24 Tuesday, March 13, 2018 SPORTS CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

Digest TABLE TENNIS SWIMMING

TENNIS Sisterly synchronicity Qualifier gives Djokovic the boot By XINHUA in Paris lected 95.5000 points to win Japanese qualifier Taro the solo free. Daniel bounced five­time Twin sisters Wang Liuyi and Yelyzaveta Yakhno and Inui tournament champion Wang Qianyi from Shenzhen, Yukiko finished second and Novak Djokovic from the Guangdong province, claimed third respectively. Indian Wells Masters with a gold at the opening meet of the In duet mixed free final, hard­fought 7­6 (3), 4­6, 6­1 FINA Synchronized Swim­ Aleksandr Maltsev and Mayya victory on Sunday. ming World Series in Paris on Gurbanberdieva edged Italian It was another snag in Sunday. pair Manila Flamini and Gior­ the return for the 30­year­ The pair scored 92.5667 gio Minisini, who were old Djokovic who was play­ points to win the duet free crowned duet mixed technical ing in just his second event competition. champions a day earlier. of 2018. Anastasiya Savchuk and The Japanese duo of Abe He is making a cautious Yelyzaveta Yakhno from Atsushi and Adachi Yumi were return to the ATP Tour after Ukraine were second, 0.9667 third, with promising Chinese halting last season follow­ points behind. Bronze went to teenagers Zhang Yiyao and Shi ing Wimbledon, due to a Inui Yukiko and Nakamaki Haoyu last of the five teams. right elbow injury. Kanami from Japan (91.3000). Ukraine followed Russia Meanwhile, two­time Chinese pair Liu Jinhan and with three golds after adding Wimbledon champ Petra Liu Jintong finished sixth in another title in the highlights Kvitova had her 14­match the 29­strong field. routine with 91.6667 points to winning streak snapped at Russia won five of the 10 fend off France and Israel. Indian Wells later on Sun­ golds up for grabs. Svetlana The second meet of the day when she lost 6­2, 6­4 Kolesnishenko, who in 2017 FINA Synchronized Swim­ to world No 149 Amanda was named FINA’s top female ming World Series will run Anisimova. synchronized swimmer, col­ from April 20­22 in Beijing.

BASEBALL Arrieta set to CYCLING join Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are about to get more Fan Zhendong of China serves to Hugo Calderano en route to capturing the men’s singles final at the Qatar Open in Doha on Sunday. armed and dangerous. Fan, who also won the men’s doubles, beat the Brazilian 13­11, 12­10, 11­7, 11­7. XINHUA Two sources familiar with the decision told Asso­ ciated Press on Sunday that free­agent ace Jake Arrieta and the Phillies have agreed to a three­year deal worth $75 million. Fabulous Fan leads The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract is pending a physical. NBC Sports Philadelphia first reported the agreement. clean sweep in Qatar The 6­foot­4 right­hander Bike­sharing apps have exploded in China in recent years, with won the 2015 NL Cy Young increasing numbers of Chinese traveling to work on two wheels. Award with the Chicago China’s all­conquering paddlers (9­11, 11­5, 11­9, 13­11) against “In the third game, when PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Cubs and helped them win Japanese pair Jun Mizutani we were down 1­4, we tried to the World Series the next and Yuya Oshima. keep our self­belief and follow season. He was 14­10 with a dominate at World Tour event “We did not make any the tactics of the previous 3.53 ERA for the Cubs last changes to our tactics at the game.” year. By CHINA DAILY “Hugo has a very strong end of the fourth game; we Wang, one of China’s most Taking the brakes backhand, I had to change the just focused on every point,” exciting young talents, also MOTOR SPORTS China underlined its domi­ placement of the ball a great Xu said. reached the singles final but Harvick extends nance on the table by sweep­ deal,” said Fan. “We thought it was crucial lost to compatriot Liu. off public biking ISM win streak ing all four titles at the “In the first two games I to win this game because it A runner­up in Doha last Seamaster ITTF World Tour was too