CHINA DAILY Tuesday, February 28, 2017 SPORTS 23

SOCCER WhyHainan?

WhyisBarcelonaputtinga Hainan getting a bit of Barcelona socceracademyinHainan? For starters, it’s an ideal site for winter training and La Liga giant, Mission Hills Group has good air quality. Ding Hui, director of the sports teaming up to build new academy authority of Hainan, said 14 clubs from home and abroad held winter training By XU JINGXI in Haikou term plans for the sport’s camps on the island over [email protected] development last year, setting the past several months. goals of 50 million people The provincial govern­ For years, millions of Chi­ playing soccer on a daily basis ment of Hainan has written nese soccer fans have dreamed by 2020, having a top­notch the sports industry into its of a homegrown Lionel Messi. national team by 2030 and 13th Five­Year Plan (2016­ A Barcelona­backed soccer growing into a global soccer 20) as one of its 12 key academy to be launched this power by 2050. industries. The government summer in Haikou, capital of China’s national men’s team is also encouraging private South China’s island province is currently ranked 86th in the investment in the develop­ of Hainan, might help make world. To make a great leap, ment of soccer­related that dream a reality. the central government is vig­ industries. The Spanish La Liga giant orously promoting soccer edu­ Soccer is popular on the and Mission Hills Group, cation on university campuses island, with an U12 girls known for its world­class golf and plans to have 50,000 soc­ team in Qiongzhong Li and resorts, have signed a partner­ cer­focused schools by 2025, Miao autonomous county ship to break ground on a joint­ the Ministry of Education said winning the championship venture soccer academy. It will last week. at the Gothia Cup in Swe­ have seven pitches and accom­ Foreign soccer clubs are also den in 2015 and 2016. modation for 1,000 boys and actively involved in China’s Besides the academy, a girls from six to 18 years of age. youth soccer education, with 7,000­square­meter “Bar­ The Haikou facility will be prestigious clubs like Barcelo­ celona Experience” center Barcelona’s 26th overseas na, Real Madrid, Arsenal and will also be opened in Mis­ academy, and for the first time AC Milan flocking to the coun­ sion Hills’ complex in Hai­ the club will dispatch its own try to open academies and kou, featuring exhibits and technical staff to directly man­ youth training camps in Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho, who serves as ambassador for his former club Barcelona, shakes hands with local kids during his visit to club merchandise. age it. recent years. Haikou, Hainan province, last week. Barcelona and the Mission Hills Group are working together to open a major soccer academy on the XUJINGXI “Playing a bigger role in this “I would take it as coopera­ island and set up a long­term plan to develop the sport at the grassroots level throughout China. YANG GUANYU / XINHUA academy reflects the size of tion rather than competition; importance that Barcelona it’s good to have so many peo­ puts on this project and helps ple engaging in youth soccer ensure that kids in Haikou can training, which will be of great receive the same training that help to increase our soccer lev­ Kids hold key to future success we use in La Masia,” said Bar­ el,” said Ken Chu, chairman celona president Josep Maria and chief executive officer of Bartomeu. Mission Hills Group. By XU JINGXI and “We are still observing and many people as possible and among youth, Founded in 1979, La Masia, Bartomeu singled out the CHEN XIANGFENG evaluating the level of young make everybody play football. “Japan waited for 20 years the club’s youth academy, has significance of the project. Chineseplayersandwilldesign The knowledge and engage­ before its youth training sys­ spawned dozens of star play­ “Our cooperation with Mis­ Pass the ball. Move forward. a training system