Digest

DIVING

Team China dominates Berlin World Cup meet

China finished with eight victories from nine events after adding two more golds on the final day of the FINA Diving World Cup in Berlin on Sunday.

Chang Yani, a bronze medalist at the world championships, beat reigning world champion Chen Yiwen in the women's 3m springboard final to give China its seventh gold medal in as many events.

Chang, who won with a personal best of 363.75 points, said: "I'm satisfied with the first three dives today, but two left me wanting more."

On battling her teammate Chen, Chang said: "We're very good friends. After a competition, we don't care who wins, so long as it's one of us."

In the men's 10m final, five of the 11 competitors were teenagers. World champion Yang Jian of China produced the two most difficult dives of the contest to win gold with 537.70 points. China's Yang Hao took silver (465.50); Brandon Loschiavo of the United States completed the podium with 429.95 points.

China did not compete in the mixed team event, which was won by the US, with Germany taking silver and Australia claiming bronze.

BADMINTON

Shi emotional after ending title drought

Shi Yuqi and He Bingjiao won the men's and women's singles titles as China won four out of five events at the Denmark Open on Sunday.

Having last won a title three years ago — at the Macao Open — Shi struggled to hold back his emotions after defeating Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia for his first HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750 title.

"I was so excited I was close to tears," Shi told a packed Jyske Bank Arena in Odense after his 21-18,16-21, 21-12 victory.

"It's been three years since I made a final so I'm pleased. My first big test was the world championships and playing Lee. In Denmark, I passed."

In the women's singles final, He defeated teammate and Olympic champion Chen Yufei for her third title of the year.

Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan overcame South Koreans Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee for their sixth women's doubles crown of the year. Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong toppled Chinese teammates Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping in the mixed doubles final.

TABLE TENNIS

Wang, Sun crowned at WTT Champions Macao

Chinese paddlers Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha topped the podium in the men's and women's singles events respectively at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions Macao 2022 on Sunday.

Wang, 22, triumphed against world No 1 Fan Zhendong in an enthralling men's singles final that to the seventh game — 11-5, 12-14,12-10, 8-11, 11-1, 9-11, 11-8.

"Today's match was really intense. I feel really lucky in Macao because I have achieved good results here," said Wang, who won the postponed WTT Champions Macao 2021 China Stars in January this year.

On the women's side, world No 1 Sun remained in charge throughout the final to take down compatriot Chen Xingtong 12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6,12-10 after a five-game battle. "We both played equally well today. Maybe I was a little luckier," Sun said.

SOCCER

Silky Barca dismantles Valverde's Athletic

Ousmane Dembele scored and laid on a hat-trick of assists as Barcelona ripped apart Athletic Bilbao in a 4-0 win in La Liga on Sunday to stay three points behind leader Real Madrid.

The French winger was at his thrilling best after being brought back into the side and challenged to make the difference by his coach Xavi Hernandez, ruining former Barca manager Ernesto Valverde's return to Camp Nou.

Dembele netted the opener and then created goals for Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski in the first half as Barcelona danced around Athletic.

Earlier, Antoine Griezmann hit a brace, including one goal direct from a corner, to earn Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win at Real Betis.

Nabil Fekir pulled a goal back for Betis in the 84th minute with a sublime freekick, creating a tense finale. However, Diego Simeone's side held out for the three points, moving third.

Conte claims Spurs can't stand schedule

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte complained his squad does not have the strength in depth to compete for the English Premier League title after Newcastle United's 2-1 victory on Sunday ended Spurs' perfect home record this season.

A second damaging defeat in five days for Conte's men leaves them five points adrift of leader Arsenal, having played a game more than the Gunners.

Newcastle moved into the top four and only two points behind third-placed Tottenham thanks to first-half goals from Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron.

"The squad doesn't allow losing four players in this moment," said Conte.

"The important teams that are going to fight to win, the title contenders, you see them when you play every three days because you need a deep squad and strong squad with quality. We have only just started our process.

"If we play one game every six or seven days, I think we can fight for something important.

"To play every three days, I think we have to be patient and not be disappointed too much."

Xinhua - Agencies