Digest

ICE HOCKEY

China boosts promotion bid with Norway victory

Kong Minghui scored a brace as China overcame a slow start to beat Norway 5-3 in Group A of the Women's World Championship Division I in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Monday.

The tournament's six teams — also including Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Slovakia — are competing for promotion to the championship's top division.

The win moved China into a tie with Austria for top spot, both with 2-0 records, while Norway fell to 0-2 with the loss.

Norway opened the scoring through Emma Bergesen at 8:26 in the first period before Millie Sirum doubled the lead at 3:02 in the second period.

But the host then turned the tide with goals from Kang Mulan, Kong and Fang Xin.

Norway's Emilie Kruse leveled the score at 3-3 at the beginning of the third period, before Kong and Zhang Xifang found the net to seal the victory for China.

Also on Monday, Austria defeated Denmark 1-0 while the Netherlands saw off Slovakia 3-0. China faces Denmark on Wednesday.

TRACK AND FIELD

Zango leaps to history for Burkina Faso

Hugues Zango

Hugues Fabrice Zango gave Burkina Faso its first global athletics title when he won triple jump gold at the world championships in Budapest on Monday.

The 30-year-old won with a leap of 17.64 meters to improve on the silver he won at last year's worlds.

"Look at my big, big, big smiling mouth," he said. "It tells you everything. I had so many difficulties and doubts. I have been struggling a lot. I had to travel a very long way to get this gold medal.

"I promised to make history and I did it tonight. That is the first gold medal in men's triple jump, not only for my country, but for Africa as well.

"I cannot imagine the level of celebration in my country when I go back home but I'm going to start the celebrations in Budapest."

Zango, who won his country's first Olympic medal when he claimed bronze at the Tokyo Games, said he was proud to produce positive headlines for Burkina Faso which has been rocked by unrest in recent weeks.

SOCCER

Pulisic kicks off his Milan career in style

AC Milan's new signing Christian Pulisic sparkled as it started the Serie A season with a 2-0 win at Bologna on Monday thanks in large part to the American who got the visitor's second goal.

The forward had a great start in Italy after arriving from a disappointing spell at Chelsea, contributing to Olivier Giroud's early opener and then finding the net himself.

"I always knew Pulisic was a talent, this was never in doubt," Milan manager Stefano Pioli told DAZN. "In the phone call I had with him before he signed it was evident that he was bringing a lot of quality to the squad."

Pioli added that Milan, whose starting lineup included fellow new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, did not put on an entirely flawless performance.

"We need to work more to find a better balance, but those who have arrived certainly know how to play football and that is a good place to start from," Pioli said.

"We only had four friendlies and this first game of the season, so there's work to be done but we're on the right track."

Greenwood leaving MU over abuse allegations

Mason Greenwood

Manchester United and Mason Greenwood have mutually agreed for the forward to leave Old Trafford after he faced allegations of abuse involving a young woman, the club announced on Monday.

The 21-year-old forward has been suspended by the English Premier League giant since January 2022 over the allegations after images and videos were posted online.

Prosecutors said in February they were dropping charges, including attempted rape and sexual assault, against Greenwood, after key witnesses withdrew and new evidence came to light.

On Monday, the club said that after a six-month internal investigation into his conduct, it was releasing Greenwood so he could attempt to rebuild his career elsewhere.

The club said on Monday: "All those involved, including Mason, recognize the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.

"It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome."

TENNIS

Djokovic closes gap to Alcaraz at summit

Ahead of the draw for the US Open on Thursday, Novak Djokovic neared a return to world No 1 after outlasting Carlos Alcaraz to win the Cincinnati Open.

In his last warm-up event for the season's final major, Djokovic took some revenge on Sunday on the 20-year-old Spaniard who won their final at Wimbledon on July 17.

Djokovic fell a set behind but fought back to win 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) on his fifth match point and after 3 hours and 49 minutes of action.

The Serb cut Alcaraz's lead atop the rankings to 20 points, and will reclaim top spot if wins his first-round match at the US Open. Djokovic has not lost in the first round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.

Dane Holger Rune climbed to No 4 at the expense of Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, who dropped three places.

Alexander Zverev of Germany climbed five places to 12th after his run to the semifinals in Cincinnati.

Agencies