16 Wednesday, March 14, 2018 SPORTS CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

DIVING / SWIMMING TENNIS China craving new pool of superstars

World Series serves as showcase “Chen Aisen has had arm youngsters made stellar injuries, and that affected his debuts for China, including for next generation of champions performance. Yang Jian was in 14­year­old twins Zhang Jiaqi better condition throughout and Zhang Minjie, who won By SHI FUTIAN popularize the sport. winter training, but he still the 10m women’s synchro­ [email protected] “We have very good divers made some mistakes and nized event. in this generation and I hope could not stabilize the quality Zhang Jiaqi claimed her sec­ China’s diving chief has the media and fans will sup­ of his body movements. That ond title of the meet in the admitted that the sport port and follow them and was not normal for him.” 10m platform with 439.10 urgently needs another super­ encourage the public to love Chen, who won gold at the points to edge Rio Olympic star in order to boost its popu­ them.” 2016 Rio Olympics, was disap­ gold medalist Ren Qian, who larity. Yang Jian and Olympic pointed with his effort on Sun­ scored 432.30. The nation has been a domi­ champion Chen Aisen won day. He scored 529.05 points, “That was the highest score nant force in diving for dec­ gold and silver in the men’s 10.5 points behind Yang. of my career in this event, and ades, producing high­profile 10­meter platform at the World “I have not been in good I was trying to focus on each stars such as Guo Jingjing, Series, but Zhou said there is form recently, so the result dive during the competition. I Wu Minxia and Tian Liang. room for improvement. today was not that bad for me,” didn’t think too much about However, after those Olym­ “This was a test of our win­ said Chen. the points,” said Zhang, who pic and world champions ter training, and the overall “I have to work hard in shot to attention as a 13­year­ retired, Chinese diving has result turned out to be good,” training and try to go back to old by winning both the single been bereft of big­name said Zhou. my best level.” and synchronized 10m crowns crowd­pullers. “But in some events, like the Apart from established div­ at last year’s Chinese National A sparsely attended first leg men’s 10m platform, our div­ ers like Wang Han, Yang Jian Games. of the FINA Diving World ers were not good enough. and Shi Tingmao, many The World Series marked Series at the Water Cube in her first international meet. Beijing over the weekend was “Of course, I’m very happy testament to the waning inter­ now, but I should stay humble. est levels, even though Chi­ There is still a long way to go nese divers pocketed all 10 for me,” Zhang said. gold medals. Zhou was keen to put “We need to produce super­ Zhang’s victories into context, stars in this sport but it’s not given the absence of some of Serena Williams exits the court after losing 6­3, 6­4 to her sister Venus in their third­round match easy,” said Zhou Jihong, presi­ the foreign competitors. at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Monday. dent of the Chinese Swimming “We have many problems to KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/ GETTY IMAGES / AGENCE FRANCE­PRESSE Association and manager of solve in the future. In this Team China. World Series, it was clear that “Firstly, players must have some foreign divers were not the best performance in the at their best and many did not Venus wastes no time world. participate. “Secondly, they need a “This is only the first stop of chance and an environment in the World Series this year, and which they can become topical we will face much tougher and attract the spotlight. Zhang Jiaqi of China consults with her coach on her way to win­ tests in future competitions. in vanquishing Serena “I hope we will have super­ ning the women’s 10m platform at the FINA Diving World Series at The condition of foreign div­ stars very quickly and help the Water Cube in Beijing on Sunday. HE CHANGSHAN / XINHUA ers will improve.” INDIAN WELLS, Califor­ still didn’t smile. nia — One sister is rusty, just A stone­faced Serena exit­ beginning a comeback after ed the court to cheers, point­ having a baby. ing her right index finger in The other is rejuvenated at Missing shots that the air. Sun rising at the right moment 37, back in the world’s top 10. Serena was back on the WTA An unwanted rivalry with I never miss, and Tour for the first time