Digest

TABLE TENNIS

Wang Manyu makes history at WTT series

China's Wang Manyu became the first player to win a WTT Champions event when she clinched the women's singles title in Budapest on Saturday.

The world No 3, who has been hampered by a knee issue recently, defeated teammate and fourth-ranked Wang Yidi 4-2(11-9, 11-4, 9-11,11-7, 7-11, 11-7) in the final of the new elite series.

"Winning this tournament is a big boost to my confidence. Trailing so quickly in the first set had nothing to do with my injury. It was rather due to an aspect of my game, which is something I have to improve on as I tend to be slow getting into matches," said Wang Manyu.

"Every time we compete against our own teammates, we hope to learn from each other and push each other to new heights."

In the men's singles final, Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto fought back from three sets down to beat China's Lin Gaoyuan 3-11, 7-11, 12-14, 11-6,11-6, 13-11, 11-9.

SOCCER

Team China digs deep for draw with S. Korea

China drew 1-1 with South Korea in the women's EAFF E-1 Football Championship at Kashima Soccer Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.

Looking to avenge February's 3-2 defeat to China in the AFC Women's Asian Cup final, South Korea made its early pressure count in the 34th minute when Choe Yu-ri opened the scoring from inside the box.

China failed to register a shot on goal in the first half, however the introduction of star playmaker Wang Shuang in the 65th minute injected some much-needed craft into the Chinese attack.

Wang Shuang was making her first international appearance since injuring her ankle at the Asian Cup. Eleven minutes after her introduction, Wang Linlin equalized with a tap-in after latching onto a neat pass from Xiao Yuyi.

"The level of the two teams was close in today's game. I think our performance was OK," said Team China coach Shui Qingxia.

In the tournament's other match on Saturday, Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 4-1.

China next takes on Japan on Tuesday in a match that will decide the tournament winner.

Neymar wants PSG stay but unclear on future

Neymar said on Saturday that he wants to stay with Paris Saint-Germain and does not "need to prove "himself to anyone after five years with the French club.

The 30-year-old Brazilian said no one from PSG had spoken to him regarding his future but he wants to continue playing in the French capital alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

"I still want to stay here with the club," Neymar said after PSG's 3-0 win over J-League side Urawa Reds on the club's tour of Japan.

"So far the club hasn't said anything to me so I don't know what their plans are for me.

"I don't need to prove myself to anyone. I just need to play my football and I have to be happy playing football."

Neymar said he was feeling "fit "after coming on as a substitute with Messi to play the last 30 minutes of Saturday's game.

He said it was "too early to speak about" his impression of new coach Christophe Galtier, who arrived at PSG from Nice this summer.

BASKETBALL

Williams rewarded with long-term Suns deal

The Phoenix Suns agreed to a long-term contract extension with reigning NBA Coach of the Year Monty Williams, ESPN reported on Saturday.

The 50-year-old Williams had two seasons remaining on the original five-year contract he signed in May 2019.

He guided the Suns to the NBA Finals in 2020-21 and to a franchise-best 64-18 record in 2021-22.

Since inheriting a team that had finished 19-63, he has compiled a 149-78 record in three seasons in Phoenix.

The Suns had missed the playoffs in the nine straight seasons before Williams took over. He was 173-221 in five seasons as head coach of the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans from 2011-15.

BASEBALL

Yankees' King breaks elbow, out for season

New York Yankees reliever Michael King broke his right elbow as he delivered a pitch on Friday night and will miss the rest of the 2022 season, multiple outlets reported Saturday.

King sustained the injury on an 0-2 slider to Ramon Urias of the Baltimore Orioles. Based on his reaction, it was clear King knew the injury was significant.

After the game, which the Yankees won 7-6, manager Aaron Boone likely didn't know the full extent of the injury, other than it was serious.

"He's been one of the best pitchers in the league," Boone said. "I hope and pray the best for King."

Boone has employed King and Clay Holmes as a potent one-two punch out of the bullpen, the two handling the eighth and ninth innings.

Starter Jameson Taillon called the team's mood "somber" following the injury.

"He's a hard worker. I know he'll get back here and get back to the same spot he was in," Taillon said. "It's never easy seeing a guy walk off the field."

King, 27, is 6-3 with a career-best 2.29 ERA, one save and 16 holds in 34 relief appearances this season. He has struck out 66 batters and walked 16 in 51 innings.

Xinhua - Agencies