22 | Friday, March 27, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY SPORTS
MMA SOCCER Wu’s coronavirus battle continues
By SHI FUTIAN [email protected]
Wu Lei’s fight against the corona virus is not over yet. Representatives for the Team Chi na and Espanyol star, who was last week confirmed to have tested posi tive for COVID19, on Wednesday denied reports that he had retested negative. “Recently, a series of reports from Spanish media about Wu Lei, including the time of his coronavi rus diagnosis, symptoms, recovery process and negative test result have not been true,” Wu’s representatives said in a statement released on social media. Wu Lei of Espanyol “Wu is currently in a good condi tion, but is still in isolation and has not been tested again.” him and at that time we hadn’t met The statement added an update for months,” Zhong wrote. on Wu’s condition will be issued as “Then I went to Barcelona first soon as possible. looking to rent a house. After his The Chinese Football Association national team duty, he came to join confirmed Wu’s infection last week me. We stayed in a hotel for a while end, with the 28yearold reporting worrying what to eat every day. We Chinese MMA fighter Xiong Jingnan (left), pictured here during last October’s One Championship atomweight worldtitle bout against only mild symptoms and repeatedly didn’t know the language and were Angela Lee in Tokyo, has increased her online engagement with fans during the coronavirus pandemic by posting workout videos and telling fans “don’t worry”. not familiar with the environment. training tips on Weibo. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY The rumor mill, however, remains It took a month to rent a house. in overdrive with topics related to “After a summer vacation, both of the negativetest story viewed over us returned to Barcelona while the 100 million times on Weibo on kids stayed in China. He trained Wednesday night before the denial with the team for more than half a was issued. month while I was alone at the More than One way to entertain The statement from Wu’s repre house. That was a difficult time. sentatives was inevitably greeted With a strange language and envi with disappointment from fans, ronment, I didn’t want to walk Promotion’s behindcloseddoors sional sports to navigate through major MMA world title by stopping who are anxious to see the hotshot around and talk to anyone until I these challenging times, said Teh. Singapore’s Tiffany Teo in January return to peak health as soon as pos finally made some friends.” events tap into soaring online demand “We still have to serve our fans 2018, has been posting her workout sible. So far, Wu remains the only These days Zhong is feeling more with or without live events,” said videos and training tips on her Wei Chinese international to test posi at ease in Barcelona and the couple By SUN XIAOCHEN “We maintain our broadcast the Singaporean businessman, bo account since early February as tive for the coronavirus. have found their two children a new [email protected] assets so our fans can continue whose grandparents hailed from she prepares for her next title As the only Team China player school. She still spends a lot of time enjoying One Championship con Fujian province. defense at a potential closeddoor plying his trade in a top foreign at home taking care of the kids, with With the coronavirus pandemic tent,” Teh, who specifically covers One also hopes a new TV series event. league, his importance to the Wu busy training and playing for shutting down live sports around the Chinese market, told China — The Apprentice: ONE Champion With MMA punching its way national side is immense while he is Espanyol and China — at least prior the world, mixed martial arts pro Daily in a telephone interview on ship Edition — will help. into the sports mainstream in Chi also considered a role model for to the virus outbreak that is. motion the One Championship has Wednesday. The reality show, which was na, the popularity of the combat young domestic talent dreaming of “As long as I can return to Shang had its work cut out to keep fans “When business in general has launched last month under autho sport has enjoyed a recent surge a career abroad. hai, I’m thrilled. But each time I engaged during the lull in ring been affected by the virus situation, rization from the program’s origi thanks to Chinese strawweight After helping Shanghai SIPG to have to leave for Spain, I feel like cry action. something else like online enter nal copyright holder MGM fighter Zhang Weili’s successful the 2018 Chinese Super League title, ing. Gradually, I’ve