Digest

SNOOKER

Dominant Ding powers through at Welsh Open

Chinese No 1 Ding Junhui eased past Ricky Walden 4-1 to reach the Welsh Open third round in Cardiff on Wednesday.

It looked as if Ding was in for a tough battle when Walden reeled off a second-frame break of 127 to tie the match.

However, the Englishman failed to maintain that intensity as breaks of 50, 74 and 88 saw Ding through to the last 32 where he will face England's Jimmy Robertson, who ousted Chinese teenager Yuan Sijun 4-2 in the second round.

World No 9 Ding ended a two-year title drought by winning the UK Championship last December for the third time.

Reigning world champion Judd Trump also cruised into round three in the Welsh capital by thumping Billy Castle 4-0 while Ronnie O'Sullivan fought back from 1-2 down to surpass Stuart Carrington 4-2.

SOCCER

Ex-Shandong striker Tardelli back at Mineiro

Former Shandong Luneng striker Diego Tardelli has rejoined Atletico Mineiro for the 2020 season, the Brazilian Serie A club said on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Brazilian arrives as a free agent, having parted ways with Gremio after just one season last month.

"The good son is coming home," Atletico president Sergio Sette said in a Twitter post. "You (the fans) asked for it and we've brought him back."

It will be Tardelli's third spell at Atletico following previous stints with the Belo Horizonte club from 2009-11 and 2013-14. He was a key member of the Ronaldinho-inspired Atletico team that won the 2013 Copa Libertadores.

Tardelli, who has been capped 14 times for Brazil, has struggled with injuries and poor form since leaving Shandong at the end of 2018.

He managed just four goals in 29 league appearances for Gremio last year after netting 41 times in 73 Chinese Super League matches from 2015 to 2018. Atletico is coached by former Venezuela boss Rafael Dudamel, who was appointed in January.

FORMULA 1

Chinese GP postponed due to coronavirus

The Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2020, originally scheduled for April 19 in Shanghai, has been postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, promoter Juss Sports Group announced on Wednesday.

Juss said in a statement that Formula 1 and motor sports' world governing body the FIA jointly reached the decision in order to ensure the health and safety of staff, championship participants and fans.

Formula 1 and the FIA will continue to work closely with the teams, race promoter, the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of People's Republic of China (CAMF) and the Shanghai authorities to monitor the situation as it develops.

All parties will continue to study the viability of potential alternative dates for the race later in the year should the situation improve, the statement added.

This is the first ever postponement of the Chinese Grand Prix, which was first staged in 2004.

OLYMPICS

BMX star critically injured in race crash

Australian Olympic BMX cycling hopeful Kai Sakakibara is in a medically induced coma in a Canberra hospital after sustaining serious head injuries in a weekend racing accident.

The 23-year-old rider underwent surgery on Sunday morning to relieve pressure on his brain following the Saturday crash.

Described as being in a critical but stable condition, Sakakibara is expected to remain in a coma for the next two weeks.

Sakakibara, ranked among the world's top 10 riders in recent years, was aiming to make his Olympic debut in Japan, where he spent part of his childhood after being born on the Gold Coast in Australia.

"We understand that the road ahead will be a long and difficult one, we are staying positive and taking things day by day," a statement from Sakakibara's family said on Wednesday.