specially for ment needs to raise up before tem bore fruit and helped the ers, including the three final­ sion Hills will be a long­term Take a pass. Dribble ... break them to provide comprehen­ we can scout talent,” said Toni national team get back to the ists for the 2010 Ballon d’Or: project that lasts for 10 years, through ... shoot ... goal! sive instruction in techniques Claveria, project director for top in Asia in the 1990s. China Messi,AndresIniestaandXavi. even 20 years, which is a big Twelve primary school kids and their understanding of the Asia and Oceania of FCBEsco­ is now planting the seeds for a La Masia is regarded as a difference from other football impressed a group of specta­ game,” said Lopez, who will la, the official soccer school of solid foundation for the rise of significant factor in Barcelo­ academies in China,”he said. (Barcelona) helps tors — including Brazilian star head the coaching team and Barcelona. its teams,”Ding said. “The Bar­ na’s European success as well “More and more European Ronaldinho — with a demon­ has vowed to take Chinese lan­ “What China’s youth train­ celona academy is a boost to as the Spanish national team’s players have come to play in ensure that kids in stration of classic Barcelona­ guage lessons. ing system needs most is the development of soccer in 2010 World Cup triumph. the Chinese Super League, but Haikou can receive style soccer during 3­on­3 The Barca academy in Hai­ time,” he said. “China is vigor­ Hainan and in China.” By building facilities up to by improving youth training, games on a small pitch at the kou will be a clone of La Masia ously developing football. This The nation has a promising the standards of La Masia and hopefully we can have more the same training Mission Hills golf complex in in terms of both facilities and is a good start, so we have future for its national soccer emphasizing the Barcelona homegrown talent playing in Haikou, Hainan Island. training philosophy. Besides come to join.” team, given the new genera­ training philosophy of pass­ the Super League and even that we use in La Pau Lopez, project director boarding students who aspire According to Ding Hui, tion of players on the youth and­move, the Haikou acade­ European leagues. of the Barcelona soccer acade­ to become professional play­ director of the provincial teams that have already deliv­ my will aim to replicate the “I’m sure we will see a grad­ Masia.” mythatwillopenlaterthisyear ers, the academy will also host sports authority of Hainan, ered impressive performances success of La Masia in China. uate from our Haikou acade­ in Haikou, ran with the young summer camps and weekend China’s chances of becoming a on the global stage, said Barce­ The Chinese Football Asso­ my playing for Barcelona in Josep Maria Bartomeu, players, barking out instruc­ courses. global soccer power depend lona president Josep Maria ciation issued mid­ and long­ the future.” Barcelona president tions in his limited Chinese. “Our first step is to touch as on the sport’s development Bartomeu.

GOLF

That is the biggest puzzle to Tiger poses a puzzle for Nicklaus me. I just don’t know where he

PALM BEACH GARDENS, ing an appearance in the NBC me. I just don’t know where he Woods canceled an inter­ is and where his mind is. I don’t know.” Florida — Jack Nicklaus said broadcast booth, Nicklaus was is and where his mind is. I view at Riviera, with his agent, Jack Nicklaus, on Tiger Woods’ current status he was “painting a picture” raving about the growing don’t know.” Mark Steinberg, saying doc­ whenhesuggestedafteraprac­ number of young players who Woods missed the cut at tors had advised Tiger to limit tice round with Tiger Woods at can win major champion­ Torrey Pines in his 2017 debut, all activities. same exact questions, it’ll be his room showing a timeline of following the US Open, his the 1996 Masters that the then ships. He said they learned to then flew halfway around the Nicklaus referenced a quote the same exact answers that Nicklaus achieving various 14th and last major. 