Digest

ATHLETICS

Sprinter Su named to athletes commission

Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian has been appointed to the athletes commission of World Athletics, formerly known as the IAAF.

The 30-year-old Su, who holds the Asian 100m record (9.91 seconds), was among six athletes appointed to the commission by the governing body's ruling council. The others are steeplechaser Milcah Chemos Cheywa of Kenya, Syrian high jumper Majd Eddin Ghazal, Olympic triple jump champion Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan, South African sprinter Akani Simbine and Ivorian sprinter Marie-Josee Ta Lou.

Another six athletes were elected to the commission in a vote by competitors at this year's Doha world championships－French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams, American distance runner Bernard Lagat, Belgian sprinter Kevin Borlee, Greek pole vaulter Katerina Stefanidi and Jamaican middle-distance runner Aisha Praught-Leer.

BADMINTON

Chen and Jia returnto doubles top spot

Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan have returned to No 1 in the women's doubles world rankings, which were released on Tuesday.

The Chinese pair are back on top for the first time since August 2018 after winning last weekend's Hong Kong Open, knocking Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota off the summit.

China's Chen Yufei, the women's singles winner in Hong Kong, has moved up to second in the rankings as she piles pressure on No 1 Tai Tzu-ting of Chinese Taipei.

China continued its dominance of mixed doubles, with Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong top of the pile ahead of second-place compatriots Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping.

Japan's Kento Momota still has a comfortable lead in the men's singles standings ahead of Chou Tienchen of Chinese Taipei, with Chen Long the highest-ranked Team China shuttler at No 4.

OLYMPICS

Airbnb books in as Games sponsor

Airbnb on Monday announced that it has struck a deal to support the Olympic Games up to 2028.

The short-term home rental company has signed a partnership with the International Olympics Committee, making it an official sponsor of the 2020 Games in Tokyo, 2024 in Paris and 2028 in Los Angeles.

The IOC is pledging to make at least $28 million worth of Airbnb accommodation available to Olympians and Paralympians.

On Tuesday, Airbnb said it is lobbying local governments in Japan to ease curbs on short-term home rentals during next year's Tokyo Games.

SOCCER

Maradona leaves job as Gimnasia manager

Diego Maradona has left his position as manager of Argentine side Gimnasia y Esgrima, bringing a premature end to yet another coaching job for the 1986 World Cup winner.

Maradona, who was appointed by Gimnasia in September, had said he would only continue if Gabriel Pellegrino stayed on as club president following elections.

Pellegrino, however, withdrew from the race when an electoral pact fell apart.

Maradona's departure repeats a well-worn theme in his coaching career. Of the six club sides he has managed, only one job lasted more than a year.

The only team the 58-year-old managed for longer was Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates, where he remained in charge for 14 months.

Enrique reappointed Spain head coach

Luis Enrique is returning as Spain coach five months after stepping down because of his daughter's illness.

The former Barcelona player is taking over from former assistant Robert Moreno, who coached the team through qualifying for the 2020 European Championship. His last match was on Monday, a 5-0 rout of Romania in Madrid.

Enrique's 9-year-old daughter, Xana, died of a type of bone cancer in August.

A few months ago, Moreno said he "would be delighted to step aside" if Enrique decided to return.

Federation president Luis Rubiales said it was always clear that Enrique would return as coach when the 49-year-old felt he was ready.

Player loses appeal over touchline attack

Eintracht Frankfurt captain David Abraham has lost an appeal against his seven-week ban for knocking an opposition coach to the ground.

The defender hit 54-year-old Freiburg boss Christian Streich with his shoulder during a Bundesliga game on Nov 10 while chasing a ball which had gone out of play.

Freiburg players and staff then chased Abraham onto the field, sparking a mass brawl.

The German soccer federation said its sports court on Tuesday upheld a ban for Abraham through Dec 29 and his fine of 25,000 euros ($27,700).

The panel's chairman, Hans Eberhard Lorenz, said the incident was "a clear case of intentional assault".

ICE HOCKEY

'Midget' division renamed in Canada

The term "midget" is being dropped from youth divisions in Canadian hockey as the governing body aims to be more inclusive.

Hockey Canada said it wanted to be sure it wasn't "putting up barriers to keep people away from the sport". The term "midget" has long been used in a variety of sports although it is considered derogatory by many.

The issue generated attention a year ago when the parent of a young son with dwarfism noticed the term on a banner at a mall.

Also dropped starting next season are the categories novice, peewee, bantam and atom. They will be replaced with age-based designators. The change was approved at Hockey Canada's winter congress over the weekend.