Digest

WINTER SPORTS

Qi, Xu soar to aerial golds in Changchun

China's Qi Guangpu and Xu Mengtao won the men's and women's titles respectively at the FIS Freestyle Aerials World Cup meet at Shimao Lotus Mountain Ski Resort in Changchun, Jilin province, on Saturday.

Two-time world champion Qi scored 130.77 points with a routine that scored 4.525 on difficulty, after the host performed strongly by claiming four of the six slots for the second round of the men's final.

Qi's compatriot Jia Zongyang, the Olympic silver medalist at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, was second on 125.67 points, with Swiss Noe Roth third.

In the women's event, Xu was ranked only 12th in qualifying but wound up a runaway winner on 105.53 points after pulling off a triple kicker.

Aliaksandra Ramanouskaya of Belarus (93.44) was second, with Australian Laura Peel third.

SOCCER

Campus training push really kicking into gear

China now boasts over 27,000 primary and middle schools that offer soccer classes as part of the nation's efforts to develop the sport, according to the Ministry of Education.

There are approximately 27 million students, 1,000 for each school on average, attending soccer classes at least once a week and participating in training and competitions, said Wang Dengfeng, director of the department of physical, health and arts education of the ministry, at a news conference last Friday.

Moreover, 181 higher-education institutions are now enrolling high-quality players, said Wang, adding that nearly 2,000 students enroll annually based on their special talent for soccer.

A well-organized training system and competitions at primary and secondary school levels, as well as in universities, are helping to cultivate talent. Training programs, mostly available online, are producing school soccer teachers.

Over the past five years, 40,000 soccer pitches have been built or renovated, with 20,000 more to follow by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), said Wang.

Flamengo's Henrique coy on Shanghai links

Flamengo forward Bruno Henrique avoided questions about his future on Saturday amid speculation linking him with a move to China.

"My aim since I came here has been to contribute," Henrique told reporters after Flamengo's 1-0 loss to Liverpool in the FIFA Club World Cup final in Doha, Qatar.

"Neither me nor Flamengo have received any proposals. Now I want to rest, enjoy my family and the holidays. It's been an exhausting year. We can leave here with our heads held high.

According to Brazilian media reports, Henrique is being sought by Shanghai SIPG, where his compatriots Hulk and Oscar play.

Henrique enjoyed a breakthrough year at Flamengo following his January move from Santos. The 28-year-old scored 35 goals in 62 matches across all competitions as Flamengo won the Carioca, Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores titles.

Uruguay great Forlan to coach in homeland

Former Manchester United and Uruguay striker Diego Forlan has been named head coach of boyhood club Penarol.

The 40-year-old will replace Diego Lopez, whose contract expired after the completion of the Uruguayan domestic season last weekend.

Forlan, who was capped 112 times for Uruguay, retired in August after a professional career spanning more than two decades. He has no previous experience in management.

Forlan was voted the best player of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the Celeste reached the semifinals. He was also a key member of the Uruguay team that won the 2011 Copa America in Argentina.

Forlan didn't quite hit the heights at Manchester United as expected but still gained hero status among the Old Trafford faithful after scoring the winner in a 2002 match at bitter rival Liverpool. His career also included spells at Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Villarreal. He returned to Penarol as a player in 2015 and 2016.

Ancelotti installed as Everton manager

English Premier League club Everton announced on Saturday that Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as the team's new manager.

The Italian was in the Goodison Park stands as Everton drew 0-0 with Arsenal on Saturday but officially began his new role on Sunday.

The 60-year-old former AC Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss has agreed to a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Toffees after being fired by Serie A club Napoli earlier this month. He succeeds the fired Marco Silva, with his first game in charge the visit of Burnley on Dec 26.

"This is a great club with a rich history and a very passionate fan base. There is a clear vision from the owner and the board to deliver success and trophies," said Ancelotti.

"That is something that appeals to me as a manager and I am thrilled at the prospect of being able to work with everybody at the club to help make that vision a reality."

DARTS

Female phenom sends another man packing

Fallon Sherrock caused another huge shock at the PDC World Championship in London on Saturday.

Four days after making history as the first woman to win a match at the sport's premier tournament, the unseeded Englishwoman eliminated 11th-ranked Mensur Suljovic with a 3-1 second-round victory.

Sherrock, who beat Ted Evetts 3-2 in the first round, clinched victory against Suljovic by taking out the bullseye to spark wild scenes of celebration among the raucous Alexandra Palace crowd.

"I'm still waiting for it all to sink in. It's not sunk in yet and now it's not going to! I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight… my adrenaline is going to be going! I can't believe it," said the 25-year-old former hairdresser, who will face world No 22 Chris Dobey in the last 32 on Dec 27.

"I've just proved that we (women) can beat anyone. I've beaten two of the best players that there are in the world and if that doesn't say that women can play darts, I don't know what will."