Digest

WINTER SPORTS

Morgenstern expects hotly contested worlds

Austrian ski jumping legend Thomas Morgenstern said Monday that it's "really difficult to say who is favorite" for gold at the 2021 Nordic World Ski Championships and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

The Nordic worlds began on Monday in Oberstdorf, Germany, and Morgenstern said: "I see many candidates (for gold). On the large hill, it may be (Halvor Egner) Granerud (of Norway) who will win, but on the normal hill, Poland's Dawid Kubacki has a great chance.

"He stood on the highest podium in 2009 so from my point of view he is a favorite to win again. Poland's Kamil Stoch can also fight against Granerud for the titles."

Morgenstern knows what it takes to become Olympic champion, having won two titles at the 2006 Turin Games, as well as team gold in 2010 in Vancouver. He also claimed large-hill silver in Sochi four years later.

"From my perspective the most important thing is self-confidence," the 34-year-old added. "When you beat rivals, you feel better and better. The more you compete at the highest level, the better you jump.

"Of course, there are also many factors which can be decisive, but for me, self-confidence was really important."

SOCCER

Striker Leonardo joins CSL side Shandong

Brazilian striker Leonardo has signed for Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan, the club announced on Monday.

Having left Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, the 23-year-old forward has arrived in China and will join his new team after completing his mandatory medical quarantine in compliance with coronavirus protocols.

After finishing as top scorer in Japan's second division with Albirex Niigata in 2019, Leonardo netted 13 goals in 30 games for the top-flight Red Diamonds last term.

Earlier this month, Shandong suffered a major blow ahead of the new season when it was thrown of the AFC Champions League for breaching the Asian Football Confederation's financial regulations.

BASEBALL

Wife suggests Pujol to retire at end of season

Albert Pujols' wife apparently disclosed that the Los Angeles Angels slugger will retire after the upcoming season, although she later amended her social media post to be less definitive.

The 41-year-old Pujols, a three-time MVP and ten-time All-Star, reported to spring training with the Angels on Monday.

In a post on her Instagram account later in the day, Deidre Pujols wrote: "Today is the first day of the last season of one of the most remarkable careers in sports!" Shortly afterward, she amended the statement with a parenthetical "based on his contract".

Pujols' 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels ends after this season, his 21st in the majors. But the fifth-leading home-run hitter in major-league history has repeatedly declined to say whether this season will be his last.

Tatis inks longest deal in major-league history

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s $340 million, 14-year contract was finalized Monday by the San Diego Padres, the longest deal in MLB history.

"Fernando is a special talent who will be instrumental in bringing a world championship to the city of San Diego," Padres general manager AJ Preller said in a statement. "Throughout the process, Fernando's desire to stay here long term was clear, and we are thrilled that we were able to come to an agreement."

The 22-year-old Tatis had been eligible for salary arbitration after this season and for free agency after the 2024 season.

The length of his contract exceeded the $325 million, 13-year agreement in November 2014 between Miami and Giancarlo Stanton, who was traded to the New York Yankees in December 2017, and the $330 million, 13-year contract ahead of the 2019 season between Bruce Harper and Philadelphia.

Baseball's biggest deal by dollars remains Mike Trout's $426.5 million, 12-year contract signed with the Angels in March 2019. Tatis' deal is the third-largest, also trailing Mookie Betts' $365 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that starts this season.

TENNIS

Osaka falls short of top spot despite Aussie win

Naomi Osaka's victory at the Australian Open moved the Japanese superstar up one spot to No 2 in the WTA rankings Monday, while men's finalist Daniil Medvedev rose to a career-best No 3 behind winner Novak Djokovic on the ATP list.

Jennifer Brady, the 25-year-old American who was the runner-up to Osaka, jumped 11 spots to No 13, her first time inside the top 20.

Aslan Karatsev's historic run from qualifying to the final four before losing to nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic allowed the Russian to vault 72 places from 114th to 42nd.

Karatsev is the first man in the professional era to reach the semifinals in his debut in the main draw of a major tournament.

Despite winning the past two Grand Slam tournament she entered, Osaka still trails No 1 Ash Barty－who lost in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park－because of the way the tennis tours are calculating what they're calling "frozen "rankings following last season's hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Xinhua - Agencies