Digest

NATIONAL GAMES

Over 3,000 doping tests carried out

A record number of doping tests were conducted at China's 14th National Games, with a number of new measures adopted at the quadrennial multisport event, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) revealed on Monday.

"We expect to finish a total of 3,342 doping tests after the Games end," CHINADA chief Chen Zhiyu said on the closing day of the sports gala in Xi'an.

CHINADA had initially planned to conduct 3,295 doping tests, including 15 on horses, a 12 percent increase on the previous edition of the Games in Tianjin.

"As there were more records broken in the preliminary rounds than expected, the eventual number of tests will be larger than originally planned," he explained.

Chen said dry blood spots and tests to detect blood transfusions were used for the first time at the Games.

CHINADA also launched the Independent Observer program, which featured eight experts from areas such as sports, law, technology, and doping control.

BADMINTON

China whitewashes India in Sudirman Cup

China did not drop a single set in a 5-0 thrashing of India in the second round of the Sudirman Cup in Vantaa, Finland on Monday.

The men's doubles match involving Liu Cheng and Zhou Haodong was the only close affair, with the Chinese pair prevailing 22-20, 21-17 against Madathil Ramachandran Arjun and Dhruv Kapila.

In other matches in the mixed-team competition, Chinese shuttlers encountered barely any difficulties.

Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei smashed Aditi Bhatt 21-9, 21-8 in the women's singles. Shi Yuqi ramped past Sai Praneeth 21-10,21-10 in the men's singles, while Li Wenmei and Zheng Yu easily brushed aside Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy 21-16, 21-13 in the women's doubles.

In the mixed doubles, Du Yue and Feng Yanzhe were too strong for Srikanth Kidambi and Rutaparna Panda, winning 21-9, 21-9.

On Sunday, China blazed past host Finland 5-0 in the first round, when all matches were also settled in straight sets.

TENNIS

Clijsters comes up short in tour return

Kim Clijsters on Monday lost in her latest return to the WTA Tour, dropping a three-setter against Hsieh Su-wei in the first round of the Chicago Fall Tennis Classic.

It was Clijsters' first match since a first-round loss at the 2020 US Open a little more than a year ago. That was part of a 0-3 record last season after the former No 1-ranked player made a comeback that was interrupted by knee surgery in October and when she got COVID-19 this January.

Clijsters, a mother of three who wakes up at 5 am at her family's home in New Jersey to train, received a wild card for the Chicago tournament. But she was eliminated by Hsieh, an Australian Open quarterfinalist who closed out a 6-3, 5-7,6-3 victory in 2 hours, 18 minutes.

"Some good things, some bad things, and inconsistency," the 38-year-old Clijsters said. "But I think for me the most important thing is that, what I talked with my coach and my trainer about, my fitness coach, was physically being able to get through these matches without big concerns. That was the main goal.

"I came close today, but still have a good feeling about, you know I've made progression and I think that's the most important thing."

BASKETBALL

Porter agrees to 5-year extension with Nuggets

Sharpshooting forward Michael Porter Jr. has agreed to a five-year maximum extension with the Denver Nuggets that could be worth up to $207 million.

His agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Monday.

Porter's agreement would be worth at least $173 million over five years and could rise to the supermax level of $207 million over that span if he reaches certain criteria this season.

He's assured of making at least $29.8 million in 2022-23, a figure that would rise by being voted onto an All-NBA team or by winning the league's MVP award this season.

The 23-year-old Porter is coming off a season in which he averaged 19 points and 7.3 rebounds. He also led the Nuggets with 170 3-pointers. "He's put up incredible numbers for a guy that's only played two years in the NBA," coach Michael Malone said. "The sky is the limit."

LaMelo not getting a pass to wear No 1

NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball is pushing the NBA to allow him to switch his jersey number, but he's not had any success.

The Hornets point guard missed the deadline last year to submit a number change request to the league that would allow him to switch from the No 2 that he currently wears to the No 1 that he prefers. Malik Monk wore No 1 last year for the Hornets.

"Man, I feel No 1 is just me," the 20-year-old Ball said at the Hornets media day.

"And I just want to be me out there. Playing in No 2 just doesn't feel right. Last year was cool because my brother (Lonzo), I said I would be No 2 for him.... But (No 2) don't feel right."

CRICKET

England's Moeen calls time on Test career

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has retired from Test cricket and said he hopes his career can inspire other English Muslims to play the sport.

Moeen made his Test debut in 2014 against Sri Lanka and went on to represent England 64 times in the format. He took 195 wickets, including five five-wicket hauls and a hat-trick against South Africa in 2017, and scored five centuries.

Moeen lost his central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2019, which led him to focus on franchise cricket.

"I am 34 now and I want to play for as long as I can and I just want to enjoy my cricket," Moeen said on Monday. "Test cricket is amazing, when you're having a good day it's better than any other format by far, it's more rewarding and you feel like you've really earned it."

Xinhua - Agencies