Digest

SOCCER

Guo'an midfielder Renato back in China

Beijing Guo'an's Brazil international Renato Augusto has returned to China as he prepares for the start of the delayed Chinese Super League season.

The 32-year-old will observe a mandatory two-week quarantine before he can resume training with his Guo'an teammates, according to Brazil's Globo Esporte news service.

Renato, who joined Guo'an in 2016, has spent the past seven months away from China because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The midfielder traveled to Brazil in December following the completion of the 2019 season and then joined his Beijing teammates for preseason training in Spain in January. However, travel restrictions prevented the former Flamengo, Bayer Leverkusen and Corinthians playmaker from returning to China and he has spent the past four and a half months training alone in Brazil.

The Chinese Super League season will begin on July 25 in two hub cities－Dalian and Suzhou－almost five months after its scheduled start.

Guo'an finished second last term, just two points behind champion Guangzhou Evergrande.

Ibrahimovic interrupts Juventus title charge

Juventus wasted the chance to move 10 points clear at the top of Serie A as the defending champion blew a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired AC Milan on Tuesday, after second-place Lazio's shock defeat at Lecce.

Maurizio Sarri's men led through goals from Adrien Rabiot and Cristiano Ronaldo early in the second half, but were then blown away by a brilliant Milan display as Ibrahimovic scored and had an assist.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli, who could reportedly be fired at the end of the season, saw his side boost its hopes of European qualification by moving above Roma and Napoli into fifth.

"I am not remotely thinking about August 3 or the future. I am thinking of the next game," Pioli told DAZN. "There have been some tough moments, but I love what I do."

Juve remains on track for a ninth straight title, sitting seven points clear of Lazio with seven matches remaining, but could have rendered the race all but over with a victory.

GOLF

Ryder Cup 'to be postponed for year'

The 2020 Ryder Cup will be postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, ESPN reported on Tuesday, saying an official announcement is expected this week.

Citing a source not authorized to speak publicly, ESPN said the biennial showdown between the United States and Europe, scheduled for Sept 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, will be delayed until a similar date in 2021.

"There will not be a Ryder Cup this year," the source told the US sports news outlet.

"The Ryder Cup will go to 2021, the Presidents Cup to 2022 and then they will alternate from there."

The PGA of America and European Tour are expected to confirm the postponement this week.

The news comes as no surprise in a sports year turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. British outlets The Telegraph and The Guardian reported weeks ago that the Ryder Cup would be postponed, although the PGA of America has declined to comment so far.

BASKETBALL

Beal, Dinwiddie to miss rest of NBA season

Wizards leading scorer Bradley Beal and Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie won't take part in the restart of the NBA season, leaving two significant absences in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Beal is out because of a right rotator cuff injury; Dinwiddie announced that he is still testing positive for coronavirus and won't participate.

Washington, Orlando and Brooklyn are the three teams left in the chase for the final two playoff spots in the East. If the Wizards finish within four games of whichever club finishes eighth, then two games will be played to determine the No 8 seed.

Washington will also be without forward Davis Bertans, who decided to opt out of playing as a pending free agent, and injured guard John Wall. With Beal and Bertans out, the Wizards will have to replace more than 40 points per game if they are to somehow get into the postseason mix.

Xinhua - Agencies