DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Wednesday, September 23, 2020 | 19 SPORTS

Sea you later WINTER SPORTS Athletes off to battle during holiday period

By SUN XIAOCHEN ing season. Last month, the Interna­ [email protected] tional Skating Union canceled its first four speed skating World Cup With the COVID­19 pandemic legs and first two short­track meets casting a shadow over the 2020­21 on the 2020­21 circuit due to issues season, China’s winter sports gov­ around international travel. erning body is launching a series of However, the winter sports center internal test events to compensate confirmed to China Daily on Mon­ for the current lack of international day that organizers are still proceed­ competitions. ing with preparations for the short­ Usually a rest period for China’s track World Cup’s Beijing leg (Dec winter sports athletes, the upcom­ 18­20) and the ISU figure skating ing National Day holiday will this grand prix final (Dec 10­13) at the year instead offer the nation’s best refurbished Capital Gymnasium, skiers, snowboarders and curlers both of which are 2022 test events. the chance to do battle in a series of The local organizing committee domestic events, which will also in Chongqing also announced on Competitors in the China National Windsurfing Champions Tournament set sail in Binghai district, Weifang, Shandong province, on facilitate organizational prepara­ Monday that the Cup of China figure Monday. The event, featuring seven categories — Nacra17, men’s 49er, women’s 49erFX, men’s and women’s IQ Foil and men’s and wom­ tions for the 2022 Beijing Olympics. skating grand prix will be staged in en’s hydrofoil kite — attracted over 170 athletes from Shandong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian and Guangdong. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY From Oct 1­13, all available the southwestern municipality as national team athletes in eight scheduled from Nov 6­8. As per an sports — curling, freestyle skiing ISU guideline, these events are aerials, mogul, cross­country skiing, expected to be held as domestic BOXING snowboarding and freeski big air, trials without overseas athletes. ski jumping and Nordic combined Meanwhile, Chinese athletes have — will compete at events staged to pledged to make the last winter international standards in five loca­ before the Olympic season count. Zhang lands knockout Matchroom deal tions — Beijing, Qinhuangdao in “With or without the 500­day Hebei province, Chengdu and two countdown as a reminder, we do our venues in Jilin province — accord­ best in training every day and work By MURRAY GREIG world aware that a Chinese heavy­ ing to the National Winter Sports as hard as we can in every session,” [email protected] weight is coming to do damage. I Administrative Center. Yu Baiwei, captain of China’s nation­ have been preparing and training With strict virus­control proto­ al women’s team, said in The world’s biggest boxing pro­ hard for whoever they put in front cols in place, the series will serve as a CCTV interview aired on Monday. motion has added China’s biggest of me. I’m here to make my pres­ a timely evaluation for athletes after “At the end of the day, if we give all fighter to its stable. ence felt.” extended training programs behind we have in training, I believe the Britain’s Matchroom Boxing, Hearn hailed Zhang, aka ‘Big closed doors amid the pandemic. result will take care of itself.” headed by the inimitable Eddie Bang’, as a top­class addition to “The biggest challenge for ath­ The holiday­period domestic Hearn, has signed an exclusive deal Matchroom’s roster. letes is that they’ve been training events will be screened by CCTV, with unbeaten Zhang “The heavyweight scene couldn’t and training during the pandemic regional TV networks and online Zhilei from Zhoukou, Henan prov­ be any hotter right now, so this is yet without any official competi­ broadcasters. ince, and is in negotiations to have the perfect time for Zhilei to get tions to test if they are working in The competitions will showcase the 6­foot­6, 260­pound (1.98­me­ back into action and throw his the right direction,” Sun Yuanfu, a China’s cutting­edge, open­all­year ter, 118­kilogram) southpaw return name into the mix,” said Hearn. deputy director of the winter sports training facilities, such as dry­snow to the ring as soon as November. “He is ready to take on all­comers center, said at the launch of the ramps and a deep landing pool for Zhang (21­0, 16 KOs) won a silver as he aims for his 22nd win in events on Monday. aerial skiers, grass slopes for ski medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics November. The next step for Chi­ “Through these events, we are try­ jumpers and an air­conditioned and dropped a close decision to na’s ‘Big Bang’ will then be to face ing to set up a stage for them to have indoor skiing tunnel. gold medalist of Zhang Zhilei has signed with world champion Anthony Joshua’s his fellow top­class contenders and their hard work gauged and moni­ “These events will make up for Britain at the 2012 London Games. promoter, Matchroom Boxing. