Digest

BASKETBALL

China beats Australia to surge into semifinals

China continued its superb run at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup by defeating Australia to seal a spot in the semifinals.

Following an evenly contested first half, China turned up the dial from downtown during the final quarter to ease its way to an impressive 82-64 triumph in Amman on Wednesday.

The victory saw the Chinese finish atop Group B with six points to qualify for the last four.

Power forward Huang Sijing was China's top performer against the Aussies, notching 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Towering Han Xu also proved a real handful for the Australian defense, claiming 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.

Also in Group B, Chinese Taipei beat the Philippines 93-52.

The defeat was harsh on Sami Whitcomb, who shone for the Opals with 24 points, seven boards and five assists. Australia now faces neighbor New Zealand in a qualification playoff for the semifinals.

Japan finished first in Group A after beating South Korea 67-62 to directly reach the semifinals.

South Korea and Chinese Taipei will face off in another playoff to complete the semifinal lineup in the Jordanian capital.

New CBA season to tip off next month

The 2021-22 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season will open on Oct 16, the league's governing body announced on Wednesday.

Defending champions the Guangdong Southern Tigers will play the Shenzhen Aviators in the first game of the new campaign.

The 2021-22 CBA season features 20 teams, including newcomers the Ningbo Rockets. The three-stage regular season will incorporate 38 rounds of games.

The first stage of the regular season, totaling 13 rounds, will be played between Oct 16 and Nov 14 in Zhuji, Zhejiang province in a championship format similar to last season. With two venues hosting the action, spectators will be permitted entry to some of the matches during this stage.

Four foreign players can be registered for each team, and all four can be included in game-day squads.

Remaining matches of the regular season and the playoffs are subject to further notice.

The CBA All-Star Weekend is scheduled for March 26 and 27,2022.

The playoffs are scheduled to tip off on April 24, and will feature the top 12 teams from the regular season. The playoffs will conclude no later than May 20, according to the announcement.

BADMINTON

China reaches last eight at Sudirman Cup

Team China edged Thailand 3-2 on Wednesday in the third round of Group A matches to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Sudirman Cup in Finland.

World No 20 pair of He Jiting and Tan Qiang fell to a 21-11, 8-21, 11-21 defeat against Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren in the opening men's doubles rubber.

In the men's singles, Shi Yuqi lost to Kunlavut Vitidsarn 17-21, 17-21 in the first ever meeting between the two on the international stage. "I played well today but Vitidsarn did a better job. I did not know too much about him," admitted Shi.

Victories in the women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles rescued China, however.

Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei outplayed Busanan Ongbamrungphan to prevail 21-12, 21-10.

The world No 2 women's duo of Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan enjoyed an easy victory over Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, winning 21-4, 21-12.

Tokyo Olympic mixed doubles champions Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping secured China's triumph by smashing the world No 3 mixed pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachal 21-8, 21-15.

Xinhua