since roots going back 20 years had ending a 14­month absence By SHI FUTIAN ming department. competition, this year’s cham­ will help us to accumulate the its latest chapter on Monday so close. At least during which she gave birth to [email protected] “Our champion should have pionships will launch a junior experience of hosting nation­ night at the BNP Paribas daughter Alexis and married an outstanding performance meet for young swimmers. al­level sports events before Open, with Venus Williams they’re in the mar­ Reddit co­founder Alexis Three­time Olympic gold this year.” “This year marks a reform of the 2019 China National beating sister Serena 6­3, 6­4 Ohanian, who sat courtside. medalist and nine­time world Sun, who won freestyle gold the Chinese Swimming Asso­ Youth Games,” said Zhao Xia­ in the third round for her first gin. I’m getting “It’s good that I don’t have champion Sun Yang will head­ in the 400m and 1500m at the ciation,” said Cheng. ochun, director of Shanxi win over her younger sibling there. It’s not to say that this is the best ten­ line the field at the April 13­18 2012 London Olympics and “Based on that reform, we Sports Bureau. since 2014. nis I have ever played and I Chinese National Swimming 200m at the 2016 Rio Games, will nurture more competition “We will introduce sports It was their earliest meet­ exactly where I lost,” Serena said. “My room Championships in Taiyuan, had a stunning performance for young swimmers to display culture exhibitions during ing since a 17­year­old Venus for improvement is incredi­ Shanxi province. at last year’s nationals, claim­ their skills on the internation­ the championships with the beat 16­year­old Serena in the want to be.” ble.” Announced by the General ing five titles. al stage and also focus on help of many new technolo­ second round of the 1998 Typically, the sisters Administration of Sport of “Sun is training in Sydney encouraging more young tal­ gies to display the charm of Australian Open. Serena Williams, wouldn’t meet until the later China (GASC) during a Mon­ and we have been communi­ ent to join the sport.” our outstanding swimmers They played on Monday after losing to sister Venus rounds of a tournament. But day media conference in Bei­ cating quite often,” said The national meet also and to show the unique char­ night for the first time since 36­year­old Serena was jing, the championships will Cheng. affords Shanxi province a acter of our province. last year’s Australian Open served very consistently. She unseeded in this event. Venus also function as a tryout for “Based on his current train­ chance to refine its sports “There will also be many final, when a pregnant Sere­ just did everything great.” is seeded eighth. the Asian Games in Indonesia ing status, everything is very development ahead of hosting interactive activities for spec­ na won her 23rd Grand Slam Venus raced out to leads of Serena won her first two from Aug 18­Sept 2. promising. I think he will have the 2019 China National Youth tators to let them be closer to title. 3­0 and 5­2 in the second set matches, while Venus “Sun’s overseas training is a good performance at this Games. the sport and the stars. “That’s going to be a huge before Serena fired wide to received a first­round bye and going pretty well,” said Cheng year’s championships.” “Hosting the national “This will be a swimming story, maybe the story of the set up her sister’s first match won her opening match. Hao, head of the GASC’s swim­ Along with the professional swimming championships extravaganza for everyone.” year,” men’s No 1 Roger Feder­ point. “I think she’s going to be er said of Serena’s comeback. But Serena cracked a back­ speeding back to the seedings “Hopefully, she decides to hand winner down the line and to winning tournaments SAILING play a lot and enjoy herself in for deuce. Venus’ forehand sooner than later,” Venus the process and get back to was long and she double­ said. who knows how high? It faulted the game away to The Indian Wells match almost doesn’t matter, but it make it 5­3. was 17 years in the making. Qingdao setting Clipper race pace would just be amazing to see Serena held to trail 5­4 The sisters were supposed her do it now.” with an ace and a clean win­ to play each other in the But this night belonged to ner. desert in 2001. A packed sta­ By XIE CHUANJIAO said some have shown the the program,” according to Venus. Venus faced two break dium awaited their semifinal in Qingdao, Shandong