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PLA medical experts honored with Lao army friendship crosses

(Xinhua)15:52, June 28, 2020

VIENTIANE, June 26 (Xinhua) — The Lao Ministry of Defence has awarded Lao Peoples Army friendship crosses to members of the Chinese army medical expert team which has been assisting Laos in battling the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two months.

Ti Xinyu, leader of the Peoples Libration Army (PLA) medical expert team, said at the cross-conferring ceremony on Wednesday that in the past two months, his team has fully shared Chinas anti-epidemic experiences with the Lao side, carried out cooperation with the Lao army over virus testing and confirmation, environmental disinfection and infection control, epidemiological investigation and personnel protection, and diagnosis and treatment training.

The joint efforts have comprehensively improved the epidemic prevention and control capabilities of the Lao army, and contributed to consolidating and developing the friendly relations between the two armies and to building a community with a shared future between the two countries, said Ti.

Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong congratulated the expert team on its excellence in the assistance mission.

The ambassador said the expert team has properly adapted the Chinese anti-epidemic experience to the actual situation in Laos, participating in Laos anti-pandemic battle from the phase with climbing infections to the phase of COVID-19 free.

The expert team has worked in harsh conditions such as in the heat of over 40 Celsius degrees, demonstrating the PLAs endurance and high morale amid hardships, he said.

Lao Deputy Defense Minister Aesamay Leuangvanxay said his country has received strong support from China in the fight against COVID-19, adding that the Chinese army not only sent an expert team in a timely manner, but also provided Laos with urgently-needed medical supplies.

According to a press release from the Chinese embassy in Laos on Thursday, the Lao officer said at the ceremony that the Chinese experts have overcome many difficulties and fully demonstrated the PLAs deep friendship with the Lao army.

He added that the anti-epidemic forces of the two sides have worked closely together to effectively improve the professional capabilities of the Lao army, making important contribution to the anti-epidemic battle in Laos.

The Lao Ministry of National Defense highly appreciated and sincerely thanked the Chinese national defense ministry for its strong support and believed that this was a vivid practice of jointly building a community with a shared future between Laos and China, said Aesamay.

At the invitation of the Lao Peoples Army, a group of five PLA anti-epidemic medical experts arrived in Vientiane on April 24.

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China to adjust leadership structure for reserve forces

(Xinhua)08:46, June 29, 2020

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) — Chinas reserve military forces will be brought under the centralized and unified command of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Central Military Commission starting from July 1, according to a decision issued by the CPC Central Committee.

Currently, the reserve forces are under the dual leadership of military organs and local Party committees.

Noting that reserve forces are an important part of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army, the decision, which was made public on Sunday, said the adjustment in the leadership structure is aimed at upholding the CPCs absolute leadership over the army and building a strong military in the new era.

It calls on relevant military and civilian units to take active and coordinated measures to implement the changes to the leadership structure.

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Former soccer star Arjen Robben plans comeback at FC Groningen

(Xinhua)09:09, June 28, 2020

THE HAGUE, June 27 (Xinhua) — Arjen Robben wants to come out of retirement and plans a comeback at his former club FC Groningen in The Netherlands, the former Dutch soccer star announced on Saturday.

The 36-year-old Robben set his sights on a return to the Eredivisie for the 2020/2021 season. Last year the former Dutch international retired from professional football after his last season at Bayern Munich.

The club can use some help following the corona crisis, Robben stated on the FC Groningen website. I am working on a comeback. We will see if I will succeed. It is my dream now to play in the FC Groningen shirt again.

Robben started his pro career in 2000 at FC Groningen and continued at PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and, since 2009, for Bayern Munich. He won eight German league titles with Bayern and led the German giants to the 2013 Champions League with the winning goal in the final against Borussia Dortmund. Due to injuries the left-footed dribbler also missed a lot of matches during his career.

In October 2017 Robben announced his retirement from the Dutch national team. In total he played 96 matches for Oranje, in which he scored 37 goals.

Robben made his debut for the Dutch team on April 30, 2003, against Portugal, at the age of 19. He participated in three European Championships (2004, 2008, 2012) and three World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014). He finished second with the Dutch at the World Cup in 2010 and third in 2014.

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Pjanic has medical ahead of Barcelona move

(Xinhua)10:04, June 29, 2020

SARAJEVO, June 28 (Xinhua) — Juventus Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic underwent a medical in Turin on Sunday ahead of a switch to Barcelona, with Barcas Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo set to head the other way.

The agreement between the clubs is not a straight swap, with Arthur moving to Juve in a 70 million euro deal and Pjanic transferring to Barca for a fee of 60 million euros, making him Bosnias most expensive player of all time.

