China beat Indonesia, enter Sudirman Cup final

Dongguan (China)

Favourites China entered the Sudirman Cup final following a 3-1 semifinal victory over Indonesia here on Saturday. China, who have won the Sudirman Cup five times in a row since 2005, met some challenges in the two doubles disciplines but controlled the momentum throughout.

Reigning Olympic champions Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng failed to take the lead for the hosts as the veteran pair lost the opening men's doubles contest 16-21, 17-21 to world No.3 Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan.

New Delhi
Mumbai teenager to train at Crystal Palace academy

Mumbai’s Dhruvmil Pandya, 15, was on Saturday selected to train with the English football club Crystal Palace’s academy for a year. Pandya even represented the Crystal Palace academy in a friendly match against Milwall FC, according to a release from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Pandya was selected from among 350 teenagers who competed at one of the club’s initiatives — ‘Play for Palace’, a partnership between Crystal Palace and Indian Super League team Mumbai City FC which was agreed upon last year.

Karachi
Miandad urges ICC to encourage teams to tour Pak

Former Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to encourage more teams to visit his nation in order to revive international cricket at home. Miandad said that the ICC should be involved in guaranteeing the safety of players and encourage teams to tour Pakistan instead of just standing back and doing nothing as teams renege on their commitments.

Bangkok
Thailand Open: 10 junior paddlers reach pre-quarters

It was another good day for the Indian paddlers as 10 of them reached the pre-quarterfinals of the Thailand Open junior and sub-junior table tennis tournament here today. In the junior boys section, Lalrin Puia and Utkarsh Gupta moved into the pre-quarterfinals after winning their first round matches. — Agencies

Charlotte, North Carolina
Phelps finishes third in 100 metres butterfly

Michael Phelps finished third in the 100 meters butterfly at the Arena Pro Swim Series meet on Friday and conceded he still has a lot of work to do in his bid to return to Olympic competition in Rio de Janeiro next year. Phelps, competing in his second meet following a six-month ban for a drunk driving conviction, finished behind winner Tom Shields and runner-up Ryan Lochte. “My turns are still pretty terrible,” the 18-times Olympic gold medallist told reporters. “But it’s a lot better than what it was last year.” Phelps, the fastest 100 butterfly swimmer in the world last year with a best time of 51.17 seconds, clocked 52.59 on Friday. Shields won in a time of 52.12.

Barcelona
Barca not out for revenge against Atletico: Enrique

Atletico Madrid were the scourge of Barcelona last season but the Catalans’ coach Luis Enrique says they will not be on a revenge mission when they visit the Calderon on Sunday looking to win back their La Liga crown. Barca hold a four-point lead at the top of the table with two games remaining and will clinch the title with victory over Atletico, irrespective of how second-place Real Madrid get on in their simultaneous match against Espanyol. Atletico claimed the title on the last day of last season at Barca’s Nou Camp stadium in a winner-takes-all finale at the end of a campaign where they also knocked the Catalans out of the Champions League. “There is no feeling among the players of revenge. Atletico were just champions and had a great season. It was unique and now this season is totally different,” the Barca coach said.

Barcelona
Jimenez hits record-tying ninth European Tour hole-in-one

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez equalled Colin Montgomerie’s European Tour record of nine career holes-in-one during the second round of the Spanish Open on Friday. The 51-year-old Spaniard performed a celebratory jig of delight after using a six-iron to ace the par-three eighth hole at Real Club de Golf El Prat. Jimenez, however, could only manage a one-under-par 71 that left him six strokes behind Frenchman Edouard Espana who led the way after a 69 gave him a seven-under total of 137.

“I’m leading an Open with my name everywhere so it’s pretty cool,” Espana told reporters.

Shanghai
China to bid emotional farewell to Xiang in Shanghai

China will offer an emotional farewell to its newly-retired sports hero Liu Xiang at the Diamond League meeting on Sunday. Officials confirmed there would be a special ceremony to honour 2004 Olympic 110m hurdles champion Liu, who announced his retirement last month. It is likely to be a poignant occasion with even the man tipped to be Liu’s successor, former training partner Xie Wenjun, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “I feel sad. Maybe I’ll cry in front of him,” he said. Liu’s career ‘triple crown’ of being world champion, Olympic champion and world record breaker makes him a hugely difficult act to follow. — Agencies