China :: Sports Extra

Related reading: Sept. 30 (CNTV )- First glimpse of Marat Safin - skinnier than the figure of 2009 China Open, when he retired from his tennis playing career, walked directly to the Lotus Court. Still charming and confident, the 2004 China Open champion has been surrounded by lots of women players and fans as soon as he stepped into the player lounge. The only difference in comparison of last times match in Beijing, Marat came here for the show match for the opening ceremony of the new National Tennis Court, against Sampras, former World No.1 and 14 Grand Slam single titles winner. Both are recognized as legendaries of tennis history. Safin in the match This is not the first time Sampras and Safin play each other. The two faced off during the final of the 2000 U.S. Open where...

Italian club Virtus Bologna has reached a verbal agreement with Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant(notes) to play in Italy during the NBA lockout. The sides have settled on a $3 million contract for the opening 40 days of the Italian league season, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday. Bryant, who spent much of his childhood in Italy, was in the country for sponsor appearances over the past two days but was flying back to the U.S. for labor talks with the NBA on Friday. U.S. basketball player Kobe Bryant(notes) arrives at the Campidoglio, or capitol hill, in Rome, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. Bryant said it was "very possible" he will play in Italy during the NBA lockout, adding that the country is like "home" to h...

Related reading: Barcelona crushes Atletico 5-0 MADRID, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona continued to show they are the team to beat in the BBVA Primera Liga with a 5-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid on Saturday night in what was the outstanding game of the fifth round of games in Spain. Atletico Madrid travelled to the Camp Nou stadium with their optimism in the clouds after two 4-0 wins in which striker Radamal Falcao had scored five goals. Argentine Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League Group H football match against Bate Borisov in Minsk. Barca won 5-0. (AFP Photo/Viktor Drachev) However, Barcelona produced an outstanding first half: David Villa put the home side ahead after nine minutes. Joao Miranda was unlucky to double Barca...

Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps helps fellow Olympic champion Apolo Ohno, in short track speed skating, train for the ING New York City Marathon, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, during an event at Chelsea Piers Sports Center in New York. Ohno was challenged by Jared "The SUBWAY Guy" Fogle earlier this year to run his first marathon. U.S. Olympic gold medallist swimmer Michael Phelps (C) and U.S. Olympic gold medallist speed-skater Apolo Anton Ohno (R) run with President and CEO of the New York Road Runners Mary Wittenberg at New York's Chelsea Piers sports center September 27, 2011. Ohno is training to run in the 2011 New York City Marathon while Phelps joined him to show his support as Ohno transitions from speed-skater to endurance runner for the Novembe...

Related reading: MUNICH (AP)Mario Gomez scored twice in the first half as Bayern Munich weathered some early pressure before going on to beat Manchester City 2-0 in their Champions League match on Tuesday. Gomez struck in the 38th and 45th minutes, both times knocking in rebounds after saves from City goalkeeper Joe Hart. Munich's Mario Gomez celebrates after scoring during the Group A Champions League soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City FC in Munich, southern Germany, on Tuesday , Sept. 27, 2011. ( Kerstin Joensson / AP) The victory left Bayern fully in control of Group A with two wins from two matches and six points. Napoli beat Villarreal 2-0 and has four points. Citys expensively assembled side has one and Villarreal is without points. We are ver...

Related story: China down S.Korea 56-43 in Asian basketball semis Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi led China to a 56-43 Asian championship semi-final victory over South Korea Saturday in a low-scoring physical battle that thrilled the homecourt crowd. In Sunday's championship game, China will face Jordan, who beat the Philippines 75-61 in the first semi. Yi and Wang scored 11 of the team's final 15 points with a range of interior and perimeter shots, while a hustling defence stifled the Korean shooters all night long. Washington Wizard Yi scored 17 points, while former Dallas Maverick Wang had 15. The only bright spot for the losers was the play of point guard Yang Dong-Geun who scored 17 points on the night. At stake in Sunday's final is Asia's only automatic bert...

Related story: China down S.Korea 56-43 in Asian basketball semis Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi led China to a 56-43 Asian championship semi-final victory over South Korea Saturday in a low-scoring physical battle that thrilled the homecourt crowd. In Sunday's championship game, China will face Jordan, who beat the Philippines 75-61 in the first semi. Yi and Wang scored 11 of the team's final 15 points with a range of interior and perimeter shots, while a hustling defence stifled the Korean shooters all night long. Washington Wizard Yi scored 17 points, while former Dallas Maverick Wang had 15. The only bright spot for the losers was the play of point guard Yang Dong-Geun who scored 17 points on the night. At stake in Sunday's final is Asia's only automatic bert...