20­year­old had the skill to win win because Woods no longer world to Dubai and withdrew from Steinberg that a media he gave before. And I think mileposts in golf, mostly as an A scandal in his personal life at least 10 green jackets. is dominant as he recovers with back spasms after a 77. conference would yield no from his standpoint, he’s tired amateur. unfolded a year later, followed On Sunday at the Honda from a litany of injuries. He withdrew from the Gen­ answers to his health. of answering them.” As a professional, Woods by more leg injuries and then Classic, Nicklaus referred to “Right now, I don’t know esis Open at Riviera, hosted by “I think he’s absolutely Nicklaus and Woods have was on pace to break Nicklaus’ three back surgeries. Woods as a “puzzle”. about Tiger,” Nicklaus said. his foundation, and this right,”Nicklaus said. long been linked, from the record 18 majors until his In an interview before mak­ “That is the biggest puzzle to week’s Honda Classic. “You’re going to ask him the time Woods posted a chart in fourth knee surgery in 2008 ASSOCIATEDPRESS

Scoreboard

ALPINE SKIING Indiana 30 29 .508 11 NY Rangers 62 40 20 2 82 206 164 (ENG)65­67­69 Man City 25 16 4 5 51 29 52 Genoa 26 6 8 12 28 41 26 Detroit 28 31 .475 13 NY Islanders 61 29 22 10 68 180 182 202 ­ Jacques Kruyswijk 63­70­69, James Morri­ Arsenal 25 15 5 5 54 28 50 Empoli 26 5 7 14 15 37 22 World Cup men’s super­G Milwaukee 26 31 .456 14 Philadelphia 61 28 26 7 63 157 187 son (ENG)68­68­66, Brandon Stone 70­65­67 Liverpool 25 14 7 4 54 30 49 Palermo 26 3 6 17 22 50 15 Results from Kvitfjell, Norway on Sunday: WESTERN New Jersey 61 25 25 11 61 142 176 203 ­ George Coetzee 66­72­65, Keenan Davidse Man Utd 25 13 9 3 38 21 48 Crotone 26 3 4 19 21 45 13 1. Peter Fill (ITA) 1:32.83 CONFERENCE Carolina 58 25 25 8 58 146 168 67­68­68, Paul Peterson (USA) 62­72­69, Aaron Rai Everton 26 12 8 6 42 27 44 Pescara 26 2 6 18 27 57 12 2. Hannes Reichelt (AUT) 1:32.93 Southwest WESTERN (ENG) 65­69­69 West Brom 26 11 7 8 36 32 40 3. Erik Guay (CAN) 1:33.06 204 ­ Louis de Jager 70­67­67, Romain Langasque Division CONFERENCE West Ham 26 9 6 11 35 44 33 Spanish La Liga 4. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) 1:33.19 (FRA) 65­71­68, Jaco Prinsloo 67­70­67, Sebastian W L Pct GB Central Division Stoke 26 8 8 10 30 40 32 Results on Saturday: 5. Beat Feuz (SUI) 1:33.20 Soderberg (SWE) 66­70­68 San Antonio 45 13 .776 — GP W L OT Pts GF GA Burnley 26 9 4 13 28 37 31 Espanyol 3 (Caicedo 17, Jurado 46, Moreno 90+1) 6. Martin Cater (SLO) 1:33.27 Houston 42 18 .700 4 Minnesota 59 39 14 6 84 198 138 Watford 26 8 7 11 30 43 31 Osasuna 0 7. Kjetil Jansrud (NOR) 1:33.31 Honda LPGA Thailand Memphis 35 25 .583 11 Chicago 62 39 18 5 83 187 159 Southampton 25 8 6 11 28 31 30 Atletico Madrid 1 (Godin 70) Barcelona 2 (Rafinha 8. Bostjan Kline (SLO) 1:33.58 Leading top scores from the Honda LPGA Thai­ Dallas 23 35 .397 22 Nashville 62 31 22 9 71 183 173 Bournemouth 26 7 5 14 36 51 26 63, Messi 86) 9. Mauro Caviezel (SUI) 1:33.59 land at Pattaya’s Siam Country Club on Sunday: Swansea 26 7 3 16 32 57 24 Athletic Bilbao 3 (Susaeta 11, Lekue 33, San Jose 69) New Orleans 23 37 .383 23 St. Louis 61 31 25 5 67 172 177 266 ­ Amy Yang (KOR) 66­67­65­68 10. Manuel Osborne­Paradis (CAN) 1:33.64 Middlesbrough 26 4 10 12 19 28 22 Granada 1 (Carcela­Gonzalez 14) Northwest Winnipeg 63 28 29 6 62 184 199 271 ­ Ryu So­yeon (KOR) 69­66­68­68 World Cup super­G standings (after five of six events) Sporting Gijon 1 (Moi Gomez 49­pen) Celta Vigo 1 Division Dallas 62 24 28 10 58 173 201 273 ­ Kim Sei­young (KOR) 67­70­68­68 Crystal Palace 26 4 4 16 33 46 22 1. Kjetil Jansrud (NOR) 365 pts (winner of super­G (Aspas 75) W L Pct GB Colorado 60 17 40 3 37 121 199 275 ­ Lexi Thumpson (USA) 68­70­70­67; Chun Leicester 25 5 6 14 24 43 21 crystal globe), 2. