Digest

VOLLEYBALL

Zhang leads China to opening VNL victory

Reigning Olympic champion China rallied to defeat South Korea 3-1 while Turkey overcame Serbia in a five-set thriller as the Women's Volleyball Nations League got underway in Rimini, Italy on Tuesday.

China captain Zhang Changning had a game-high 23 points in her team's 3-1(23-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-18) victory, with Liu Yanhan and Li Yao adding 15 and 14 points respectively.

Lee So-young top-scored for South Korea with 16 points.

In the opening day's most entertaining game, an almost entirely rookie Serbia lineup dragged experienced Turkey to a tiebreak.

The young Serbians even managed to save the first game point before the Turks went on to seal a 3-2 triumph (25-21, 18-25, 25-23,22-25, 16-14).

In Tuesday's other action, there were 3-0 wins for the Netherlands (vs Belgium), Russia (vs Germany), Japan (vs Thailand), and the United States (vs the Dominican Republic), while Poland edged Italy 3-2 and Brazil saw off Canada 3-1.

SOCCER

Wu Xi: Team China not underestimating Guam

Wu Xi has warned against complacency as he and his Team China teammates prepare to play their first competitive match in over a year against minnow Guam on Sunday.

Like all global sports, China's World Cup qualifying campaign was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the team yet to play any competitive matches since Li Tie was appointed head coach in January 2019. China thrashed Guam 7-0 when the teams first met in Group A in October 2019, but Wu insists the national team is not taking Sunday's match lightly.

"Considering we did not play international matches for a long time, I think it is vital for us to keep focused on the game against Guam," said midfielder Wu.

"We've worked out a particular plan for the Guam game. The coaches also sent the players a dossier, including some video clips of the key players of our rivals."

China is currently eight points adrift of group leader Syria, and leads third-place Philippines on goal difference.

Flick to start Germany job after Euro 2020

Hansi Flick

Outgoing Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick will succeed his former boss Joachim Loew in the Germany dugout after Euro 2020, the German Football Association (DFB) confirmed on Tuesday.

"It's all gone surprisingly quickly, but I am very happy to be Germany coach from the autumn," said Flick, 56, after signing a three-year contract to succeed Loew.

"I am hugely excited, because I see the class of players, and especially young players, which we have in Germany."

Flick, who was assistant coach to Loew when Germany won the 2014 World Cup, has long been the favorite to take over from Loew, who will leave the job after 15 years in charge later this year, a year before the 61-year-old's contract ends.

"He was top of my wish list from the very start," said national team director Oliver Bierhoff.

BASKETBALL

Australia selects Liz to dispel Tokyo doubts

Liz Cambage was included Wednesday in the 12-women Australian basketball team for the Tokyo Olympics, ending an earlier saga in which she first threatened to boycott the Games but later changed her mind.

Cambage will play in her third Olympics for Australia. Two-time Olympian Jenna O'Hea will captain the squad and Rio Olympians Katie Ebzery, Cayla George, Tessa Lavey, Leilani Mitchell, Stephanie Talbot and Marianna Tolo return for their second Games.

Earlier this month, Cambage criticized promotional photos of Australian Olympians and Paralympians as "whitewashed" and said there was a lack of diversity in Australian media. The photos contained mostly white athletes.

In a social media post interpreted as referring to the Tokyo Olympics, Cambage said she would "sit this one out", but a week later said: "For everyone wondering so desperately what my decision is for the Opals, I'm in baby. . . I'm in."

Randle named NBA's Most Improved Player

Julius Randle

Julius Randle was voted the NBA's Most Improved Player on Tuesday after leading the New York Knicks to the playoffs in his best season.

Randle was a runaway winner after earning his first All-Star berth in his seventh NBA season, receiving 98 first-place votes from a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.

Randle averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists, ranking in the NBA's top 20 in all three categories, while playing an NBA-high 37.6 minutes.

Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic (who also did it this season) are the only other players to have a 24-10-6 season.

Randle earned 493 points in the voting to finish well ahead of Detroit's Jerami Grant, who earned the other two first-place votes and had 140 points. Michael Porter Jr. of Denver was third with 138 points.

ICE HOCKEY

Gretzky leaves Oilers, citing 'life changes'

Wayne Gretzky is leaving as vice-chairman of the Edmonton Oilers, citing "the pandemic and other life changes".

The 60-year-old hockey great announced the decision Tuesday on Twitter. He said he will not be able to "dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization".

The NHL's all-time leading scorer and a four-time Stanley Cup winner as a player with Edmonton, Gretzky returned to the Oilers in a front-office role in 2016.

According to the team's website, Gretzky's duties included working with the Oilers Entertainment Group on the commercial side of the business, as well as supporting development initiatives in the district where the Rogers Place arena is located.

The Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs Monday when the Winnipeg Jets completed a sweep of Edmonton in the first round.

Xinhua - Agencies