got used to this However, after suspending all tainment is actually doing quite Television, will feature 16 contest defense of her 115pound Ultimate Wu’s move to Espanyol was testa life,” Zhong added. liveaudience shows on its 2020 well. ants selected from around the Fighting Championship title earli ment to his ambition levels. He “After he showed symptoms and calendar since late February, the “We would like to tap into that world in a highstakes game of er this month. could have settled for an easier life we prepared to have selfquaran Singaporebased promotion is tap demand by providing enough business competitions and physi Zhang’s hardfought splitdeci in the CSL but chose instead to raise tine, we give each other a big hug. It ping into a growing demand for online and TV content to fans, who cal challenges. sion victory over Joanna Jedr the bar and test himself in Spain. was a hug for all that we’ve been online sports content. are in desperate need for excite The winner will receive a zejczyk in Las Vegas went viral on Last year, he became the first Chi through over the past year. It’s also One was the first major MMA ment during this tough time when $250,000 job working as One Chinese social media, where fans nese to score in La Liga and this year been a great job by our kids, who promotion in the world to host live sports are disappearing.” chairman and CEO Chatri Sityod applauded the distinguished way found the net against the mighty didn’t know a single Spanish word events with no spectators in China’s growing appetite for tong’s protege in Singapore for a she conducted herself both in and Barcelona to boost his global profile when they arrived and now they can attendance with its 11bout “King of sports actions during the peak of year. out of the Octagon amid some further. talk fluently to their classmates.” the Jungle” card at the Singapore the outbreak in the country was Renowned martial artists, sports poorly judged virusrelated trash His achievements, though, have Having conquered many personal Indoor Stadium on Feb 28. highlighted by One Champion executives and celebrities from talk from the Polish challenger. not come without personal sacrifice, and professional challenges over the The organization will stage at ship’s impressive viewing figures China are expected to be involved Despite being in competition with his family initially finding it last few years, Wu must now con least four similar events in Singa on local television networks. in the production of the 13episode with UFC, One Championship has tough to adapt to the move. quer the coronavirus. pore, which will be broadcast to A live broadcast of a Feb 7 card series, which will run on streaming hailed Zhang’s win as a boost for Wu’s wife, Zhong Jiabei, for the “This is a tough moment for Wu over 150 countries on digital and from Jakarta on Beijing Television’s and TV platforms across Asia in the the entire sport. first time shared an insight into Lei. There can always be difficulties TV platforms, until the end of May sports channel was One’s most second half of this year. “I think every big win like this, be their new life on her husband’s per on your journey in a foreign league,” before reconsidering resuming live watched show on the platform, Some of the promotion’s high it Zhang or be it one of our athletes, sonal blog on Wednesday. She is cur former Manchester City defender shows. attracting even more TV viewers profile Chinese athletes, such as is good for the sport as a whole,” rently taking care of Wu during his and retired China international Sun Teh Hua Fung, group president than its last Chinese event in Bei women’s reigning strawweight said Teh. quarantine at home, while their Jihai wrote on Weibo. of One Championship, said the jing last November. world champion Xiong Jingnan, “It’s a good promotion for MMA children are reportedly temporarily “You have to believe in yourself behindcloseddoors events with Creating appealing online pro have also been increasing their in China because you have champi staying with Wu’s parents in Barce and get well as soon as possible. full TV coverage and livestreaming grams and encouraging athletes to social media presence to interact ons from promotions representing lona. When the epidemic ends and La feeds are a practical and safe way to stay connected with fans on social with fans over the past two months. both the East and the West in the “After he decided to make the Liga restarts, you will soar again on keep the show going. media are key strategies for profes Xiong, who won China’s first MMA community.” transfer, I came to Dubai to meet the pitch.”