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) Villarreal 2 (Trigueros 50, Bakambu 56) Real Madrid Utah 37 22 .627 — Pacific Division In­gee (KOR) 70­70­67­68; Danielle Kang (USA) Hull 26 5 6 15 23 50 21 239, 3. Hannes Reichelt (AUT) 203, 4. Dominik Paris 3 (Bale 64, Ronaldo 74­pen, Morata 83) GP W L OT Pts GF GA 68­69­70­68 Sunderland 26 5 4 17 24 48 19 (ITA) 197, 5. Peter Fill (ITA) 190 Oklahoma City 34 25 .576 3 San Jose 61 36 18 7 79 170 145 276 Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 69­69­67­71 World Cup overall standings (after 30 of 36 events) Denver 26 33 .441 11 P W D L Gf Ga Pts Edmonton 63 33 22 8 74 181 166 277 ­ Lydia Ko (NWZ) 70­71­68­68; Lee Mi­rim French Ligue 1 1.MarcelHirscher(AUT)1275pts,2.KjetilJansrud Portland 24 34 .414 12½ Real Madrid 23 17 4 2 60 22 55 Anaheim 63 32 21 10 74 162 161 (KOR) 71­66­72­68; Austin Ernst (USA) 71­68­69­ Results on Sunday: (NOR)871,3=.AlexisPinturault(FRA)843,3=.Henrik Minnesota 23 36 .390 14 Barcelona 24 16 6 2 65 20 54 Calgary 63 33 26 4 70 169 177 69; Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 69­69­68­71; Ariya Lyon 5 (Depay 43, 53, Balliu Campeny 74­og, Laca­ Kristoffersen(NOR)843,5.PeterFill(ITA)577,6.Alek­ Pacific Division Sevilla 24 16 4 4 48 29 52 Jutanugarn 66­68­72­71 zette 78, Valbuena 90+2) Metz 0 sanderAamodtKilde(NOR)570,7.FelixNeureuther W L Pct GB Los Angeles 61 30 27 4 64 150 151 Atletico Madrid 24 13 6 5 44 21 45 Saint­Etienne 0 Caen 1 (Rodelin 33) (GER)525,8.ManfredMoelgg(ITA)477,9.Dominik x­Golden State 49 9 .845 — Vancouver 61 26 29 6 58 143 176 Real Sociedad 24 14 2 8 37 32 44 MOTOR SPORTS Marseille1(Fanni70)ParisSaintGermain5(Mar­ Paris(ITA)473,10.HannesReichelt(AUT)456 LA Clippers 36 23 .610 13½ Arizona 61 22 32 7 51 148 196 Villarreal 24 11 9 4 32 18 39 quinhos6,Cavani16,Lucas50,Draxler61,Matuidi72) Sacramento 25 34 .424 24½ NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for over­ NASCAR Daytona 500 Eibar 24 11 5 8 39 31 38 LA Lakers 19 41 .317 31 BASKETBALL time loss. Results on Sunday At Daytona International German Bundesliga Athletic Bilbao 24 11 5 8 31 29 38 Phoenix 18 41 .305 31½ Espanyol 24 9 8 7 33 31 35 Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida (Lap length: Results on Sunday: Results of the National Basketball League games z­clinched division Celta Vigo 23 10 4 9 37 37 34 GOLF 2.5 miles): FC Ingolstadt 0 Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 on Sunday (home team in CAPS): Alaves 24 8 9 7 24 29 33 MILWAUKEE 100 Phoenix 96 US PGA Honda Classic 1. (8) Kurt Busch, Ford, 200. (Stindl 61, Hahn 90+1) ICE HOCKEY 2. (36) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 200. Las Palmas 24 7 7 10 32 36 28 San Antonio 119 LA LAKERS 98 Leading final­round scores on Sunday in the US Schalke 04 1 (Burgstaller 5) Hoffenheim 1 (Rudy 80) 3. (38) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 200. Valencia 24 7 5 12 34 43 26 Memphis 105 DENVER 98 Results of the National Hockey League games on PGA Honda Classic at par­70 PGA National in 4. (13) Aric Almirola, Ford, 200. Malaga 24 6 8 10 31 40 26 Utah 102 WASHINGTON 92 Sunday (home team in CAPS):. Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (USA unless noted): Italian Serie A 5. (33) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 200. Real Betis 23 6 6 11 23 37 24 Boston 104 DETROIT 98 268­ Rickie Fowler 66­66­65­71 Results on Sunday: Boston 6 DALLAS 3 6. (15) Joey Logano, Ford, 200. Leganes 24 5 6 13 20 39 21 TORONTO 112 Portland 106 272 ­ Morgan Hoffmann 68­67­69­68, Gary Wood­ Palermo 1 (Nestorovski 31­pen) Sampdoria 1 Calgary 3 CAROLINA 1 7. (26) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 200. Depor. La Coruna 23 4 7 12 26 39 19 OKLAHOMA CITY 118 New Orleans 110 (Quagliarella 90) Columbus 5 NY RANGERS 2 land 71­66­66­69 8. (30) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 200. Sporting Gijon 24 4 5 15 26 48 17 LA CLIPPERS 124 Charlotte 121 (OT) Chievo 2 (Birsa 12, Castro 61) Pescara 0 