Digest

SOCCER

Dembele suffers setback in Barcelona recovery

Barcelona will have to wait a little longer to count on Ousmane Dembele.

The French forward left team practice on Monday complaining of muscle pain in his right leg. The club said the problem was prompted by muscle fatigue.

Dembele was in the final stages of his recovery from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since November. He had just recently rejoined his teammates in full practice sessions.

The team did not say when he is expected to be back in action.

Barca has been eagerly awaiting Dembele's return as striker Luis Suarez has been out injured since the beginning of the year and is not expected to be back until the latter stages of the season.

The club did not make any major signings to immediately boost its attack.

Barcelona is currently second in La Liga, three points behind Real Madrid. Its next game is on Sunday at Real Betis.

Mbappe spat 'nothing personal', says Tuchel

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel on Monday attempted to play down a touchline spat with Kylian Mbappe which overshadowed the French champion's big weekend win over Montpellier.

"There is nothing personal between him and me. These things happen," said Tuchel after Mbappe reacted angrily to being substituted midway through the second half of PSG's 5-0 win at Parc des Princes.

"It was between a player who does not want to come off, and a coach who had his reasons for doing something, and who wanted to give a game to players who deserved it."

After Saturday's match, Tuchel admitted that the reaction of Mbappe "doesn't look good" and pointed out that: "This is football, not tennis, and you have to respect everyone."

The 21-year-old World Cup winner, who had scored his 14th league goal of the season in the victory, exchanged words with Tuchel as he came off, and then stormed to his seat on the bench, throwing away a training top in disgust.

BASKETBALL

LeBron picks Gianna's number for showcase

The NBA's two All-Star teams will wear jersey numbers honoring the memory of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna in the mid-season showcase, and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had a simple reason for going with Gianna Bryant's No 2.

"Zhuri," James said, referring to his own 5-year-old daughter.

James spoke movingly on Friday of the joy Bryant had found since his retirement in life as a family man and father of four daughters.

"It felt like these last three years were the happiest I've ever seen him," James said.

The numbers are among the planned All-Star weekend tributes to Bryant and Gianna, who were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash on Jan 26.

The team captained by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will wear the No 24 that Bryant wore in the latter stages of his 20-year NBA career.

Iguodala may sit season if not traded

Both the Memphis Grizzlies and veteran Andre Iguodala are holding firm on their trade-deadline wishes.

With the Grizzlies reportedly trying to deal the three-time NBA champion forward before Thursday's trade deadline, Iguodala has told the team he is apparently willing to sit out the rest of this season if Memphis can't work out a deal with one of his desired destinations.

The Athletic's David Aldridge tweeted on Monday that the former Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers veteran has taken the hard-line stance with the deadline just three days away.

Iguodala has stayed away from the Grizzlies since training camp as he and the team have worked toward his expected exit. The Warriors traded Iguodala and a protected first-round draft pick to Memphis on July 7 in exchange for forward Julian Washburn.

RUGBY UNION

Women's World Cup final set for Eden Park

The Women's Rugby World Cup final will be held at one of the game's major venues for the first time next year when Eden Park in Auckland stages the title-decider of the ninth edition, organizers said on Tuesday.

The semifinals and bronze-medal match at the first Women's Rugby World Cup to be staged in the southern hemisphere will also be held at New Zealand's largest sports stadium, which has a capacity of 50,000 and hosted the 1987 and 2011 men's finals.

World Rugby has high hopes that next year's tournament, which will run from Sept 18 to Oct 16, will build on the success of the 2017 edition in Ireland, which set records for attendance and television viewership.

"Women's rugby is the single-biggest opportunity to grow the global game and we are confident that New Zealand 2021 will be one of the great Rugby World Cups, attracting a new fan and player base," World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Mahomes ready for long career with Chiefs

Basking in the glow of a Super Bowl title, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he wants the opportunity to win many more championships while wearing a Chiefs uniform.

Now eligible for a contract extension after playing three seasons, Mahomes, who earned the Super Bowl MVP honor, sounded ready to commit on Monday morning.

"Obviously, I want to be in Kansas City for a long time," Mahomes said. "I understand that, and also I want to win a lot of football games here."

Mahomes' current contract runs through the 2020 season, with a team option for another season beyond that.

The 24-year old completed 26 of 42 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns in Super Bowl LIV while rallying the Chiefs to a 31-20 victory.

Xinhua - Agencies