Digest

WINTER OLYMPICS

Sui, Han lead host's hopes in figure skating

Two-time world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong have been officially selected by Team China for next year's Winter Olympics.

Sui and Han will be joined by two-time Four Continents medalists Peng Cheng and Jin Yang in the pairs competition, while Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu will represent the host nation in the ice dance.

After competing in all six legs of the 2021 Figure Skating Grand Prix Series, Sui and Han claimed two gold medals; Peng and Jin bagged one silver, while Wang and Liu's best finish was fourth at the Italian stop.

The two men's and women's singles skaters will be decided following the completion of five trials slated to take place between Dec 16 and Jan 22, according to the National Winter Sports Administrative Center.

Two-time world championship bronze medalist Jin Boyang, veteran Yan Han and Chen Yudong are the candidates for the men's singles berth, while Chen Hongyi and naturalized skaters Zhu Yi and Ashley Lin will vie for the women's slot.

Tests carried out at Yanqing athlete village

Testing of accommodation, catering and medical services was carried out at Yanqing Olympic and Paralympic Village last weekend.

Located close to the National Sliding Center and National Alpine Skiing Center, the village features a fitness center, recreation center, bank, coffee shop and polyclinic. In addition, a licensed store sells a wide variety of Beijing 2022 merchandise.

Canteens will serve a menu totaling 678 dishes, with 200 of those available each day for athletes during the Games.

The village will start trial operations for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on Jan 23, and officially close on March 16. Over the next month, organizers plan to solve any issues that come to light to further improve the services.

MOTOR SPORTS

Zhou Guanyu ends F2 season on winning note

Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu signed off his 2021 Formula 2 campaign in style, speeding to a win and a second-place finish in the final round in Abu Dhabi.

Zhou, who will drive for Alfa Romeo in Formula 1 next season, finished third overall in the F2 championship.

The 22-year-old began the weekend at Yas Marina Circuit by finishing eighth in the first sprint race, before claiming his fourth win of the season with victory in the second sprint. He then rounded off the season with a solid second place in the feature race.

The Chinese driver also stood on top of the podium this year at races in Bahrain, Monaco and Silverstone.

This season's F2 title went to Australian rookie Oscar Piastri, with Russia's Robert Shwartzman second ahead of Zhou, who is the only driver in this year's F2 field to secure an F1 drive.

BASKETBALL

Zhou Qi lights up NBL game Down Under

China's Zhou Qi was named Player of the Game after leading the South East Melbourne Phoenix to a 94-86 victory over Melbourne United on Sunday.

Zhou finished with a game-high 22 points to help the Phoenix clinch its third win in a row in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL).

The 2.16-meter center, who left the Xinjiang Flying Tigers for the Phoenix in September, also contributed 10 rebounds and seven blocks in front of over 6,000 fans at the John Cain Arena.

"Zhou's inside presence at both ends was key to the Phoenix's victory," read a report on nbl.com.au.

"A fierce game and a victory for teamwork! Better and better in each match," Zhou wrote on Weibo.

GYMNASTICS

Nassar victims reach $380m settlement

Victims of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar have reached a $380-million settlement with USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic& Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and their insurers after a five-year legal battle, an attorney in the case said on Monday.

As part of the settlement, USA Gymnastics (USAG) and the USOPC also agreed to designate some of their board seats to survivors and to implement other new policies aimed at protecting athletes.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the settlement will cover claims brought by Olympic gold medalists including Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney.

SOCCER

United game off due to coronavirus outbreak

The English Premier League reported its highest weekly coronavirus infections as Manchester United's meeting with Brentford became the second match in three days to be postponed due to outbreaks.

There were 42 cases of COVID-19 in the week to Sunday after 3,805 players and club staff were tested, a jump on the 12 cases in the previous seven days of testing.

Some United players and staff returned positive tests following the 1-0 win at Norwich City on Saturday. The Premier League board accepted United's request to postpone Tuesday's match at Brentford in London less than 24 hours before kickoff.

The first game to be called off this season due to coronavirus cases was Tottenham's trip to Brighton last Sunday due to at least eight Spurs players contracting COVID-19.

Xinhua