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY position himself for a world­title tored while putting on a show for the lack of real competition tests for Joshua (23­1, 21 KOs), who cur­ shot.” winter sports fans starved of action our athletes, demonstrate our latest rently holds the IBF, WBA and Terry Lane, Zhang’s primary during the sports shutdown.” efforts to prepare for the Games and WBO titles, is now Zhang’s stable­ in Monaco. and best heavyweight coming out of adviser from Lane Brothers Boxing With just under 500 days to go provide sports fans a thrilling treat mate at Matchroom, based near The 37­year­old Chinese brawler China. in New Jersey, believes it’s only a before the 2022 Olympics open in during the holidays,” said Ding London. is now ranked No 11 in the world by “I just need an opportunity to matter of time before a world­title Beijing and co­host Zhangjiakou, Dong, executive deputy director of In September 2018, Zhang the WBO and No 12 by the IBF. He’s become the best in the world, challenge is on the horizon. Hebei province, China’s ambition to the winter sports center. knocked out American Don Hay­ currently training in New Jersey. which I strongly believe that “Zhilei is a world­class heavy­ deliver its biggest gold haul at the A series of grassroots promotions nesworth in , Hunan “I’m very happy to enter into an Matchroom is able to provide. With weight and Matchroom is one of home Games has been hamstrung will also be staged to increase public province, to retain the WBO Ori­ agreement with Matchroom,” each of us focused on our part, I the world’s premier promoters. It’s by the cancellation and postpone­ participation and awareness of win­ ental title. In his most recent Zhang told BoxingNews24 through wish for a happy and successful a natural fit that puts Zhilei in the ment of several buildup events last ter sports. They include 17 roller­ski­ outing, last November, he won a an interpreter on the weekend. future together. mix among boxing’s top big men,” winter. ing amateur races and online pro­ lopsided decision over Ukraine’s “They are one of the best promoters “It’s always been a dream of mine said Lane. “We are extremely excit­ The impact of the COVID­19 crisis am contests in curling and cross­ world­ranked in the world, and I am the biggest to chase greatness and make the ed about the partnership.” continues to be felt for the upcom­ country skiing.

Digest

ICE HOCKEY Series team that will feature Bubba on Sunday. half after They were key to Croatia reaching search on Wednesday in Meribel, in Draisaitl makes MVP Wallace as its driver, the trio said on “I did expe­ Ismael Benna­ the 2018 World Cup final where it the Savoie region, at the team hotel. history for Germany Monday. rience mental­ cer was lost 4­2 to France. Rakitic scored the Jordan, a six­time NBA champion, ly some kind of brought down decisive penalty in shootouts to beat DRAGON BOAT Edmonton will serve as principal owner of the ups and downs on the edge of Denmark and host Russia in the BYD makes a splash Oilers forward team, with Hamlin a minority part­ in the first four the area by first two knockout rounds. ner while he continues to drive for to five days aft­ Bologna “Saying goodbye to the Croatian with high­tech design won the NHL Joe Gibbs Racing. er (the US defender Ric­ national team is the most difficult MVP award on Wallace, the only black driver at Open default) Novak Djokovic cardo Orsolini. Zlatan decision in my career,” said Rakitic, Monday after NASCAR’s top level, was thrust into happened. I Ibrahimovic, Ibrahimovic who left Barcelona for Sevilla this leading the the spotlight this year when his calls was in shock,” who turns 39 summer. league in for NASCAR to ban the Confederate Djokovic said. “But I moved on and on Oct 3, also had chances for a hat­ Born in Switzerland, Rakitic start­ scoring. flag — which many Americans see as really I never had an issue in my life trick as Milan looks to build on its ed his career at Basel and represent­ Draisaitl is Leon Draisaitl a symbol of oppression — at all to move on from something. strong finish to last season. ed Swiss national youth teams the first Ger­ events was ultimately adopted. Regardless how difficult it is I try to “If I