US hopes to avoid China after heated soccer friendly

The coach of the US under-23 side wants to avoid facing China if his team qualifies for next year's Olympics after a friendly between the teams ended with a contentious penalty and an ugly brawl.

Democracy in action

A few weeks ago, we discussed the alleged "snubbing" of Milwaukee Bucks rookie Yi Jianlian from the All-Star ballot. Only so many stars fit onto a single ballot, after all, and as we said then, Yi is great for a rookie but he has hardly earned the noble title of "All-Star".

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Golf

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Sports China

China's squad one of world's best despite inexperience

Trampoline has quickly gained popularity in China having only been introduced to the country 10 years ago, and the national team is hoping for a good performance at the Beijing Olympic Games next year.

Bouncing toward Beijing on trampoline

Ye Shuai's first experience on a trampoline was at a training facility during his two years working with a local artistic gymnastics team in South China's coastal city of Xiamen.

Top female golfers head to Xiamen

XIAMEN: China's top female golfers look to wrap up a wonderful year of golf in victorious fashion by taking the title of the year-end Orient China Ladies Open, which tips off today in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province.

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NBA

Runners hit with bib fine

A top Chinese athletics official warned national athletes to show respect to sponsors, while slapping four promising marathon runners with fines for obscuring the logos of sponsors on their number bibs during October's Beijing International Marathon.

Sports China

Benfica striker comes home to boost offense

Portuguese league giant Benfica's Chinese striker, Yu Dabao, has returned home and will likely be a main cog in the offense during the Olympic team's tune-up match today against the United States in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province.