Digest

BASKETBALL

Fogg's clutch shot ends Beijing's losing streak

Kyle Fogg's buzzer-beating jumper helped the Beijing Royal Fighters edge the Nanjing Monkey Kings 110-108 to snap a three-game losing streak in Qingdao on Tuesday.

Fogg drained the decisive score with 0.7 seconds remaining, before a desperate 3-point attempt from Nanjing's Joseph Young was blocked.

Fogg led Beijing's charge with 38 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Wang Zirui contributed 22 points.

Young scored a game-high 53 points, with teammate Hamed Haddadi registering a double-double of 23 points and 22 rebounds.

"It was a challenging game for us as the opponents played zone defense for the whole game. We missed some shots, but for the most part the guys got the job done," said Beijing coach Stephon Marbury.

Meanwhile, the Zhejiang Lions moved closer to the top four with a 125-93 rout of the Tianjin Pioneers.

GOLF

PGA Tour Series-China season canceled

The 2020 PGA Tour Series-China season has been canceled after it became "impossible" to proceed with this year's circuit due to factors arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to organizers.

"The PGA Tour in close consultation with the China Golf Association has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 PGA Tour Series-China season," read a release from the PGA Tour.

"Access into China and the continued global spread of the illness made it impossible to proceed with these tournaments at this time."

Greg Carlson, the executive director of the series, said: "It's a disappointment, but I know our players and fans understand－given the continuing evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic－that the health and the safety of everyone associated with the series is of the utmost importance.

"Staging a tour based in China with players from five different continents is just not feasible at this time."

SOCCER

Mbappe to stay at PSG 'whatever happens'

Kylian Mbappe said on Tuesday he would remain with French champion Paris Saint-Germain next season "whatever happens" despite constant speculation over his future.

"I'm here. I'm part of the project for a fourth year," Mbappe, 21, told BeIn Sports during halftime of PSG's 4-0 friendly win over Celtic, which was played in front of around 5,000 fans at Parc des Princes.

"The club's 50-year anniversary is an important one in the eyes of the club, the supporters, of everyone, so I will be here whatever happens."

"I'm going to try and bring back trophies with the team and give the best of myself," added Mbappe, who arrived at PSG from Monaco in 2017 in a deal worth 180 million euros ($208 million).

Real Madrid has regularly been linked with a move for Mbappe, but club president Florentino Perez said last week the Spanish champion would not make any big signings this summer.

Resurgent Rossoneri reward coach Pioli

AC Milan has rewarded coach Stefano Pioli for the club's return to form after the coronavirus lockdown with a two-year contract extension, the Serie A side said on Tuesday.

Pioli, 54, took over last October after his predecessor, Marco Giampaolo, was fired after just seven games in charge.

The announcement of the new deal until June 2022 came after the Rossoneri's 2-1 win over Sassuolo on Tuesday, thanks to a first-half Zlatan Ibrahimovic double.

Milan is on a nine-match unbeaten run, including seven wins, and is now fifth and into the Europa League places with three games left.

"I am happy and proud of the trust I have received from AC Milan," said Pioli. "We are at the start of an extraordinary path. If we keep working this way, we will grow and be more and more competitive."

The former European giant had reportedly been in talks with former RB Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick to take over next season.

SNOOKER

Two Chinese players win opening qualifiers

Chinese players Chen Feilong and Wu Yize won their first-round matches at the Snooker World Championship qualifiers in Sheffield on Tuesday.

The qualifying event will continue behind closed doors at the English Institute of Sport until July 28, with 128 players competing for 16 available spots in the tournament proper.

Chen beat Aaron Hill 6-2 before Wu Yize edged Ashley Hugill 6-4. Si Jiahui, the other Chinese player competing on Tuesday, lost to Ross Muir 6-2.

Chen will next face Switzerland's Alexander Ursenbacher; the 16-year-old Wu will play Robbie Williams.

China's Ding Junhui and Yan Bingtao have already earned their places at the championship thanks to their top-16 rankings, along with defending champion Judd Trump.

Xinhua - Agencies