Digest
SOCCER better than all of them,” he said. “If I Team China called up a 26man closed doors has been formally ruled take the disease seriously by avoid BASKETBALL Pele rates Ronaldo over have to be honest, well, I’m telling roster for the Dubai training camp, out. This year’s Wimbledon compe ing social contact. Mavs owner touting Messi as world’s best you the truth: my father and mother which began on March 3, in prepara tition is scheduled between June “It’s important to stay at home May return for NBA closed the factory. There will only tion for World Cup qualifiers. Wu Lei 29July 12. Earlier this month, the and take care. This is a serious ill Brazilian ever be one Pele.” was exempt from the camp. The French Open was moved from May ness but it can be controlled with Dallas Maver great Pele has Pele is the only player to win three Espanyol striker is now recovering to September. everybody’s help,” he added. icks owner Mark described Cristi World Cups, and scored over 1,000 after contracting COVID19 in Spain. Cuban said he’s ano Ronaldo as goals in a professional career that Brazilian Wild urges OLYMPICS hopeful the NBA the world’s best spanned 22 years. TENNIS can resume active player, care after positive test IOC working toward playing games Wimbledon’s fate to JulyAugust Games rating the Portu Chinese squad tests Brazil’s Thi on TV, without gal and Juven be decided next week ago Wild has The International Olympic Com crowds, by May. tus forward Pele negative for COVID19 The All England Club said that it tested positive mittee (IOC) is working with sports “America Mark Cuban ahead of Barce All members of China’s men’s will decide wether to postpone or for the coronavi bodies to arrange a JulyAugust win needs sports lona’s Argentine squad have tested negative for COV cancel this year’s Wimbledon cham rus, less than a dow for the postponed Tokyo Olym right now. We star Lionel Messi. ID19 after returning home from a pionships next week after an emer month after pics in 2021 and hopes to confirm need something to cheer for. We But the 79yearold believes nei Dubai training camp, it was gency meeting. winning his first the schedule within a month, need something to get excited about. ther Ronaldo nor Messi are as good announced on Thursday. The club released a statement on ATP title. Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper reported We need a team to root for, and I as he was during a celebrated career “After the team arrived at Sanya Wednesday confirming that “it is The 20year Thiago Wild on Thursday. think the NBA can fill that need,” he with Santos, the New York Cosmos on Monday, the whole team had continuing a detailed evaluation of old said he is John Coates, the IOC’s coordi told Neil Cavuto of FOX Business on and Brazil. COVID19 tests, and were told they all scenarios for The Championships making a good nation commission chief for Wednesday. “Right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is were all negative by local health 2020, including postponement and recovery, having fallen ill with fever Tokyo, told the paper, the Games The NBA has indefinitely sus the best, because he is the most con authorities on Wednesday,” said a cancellation, as a result of the COV and flulike symptoms early last would have to be held between pended its regular season amid the sistent over the past 10 years, statement posted on Team China’s ID19 outbreak”. week. the tennis Grand Slams of Wim current pandemic, and at least 10 although Messi should not be forgot social media accounts. An emergency meeting is sched “Hey, guys, I just want to let you bledon, slated to end in midJuly, active players have tested positive ten,” Pele said in an interview on the The squad is currently observing a uled for next week and in prepara know that I’ve contracted the COV and the US Open, which starts in for the coronavirus. Pilhado YouTube channel. quarantine period at a hotel in San tion the club is “communicating ID19. I’ve been in selfisolation for late August. Cuban told the Dallas Morning The 79yearold also cited the Bra ya, Hainan province. closely with the LTA, and with the the past week and now I’m following “We want to more or less finalize News he thinks the NBA will be the zilian Ronaldo, Zico, Ronaldinho, “Since no one is infected with the ATP, WTA, ITF and the other Grand the doctor’s orders by taking care of the dates in four weeks’ time,” first professional league in the US to Franz Beckenbauer and Johan virus, our team will begin closed Slams”. myself,” Wild said in a video posted Coates said. bounce back. Cruyff in his list of alltime favorite door training under the guidance of The All England Club believes it on social media on Wednesday. Coates, who is also president of “Hopefully by the middle of May players. He did not mention former the local epidemic control depart has a very short window to stage the Wild became the youngest Bra the Australian Olympic Committee we’re starting to get back to normal Argentina forward Diego Maradona, ment on Thursday. To ensure the championships because of its grass zilian to win an ATP title when he (AOC), said the summer scheduling and the NBA is playing games, may widely regarded as Pele’s only rival safety of all team members, we will courts. “The nature of our surface clinched the Chile Open earlier would be dependent on avoiding be not with fans, but we’re playing for the title of the greatest player in conduct another coronavirus test suggests that postponement is not this month, aged 19 years and 257 clashes with the world champion games.” history. before the end of the 14day quaran without significant risk and difficul days. ships for swimming (July 16Aug 1) “There is only one king. Pele was tine,” added the statement. ty,” the club added. Playing behind The world No 114 urged people to and athletics (Aug 615). XINHUA — AGENCIES