Pjanic did not travel to Barcelona for his medical because of restrictions on travel between Italy and Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The transfers are expected to be confirmed by June 30 for budgetary reasons.

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Chinas table tennis chief Liu Guoliang named WTT Council head

(Xinhua)13:44, June 29, 2020

SINGAPORE, June 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese table tennis chief Liu Guoliang has been tasked with promoting the sport on a global level, as World Table Tennis (WTT) named the former Olympic champion as its new head.

World Table Tennis (WTT) is honored to announce that Mr. Liu Guoliang, President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), will take the position as Chair of the newly formed WTT Council, for the purpose of taking the overall leadership and pioneering the future of table tennis, said a WTT statement.

WTT was set up by the ITTF in August 2019 with the aim of modernizing its commercial business activities and helping table tennis to compete with the worlds highest-profile sports.

WTT Council will ensure the healthy development of WTT and be at the helm of the future development of the sport, said the statement. Thus a true leader of the industry is needed to take the position and embark the journey towards a brighter future.

Mr. Liu Guoliang is an extremely well-respected leader within the world table tennis community, with perfect caliber and the richest of career achievements, added the statement.

After a stellar playing career, in which he won Olympic and World Championship gold medals, Liu has since overseen serial success as head coach of the Chinese national team and as CTTA President.

We believe that following his steps, the world table tennis community will strive for a common goal, fueling the WTT Council as well as our sport to the next level, said WTT.

Liu promised to make table tennis a leading sport on the globe.

Table tennis has enriched my life in so many ways and I have dedicated my life to this sport over many years, said the 44-year-old. Therefore, I am immensely proud and honored to have the opportunity to lead the WTT Council and help to make table tennis one of the leading sports in the world.

ITTF Deputy President Khalil Al-Mohannadi hailed Liu an undisputed table tennis legend for what he has achieved both as a player, a coach and as the chief of the worlds leading national association.

His CV speaks for itself and we firmly believe that he is the perfect man to help deliver success to WTT and to table tennis for many years to come, said Al-Mohannadi, also a WTT Board member.

ITTF CEO and WTT Director Steve Dainton admitted that the WTT would take advantage of Lius influence to promote table tennis in the world.

For the success of WTT and table tennis as a whole, it is imperative that we have people of the highest order actively involved in shaping the future of our sport, said Dainton.

The fact that Liu Guoliang is the most influential figure in table tennis, not only in China but around the globe, positions him perfectly as Chair of the WTT Council.

We certainly hope to take advantage of his reputation and influence for the global promotion of table tennis, and make it especially appealing to the younger generations.

The whole sports industry is in the shadow of the pandemic, and we place our hope in Liu Guoliang to spark the future of our sport. This appointment is fantastic news for the entire table tennis family, added Dainton.

The WTT Council will consist of the key participants of world table tennis, including current and former players, crucial contributors for world table tennis, event hosts and ITTF personnel.

The WTT Council will be the representative and governing body of WTT towards the public and the market. It serves to represent the views of all key table tennis participants in the world and ensure that everyones voice is heard and that everyone is on the journey together, according to the WTT statement.

The remaining members of the WTT Council will be announced shortly, said the statement.

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Pirlo to take charge of Juventus U-23 team

(Xinhua)15:31, June 30, 2020

ROME, June 30 (Xinhua) — Former Juventus player Andrea Pirlo will return to the club as coach of their U-23 side in the third-tier Serie C league, multiple Italian media outlets reported.

Following a hugely successful ten-year spell with AC Milan, Pirlo joined Juventus in 2011 and won four consecutive Serie A titles with the Old Lady. Pirlo retired from playing in November 2017 after a stint at New York City FC, and began his coaching qualifications shortly afterwards.

Sky Sports Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio said the former midfielder has accepted an offer from Juventus to replace current incumbent Fabio Pecchia, and will be joined by former teammate Roberto Baronio as his assistant manager.

At the weekend, Juventus U-23 won the Coppa Italia Serie C, their first piece of silverware. But despite the victory, Juventus have elected to replace Pecchia with managerial novice Pirlo ahead of the new season.

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Chinese Super League season to begin on July 25

(Xinhua)14:27, July 01, 2020

BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) — Chinas top football league, the Chinese Super League (CSL), will begin on July 25, the Chinese Football Association announced Wednesday.

The 2020 Chinese Super League campaign had been due to start on February 22 but was delayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

All league matches for the 2020 season will be played in Dalian and Suzhou under strict epidemic containment measures, said the CFA.