Digest

DIVING

Chen grabs World Cup gold, bronze for Chang

Chen Yiwen

Chinese divers dominated the women's 3m springboard final at the FINA Diving World Cup in Tokyo on Tuesday, as Chen Yiwen claimed gold and Chang Yani took bronze.

Chen eased to victory in the final with 383.55 points, beating Sarah Bacon of the United States into second (348.75).

Chang finished third with 344.40 despite picking up an injury in the semifinals on Monday.

After initially leading the field in the heats, a botched final dive saw her slide down the standings to qualify for the final as the 10th-ranked diver.

"It is quite common that we get injured as athletes. Everyone has to go through this. I am OK with the injury and happy to finish the final with a bronze medal," said the 20-year-old Chang.

In the men's 10m platform final, Britain's Tom Daley took the title with a score of 541.70. Mexican Randal Willars was second (514.70), with Canadian Rylan Wiens third (488.55).

TENNIS

Pregnant Strycova hangs up racket at 35

Barbora Strycova

Czech doubles specialist Barbora Strycova, who announced her first pregnancy in March, said Tuesday she was retiring from tennis, hoping for one last match after she gives birth.

Currently ranked second in doubles and 52nd in singles, Strycova, 35, won the Wimbledon doubles title with Hsieh Su-wei in 2019 and reached the singles semifinals there the same year, her best Grand Slam results ever.

"I want to play one more match with an audience," the former world No1-ranked doubles player told reporters in Prague.

"I'm bidding farewell to my career and I don't expect to get back to the tour, but I would like to say goodbye to the fans," said Strycova, who has her eyes on a farewell trip to the All England Club in 2022.

"Wimbledon would be a dream, but if it doesn't work out, I'll do something here in the Czech Republic," she said.

Strycova, who last played at the Australian Open in January, has won two singles titles, reaching a career high ranking of 16, as well as 31 doubles WTA trophies overall.

BASKETBALL

Cult hero Varejao back 'home' with Cleveland

Anderson Varejao

Anderson Varejao and his healthy head of hair left Cleveland for a while. His heart remained.

"It's home," he said. "I love the city. I love the fans."

Varejao, who was traded five years ago by the Cavaliers and missed out on an NBA title with them, signed a 10-day contract with the team on Tuesday to begin an end-of-season stint celebrating his 12-year run in Cleveland.

The 38-year-old center hasn't played in the NBA since 2017 with Golden State－or in any game since the 2019 World Cup in China.

But he stayed in shape by working out in his garage at home, and the curly-haired Brazilian nicknamed "Wild Thing", who endeared himself to fans and teammates with his hustle while annoying opponents, will finish this season with the injury-plagued Cavaliers.

MOTOR SPORTS

Soccer's Villas-Boas to make World Rally debut

Soccer manager Andre Villas-Boas will make his World Rally Championship debut this month in his native Portugal, organizers said on Tuesday.

"Some of the biggest intrigue in Portugal will be reserved for car 57, driven by Andre Villas-Boas. The former Porto, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss has been an avid rally fan for some time and will make his WRC debut," WRC said in a statement.

Villas-Boas will race in a Citroen C3 in the third-tier WRC3, which is reserved for privately entered crews.

The 43-year-old has been away from soccer since his departure from Ligue 1's Marseille in February. After working as Jose Mourinho's assistant at Porto, he who won the Portuguese title and Europa League with the club in 2011. However, he failed to replicate that success during ill-fated stints with Chelsea and Tottenham in England.

In 2018, Villas-Boas took part in the Dakar Rally, having to retire with a back injury.

The Portugal leg of the WRC will be held between May 20-23.

Guo'an off the mark with victory over Dalian

Zhang Xizhe

Beijing Guo'an beat Dalian Pro 2-0 for its first victory of the new Chinese Super League season in Suzhou, Jiangsu province on Tuesday.

Guo'an had endured a dreadful start to the campaign under new manager Slaven Bilic, losing to both Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua in its opening fixtures.

It looked as if there could be more misery in store for the capital club on Tuesday evening when Spanish midfielder Jonathan Viera limped off injured.

However, Zhang Xizhe tapped home a rebound in the 53rd minute to give Beijing the lead. Three minutes later, 30-year-old midfielder Zhang wrapped up the points with a header.

In Tuesday's other game, Changchun Yatai played out a scoreless draw with Wuhan.

Changchun midfielder Hui Jiakang spurned a good chance to break the deadlock in the third minute before Ivorian forward Jean Evrard Kouassi failed to find the net for Wuhan.

Changchun hit the net in the 12th minute, but midfielder Tan Long's header was ruled out for offside.

Xinhua - Agencies