Digest

WEIGHTLIFTING

Shi sets world record at Tianjin World Cup meet

Chinese weightlifter Shi Zhiyong set a clean-and-jerk world record on his way to winning all three gold medals in the 73kg competition at the IWF World Cup meet in Tianjin on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Olympic champion, who set two world records at September's world championships, stamped his authority on the division by jerking 155kg with his first attempt. He also won gold in the snatch and total categories.

In the men's 61kg division, Li Fabin lifted 140kg for snatch and total (311kg) golds. Qin Fulin took the silver with 306kg.

Feng Lyudong won the snatch (151kg) and total (321kg) titles in the men's 67kg division, while Jiang Huihua also topped the podium in the 49kg division with 210kg.

SWIMMING

Sun verdict delayed by translation problems

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) expects to deliver its verdict in the Sun Yang doping case by mid-January.

Sun's Nov 15 public hearing in Montreux, Switzerland, was marred by poor translation, with lawyers for both parties forced to constantly repeat questions and interrupt witness testimonies.

In a statement released on Tuesday, CAS said that all parties are currently preparing a written transcript of proceedings, including a full translation of Sun's testimony.

The CAS added it was not able to hire external interpreters for reasons of independence and neutrality, and that the choice and cost of the translation service was down to the relevant parties.

The World Anti-Doping agency brought the case to CAS after swimming governing body FINA decided not to punish Sun for refusing to cooperate with doping testers in September 2018. The three-time Olympic champion claimed the testers were not properly accredited.

SKELETON

Zhu slides to glory at North American Cup

China's Zhu Yangqi won the women's skeleton races at the North American Cup in Park City, Utah, on Tuesday.

Zhu finished first in both runs for a combined time of one minute and 42.53 seconds, beating Katie Tannenbaum of the Virgin Islands and Kim Eun-ji of South Korea by 1.80 and 2.02 seconds respectively.

In the men's skeleton, Nathan Crumpton of American Samoa won both runs for a winning total of 1:39.49, with China's Yin Zheng 0.28 seconds back in second. Yin's compatriots Zhu Haifeng and Zhang Jing finished third and fourth respectively.

Canadian pair Taylor Austin and Mark Mlakar secured victory in the two-man bobsleigh; Americans Kristi Koplin and Jasmine Jones won the corresponding women's event.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Chinese hopeful earns shot at NFL career

Li Boqiao has become the first Chinese to join the NFL's International Player Pathway Program.

First run in 2017, the program aims to provide international athletes with the opportunity to compete at American football's highest level and ultimately earn a spot on the roster of an NFL team.

The 23-year-old Beijing-born Li will begin training in the US next month along with eight other hopefuls from around the world.

The nine players will get the chance to showcase their ability to NFL scouts in March in the hope of being signed as a free agent or being selected for practice squads for next season.

BASKETBALL

Ducks retire Ji jersey during Guangzhou win

The Beijing Ducks have retired Ji Zhe's jersey following their former captain's death from lung cancer at the age of 33 last week.

After paying tribute to Ji's career before and during Sunday's home win over Shenzhen, the Ducks continued to honor his memory by officially retiring his No 51 shirt at halftime in Tuesday's 112-104 victory over the Guangzhou Loong Lions.

His jersey was placed beside Beijing's triple championship flags that hang from the arena's roof.

Ji, who spent his entire career at the Ducks, won three CBA titles with the capital club.

On the court, Ekpe Udoh led Beijing's attack with 26 points. Jeremy Lin and Zhai Xiaochuan added 22 and 16 points respectively. Andrew Nicholson finished with a game-high 42 points for Guangzhou.

SOCCER

SIPG's Pereira snubs Everton's advances

Shanghai SIPG coach Vitor Pereira said on Tuesday that he will not be leaving his role at the Chinese Super League team to take charge at English outfit Everton.

The 51-year-old Portuguese was being pursued by Everton after the Merseyside club last week fired his compatriot Marco Silva and installed club legend Duncan Ferguson on an interim basis.

"It's always an honor and I am utterly grateful to be considered on a list by a club that I have so much respect for," Pereira told Sky Sports.

"At this point I am still the coach of SIPG, a club close to my heart in a country that is growing immensely in football. Currently I am not in a position to make any other commitments."

Dalian Yifang's Rafa Benitez ruled himself out of the running on Monday, with Everton now reportedly in talks with Carlo Ancelotti.

Italian Ancelotti was fired by Napoli despite steering the team to the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 4-0 win over Genk. Former AC Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso is the favorite to take over at the Naples club, which sits seventh in Serie A.

BASEBALL

Yanks land Cole in record $324m deal

Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees have agreed to a record $324 million, nine-year deal, a source familiar with the contract told Associated Press on Tuesday night.

Cole, the biggest prize of the free-agent market, surpassed the $245 million, seven-year contract Stephen Strasburg finalized with the Washington Nationals on Monday for most total money for a pitcher and for his $36 million average annual value. Agent Scott Boras negotiated both deals.

Cole was drafted by the Yankees in the first round out of high school but chose to go to UCLA, then was drafted by Pittsburgh. Traded after the 2017 season, he transformed his career in two seasons with the Houston Astros.

He went 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA last season as the Astros reached the World Series, finishing second to teammate Justin Verlander in AL League Cy Young Award balloting.