Han Xu

Zhang Deshun

Cristian Garin

BASKETBALL

Han Xu helps Sichuan claim first WCBA title

Team China star center Han Xu scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help Sichuan Yuanda Merlot win its first-ever Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) title in Chengdu, Sichuan province on Sunday.

Sichuan edged defending champion Inner Mongolia Nongxin 83-82 in Game 3 of the Finals, winning the series 2-1.

Han Xu was awarded the Finals MVP.

Sichuan started the game aggressively, with Wang Siyu, Gao Song and Li Meng scoring in the paint.

The third quarter ended with both teams tied at 63 apiece.

In a fiercely contested final quarter, Inner Mongolia lost two key players, Zhang Ru and Huang Sijing, who were fouled out successively, and Sichuan took control.

Another of Team China's big stars, Li Meng, finished with a game-high 24 points for Sichuan.

"To win the championship, our entire team put in a lot of effort," said Han Xu, adding: "I will always treasure this championship, and we will continue to work hard."

SOCCER

China loses Under-20 Asian Cup quarterfinal

South Korea came from behind to beat China 3-1 after extra time in the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup quarterfinals in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Sunday.

By finishing as a semifinalist, South Korea qualified for the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup. The last time China played in the U20 World Cup was in 2005.

Mutalifu Yimingkari put China ahead in the 47th minute by finishing from a tight angle after a driving run into the box.

Fifteen minutes later, Kim Yonghak drew South Korea level through a penalty, which was awarded after Chinese defender Yang Minjie was judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.

Team China's stamina faded in extra time, with many players struggling with cramp. Goals from Sung Jin-young and Choi Seok-hyun sealed the 3-1 win for the Koreans.

It was the first time China has reached the tournament's knockout stage since 2014.

Madrid joins legal action against Barca

Real Madrid will side against Barcelona in the legal proceedings that the rival is facing over its payments of millions of euros over several years to a company that belonged to the vice-president of Spain's soccer refereeing committee, Madrid said Sunday after an urgent board meeting.

The decision came two days after prosecutors formally accused Barcelona of alleged corruption in sports, fraudulent management and falsification of mercantile documentation. An investigating judge will decide whether the accusations should lead to charges.

"Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost concern regarding the gravity of the facts and reiterates its confidence in the legal system," Madrid said in a statement after the board meeting. "The club has agreed that, in defense of its legitimate rights, it will appear at the trial when the judge opens it up to the affected parties."

It was the first time Madrid officially weighed in on the matter. Other clubs had already expressed their concerns over the Barcelona payments, as did the Spanish league and the Spanish soccer federation. The league also planned to take action against Barcelona in the legal proceedings.

RUNNING

Zhang Deshun clocks marathon PB in Japan

Zhang Deshun ran China's fastest women's marathon time in 11 years to finish fourth in 2 hours 24 minutes and 5 seconds at the Nagoya Women's Marathon in Japan on Sunday.

Zhang's personal best was the fastest time for Chinese female marathoners since the 2012 Chongqing Marathon when Wang Jiali won in 2:22:41 and Zhou Chunxiu clocked 2:23:42 in the same event.

The 27-year-old Zhang, who finished 11th at last year's World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, crossed the finish line behind Japan's Ayuko Suzuki and Honami Maeda, and winner Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya.

Former world champion Chepngetich, who clocked the second-fastest time in history of 2:14:18 at last year's Chicago Marathon, pulled away soon after the start and won in 2:18:08. Suzuki was second in 2:21:52 and Maeda was third in 2:22:32.

BADMINTON

Mixed pair Feng, Huang continue win streak

Chinese shuttlers Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping overwhelmed Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun of South Korea 21-4, 21-15 to claim the mixed doubles title at the 2023 BWF German Open in Mulheim an der Ruhr on Sunday.

Despite being paired together for less than a year, Olympic champion Huang and former world junior champion Feng delivered a solid performance to take their third title of the season.

"We are feeling really great about winning our third title. It's always interesting to discover our weaknesses and then overcome difficulties during a game. It's good to know how to improve ourselves," said Huang.

In the men's singles final, Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong, China edged China's Li Shifeng 20-22,21-18, 21-18 to claim his first title in three years.

Top-seeded Akane Yamaguchi of Japan defeated second seed An Se-young of South Korea 21-11, 21-14 to claim the women's singles title.

TENNIS

Qualifier Garin stuns Ruud at Indian Wells

Qualifier Cristian Garin of Chile shocked third seed Casper Ruud of Norway 6-4, 7-6 (2) at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California, on Sunday for his first win over a top-five player in nearly two years.

Garin, ranked No 97, had 39 winners while Ruud, ranked No 4, managed just 15 winners against 29 unforced errors.

"Casper is one of the players that I really admire," Garin said. "I'm so happy to be playing like that, being aggressive, going to the net. That's the way that I like to play and the only way that I have to beat these kinds of players."

The 26-year-old Garin improved to a 3-1 career record against Ruud, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, since they first met on tour in 2019. Garin will face 23rd seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16.