Digest

BASKETBALL

Ducks honor tragic Ji on emotional night

The memory of Ji Zhe loomed large as the Beijing Ducks beat the Shenzhen Aviators 102-100 at Wukesong Arena on Sunday.

Former Ducks captain Ji died of lung cancer at the age of 33 last week, with the CBA franchise staging a series of touching tributes to the ex-China international before and during the game.

Ji's jersey number, 51, adorned the back of every seat inside the 18,000-capacity arena, while fans, who all wore No 51 T-shirts, could not contain their grief as a video of the three-time CBA champion's career highlights was played on the big screens at halftime.

Fans also laid cards, shirts and other momentos around a special tribute plaque in one of the arena's corridors.

On the court, the Ducks paid tribute to Ji in the best possible fashion with a thrilling victory over the Aviators.

Shenzhen led by a point with two seconds on the clock, before Jeremy Lin drew a foul and converted all three resulting free throws to earn the win.

SPEED SKATING

Fan, Han spare host's blushes in Shanghai

Host China bounced back from a dismal first day to win two golds at the ISU Short-Track Speed Skating World Cup meet in Shanghai over the weekend.

Despite failing to make three relay finals and seeing Olympic champion Wu Dajing sustain an injury, the Chinese team delivered fine performances on Sunday as Fan Kexin and Han Tianyu both topped the podium. China also bagged two silver and two bronze medals.

Fan won the women's 500m final in 42.714 seconds, ahead of the Netherlands' Yara van Kerkhof (42.902) and China's Qu Chunyu (43.015).

In the men's 1,000m final, Han took the lead with three laps to go and held on for victory in 1:28.351.Hungary's Shaoang Liu and South Korea's Park Ji-won took second and third respectively.

Wu injured his waist on Saturday's 500m final and failed to make it through the quarterfinals of the 500m (division 2) competition on Sunday.

CANOEING

Slovaks and French fastest in Panzhihua

Slovakia and France topped the medal standings, winning four categories each, at the ICF WildWater Canoeing China Open in Panzhihua, Sichuan province, over the weekend.

Katarina Kopunvoa finished first for Slovakia in the women's C1W sprint and classic, while her compatriots Juraj Skakala and Matus Gewissler won the men's C2M sprint and classic.

Etienne Klatt (C1M sprint), Maxence Barouh (K1M sprint), Theo Viens (C1M classic) and Felix Bouvet (K1M classic) were France's gold-medal winners.

The K1W sprint went to Britain's Hannah Brown, with Italy's Rosa Mathilde triumphant in the K1W classic.

The best Chinese result was achieved by Zhao Yuxin, who finished third in both the C1W sprint and classic.

The event attracted over 150 athletes from 17 countries and regions. Panzhihua will host the 2023 ICF WildWater Canoeing World Championships and the World Youth Championships.

CURLING

China's women book Qinghai semifinal spot

The Chinese women's team booked a semifinal spot at the 2019 Qinghai International Curling Elite tournament in Duoba, Qinghai province, with a 5-1 win-loss record after Sunday's matches.

China's solitary defeat was a 7-5 loss to South Korea, but the host later sealed its last-four place with a 6-4 win over Canada.

In the men's competition, South Korea was the first team to qualify for Monday's semifinals after scoring a comfortable 9-3 victory over Switzerland.

The Koreans went on to maintain their perfect record, with six victories by Sunday night.

China bounced back from previous defeats to beat Russia 8-4.

BOXING

Joshua eyes defense at Tottenham's new home

Anthony Joshua is set for a London homecoming to start his second reign as world heavyweight champion, with his next fight likely to take place at the recently built stadium of English Premier League soccer club Tottenham Hotspur.

Joshua reclaimed his WBA, WBO and IBF titles early on Sunday with a unanimous points decision over Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia, having lost to the Mexican-American in New York in June for the first defeat of his career.

They were the Briton's first two overseas bouts, with Joshua earning a reported $70 million for fighting in Saudi Arabia.

However, the 2012 Olympic champion wants to defend his titles in front of his home fans, and promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested Tottenham's new stadium in north London is the likely venue.

The 30-year-old is likely to next face unbeaten Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk or Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev.

NFL

Chiefs batter Brady to clinch playoff berth

Kansas City clinched the AFC West when Bashaud Breeland knocked away Tom Brady's fourth-down pass attempt to Julian Edelman in the end zone on Sunday.

The Chiefs survived a series of mistakes and questionable calls by the officials to hold off the New England Patriots 23-16.

Combined with Oakland's loss to Tennessee, the Chiefs (9-4) took their division. The loss ended the Patriots' 21-game home win streak, which was tied for the longest in team history.

It also was the third-longest string in NFL history. New England (10-3) has lost two in a row.

Patrick Mahomes was 26 of 40 for 283 yards, a touchdown and interception. Brady, who showed up at his postgame news conference with his right elbow wrapped in an elastic bandage, finished 19 of 36 for 169 yards, a TD and interception.