IN BRIEF (Page 22)
TENNIS
Injured Zheng Jie pulls out of Wimbledon
Chinese doubles ace Zheng Jie has pulled out of this year's Wimbledon Open due to a left ankle injury.
Zheng, who won the doubles title with compatriot Yan Zi at the All England club last year, has been struggling with an ankle problem this year and was knocked out in the first round of the French Open in both singles and doubles events.
Zheng is scheduled to return to China next week and has yet to decide whether to have surgery ahead of the hardcourt season in North America next month.
Zheng's teamate Pang Shuai will go straight into the main draw after missing the French Open with a similar ankle injury.
The 21-year-old Peng made the second round in her first two Roland Garros visits over the past two years. She hasimproved her rankings from No 64 to 39 since teaming up with Chinese-American Michael Chang earlier this year.
SOCCER
Shenhua crowned at A3 Champions Cup
JINAN, Shandong Province: Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua claimed the A3 Champions Cup title on goal difference advantage on Wednesday as Shandong Luneng, also from China, were stunned by Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma from South Korea 2-1.
It was the first time for a Chinese team to win A3 Champions Cup. China's previous best result was the runner-up achieved by Dalian Shide in 2003.
Shanghai Shenhua performed aggressively from their first match in the regional tournament. They whitewashed Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 3-0 but were beaten 1-0 by Shandong Luneng. Shenhua trounced Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan 3-1 on Wednesday before Luneng's match against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.
Luneng, who beat Urawa Red Diamonds 4-3, needed only a tie with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma to step on the top podium but had to settle for second place with a surprising defeat.
Miscellaneous
Changchun to host hot-air ballooning event
The China Hot-air Balloon Masters will be held in July in Changchun, Jilin Province.
The event from July 8 to 12, organized by the Aeronautics, Radio, Orienteering and Model Sports Administrative Center of China, the Jilin Tourism Bureau and the Changchun People's Government, will attract 70 hot-air balloon enthusiasts piloting 35 balloons. The Aero Sports Federation of China is reponsible for choosing the best pilots for the event.
As part of the inaugural Changchun Summer Festival, the competition will feature a hot-air balloon wedding ceremony.
(China Daily 06/15/2007 page22)
