Digest

SOCCER

Choi suggests bias toward Evergrande

Shanghai Shenhua head coach Choi Kang-hee has questioned the integrity of the Chinese Super League by suggesting defending champion Guangzhou Evergrande is favored to win the title.

Choi cut a fuming figure following his side's 3-1 loss to Guangzhou Evergrande on Saturday, saying through a translator: "I don't have much to say, I thank my players for fighting to the end. I wonder what is the point of their fighting, because this is Evergrande."

In a subsequent translation of his post-match comments, Choi was revealed to have said: "I want to say to my players, 'Thank you! You are very pathetic. I can't make out why a match like this one should be held. Isn't it better to simply give the title to the Guangzhou side?"

Choi was believed to be angered by the presence of six foreign-born players in the Evergrande starting XI. CSL rules stipulate that teams can field no more than four foreign players, however Fabio Cannavaro's side is not in violation of the regulations because three of its imports－Jiang Guangtai (aka Tyias Browning), Ai Kesen (aka Elkeson) and Fernando－are naturalized.

Rakitic returns to Sevilla from Barca

Europa League champion Sevilla on Tuesday confirmed the return of midfielder Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona on a four-year deal.

The 32-year-old Croatian international, who was reportedly told by new Barca coach Ronald Koeman that he was not in the Dutchman's plans for the forthcoming season, goes back to the club where he played from 2010-14, winning the Europa League in the 2013-14 season.

Although the transfer fee has not been made official, Spanish media reported that it is in the region of $10 million.

Rakitic, signed as a replacement for club legend Andres Iniesta, won one Champions League medal and four La Liga titles and four Copa del Rey crowns with Barca.

Aside from the want-away superstar Lionel Messi, Rakitic is not the only veteran expected to depart Camp Nou in the coming months, with Arturo Vidal and Luis Suarez also reportedly told they can leave.

GOLF

WGC-HSBC Champions tournament canceled

The PGA Tour has confirmed the cancellation of this year's World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

The tournament was widely expected to be dropped from the calendar after the Chinese government in July effectively ruled out hosting international sports events for the remainder of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The HSBC Champions had been scheduled to take place at Shanghai's Sheshan International Golf Club from Oct 29-Nov 1.

"We have worked extensively with all tours, international officials, the China Golf Association and other local parties to find a solution to host the WGC-HSBC Champions," said Ty Votaw, the PGA Tour's international executive vice-president.

"In line with Chinese government guidelines and being mindful of the logistical implications, we collectively made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 event."

VOLLEYBALL

Shanghai powers to sixth straight title

Shanghai claimed its sixth consecutive championship by defeating Jiangsu 2-0 in the best-of-three finals of the Chinese men's volleyball league in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, on Tuesday.

The defending champion won Game 2 in straight sets (25-22, 25-19,25-17) to convincingly regain the trophy. The opening set was tied at 18-apiece before Shanghai asserted its authority with a 6-2 run to take the lead.

Shanghai then clawed its way back from a 7-2 deficit in the second set before ending Jiangsu's resistance in the third to close out victory.

"Today's result is far better than our expectations when the season resumed. We had only hoped to enter the top eight at that time because some of our key players were injured," said Shanghai head coach Shen Qiong. "This season provided good practice for our young players, I'm satisfied with their performances."