NASHVILLE 5 Edmonton 4 273 ­ Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 67­73­69­64, Billy 9. (25) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 200. Granada 24 3 7 14 22 52 16 CHICAGO 4 St. Louis 2 Horschel 70­68­67­68, Chad Collins 70­67­67­69, Crotone1(Stoian10)Cagliari2(Pedro32,Borriello69) 10. (11) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 200. Genoa 1 (Ntcham 90+4) Bologna 1 (Viviani 57) Osasuna 24 1 7 16 24 55 10 EASTERN Ottawa 2 FLORIDA 1 Wesley Bryan 64­67­72­70, Martin Kaymer (GER) 11. (39) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 200. CONFERENCE ARIZONA 3 Buffalo 2 65­70­68­70, Tyrrell Hatton 68­67­66­72 Lazio 1 (Immobile 72­pen) Udinese 0 12. (16) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 200. Sassuolo 0 AC Milan 1 (Bacca 22­pen) TENNIS Atlantic Division 274 ­ Graham DeLaet (CAN) 66­68­70­70 13. (35) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 200. 275 ­ Paul Casey (ENG) 68­70­67­70, Anirban Lahiri Inter Milan 1 (Icardi 81) Roma 3 (Nainggolan 12, 56, W L Pct GB EASTERN 14. (1) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 200. ATP Delray Beach Open (IND) 65­68­71­71, Sean O’Hair 66­72­65­72 Perotti 85­pen) Boston 38 21 .644 — CONFERENCE 15. (22) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 200 Result on Sunday (x denotes seed): 276 ­ Nick Watney 71­67­73­65, Adam Scott (AUS) Toronto 35 24 .593 3 Atlantic Division P W D L Gf Ga Pts Final: Jack Sock (USA x3) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x1) New York 24 35 .407 14 GP W L OT Pts GF GA 68­69­71­68, Brendan Steele 73­65­70­68, Graeme SOCCER walkover. McDowell (NIR) 72­67­68­69, Sergio Garcia (ESP) Juventus 26 22 0 4 55 17 66 Philadelphia 22 36 .379 15½ Montreal 62 33 21 8 74 172 160 Roma 26 19 2 5 57 23 59 Brooklyn 9 49 .155 28½ Ottawa 60 33 21 6 72 160 157 68­71­66­71, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 68­69­67­72, Dutch league ATP Marseille Open Jason Dufner 71­66­67­72 Results on Sunday: Napoli 26 16 6 4 60 29 54 Southeast Boston 62 32 24 6 70 172 165 Result on Sunday: 277 ­ J.J. Spaun 68­68­72­69, Louis Oosthuizen Go Ahead Eagles 1 Vitesse Arnhem 3 Atalanta 26 16 3 7 42 26 51 Division Toronto 61 28 20 13 69 189 182 Final: Jo­Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x2) bt Lucas Pouille (RSA) 70­70­68­69, Scott Stallings 67­68­71­71, AZ Alkmaar 1 FC Zwolle 1 Lazio 26 15 5 6 45 29 50 W L Pct GB Florida 61 28 23 10 66 155 172 (FRA x4) 6­4, 6­4. Lucas Glover 69­69­68­71, Jimmy Walker 70­69­ Feyenoord 2 PSV Eindhoven 1 Inter Milan 26 15 3 8 41 27 48 Washington 34 23 .596 — Tampa Bay 60 27 25 8 62 166 170 65­73, Brandon Hagy 67­73­64­73 Ajax 4 Heracles 1 AC Milan 26 14 5 7 37 29 47 WTABudapest Open Atlanta 32 26 .552 2½ Buffalo 62 26 26 10 62 152 176 Fiorentina 25 11 7 7 42 35 40 Miami 27 32 .458 8 Detroit 60 24 26 10 58 150 178 Result on Sunday: English Premier League Torino 25 9 8 8 46 40 35 Final: Timea Babos (HUN x1) bt Lucie Safarova Charlotte 25 34 .424 10 Metropolitan Joburg Open Leading final round scores from the Joburg Open at Result on Sunday: Sampdoria 26 9 8 9 31 32 35 (CZE x2) 6­7 (4), 6­4, 6­3. Orlando 22 38 .367 13½ Division Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club Sun­ Tottenham 4 (Kane 14, 32, 37, Alli 45) Stoke 0 Chievo 26 10 5 11 28 34 35 Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA day. The tournament was reduced from 72 holes to Cagliari 26 9 4 13 35 52 31 ATP Rio Open W L Pct GB Washington 61 41 13 7 89 203 133 P W D L Gf Ga Pts 54 because of bad weather (RSA unless noted): Sassuolo 26 9 3 14 35 42 30 Result on Sunday: Cleveland 40 17 .702 — Pittsburgh 60 38 14 8 84 211 168 200 ­ Darren Fichardt 66­66­68 Chelsea 26 20 3 3 55 19 63 Udinese 26 8 6 12 28 35 29 Final: Dominic Thiem (AUT x2) bt Pablo Carreno Chicago 30 29 .508 11 Columbus 60 39 16 5 83 199 145 201 ­ Stuart Manley (WAL) 67­67­67, Paul Waring Tottenham 26 15 8 3 50 18 53 Bologna 26 7 7 12 24 39 28 (ESP x4) 7­5, 6­4