Digest

VOLLEYBALL

Coach Lang extends Team China contract

Lang Ping

Legendary coach Lang Ping has extended her contract with the Chinese women's volleyball team until the end of next year's delayed Tokyo Olympics.

Li Quanqiang, director of the China Volleyball Administrative Center, told Xinhua on Thursday that the 60-year-old Lang has put pen to paper on the deal, and that a training camp for her national squad will begin in mid-January in Beijing.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics until next summer and denied Lang's team the chance to play any official matches this year.

Li said that while uncertainties remain over the Games, Lang's squad will continue to prepare fully with systematical training and warm-up games against various men's teams.

Lang was installed as China's coach in 2013, steering her charges to a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2015 and 2019 Women's World Cup titles.

SOCCER

Mourinho wants killer instinct from Spurs

Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho said Tottenham must learn to kill games off if it is to win a first league title in 60 years after Roberto Firmino's late goal earned Liverpool a 2-1 win over his side on Wednesday.

The Brazilian's towering header ended an 11-game unbeaten league run for Mourinho's men and opened up a three-point lead for the defending champion Reds at the top of the Premier League table.

"We were so close to a win, not so close to a draw," said Mourinho, who had a terse exchange of words with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp at the final whistle.

"Of course they had more of the ball but when we had it, we knew how to hurt them. We have to score－the second, third goal, we have to score it to kill the game.

"In matches like these where you don't have 10 chances, just three or four, you have to score three and kill it, which we didn't."

Barcelona buoyed by 'best match of season'

Barcelona reignited its La Liga title bid on Wednesday with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Real Sociedad that defender Jordi Alba described as the Catalans' "best match of the season".

The win moved Barca to within six points of the top of the table and saw Atletico Madrid overtake Sociedad as leader on goal difference.

"It was our best match of the season. We came into it knowing very well what we had to do," said Alba, who netted the equalizer.

Frankie de Jong also found the net to give Barca boss Ronald Koeman plenty of reason for optimism."This is the team I want to see. Every player played out of their skin. The biggest difference was our play without the ball. (Lionel) Messi worked very hard in that respect, pressing a lot," said Koeman.

BOXING

Golovkin eyes record defense in Florida bout

Gennady Golovkin can claim a slice of middleweight boxing history on Friday as he chases a record 21st successful defense against mandatory Polish challenger Kamil Szeremeta in Florida.

The 38-year-old Golovkin (40-1-1,35 knockouts) will move one clear of Bernard Hopkins for the most ever defenses at 160 pounds (73 kilograms) if he takes care of business against the unbeaten Szeremeta.

"It's very exciting for any athlete to set a new record, whether it's the 21st defense or any other record, the fact you're setting a record is pleasing to me," said Golovkin, the IBF middleweight champion.

The behind-closed-doors fight at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Fort Lauderdale, which is being streamed by DAZN, is also an opportunity for Kazakh Golovkin to remind a worldwide audience that he remains a force in the division.

BASKETBALL

Weems, Brooks keep Guangdong rolling

Sonny Weems and Marshon Brooks starred for Guangdong as the Southern Tigers beat the Xinjiang Flying Tigers 115-102 in the CBA league in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, on Wednesday.

The American duo scored 26 points apiece, with Xinjiang's Lithuanian import Donatas Motiejunas finishing with a game-high 28 points.

Weems and Brooks combined for 20 points in the first quarter to inspire Guangdong to a 39-32 lead, which was extended to 60-51 by halftime.

The defending champion Southern Tigers tightened their defense after the break and widened the gap to 88-72 in the third quarter before easing to a fifth straight victory in the final period.

'Right now' Harden focused on Houston

James Harden

Rockets star James Harden, at the center of trade-demand reports as the NBA preseason heats up, said Wednesday that "right now" he's focused on prepping for the upcoming campaign in Houston.

Harden, who arrived late to Rockets preseason training camp, spoke to reporters on Wednesday, a day after scoring 12 points with four assists in Houston's 112-98 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

"Right now, I'm focused on being here," said Harden, who fielded multiple questions about his future."Today was good, yesterday felt really good being out there for the first time since the bubble.

"I hadn't really had an opportunity to do a lot of five-on-five work, but for my first time being out there, I think I felt pretty good," added the 2018 NBA MVP.

According to ESPN, Harden's preferred trade destinations are to the Brooklyn Nets or the Philadelphia 76ers.

China Daily - Agencies