Digest

ATHLETICS

China in line for bronze amid Ujah doping case

Chijindu Ujah

China's 4x100-meter relay team is almost certain to be awarded the bronze medal from the Tokyo Olympics after British sprinter Chijindu Ujah's B-sample from the Games tested positive for banned substances.

On Tuesday, the International Testing Agency (ITA) said that Ujah's B-sample analysis "confirms the initial A-sample result" and has referred the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division.

The 27-year-old Ujah ran the first leg of the Aug 6 relay final for Britain, which finished second behind Italy. He was already suspended after his A sample showed the "presence/use of a prohibited substance (Ostarine and S-23)". Both substances are used to build muscle.

If, as expected, Britain is disqualified, Canada would take silver, with the Chinese quartet of Tang Xingqiang, Xie Zhenye, Su Bingtian and Wu Zhiqiang promoted to the bronze-medal position.

Last month, Ujah insisted: "I am not a cheat and I have never and would never knowingly take a banned substance."

BASKETBALL

Olympic squad claims National Games title

China's Olympic squad romped to a 100-52 win over Jiangsu to bag the 14th National Games women's basketball championship in Xi'an on Tuesday.

Competing as the "United Team", the Chinese internationals dominated the game from the tip-off. Eleven players contributed to the scoreboard, with five hitting double figures. Han Xu led the team with 18 points and nine rebounds; Li Yueru scored 14.

The United Team dished out 23 assists compared to 13 for Jiangsu, which had 28 turnovers.

"We didn't have much time for rest after the Olympics in the lead-up to the National Games and the FIBA Women's Asia Cup later this month. We just competed against ourselves at the National Games, aiming to improve our offense and defense. I'm proud of my players," said Zheng Wei, head coach of the United Team.

"We aim to showcase our best level to attain the best result at the Asia Cup," she added.

Sun Li finished with a team-high 13 points for Jiangsu.

"We cherished this opportunity to play against the national team, and found they were much better than us in all aspects. Their defense posed us huge problems," said Jiangsu head coach Ding Tie.

SOCCER

Steel Roses appoint caretaker coach Shui

China's women's national team will compete at the National Games under the guidance of a caretaker head coach following the squad's humiliating campaign at the Tokyo Olympics.

The 'Steel Roses', who failed to emerge from their group at Tokyo 2020 after registering two heavy losses and a draw, has since been training in Liuba county, about 350 kilometers southwest of Xi'an, where the 14th National Games officially opened on Wednesday.

Shui Qingxia, head coach of Shanghai Women's club, is taking charge of the team in the absence of the incumbent Jia Xiuquan, who is widely expected to leave the post.

"I am only tasked with managing this team to compete at the National Games," said Shui, who added that she had no idea who will take over the post after the Games.

The Chinese Football Association has yet to make any statements on the matter.

Pele 'in good condition' after tumor surgery

Pele

Brazilian soccer legend Pele left the intensive care unit of a Sao Paulo hospital on Tuesday after undergoing surgery for a suspected colon tumor.

"The patient Edson Arantes do Nascimento is in good clinical condition and has left the intensive therapy unit. He will be recovering in a room," the Albert Einstein Hospital said in its latest medical bulletin.

"I continue every day happier, with a lot of disposition to play 90 minutes, plus extra time. We will be together soon!" Pele wrote on Instagram, thanking fans for "thousands of loving messages".

On Monday night one of his daughters, Kely Nascimento, gave an update on her father's health on social media, accompanied by a close-up photo of the smiling 80-year-old legend.

"He is doing well post surgery, he is not in pain and is in a good mood (annoyed that he can only eat jello but will persevere!)," Nascimento wrote.

"He will move into a regular room in the next day or two and then go home."

Her father "is strong and stubborn and with the support and care of the brilliant team at Einstein and all of the love, energy and light that the world is sending, he will get through this!" she wrote.

VOLLEYBALL

China's men floored by Australian comeback

China blew away a 2-0 lead and two match points as it was pipped 3-2 by Australia in its final Group C match at the Asian Men's Volleyball Championship in Chiba, Japan on Tuesday.

Australia, which finished second two years ago, got off to a flying start, building a 12-7 lead in the first set. But China managed to level the score before winning 27-25.

The Chinese side, which failed to qualify for Tokyo 2020, took the second set 25-20 before Australia launched its comeback and reeled off the next three sets－25-21, 24-22,15-12－for victory.

Edgar, who played for Beijing in the Chinese Volleyball League in 2015, scored a match-high 27 points. China captain Jiang Chuan notched 19 points.

"We have a very young team," said China head coach Wu Sheng. "This is the price we have to pay before maturing. With two match points in hand, we should have won very easily. However, the players succumbed to the pressure."

China will now have to beat Japan and Qatar to reach the semifinals.

TABLE TENNIS

Aruna hits all-time ranking high for Africa

Quadri Aruna

Nigeria's Quadri Aruna has become the first African player to break into the top 15 of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings.

Aruna's second-place finish in the men's singles at the Cameroon 2021 ITTF African Championships, saw him move up four places to 15.

The previously top-ranked African player was Omar Assar, who reached 16th place in 2018.

Aruna's undefeated streak came to an end in the final of the Cameroon event when he fell 4-1 to Assar.

Egypt's Dina Meshref, the bronze medalist in Cameroon and a six-time African champion, is the continent's highest-ranked female after climbing three places to 35th.

China's Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng remain at the summit of the men's and women's standings respectively.

Xinhua - Agencies