cautious, too passive. could affect our confidence. year, Wang raced into a two­ Kevin Harvick raced to Platinum Qatar Open in After winning the second Also we would have been in a game lead. But Liu, who was By CAO RUGE tracks, with bike­only lanes his third straight NASCAR Doha on Sunday. game I played in a more posi­ very dangerous situation; required to come through the Xinhua conspicuously lacking. Cup Series victory on Sun­ World No 2 Fan Zhendong tive manner.” who knows what might have qualifying draw, kept a cool In addition, professional day, holding off Kyle Busch led the charge by taking two The title was Fan’s 10th happened if there had been a head to claim the next four China’s love affair with cyclists are simply not revered for his record­extending titles, Liu Shiwen won the ITTF World Tour singles fifth game?” games and win her 12th sin­ cycling has been rekindled in among the sports­watching ninth triumph at ISM Race­ women’s final while Chen Ke crown in what is now 15 final Chen and Wang avenged gles gold medal on the tour recent years as a fresh wave of public in the same way that way. and Wang Manyu were appearance — but his first in their defeat in the season­ and her third in Qatar. bike mania sweeps the coun­ basketball stars, for example, Coming off victories in crowned women’s doubles Qatar. opening World Tour event in “I have played seven try. are. Atlanta and Las Vegas, champions. In both 2016 and 2017, he Budapest by defeating Chen matches in order to win this Millions of commuters The hazards of negotiating Harvick got in front of Top seed Fan eased to victo­ was runner­up to teammate Xingtong and Sun Yingsha in tournament, so I am very choose to travel to work on China’s car­congested roads Busch on the last series of ry in the men’s singles with a Ma Long. four games (8­11, 11­2, 11­4, happy to win here,” said Liu. two wheels, while bike­shar­ may also be a factor in pit stops on the mile oval. 13­11, 12­10, 11­7, 11­7 triumph When the new world rank­ 11­4) in the women’s doubles “I must express my grati­ ing apps have exploded in pop­ cycling’s low profile here. Peo­ Busch’s team had trouble over Brazil’s Hugo Calderano. ings are set next month, Fan final. tude to the tournament orga­ ularity, as witnessed by the ple won’t start taking up with the right rear tire on Calderano claimed several will top the list for the first “After our loss in Hungary, nizers and the great fans in throngs of hastily discarded cycling if they feel their safety his stop with 53 laps left, big­name scalps en route to time in his career. we changed tactics ... the Qatar; this is a magnificent bicycles that litter our cities’ and wellbeing will not be allowing Harvick — who the final, but 21­year­old Fan Fan teamed up with Xu Xin placement of the ball in the venue, and I’ll be back next sidewalks. respected. pitted three laps earlier — proved a step too far. to win the men’s doubles title first three attacks,” said Chen. year.” Many urban areas now Several steps can be taken to to slip ahead en route to his boast wide bike lanes and boost road cycling’s appeal. 40th Cup victory. some have even built dedicat­ Enforcing existing traffic Harvick, the first driver SOCCER ed elevated biking highways. laws and creating new regula­ to win three straight Cup It would not be unreasona­ tions to protect cyclists and to races since Joey Logano in ble to expect, therefore, that encourage more people to 2015, took the lead with 22 competitive cycling is also ditch their cars in favor of this laps remaining when Ryan New boys get Guo’an off the mark flourishing here, but the sport very green mode of transport Newman made his trip to remains alien to many Chi­ would help. the pits. Beijing Guo’an’s new sign­ the campaign as Diego Tar­ nese. Crucially, too, bike lanes ings Wei Shihao and Cedric delli and Graziano Pelle were “I work only two kilometers must be treated as such by BOXING Bakambu were both on target on target to secure a 2­0 victo­ from my apartment building, motorists, who often use them Garcia grabs in a 