Battier and Chuck Hayes.
Founded in 1991, Anta has formed an extensive system of specialty shops, and with around 4, 000 outlets its distribution network covers every corner of China.
MISCELLANEOUS
China, South Korea split climbing honors
China and South Korea split the honors in the 16th Asian Climbing Championships, which finished in Zengcheng of Guangdong Province on Sunday.
In the speed category, China's Zhong Qixing, Chen Xiaojie and Zhang Ning were the top three finishers in the men's event and He Cuifang, Li Chunhua and Pang Xuhua swept the top three women's spots.
But South Korea won both the men's and women's competitions in the difficulty category with Son Sang-won taking the men's honor and Kim Ja-in triumphing in the women's division.
The championships attracted top climbers from South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Krygistan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei of China and the Chinese mainland.
The 17th championships will be held in Huaiji County of Guangdong Province next May.
Cheerleading competition reaches local community
The Jinlongyu Cup, the second Beijing civilized cheerleading competition, hosted a road show at the Beijing Fangzhuang Sports Park on Saturday to raise people's awareness of how to be a civilized fan for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The competition, organized by the Beijing Sports Bureau, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, and China Communist Youth League Beijing Committee and sponsored by Kerry Oils and Grains Co Ltd (Shenzhen), has enjoyed a wave of popularity as the city attempts to add excitement to the atmosphere while encouraging more civilized fans during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
So far more than 200 teams have registered to take part in the competition, which features both field and platform cheerleading events. The fans are grouped into different categories: Kindergarten, Elementary, High school, University and Social.
(China Daily 11/13/2007 page22)
