Digest

TABLE TENNIS

China wins big at WTT Star Contender

Chinese players won the men's and women's singles and women's doubles titles on the final day of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender in Budapest on Sunday.

In the women's singles final, China's Wang Yidi fought back from a game down to defeat compatriot Sun Yingsha 4-1.

In the men's singles final, Wang Chuqin overcame Truls Moregard of Sweden, also 4-1.

Sun and Wang Manyu cruised past Japan's Mima Ito and Hina Hayata 3-0 in the women's doubles final.

South Koreans Cho Dae-seong and Lee Sang-su, who had eliminated Ma Long and Wang Chuqin in the semifinals, dug deep for victory over another Chinese pair, Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan, 3-2 to claim the men's doubles title.

The elite action continues in the Hungarian capital from July 18-23 with the WTT Champions event.

BADMINTON

Shuttlers take 3 silvers at Singapore Open

Chinese players featured in three finals at the Singapore Open on Sunday but all ended up with silver medals.

Youngster Wang Zhiyi went down 2-1 to India's Pusarla V. Sindhu in the women's singles final.

"I was defeated quickly in our previous meeting, but this time there was some improvement if you just look at the process. So, now I'm looking forward to the next match against her," Wang said.

In the mixed doubles final, Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping lost 12-21, 17-21 to Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.

In the women's doubles final, Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu fell to Indonesia's Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti 21-14,21-17. It was the newly formed Chinese pair's third silver medal this season following their runner-up finishes at the All England Open and Malaysia Open.

Indonesia's Anthony Ainisuka Ginting defeated Kodai Naraoka of Japan 23-21, 21-17 in the men's singles final. Men's doubles gold went to Indonesia's Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin.

VOLLEYBALL

Egonu imperious as Italy romps to VNL title

Italy's Paola Egonu was named the Most Valuable Player of the women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2022 Finals after leading her team to its first VNL title with a 3-0 victory over Brazil in Ankara on Sunday.

The reigning European champion's 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 triumph consigned Brazil to a third consecutive VNL runner-up finish.

Star opposite Egonu finished as the Finals' top scorer with 83 points over three matches, 30 clear at the top of the standings. Her tally comprised 72 spikes, six blocks and five aces.

She was also the leading scorer in each of Italy's matches in the Turkish capital, contributing 36 points to the quarterfinal win over China, 26 to the semifinal victory over Turkey and 21 in the triumph over Brazil.

The 1.93-meter-tall opposite also topped the best attackers chart with a 47.06 percent success rate.

"I am super happy and proud of us, because it's our first time winning the VNL. Now we can finally go on vacation! I got the player award, but what's more important is that I am happy we work together as a team," said the 23-year-old.

BASEBALL

Red Sox pitcher Sale breaks pinkie finger

A fast glance at his finger told Red Sox lefty Chris Sale all he needed to know.

Broken pinkie on his pitching hand, damaged by a line drive. Another setback in an injury-plagued year for the Boston ace, his future for the rest of the season uncertain.

Sale screamed out in pain Sunday after being struck by Aaron Hicks'107-mph (172-kph) liner with two outs in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. The ball deflected into right field for an RBI single that gave New York a 3-0 lead.

"One look at this finger, I knew (it was broken) immediately," Sale said. "That feeling of just that kind of cold water rushing through your body when something like that happens. As soon as I hit the ground, I looked down, the finger is gone."

Sale immediately ran off the field, holding up his fractured finger. He was hurt on the final day of play before the All-Star break in a game Boston lost 13-2.

SOCCER

Iran reinstates Skocic six days after dismissal

The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) said on Sunday that Dragan Skocic has been reinstated as coach of its men's national team less than a week after the Croatian was fired.

On Monday, the official IRNA news agency said 53-year-old Skocic had lost his job just five months before the start of the World Cup in Qatar.

According to daily sports newspaper Khabar Varzeshi, the likes of ex-Iran captain and star striker Ali Daei refused a proposal to take over from Skocic.

"The Board of the Football Federation has once again emphasized on the all-round support of the technical staff of the national team, and based on this, the cooperation between the two sides will continue," FFIRI said.

Skocic was appointed in early February 2020 to replace Belgian Marc Wilmots, who left in December 2019, three matches into the second round of Asian World Cup qualifying, in a dispute with the federation after two consecutive defeats.

Skocic guided Iran to first place in its group in both that stage and the final one, to take Iran to its sixth World Cup. He won 15 of his 18 games in charge.

Agencies