Digest

SOCCER

Steel Roses change plans over virus fears

China's national women's team has begun preparations for its forthcoming 2020 Olympic qualifiers in isolation amid concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus.

All matches in qualifying Group B, which also includes Australia, Thailand and Chinese Taipei, were originally set to take place in Wuhan, Hubei province－the epicenter of the virus outbreak－from Feb 3-9.

However, due to the epidemic, the fixtures were initially switched to Nanjing, Zhejiang province, before again being moved to Sydney, Australia.

The Steel Roses were also forced to move its training camp from Wuhan to Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

Players were advised to wear masks and avoid contact with others on their way to the behind-closed-doors camp, which started on Sunday.

Veteran striker Wang Shanshan, who was dropped after last year's World Cup finals in France, has been recalled, with China kicking off its campaign against Thailand on Feb 3.

Young guns lift Arsenal into FA Cup fifth round

Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal's "hungry" youngsters after Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah fired their side into the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-1 win against Bournemouth on Monday.

Arteta turned to youth at Dean Court and Saka, Nketiah and Joe Willock repaid the Arsenal manager's faith with influential displays that secured a trip to third-tier Portsmouth.

Saka gave Arsenal an early lead as the 18-year-old fullback bagged his third goal of the season with a superb strike.

Nketiah got the second before the interval to ensure Arteta took another step towards emulating his FA Cup triumph as an Arsenal player in 2014 and 2015.

"I'm very pleased. Always tough to come here and win, we've done it with a young team as well," Arteta said. "I have a lot of faith in them. I think they are developing really well. They are willing and hungry and will only get better."

TENNIS

Ivanisevic, Martinez elected to Hall of Fame

Wimbledon champions Goran Ivanisevic and Conchita Martinez have been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2020 was announced on Tuesday at the Australian Open, where both Ivanisevic and Martinez are coaching players who reached the quarterfinals.

The induction ceremony will be July 18 in Newport, Rhode Island, where the hall is located.

Ivanisevic, a serve-and-volley specialist from Croatia, won the 2001 title at the All England Club as a wild-card entry.

Martinez, a baseliner from Spain, was the 1994 champion at Wimbledon.

Both reached No 2 in the rankings and won multiple Olympic medals.

Ivanisevic helps coach Novak Djokovic, while Martinez works with Garbiñe Muguruza.

BASKETBALL

Lakers game called off following Kobe tragedy

Tuesday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center has been postponed in the wake of the death of Kobe Bryant, the NBA announced Monday.

The NBA said the contest will be rescheduled at a later date.

The league said the decision was "made out of respect for the Lakers organization," which is grieving the death of the 41-year-old Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, as well as the seven other people who perished in Sunday's helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

The Lakers made their first statement since Bryant's tragic death about one hour after the postponement was announced.

Star power forward Anthony Davis expressed his thoughts on Instagram on Monday.

"Man this is a tough one for me!"Davis wrote about Bryant. "You were the first guy to put me under your wing and show me the ins and outs of the league. Had so many great convos about so many things and I will cherish those moments forever. Love you forever, Bean!"

Gordon hits 50 points to give Rockets liftoff

Eric Gordon scored a career-high 50 points to lead the short-handed Houston Rockets to a 126-117 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night despite playing without James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Danuel House Jr. added 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Austin Rivers also had 21 points as Houston handed the Jazz their first home loss since Dec 9.

Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points and Bojan Bogdanovic added 30, but Utah lost for just the third time in 22 games despite shooting 51 percent from the field.

Gordon had his first game with more than 30 points this season. His previous career best of 41 came against Oklahoma City on Jan 23,2009. The veteran guard stepped up and filled the scoring void with Harden, Westbrook and Clint Capela sitting out.

Harden missed his second straight game with a bruised left thigh. Capela (bruised right heel) and Westbrook (rest) sat out after playing Sunday against Denver.

Xinhua - Agencies