Digest

SOCCER

Chelsea installs Tuchel as Lampard successor

Thomas Tuchel

Chelsea on Tuesday confirmed former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel as the team's new head coach, replacing Frank Lampard who had been fired 24 hours earlier.

The Blues confirmed that the German has agreed an 18-month deal with the "possibility of an extension", adding that he was expected to be at Stamford Bridge for Wednesday's English Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"I would like to thank Chelsea FC for their confidence in me and my staff," Tuchel said on Chelsea's website, saying he was "grateful to be part of the Chelsea family".

Tuchel added he has the "greatest respect for Frank Lampard's work and the legacy he created at Chelsea", and said he was looking forward to meeting his new team "and to compete in the most exciting league in football".

Tuchel, 47 was sacked by PSG on Christmas Eve after winning consecutive Ligue 1 titles and reaching last season's Champions League final before losing to Bayern Munich.

BASEBALL

No new additions to Hall of Fame after vote

Curt Schilling

The baseball Hall of Fame won't have any new players in the class of 2021 after voters decided no one had the merits－on the field or off it－for enshrinement in Cooperstown on this year's ballot.

Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were the closest in voting by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America released Tuesday, and the trio will have one more chance at election next year. It's the first time the BBWAA didn't choose anyone since 2013.

Schilling, a right-handed ace who won three World Series titles, finished 16 votes short of the 75 percent threshold necessary for enshrinement. He got 71.1 percent this time after coming up 20 votes shy at 70 percent last year.

Schilling's on-field accomplishments face little dispute, but he has ostracized himself in retirement by directing hateful remarks toward Muslims, transgender people, journalists and others.

BASKETBALL

Feng, Booker named CBA Players of Week

Zhejiang Lions' Feng Xin and Shenzhen Aviators' Askia Booker were named the Chinese Basketball Association's Players of the Week on Tuesday.

Point guard Feng averaged 22.3 points, 6.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals in three matches from Jan 17-23. He follows in teammate Zhao Yanhao's footsteps to claim the league's weekly award for the top domestic player.

Booker, also a point guard, came out on top in the foreign-player category, boasting an average of 46.0 points, 7.0 assists, 4.5 boards and 0.5 steals down the stretch.

Zhejiang ranks eighth among the league's 19 teams with a win-loss record of 17-15, while Shenzhen is seventh (16-14).

Teams hovering for Pistons veteran Rose

The New York Knicks, among other teams, have expressed interest in trading for Detroit Pistons veteran point guard Derrick Rose, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Rose is averaging 14.8 points per game and 4.6 assists off the bench for Detroit.

The Knicks' connection to Rose is through head coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached the point guard for five seasons in Chicago, including a 2010-11 MVP season.

Thibodeau also coached Rose in his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2017-19.

The Los Angeles Clippers have also reportedly expressed interest in Rose. Los Angeles is looking for a reliable scorer alongside stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

The Pistons have so far recorded the most defeats in the NBA this season, with a 4-13 win-loss record. The Knicks are 9-11 after Tuesday's loss to the Utah Jazz.

GOLF

Love named captain of US Presidents Cup team

Davis Love III

Davis Love III is going back to where he was born for a job he knows as well as anyone.

The PGA Tour has selected Love to be US captain for the Presidents Cup in 2022 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Trevor Immelman of South Africa previously was selected to be the International team captain.

It will be the third time Love has been captain of a US team in the last 10 years. He was captain when Europe rallied from a 10-6 deficit to beat the Americans in the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah, and he again led the US team for a rare victory four years later at Hazeltine.

He also was an assistant captain in the Ryder Cup under Corey Pavin in 2010 and Jim Furyk in 2018 and is on the staff of Steve Stricker this year. In the Presidents Cup, he has been an assistant under Fred Couples in 2013, Jay Haas in 2015 and Stricker in 2017.

OLYMPICS

IOC urges Olympians to take COVID-19 vaccines

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged Olympic and Paralympic teams to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to the IOC's official website, IOC president Thomas Bach consulted National Olympic Committees (NOCs) as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) as the preparations for the Tokyo Games and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games enter the final stretch.

The IOC said a toolbox of COVID-19 countermeasures has been developed, which includes quarantine measures and vaccinations.

"Vaccines are one of many tools available in the toolbox, to be used at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way," the IOC said. "The IOC continues to strongly support the priority of vaccinating vulnerable groups, nurses, medical doctors and everyone who is keeping our societies safe."

Xinhua - Agencies