potential to be a skipper. Knox­Johnston. She closed out the 75­min­ points in the next game, but but shortly before the match [email protected] “But before they are ready to Qingdao is also a crucial ute match on her second got bailed out on Serena’s Venus withdrew with a right become a skipper, they firstly stopover for all Clipper crew match point when Serena’s consecutive forehand errors knee injury. Robin Knox­Johnston, need to work hard, receive members. forehand service return to get to deuce. Venus hung Serena went on to play Kim founder of the Clipper Round strict training and accumulate Knox­Johnston has wit­ sailed long. on from there to end their Clijsters in the final. Venus the World Yacht Race, is confi­ rich board experience,” Knox­ nessed the development of It was one of Serena’s 41 29th meeting. and her father, Richard, were dent China will one day have a Johnston said. yacht facilities and equipment unforced errors, including 17 “Missing shots that I never greeted with boos as they skipper in the race. He added that Clipper’s in the coastal city over the past on the forehand. miss, and so close,” Serena made their way to their seats, Since being launched in close cooperation with Qing­ 14 years. The race has also “I’m just lucky that I’ve said. “At least they’re in the with some fans believing 1996 as the largest amateur dao has helped popularize boosted boat manufacturing played more matches than margin. I’m getting there. It’s Richard was behind Venus’ yacht race in the world, John­ sailing in China. industries in Qingdao. her right now,” Venus said on not exactly where I want to be, withdrawal. ston said the race has helped Since 2005­06, the Qingdao According to Ji Gaoshang, court afterward. but I’ll get there eventually.” Richard Williams said he more than 5,000 people real­ government has sponsored a director of Qingdao Sports “She just came roaring Serena still owns a 17­12 heard racial slurs from the ize their sailing dreams — and yacht named after the city and Bureau, since the 2013­14 Clip­ back. I had chances for the advantage overall, although crowd, and Serena was booed 40 percent of them had no pre­ Robin Knox­Johnston it has been entered in seven per race, all yachts have been match to be over, but it Venus evened their WTA Tour throughout the final before vious racing experience. consecutive races. renewed as 70­foot craft and wasn’t.” head­to­head meetings at 7­7. she beat Clijsters in three sets “I hope the number rises to The government has been in are manufactured by Qingdao Venus broke Serena at love “I really abhor every time for her second title in the 10,000 over the next 10 years,” dence and foster strong char­ cooperation with the race Mazarin Yacht Co Ltd. in the sixth game for a 4­2 we play, but I do enjoy the desert. said Knox­Johnston as the 11 acters when they confront an committee to develop a pro­ “The journey of these boats lead in the first set. She battle when I’m out there,” After that, the sisters boy­ yachts participating in the environment of raw nature gram of “ambassador crew is equal to circumnavigating emphatically closed out the Serena said last weekend. cotted Indian Wells for 14 Asia­Pacific leg of this year’s during the race.” members”, which is designed the planet two­and­a­half 36­minute set with back­to­ “But afterwards I don’t like it years. Serena came back in race, which stopped over in Knox­Johnston, the first to both increase sailing partic­ times, a reflection of Qingdao’s back aces that clocked 108 as much.” 2015 only to withdraw with a Sanya, neared the finish in person to complete a solo non­ ipation and knowledge in manufacturing capabilities in mph and 120 mph. It was obvious at the net knee injury before her semifi­ Qingdao, Shandong province. stop circumnavigation of the Qingdao and to promote the high­end boats,” Ji added. “I definitely know her well, when they greeted each other nal, and Venus followed the “Clipper crew members globe, is pleased to see an city around the world. Boats are set to cross the fin­ but she definitely played a lit­ with a one­arm hug and nei­ next year. learn how to sail in a big increasing number of Chinese “To date, a total of 48 people ish line in Qingdao from tle bit better than she normal­ ther smiled. Venus did her ocean, develop their confi­ signing up for race crews and have Clipper experience under Thursday to Saturday. ly does,” Serena said. “She usual victory pirouette, but ASSOCIATED PRESS