Digest

Basketball

Women's All-Star vote altered

The women's NBA is changing its All-Star voting format and will allow players and media to join fans in the selection process for the starters. The fan vote will count for 50 percent while current players and a media panel will account for 25 percent each. The change mirrors the NBA All-Star selection process that was put in place this past season.

"I'm curious to see how it's going to work out," said Dallas guard Skylar Diggins-Smith. "It's exciting to give players a voice. We face that competition night in and night out."

Boxing

India turns to France for help

India's women boxers have got their first foreign coach in the form of Frenchman Stephane Cottalorda, who has been appointed to whip the team into shape ahead of the 2018 Asian Games.

Cottalorda, 41, who coached France's youth and junior women's boxers, will be joining the Indian pugilists in the first week of June.

Cottalorda is one of three foreign coaches roped in by the Boxing Federation of India in its bid to give its fighters the winning edge. Italy's Raffaele Bergamasco will oversee the youth women's side while Argentina-born men's coach Santiago Nieva is signed up until December 2020.

Tennis

Safin surrenders parliament seat

Former world No 1 and two time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin announced on Thursday that he was stepping down as a lawmaker in the Russian parliament after six years.

Safin, who retired from tennis in 2009 after winning the 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open titles, said that, as a member of the sport's Hall of Fame, he would not have enough time to carry out his political duties.

"Yes, I sent a request to return my mandate (as an MP)," the 37-year-old said.

Gymnastics

Swiss honor for Chinese great Li

China's former Olympic gymnastics champion Li Ning has been invited to attend the ceremony of the 150th anniversary of the Montreux Gymnastique association in Switzerland from June 7 to 10. As part of the celebrations, a welcome ceremony was held on Thursday in the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing.

Li, who is now a successful entrepreneur with a leading sportswear company to his name, said he would use the Swiss trip to explore potential business opportunities.

The 54-year-old, who won three gold medals, two silver and one bronze at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, added he was also looking forward to catching up with old friends.

NFL

Giants deny Cruz catch claims

New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo has denied doing anything to limit veteran receiver Victor Cruz's catches in the second half of last season.

Cruz was released after last season, and signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears on Thursday.

Earlier in the week, the 30-year-old raised questions about his role with the Giants in a radio interview.

"Halfway through the year I'm ballin', the other half I'm not getting the ball," he said. "And you're just like, 'What's going on?' It was like,' Oh, I see what's happening. They don't want me here anymore.'"

Cruz had 39 catches for 586 yards and a touchdown last season after missing most of the previous two campaigns with injuries.

(China Daily 05/27/2017 page11)