Digest

BASKETBALL

China's 3x3 hoopsters win first Asia Cup title

China's national women's team won its first FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup title by defeating defending champion Australia 14-10 in Sunday's final in Singapore.

Having finished third in 2017 and being runner-up in 2018, China's breakthrough comes in the fifth edition of the tournament, which had not been held since 2019.

China also overcame Thailand and Japan en route to the title, with veteran guard Wang Lili named MVP of the tournament.

Indonesia outscored Japan 21-17 to take the bronze medal.

On the men's side, China outplayed South Korea 21-13 to reach the final four, but fell to eventual champion Australia 21-13 in the semifinals.

Australia achieved a three-peat by beating New Zealand 21-17 in the final.

China registered a nail-biting 20-18 victory over the Philippines to take the men's bronze again after doing so in 2019.

BADMINTON

Doubles delight for shuttlers in Malaysia

Chinese shuttlers claimed the women's and mixed doubles titles at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

China's women's doubles pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan stormed to a convincing 21-11, 21-12 victory over Japan's world No 3 duo Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. It was the Chinese pair's fourth title this season, making up for a disappointing quarterfinal exit at the Malaysia Open the previous week.

China's Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong defeated Indonesia's Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari 21-17, 21-12 in the mixed doubles final to claim their sixth title in a row. It was also a 30th consecutive victory for the world No 1 pair.

In women's singles, South Korea's An Se-young ended a seven-match losing streak against China's Chen Yufei, stunning the 24-year-old Olympic champion 21-17, 21-5 in just 38 minutes.

Indonesia's Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo beat Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong, China 22-20, 21-15 to claim the men's singles title while Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto beat Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan 21-12, 21-19 in an all-Indonesian men's doubles final.

SOCCER

Haaland tells City fans to expect goals, fun

Erling Haaland joined in the singing and chanting by Manchester City fans as the new signing was presented outside the stadium of the Premier League champion on Sunday.

It is a month since the Norway striker completed his move to City from Borussia Dortmund for 60 million euros ($61 million) to seal his return to England, the country of his birth.

Asked what he would bring to the Premier League, the 21-year-old Haaland said: "Hopefully some more quality with me as a striker. I want to have fun. When I have fun I score goals, I smile, I enjoy playing football, I smile a lot."

Haaland has scored 20 goals in 21 appearances for Norway and netted 86 times in 89 games in two and a half seasons with Dortmund. Before that, he was at Molde in Norway and then Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, where he initially grabbed the attention of Europe's major clubs thanks to his performances in the Champions League.

His father, Alf-Inge, played for and briefly captained City in the Premier League from 2000-03 and Erling supported the team as a kid, often going to Maine Road－the club's former home－with his mother to watch his father play.

BASEBALL

Ohtani named All-Star as pitcher, hitter again

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani has been named to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a pitcher and batter for the second consecutive season, MLB announced on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Japanese star, named the American League's Most Valuable Player last year, was the first player in All-Star history to be named to the contest as a pitcher and position player when it happened last year.

This season, Ohtani has smacked 19 home runs as a designated hitter, and as a right-hander on the mound has a 2.44 earned-run average in 14 pitching starts.

Ohtani was last year's All-Star Game starting and winning pitcher for the American League, as well as the team's leadoff batter as designated hitter.

Fans voted Ohtani into the game as a designated hitter, while MLB named pitchers and reserves for both the American and National League squads on Sunday.

This year's MLB All-Star Game will be played July 19 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

ICE HOCKEY

Avs hand new goalie Georgiev 3-year deal

Alexander Georgiev signed a three-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, completing the final step toward making him the defending Stanley Cup champions' starting goaltender in their title defense.

Georgiev's contract is worth $10.2 million and carries an annual salary cap hit of $3.4 million. He replaces Cup winner Darcy Kuemper and is expected to play in tandem with veteran backup Pavel Francouz next season.

Colorado acquired Georgiev from the New York Rangers on Thursday for third- and fifth-round picks this year and a third-rounder in 2023.

Asked Thursday night at the NHL draft if he expected Georgiev to start, general manager Joe Sakic replied: "We do, yeah. Yeah. That's why we did it."

He was expecting to get a contract done soon with Georgiev, who was set to be a restricted free agent.

Agencies