Digest

OLYMPICS

Chinese race walkers up to silver and bronze

Qieyang Shijie

Chinese race walkers Qieyang Shijie and Liu Hong will be awarded a silver and a bronze medal respectively from the 2012 London Olympics following approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday.

The IOC's executive board approved the reallocation of medals and rankings from the London Games, as well as Rio 2016 and the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, due to decisions made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Qieyang and Liu finished third and fourth in the women's 20-kilometer race walk eight years ago in the British capital. But after runner-up Olga Kaniskina and fifth-placed Anisya Kirdyapkina, both of Russia, were suspended for doping and later disqualified, the Chinese duo moved up to the second and third places. China's Lu Xiuzhi was also promoted, from sixth to fourth.

Other results adjusted concern disqualification cases of athletes from Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and Thailand, in weightlifting, ice hockey and athletics.

SOCCER

Palmeiras plays down links to SIPG star Hulk

Palmeiras manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo has played down reports that the club could sign former Brazil forward Hulk from Shanghai SIPG.

Hulk has attracted the interest of several Brazilian Serie A teams as he enters the final six months of his contract with the Chinese Super League side.

"It would be very difficult to sign Hulk," Luxemburgo said in an Instagram Live session on Thursday. "It would be great if he could come to Palmeiras, but it's complicated," he added, in reference to the financial cost of repatriating the 33-year-old.

Last month, Hulk admitted that he was aware of interest from Palmeiras and "many other" clubs but said he had not spoken to them out of respect for SIPG.

Hulk, who has been capped 47 times by Brazil, has scored 86 goals and provided 47 assists in 138 matches for SIPG, which he joined from Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2016.

The former Porto star helped the club win the Chinese Super League title in 2018 and the Chinese Super Cup last year.

Team China keeper Yan eyeing European move

Yan Junling

Team China goalkeeper Yan Junling yearns to follow in his friend Wu Lei's footsteps and play in a top European league.

The Shanghai SIPG stopper said Wu, who plays with La Liga's Espanyol, was the inspiration for him to try and look for a move to Europe.

"We grew up together playing football and are very good friends. We had always played in the same teams until he went to Espanyol," Yan said. "But now he plays at La Liga, he is now stepping ahead of me.

"I also want to play in the major European leagues, I need to wait for the chances to come."

The 29-year-old added that if a move to Europe does not materialize he will stay in China.

Yan has played alongside the likes of Brazilian duo Hulk and Oscar at SIPG and reckons imported players have enhanced the Chinese Super League in recent years.

"In the training sessions of Shanghai SIPG, I was often surprised at the performance of my foreign teammates such as Hulk and Oscar. Their creativity was amazing," he said. "They helped us grow up."

BASKETBALL

Zhou: Public criticism is 'understandable'

Zhou Qi

China's national team center Zhou Qi says he understands the widespread criticism he received over his below-par performance at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Team China endured a miserable campaign as host of the tournament, missing out on Asia's only direct Olympic qualification berth. Zhou, in particular, suffered the wrath of fans after failing to pass to a teammate from a throw-in with seven seconds left against Poland. The error cost China a chance of victory as the Poles won in overtime.

"I did indeed make a terrible mistake, so the criticism is understandable," Zhou said.

"At the beginning, the criticism made me very uncomfortable and I suffered with it. Fortunately, my family always stood by me, and I've started to look forward to the future.

"This is an experience for me and I will get better from every experience, regardless of whether it is good or bad."

Zhou had been in excellent form for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers before the CBA was suspended in January, averaging 20.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. The league is scheduled to resume on June 20.

Xinhua