Digest

GOLF

Li to lead China's charge at Kenya Open

China's Li Haotong and Wu Ashun will go for glory at the Kenya Open, which tees off at Nairobi's Karen Country Club on March 12.

Having risen to a career-high No 32 in the world rankings in 2018, Li has slipped down to 83rd and will be hoping to kick-start his season at the European Tour event.

Wu will be looking to add to his three victories on the European Tour but will face stiff competition from a legion of former Kenya Open champions, including last year's winner Italian Guido Migliozzi.

The tournament will have a maximum field of 144, with the host nation entering eight professionals and five amateurs.

SOCCER

Deschamps braced for Mbappe absence

Paris Saint-Germain is entitled to not allow star striker Kylian Mbappe play for France at the Tokyo Olympics, national team coach Didier Deschamps conceded on Tuesday.

"PSG, and maybe other clubs elsewhere, have taken a position and that is within their right", Deschamps said in Amsterdam, where he was attending the draw for the next UEFA Nations League.

His comments came after French sports daily L'Equipe reported that PSG had written to the French Football Federation (FFF) to say that 21-year-old World Cup winner Mbappe would not be allowed to participate at the Games.

The Olympic Games are scheduled to run from July 24 to Aug 9, although it has been suggested they could be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. The next French Ligue 1 season begins on Aug 7.

BASEBALL

Brewers and Yelich nearing $215m deal

The Milwaukee Brewers are close to signing star outfielder Christian Yelich to a nine-year contract worth well over $200 million, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

According to The Athletic and ESPN, the extension is expected to add seven years and $190 million to Yelich's contract. Counting the two years left on his current contract, the total value of the deal would be around $215 million.

According to ESPN, the final year of the deal is a mutual option for 2029.

OLYMPICS

Wave of surfer support seals Tahiti switch

The surfing events at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be held on the other side of the world in Tahiti.

On Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee signed off on Paris organizers' wish to send the competitions over 15,000 kilometers away to the Pacific island instead of using France's Atlantic coast.

Olympic leaders were won over despite IOC president Thomas Bach initially saying last year that he preferred keeping athletes closer to the host city.

Paris officials told the IOC on Tuesday they found "overwhelming support" among the surfing community for going to Tahiti.

Xinhua - Agencies