Digest

BASKETBALL

Sturgeons ditch Lawson over controversial post

The Fujian Sturgeons say they will not re-sign Ty Lawson for another season after the American sparked public anger with a controversial social media post last week.

The 32-year-old Lawson has been accused of insulting Chinese women in an Instagram message that was accompanied by a lewd image.

"His inappropriate words are inconsistent with the social responsibilities and values abided by our club and have brought serious adverse social impacts to the club and the league. We will not sign him for the new season," said a Sturgeons statement.

Lawson's Fujian contract expired following the completion of the 2019-20 CBA season in August, but the club has the option to extend the deal for another year.

Lawson, who was dogged by personal problems during his time in the NBA, moved to China in 2017 to play for the Shandong Heroes before transferring to the Sturgeons two years later.

TRACK AND FIELD

Wang steps into his own for race-walk title

Asian Games champion Wang Kaihua fended off Olympic medalists Chen Ding and Cai Zelin to win the men's 20-kilometer event at the 2020 Chinese National Race Walk Championships in Tai'an, Shandong province, on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Wang, of Guangdong, formed part of a three-man breakaway group in the early stages of the race and soon seized a comfortable solo lead. From there, the 2018 Asian champion was never troubled as he broke the tape in 1 hour, 20 minutes and 49 seconds.

The battle for second place remained tight until the final kilometers, as Rio Olympic Games runner-up Cai, representing Team Yunnan, held off a strong challenge from London Olympic champion Chen to claim silver in 1:22:03. The 28-year-old Chen, of Guangdong, was nine seconds further back in third.

SOCCER

Barca boss Bartomeu resists resignation calls

Barcelona's embattled club president Josep Bartomeu has no intention of resigning after more than 20,000 club members signed a petition for the 57-year-old and his board to face a censure vote.

"No one is thinking about stepping down," Bartomeu told Catalan television TV3 on Saturday before Barcelona beat Elche 1-0 in its third and final preseason match.

On Thursday, the group of club members demanding a change of leadership handed in 20,687 signatures calling for a referendum over whether the board should be removed. That surpassed the 16,520 signatures－the equivalent to 15 percent of all members－needed to force the vote.

Bartomeu and his board are already set to be replaced in an election in March. But some club members think they should go now after last month's 8-2 Champions League quarterfinal loss to Bayern Munich, a season without titles, and Lionel Messi's aborted attempt to leave the club.

Jota added to Reds' fearsome forward line

Liverpool sealed the signing of Portugal forward Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported 41 million pounds ($54 million) on Saturday.

Jota has signed a "long-term" contract according to the Premier League champion. Reports suggest it is a five-year agreement.

The 23-year-old joined Liverpool just 24 hours after the Merseysiders signed Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara for an initial 20 million pounds.

Liverpool also signed Greece leftback Kostas Tsimikas from Olympiakos this summer. Jota will provide attacking depth for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, competing with Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino for starting berths in an exceptional three-man forward line.

TENNIS

Nadal suffers shock loss in Paris tuneup

Rafael Nadal's first tournament in seven months ended with a 6-2, 7-5 loss to Diego Schwartzman in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open on Saturday.

Nadal, a nine-time champion in Rome, had never lost to 15th-ranked Schwartzman in nine previous meetings. But Schwartzman dictated the baseline rallies and produced a series of drop-shot winners as Nadal uncharacteristically made unforced errors and struggled to get his first serve into play.

Nadal, who chose not to play the US Open due to travel concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic, now has one week to regroup before he attempts to win a record-extending 13th French Open title in Paris. Roland Garros starts this weekend.

"It's a completely special and unpredictable year," said the 34-year-old Nadal. "I fought until the end. But losing that many serves, you can't expect to win a match. Something that I have to fix. I know how to do it."

BASEBALL

Yanks bully Boston to maintain hot streak

JA Happ pitched eight scoreless innings, Clint Frazier hit a two-run home run and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 8-0 on Saturday night for their 10th consecutive win.

The victory is New York's 12th straight over Boston dating to last season, tying the Yankees' longest winning streak in baseball's most historic rivalry. It also dropped New York's magic number to one to clinch its fourth consecutive postseason berth.

The Yankees improved to 31-21 and ensured their 28th consecutive winning season, the second-longest streak in big-league history behind their 39 in a row from 1926-64.

Happ (2-2) allowed four hits and struck out nine. It's his second win of the season over the Red Sox. He allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings in a victory against them last month in New York.

Xinhua - Agencies