Digest

TABLE TENNIS

Double loss worrying for world champ Liu

Liu Shiwen

Reigning world champion Liu Shiwen endured a tough day at China's table tennis Olympic simulation in Xinxiang, Henan province on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old exited the mixed doubles competition with partner Xu Xin at the quarterfinal stage following a 4-2 loss to national teammates Zhou Yu and Chen Xingtong.

Later, world No 7 Liu crashed out of the women's singles with a straight-sets defeat to world No 6 Zhu Yuling.

A record five-time World Cup title holder and a member of China's 2016 Rio Olympics gold-medal winning women's team, Liu has been tipped to contend for medals again at this summer's Tokyo Games.

However, she looked short of options against former top-ranked paddler Zhu on Wednesday, surrendering easily in a 11-9, 11-3,15-13, 11-8 loss.

SOCCER

Bassogog spot on to earn Shenhua point

Bassogog

Christian Bassogog's injury-time penalty earned Shanghai Shenhua a point against Shanghai Port in a thrilling 1-1 Chinese Super League draw at Suzhou Olympic Sports Center on Wednesday.

Shenhua was in the ascendancy in the early stages, with Zhao Mingjian almost putting his team ahead in the seventh minute, only to be denied by a smart save from Chinese international goalkeeper Yan Junling.

Port's Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute through a powerful long-range strike. Moments later, former West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic almost doubled Port's advantage, but the Austrian's low shot was saved by Zeng.

Two minutes into added time, Cameroonian forward Bassogog calmly converted from the penalty spot to earn Shenhua a share of the spoils following a foul by Lyu Wenjun in the area.

INDUSTRY

LeBron jersey, Diego boots head to auction

A high-school basketball jersey worn by LeBron James on a famous Sports Illustrated cover will go up for auction in July among 500 other pieces of sports memorabilia, Julien's Auctions said on Wednesday.

James was 17 when he wore the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School jersey on a 2002 cover of Sports Illustrated magazine under the title "The Chosen One". He soon went straight from the school to become the first overall pick in the National Basketball Association draft and has since won four NBA championships.

The green-and-white jersey is expected to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000, according to estimates from the auction house. The auction will take place live in Beverly Hills on July 17 and 18. Bidders can also participate online.

Other items that will be offered include boots signed and worn by late Argentine soccer superstar Diego Maradona during his 1983-84 season with Barcelona, and a jersey he wore during a 1990 World Cup match against Brazil. The items are expected to fetch between $40,000 and $60,000 each.

BASEBALL

Means has no-hitter but misses perfection

John Means

John Means threw the major leagues' third no-hitter this season and came within a wild pitch on a third strike of a perfect game, pitching the Baltimore Orioles over the Seattle Mariners 6-0 on Wednesday.

Means (4-0) struck out 12 and walked none. Seattle's runner was Sam Haggerty after he struck out swinging on a curveball in the dirt on a 1-2 count with one outs in the third inning that bounced away from catcher Pedro Severino.

Haggerty wasn't on base long, getting thrown out attempting to steal second.

Means threw 79 strikes among 113 pitches, including first-pitch strikes to 26 of 27 batters. When Seattle did make contact against the 28-year-old left-hander, it was weak and there were no threats to fall in for a hit.

Means became the first individual Orioles pitcher to toss a no-hitter since Jim Palmer in 1969. It was the 10th no-hitter in franchise history－six in Baltimore and four as the St. Louis Browns. Baltimore had a combined no-hitter in 1991 against Oakland, the last for the franchise.

BASKETBALL

Knicks sign Spanish league star Vildoza

The New York Knicks and Argentine point guard Luca Vildoza have agreed in principle on a four-year, $13.6 million deal, the player's agent told ESPN.

Alex Saratsis of Octagon Sports said his client will fly to New York from Spain, where he plays for Baskonia in the Spanish ACB League, once he clears the immigration process.

One of Europe's premier playmakers, the 25-year-old Vildoza was expected to be one of the top free agents available after the 2020-21 season. According to the report, the Knicks had both the salary-cap room and the open-roster space needed to get a jump on the competition and sign him now.

Three non-guaranteed years on the contract give the Knicks the chance to evaluate Vildoza in the Olympics, summer league and training camp before committing to a full guarantee on next season.

On the international stage, Vildoza has helped Argentina win a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games and silver medals at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.

Xinhua - Agencies