With the pandemic under control in China, sports take to the comeback trail

The coronavirus pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to sports worldwide, with numerous events postponed or canceled in the first half of this year.

But with the outbreak now under control in China, a number of sports are up and running again.

On June 20, the Chinese Basketball Association, or CBA, was the first major sports league to restart its 2019-20 season. Games were staged in virus-controlled "bubbles" in Dongguan, Guangdong province, and Qingdao, Shandong province, after a four-month suspension.

After completing the regular season, 12 teams advanced to the shortened playoffs. Guangdong Southern Tigers beat Liaoning Leopards in the finals last month to claim the franchise's 10th championship.

CBA chairman Yao Ming said: "This season has been completed thanks to the efforts of everyone involved. I believe the fans have enjoyed great performances by the players on the courts, but the hard work of all the people who worked behind the scenes also deserves praise.

"The season has ended, but I'm not relaxing. There is a lot more work to be done. We need to learn from experience and know how to promote basketball under these new circumstances."

A month after the CBA returned, the Chinese Super League kicked off its delayed soccer season in late July, with the 16 teams split into two groups based in Dalian, Liaoning province, and Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Seven rounds of first-phase matches have been completed, with these games continuing until late September, when a knockout stage will follow.

Before the season began, Chinese Football Association, or CFA, president Chen Xuyuan vowed to stage an "excellent, safe and well-organized" competition.

"We have to make sure that not a single person in the league is infected by the virus after the season returns. We have to keep everyone healthy and keep the season in order. We're prepared for all difficulties," Chen said.

The CFA Women's Super League kicked off on Aug 23 under lockdown at a national sports training center in Kunming, Yunnan province, after a 336-day break. The CFA also announced on Aug 26 that the postponed second-tier China League One season, which was due to begin in February, would start on Sept 12.

Sun Wen, a CFA vice-president, said: "The return of the women's league has sent a very positive message to the outside world. For the players and coaches, it has been very difficult, as there were no matches to play. Everyone is eager to return to the pitch."

In addition to basketball and soccer, marathons, men's volleyball, e-sports and domestic tennis are returning, with events in China being staged under strict epidemic prevention measures.

In July, the General Administration of Sport of China said that apart from a series of test events for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, no international events should be held in China this year.

This resulted in cancelation of this year's Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled for Shanghai, being announced last week.

Chase Carey, executive chairman and CEO of Formula 1, said: "This year has presented Formula 1 and the world with an unprecedented challenge. While we are all disappointed that we have not been able to return to some of our planned races, we are confident our season has started well and will continue to deliver plenty of excitement with traditional, as well as new, races that will entertain all our fans."

In late July, the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women's Tennis Association tours announced that all 11 international tournaments scheduled for China this year had been canceled because of the pandemic.

Steve Simon, WTA chairman and CEO, said in a statement, "We are extremely disappointed that our world-class events in China will not take place this year.

"Unfortunately, this decision also includes cancelation of the Shiseido WTA Finals (in Shenzhen, Guangdong province). We do, however, respect the decision that has been made and are eager to return to China as soon as possible next season."