Digest

BASKETBALL

Serious knee injury for China ace Abdusalam

Chinese international Abdusalam Abdurexit faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing the ACL in his left knee, his club the Xinjiang Flying Tigers announced on Thursday.

The 23-year-old was injured after falling awkwardly during Xinjiang's 88-87 CBA victory over the Beijing Ducks on Wednesday night.

Abdusalam was stretchered off court before being taken to hospital for CT and MRI scans.

"We will discuss a treatment program with sports medicine experts and select the best hospital to help Abdusalam get back to the court as soon as possible," read a statement from the Tigers.

This season, Abdusalam has averaged 16.8 points and 5 rebounds in 20 games, with Xinjiang currently sitting second in the CBA behind the Guangdong Southeast Tigers.

Embiid in the zone as Sixers bury Bucks

Joel Embiid outplayed Giannis Antetokounmpo in Philadelphia's first home Christmas game in 31 years, collecting 31 points and 11 rebounds to help the 76ers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 121-109 on Wednesday.

Tobias Harris sank five 3s, Josh Richardson and Furkan Korkmaz each had four and even Embiid hit three as part of Philly's season-high 21 3s (on 44 attempts) against a Bucks team that had the best record in the NBA.

Harris and Al Horford hit 3s over the final 90 seconds to push back a late Bucks run, and the Sixers improved to 16-2 at home.

Khris Middleton scored 31 points for Milwaukee, and Antetokounmpo had 18 points and 14 rebounds. Antetokounmpo got flustered over a perceived missed call and was whistled for a technical in the fourth.

WINTER OLYMPICS

Yanqing venues to be completed in 2020

The construction of competition venues and auxiliary projects in Yanqing for the 2022 Winter Olympics will be completed by the end of 2020, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Located in the northern suburbs of Beijing, Yanqing will host the Alpine skiing, bobsleigh and luge competitions during the Games.

At present, 25 of the 28 construction projects are underway, according to Yu Bo, head of the district.

Already, some racing tracks at the National Alpine Skiing Center have been put into use, and the main structure of the National Bobsleigh and Luge Center has been completed, said Yu.

To tune up for the Games, Yanqing will host five test events, with an Alpine skiing World Cup meet being the first, slated for February 2020.

Biggest-ever Chinese team for Youth Games

China will send 53 athletes to the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland, more than doubling its representation from the previous two editions.

"It's a good test for China's attempt to participate in all 109 events in the 2022 Winter Olympics. We can gain experience and improve ourselves from Lausanne 2020, which provides a talent pool for the Beijing Winter Olympics," Li Jianming, head of the Chinese delegation, told a media conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li also stressed the fair-play philosophy and zero-tolerance stance on doping, saying "playing true and clean comes as the top priority".

Lausanne 2020, which runs from Jan 9-22, is scheduled to feature 1,872 athletes aged 15 to 18 representing 79 Olympic members and competing in eight sports, 16 disciplines and 81 events.

CELEBRITY

Vonn to marry again after Subban says 'yes'

Lindsey Vonn popped the question to hockey star PK Subban on Christmas Day.

"Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!! On our 2 year anniversary, in a 'non traditional' move, I asked PK to marry me and he said, Yes," Vonn tweeted. "Yes (bashful emoji)! Women aren't the only ones who should get engagement rings!"

The former ski racer closed the tweet with the hashtags "Merry-Christmas" and "equality".

Vonn linked a picture of herself and Subban with the ring, with the couple wearing matching striped pajamas in front of a Christmas tree with three dogs in the foreground. She also posted a closeup of Subban flashing the ring, with the words "drip drip" and a blue teardrop.

Vonn also said on social media in August that they were engaged.

The 35-year-old Vonn recently retired from a skiing career that included three Olympic medals, four overall World Cup titles and 82 World Cup race wins, a record for a woman.

The 30-year-old Subban currently plays for the New Jersey Devils. He won the 2013 Norris Trophy with the Montreal Canadiens as the NHL's top defenseman.

Vonn had a high-profile relationship with Tiger Woods. She was previously married to former ski racer Thomas Vonn, and kept his last name after they separated.