Digest

SOCCER

Pele reclusive and depressed, says son

Pele is suffering from a "kind of depression" as poor health and mobility make him reluctant to leave his home, according to the soccer legend's son.

Brazil's three-time World Cup winner has suffered a series of health problems in recent years, including a urinary tract infection that left him hospitalized for 13 days last April.

The 79-year-old has also encountered complications related to hip-replacement surgery and now needs a frame to walk.

"He is very sheepish, reclusive," his son Edinho told TV Globo.

"Imagine, he's the King, he was always such an imposing figure and today he can't walk properly. He's embarrassed, he doesn't want to go out, be seen, or do practically anything that involves leaving the house."

Edinho added that his father had not properly recovered from a hip-replacement operation in 2012.

SNOOKER

Ding gets off to solid start at Welsh Open

Chinese No 1 Ding Junhui defeated Marco Fu 4-2 to reach the second round of the Welsh Open in Cardiff on Monday.

Ding tied with the 42-year-old Fu after four frames but managed to win the following two in a row to pass the opening round. The world No 9 will next face either Nigel Bond or Ricky Walden.

Ding, 32, ended a two-year title drought by winning the UK Championship last December for the third time, but last month was knocked out of the Masters in the first round for the seventh time in nine years.

Meanwhile, the World Snooker Tour and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association have pledged to donate 1,000 pounds (around $1,300) to those affected by the coronavirus in China every time a player makes a century break at the Welsh Open. Ding and his compatriot Liang Wenbo have already made donations.

TENNIS

Doubles champ Farah cleared in doping case

Top-ranked doubles player Robert Farah was cleared to play on Monday after the International Tennis Federation accepted he tested positive for an anabolic agent from eating contaminated meat in his native Colombia.

Farah was provisionally suspended on Jan 21, preventing him from playing in the Australian Open with long-time doubles partner Juan Sebastian Cabal. They won the two previous Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open and were the doubles team of the year in 2019.

Farah's sample, given out of competition last October, tested positive for Boldenone. He denied wrongdoing. The ITF ruled he violated the tennis anti-doping program, but bore no fault or negligence, and was free to play.

The decision was subject to appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Colombian ministry of sports to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

BASKETBALL

Giannis announces arrival of 'Baby Freak'

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo proudly announced the birth of his first child－Liam Charles Antetokounmpoon Monday, a perfect excuse for not being able to play that night's game against the Sacramento Kings.

"Liam Charles Antetokounmpo in the house," the NBA's reigning MVP posted on Twitter on Monday, covering his baby boy's real face with an animated version.

The Bucks listed that Antetokounmpo, aka the Greek Freak, was out for personal reasons, and coach Mike Budenholzer said: "We're excited for him," before adding in jest, "I have no comment just in case it's a false Twitter account."

Antetokounmpo's girlfriend, Mariah Danae Riddlesprigger, spread the news in October that the family would have a new addition, announcing on Instagram: "BABY FR34K COMING SOON."

Xinhua - Agencies