Digest

VOLLEYBALL

Tokyo target behind Zhu's China return

Zhu Ting says she decided to return to the domestic Super League to boost her preparations for China's defense of its Olympic title in Tokyo next year.

The superstar captain of China's women's team joined Tianjin in September after three trophy-laden years with Turkish club VakifBank Istanbul.

"The overseas volleyball season lasted a long time, which left a short period for me to train with the national team. So I chose to come back to China and devote myself to my country," she said.

Zhu led China to gold with a perfect 11-0 record at the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup, also securing the team's spot at the Tokyo Games.

"Everything went smoothly as my teammates played well and we did our utmost to win. It was easier than four years ago," Zhu said, before cautioning that the Olympics are likely to provide a tougher test.

China beat Serbia in the final to claim gold at the 2016 Rio Games, with Zhu named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

And she reckons she will take to the court in Tokyo a better player thanks to her stint in Europe.

SOCCER

Enrique expected to return as Spain coach

Spain finished its Euro 2020 qualifying campaign on Monday night with a 5-0 rout of Romania in what could have been the farewell match for coach Robert Moreno.

Moreno did not show for the post-match interview at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid and there were widespread reports in Spanish media that he will be dismissed to be replaced by Luis Enrique.

Moreno took over the job after former Barcelona player Enrique resigned in March to take care of his sick daughter, Xana, who died in September. Moreno had been Enrique's assistant until then.

Spanish media said Enrique will be announced as the new coach at a news conference this week.

Spain qualified for Euro 2020 as the winner of Group F, finishing five points ahead of second-place Sweden. Romania, which had already been eliminated, ended in fourth spot.

United debt soars due to summer signings

Manchester United's attempt to strengthen its underperforming squad has proved costly with debt rising more than 55 percent in a year to 384.5 million pounds ($498 million).

The cost of signing Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James ahead of the new season in the first quarter of the financial year was around 140 million pounds.

Although United reported record revenue last season of 627.1 million pounds, the New York Stock Exchange-listed business is now expecting the 2019-20 figure to drop to between 560 million and 580 million pounds.

That is due to United missing out on Champions League television and prize money after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season. United could again miss out on the Champions League, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side now sitting in seventh place, nine points behind fourth-place Manchester City after 12 games.

SHOOTING

Fujian city staging 'unique' Cup Final

The 2019 ISSF World Cup Final Rifle/Pistol opened in Putian, Fujian province, on Monday.

International Shooting Sport Federation secretary-general Alexander Ratner praised organizers' efforts and described this year's event as "unique".

"By the quality of the participants, this World Cup Final is very unique in the history of the competition," said Ratner.

"Thanks to the organizers we managed to increase the number of participants."

According to the organizing committee, 115 top shooters from 34 countries and regions are competing for 10 gold medals across four days of competition, with eight individual and two mixed team events.

"It is the first time that 10-meter air rifle mixed team and 10-meter air pistol mixed team－our new Olympic events－are included in the program in the format that will be used at the 2020 Tokyo Games," added Ratner.

The World Cup Final, the Olympics and the world championships are regarded as shooting's top three competitions.

BASEBALL

Jeter heads Hall of Fame candidates

New York Yankees icon Derek Jeter was among 18 first-timers named on baseball's 2020 Hall of Fame ballot on Monday.

The five-time World Series champion, who retired in 2014, is widely expected to be voted into the baseball pantheon at the first attempt after a glittering 20-season career.

Other notable first-timers on the list include Jeter's former Yankees teammates Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano and Bobby Abreu.

Players are eligible for voting into the Hall of Fame five years after retirement, provided they have completed 10 seasons in MLB.

More than 400 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America cast votes, and a player must appear on 75 percent of ballots to be accepted.

As well as the first-time candidates, the 2020 ballot also includes several players who have been held over from previous years after failing to meet the required 75 percent threshold.

They include home-run king Barry Bonds and former Yankees and Boston Red Sox pitching ace Roger Clemens.