Digest

SOCCER

Wang 'shed too many tears' during lockdown

Team China star Wang Shuang has spoken of her anguish at having been stuck in Wuhan when the city was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 25-year-old said on social media that she planned to share 10 stories concerning the 76 days (Jan 23-April 8) during which Wuhan remained locked down to stop the spread of the virus.

"I once felt myself being insignificant and helpless during those days, and like many others I shed too many tears and witnessed numerous heroic deeds," said the former Paris Saint-Germain playmaker.

"After thinking it over, I decided to tell you how I coped during the outbreak. Over those few months, I counted the days trying to survive and yearning to return to the football pitch.

"During those miserable days, my family, coaches, teammates and friends offered me support and love, which I am grateful for, and with that they gave me the conviction and strength to overcome the misery."

Friendly strike boosts Goulart's call-up hopes

Team China head coach Li Tie was an interested spectator as Ricardo Goulart netted the winner for Guangzhou Evergrande in a 3-2 friendly win over Shenzhen FC on Saturday.

Brazil-born Goulart has been granted Chinese citizenship and earlier this month publicly expressed his eagerness to play for Li's squad.

The 27-year-old striker reiterated those hopes in a video posted online on Thursday, saying: "I am fully ready to serve the Chinese team, and I am waiting for my call-up."

Li will next assemble his squad for training in August in preparation for crucial World Cup qualifiers in October.

He called up three naturalized players for a May training camp in Shanghai－Ai Kesen (aka Elkeson), Li Ke (aka Nico Yennaris) and Luo Guofu (aka Aloisio).

GYMNASTICS

'Golden Generation' mastermind Lu dies

Former Team China head coach Lu Shanzhen died of a heart attack at his home in Beijing on Saturday, according to the Chinese Gymnastics Association (CGA).

Lu, 63, is credited for building China's 'Golden Generation' of gymnasts, including Cheng Fei, Bi Wenjing and Liu Xuan, and for guiding the nation to its first women's world championship team title in 2006 and first women's Olympic team gold in 2008.

"Lu had a unique understanding and respect for women's gymnastics. He always insisted on individualizing everyone's learning. He made great contributions to the development of Chinese gymnastics," said a CGA statement.

According to the CGA, Lu's family decided to simplify his funeral due to the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Beijing.

BADMINTON

Coach Luo expecting big things from Chen

Team China coach Luo Yigang is aiming for gold in the women's singles at next year's Tokyo Olympics, with world No 2 Chen Yufei the ace in his pack.

"I have to say it will be highly competitive in the women's singles in Tokyo, as each top-10 player has a chance to win the title," Luo told the Chinese Badminton Association's website on Saturday. "Our goal is also the gold medal."

China also boasts world No 8 He Bingjiao among its ranks, but Luo considers 22-year-old Chen, who surged to the top of the rankings after victory in Guangzhou last December, as the team's best hope.

"Chen won seven BWF World Tour titles in 2019, including the Finals in December and the All-England Open in March. She has become a more experienced player after steady performances throughout the whole year," Luo, 35, said of Chen.

China has won four consecutive Olympic golds in women's singles from 2000 to 2012, before Spain's Carolina Marin snapped the country's dominance at Rio in 2016.

Xinhua