was 20 years old, I would before opting to switch to his par­ Chinese automobile maker BYD man player to The 26­year­old Wallace was later take the next day and hope for the have scored two more goals, but ents’ home nation. joined in hands with the Chinese win the Hart Trophy. The league thought to have been a victim of a best and move on.” luckily I’m 39. I’m like Benjamin Canoe Association to launch a high announced its award winners Tues­ racially motivated hate crime when Djokovic improved to 31­1 this Button, I was born old and I will die CYCLING tech­enhanced dragon boat on Mon­ day night prior to the Tampa Bay a noose was found in his garage. year — with his only loss against young,” said Ibrahimovic, referenc­ Doping probe launched day in Beijing as part of efforts to Lightning’s 3­2 series­tying win over However, an FBI investigation con­ Pablo Carreno Busta in the fourth ing the 2009 Oscar­winning movie. earn the sport an Olympic spot. the in Game 2 of the cluded with no charges being filed. round of the US Open. That was “But joking apart, we are doing into French Tour team Dragon boat racing, which was an Final in Edmonton. The name, car number, manufac­ when Djokovic unintentionally hit a well and we are still not at our best. French judicial authorities have official sport at the 2018 Asian The 24­year­old Draisaitl had 110 turer, sponsors and other details for line judge in the throat with a ball in It was important to start well, the opened a preliminary investigation Games, will be a demonstration points in 71 games for the Oilers. He the new team, which will start rac­ a fit of anger — resulting in him aim is to do better than last year.” into suspected doping during the event at the postponed 2021 Tokyo also won the Award as ing in the 2021 season, will be being thrown out. Tour de France targeting the Arkea­ Olympics. most outstanding player decided by announced at a future date. Rakitic calls time on Samsic team, the French outfit con­ BYD’s new sleekly designed members of the NHLPA. firmed on Monday. 10­man dragon boat will be show­ SOCCER international career Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck TENNIS ‘Benjamin Button’ Ibra Following reports in the French cased to the world at next year’s won the as top goal­ Triumphant Djokovic Ivan Rakitic press that two persons close to the Tokyo Games, and China hopes it tender, Nashville’s Roman Josi got forever young for Milan has decided to squad led by Colombian rider Nairo will help attract more nations to get the Norris Trophy as the best declares: I’ve moved on Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice end his inter­ Quintana — a former Giro d’Italia involved and aid the sport’s Olympic defenseman, and Colorado’s Cale Fifteen days after he was default­ to help AC Milan beat Bologna 2­0 national and Spanish Vuelta champion — push. Makar won the Calder Trophy as ed from the US Open, Novak Djok­ in Serie A on Monday and keep the career, Croa­ were being held for questioning, “Dragon boat racing is a tradition­ rookie of the year. ovic had plenty to celebrate on Rossoneri’s recently renewed opti­ tia’s soccer fed­ cycling governing body the UCI later al sport in China and has a history of Monday. mism alive at the start of the new eration said said it had been in touch with a spe­ about 2,000 years,” said former two­ MOTOR RACING Djokovic beat Diego Schwartzman season. Monday. cial public­health unit (OCLAESP) time Olympic canoeing champion NBA legend Jordan 7­5, 6­3 to win his fifth Italian Open Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock The 32­year­ as part of the operation. Meng Guanliang. forms NASCAR team title; he passed childhood idol Pete 10 minutes before halftime with a old Rakitic Ivan Rakitic A day after the end of the Tour in “If it is eventually included in the Sampras for the second­most weeks powerful header from a Theo played 106 Paris, Arkea­Samsic said that the Olympics, more people will know Basketball great Michael Jordan at No 1 with 287 — trailing only Rog­ Hernandez cross. times for his country in a storied team itself, the manager and staff about China and feel Chinese cul­ and three­time Daytona 500 winner er Federer’s 310 weeks in the top spot The veteran Swedish forward midfield partnership with Luka have not been accused of wrongdo­ ture through the sport.” Denny Hamlin have partnered to — and he reasserted his dominance doubled his tally from the penalty Modric that lasted for more than a ing after sports newspaper L’Equipe form a new single­car NASCAR Cup before the French Open which starts spot five minutes into the second decade. said police from the OCLAESP led a XINHUA — AGENCIES