2­1 win at Jiangsu Suning ry over Chongqing Lifan. so biking is by far the easiest as a shortcut in heavy traffic. fourth crown as the capital club claimed its Hebei China Fortune’s Eze­ way to me to get to work. A bus City authorities should also first win of the Chinese Super quiel Lavezzi struck twice, or car would take much improve and expand the exist­ Mikey Garcia sent Sergey League season on Sunday. including the winner deep longer,” said one Beijing com­ ing biking infrastructure, Lipinets to the canvas for Guo’an bounced back from into added time, as Manuel muter, surnamed Huang. while parks should offer the first time in his career an opening­day loss to Shand­ Pellegrini’s side handed Guiz­ “It does help me to keep in cycling­only tracks. on Saturday as he seized the ong Luneng with new arrivals hou Hengfeng a 3­2 defeat, shape, but I see that as just an Finally, staging more annu­ Russian’s IBF super light­ Wei, Bakambu and Jonathan while Henan Jianye’s Orlando added benefit. It is not why I al races like the Tour of Guang­ weight world title with a Viera instrumental in the win Sa secured a 1­0 victory over choose to bike.” xi, which is a stop on the UCI 12­round unanimous deci­ for Roger Schmidt’s side. Tianjin Teda. One impediment to the World Tour, would make the sion in San Antonio, Texas. “We adjusted our lineup Guangzhou R&F’s Eran development of a competitive sport more visible to the gen­ Unbeaten Garcia, who and we benefitted from these Cedric Bakambu celebrates scoring his first goal for Beijing Zahavi took his tally to four cycling culture here is a lack of eral public. improved to 38­0 with 30 changes,” said Schmidt. Guo’an in Sunday’s Chinese Super League match at Jiangsu Sun­ goals in two games as the knockouts, has now won “We controlled the match ing in Nanjing. XIN LI / GETTY IMAGES Israeli’s side beat newly pro­ world titles in four weight at both ends. We need to take moted Dalian Yifang 2­0. classes. each game one by one, but for video assistant referee. Tuesday. Dalian’s high­profile sign­ By winning the 140­ now everything shows that Ji Xiang’s viciously “You can’t handle a tight ings Yannick Carrasco and pound title, he becomes the we are on the right track.” whipped freekick reduced the schedule where you play one Nicolas Gaitan are still look­ third fighter, along with China international Wei, arrears for Jiangsu but Bei­ game every three days,” said ing for their team’s first Manny Pacquiao and Juan signed from Portuguese club jing held on for the points. Pereira. “So for our next Asian points of the season. Manuel Marquez, to win Leixoes after spending last Vitor Pereira’s SIPG leads Champions League we will Defending champion world championships at season on loan with Shanghai the standings after Hulk and adjust our lineup. Guangzhou Evergrande 126, 130, 135 and 140 SIPG, put his side in front aft­ Lu Wenjun earned a 2­0 win “Tonight we used the same recovered from its opening pounds. er 22 minutes with a searing over city rivals Shanghai lineup as we did in the ACL loss to R&F to thrash Chang­ “It’s a great feeling,” said long­range drive that found Shenhua. and we are now on the right chun Yatai 5­0 thanks to a Garcia, who called it “a the bottom corner. SIPG has won five games track. We were quite clever brace apiece from Ricardo huge honor” to have his Just past the hour mark and drawn one in all competi­ today and we converted our Goulart and Alan Carvalho name alongside those of Bakambu doubled the lead, tions this year and last year’s two chances into goals. Our while Tianjin Quanjian lost Pacquiao and Marquez. although the former Villarre­ CSL runner­up plays South performance deserved a win.” 2­1 at home to Beijing Renhe. al striker had to wait until the Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai in the Shandong Luneng also Road cycling remains a minority sport in China even though many AGENCIES goal was confirmed by the Asian Champions League on continued its winning start to REUTERS cities host international races such as the Tour of Guangxi. XINHUA