Day: July 8, 2020

(Xinhua)10:13, July 08, 2020

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 7 (Xinhua) — Beijing Guoans Brazil international midfielder Renato Augusto has returned to China as he prepares for the start of the Chinese Super League season.

The 32-year-old will observe a mandatory two-week quarantine before he can resume training with his Beijing Guoan teammates, according to Brazils Globo Esporte news service.

Renato, who joined Beijing Guoan in 2016, has spent the past seven months away from China because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He traveled to Brazil in December following the completion of the 2019 season and then joined his Beijing teammates for pre-season training in Spain in January.

However, travel restrictions prevented the former Flamengo, Bayer Leverkusen and Corinthians playmaker from returning to China and he has spent the past four and a half months training alone in Brazil.

The Chinese Super League season will begin on July 25, almost five months after its scheduled start.

Beijing Guoan finished second in the 2019 Chinese Super League table, two points behind champions Guangzhou Evergrande.

(Xinhua)09:58, July 03, 2020

BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) — The Beijing Winter Olympics organizers released a small program on Wechat on Thursday to attract the public to participate in low-carbon action actively and contribute to the low-carbon Winter Olympics.

The Low Carbon Winter Olympics program uses digital technical means and scientific calculation methods to record the users low-carbon behavior in daily life comprehensively.

Users can obtain carbon points, low-carbon talent and other honorary medals by uploading information through screenshots, authorized WeChat steps, self punch confirmation, Winter Olympics knowledge answering and low-carbon behavior photo recording, and exchange carbon points for corresponding awards while practicing low-carbon behaviors such as green travel, garbage classification.

In the follow-up period of the preparation of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, the organizers will continue to enrich the functions and usability methods of the program in combination with the preparation process of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, timely carry out online and offline promotion activities, continuously improve the use efficiency of carbon points, attract the whole society to play with the program, and strive to become a low-carbon life talent.

The organizers will also continue to strengthen communication and cooperation, as well as strive to promote the implementation of low-carbon energy, low-carbon venues, low-carbon transportation, and show the world Chinas efforts and achievements in actively responding to climate change.

(Xinhua)16:01, July 03, 2020

MADRID, July 3 (Xinhua) — Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has reportedly brought a halt to his contract renewal talks and is ready to leave the club when his current deal expires in 2021.

Messi is angry with Barcelonas front office about leaked media reports that appeared to make him seem responsible for events at the club, including the January sacking of coach Ernesto Valverde, and that he is frustrated about the squads lack of quality, according to a report from Spanish radio network Cadena Ser.

Messi and his father had begun discussing renewing his last deal with the club, which was signed in 2017, but they no longer wish to advance the negotiation, the report said.

Messi, who turned 33 last month, has put together an incredible career at Barcelona, winning the Ballon dOr six times. He scored his 700th career goal Tuesday in a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid.

However, his individual contribution has not been enough to carry Barcelona, as the club sits second, four points behind rivals Real Madrid, with five games to play.

Previously known for his shy personality off the pitch, the superstar has become more vocal in his criticism of the club over the past year.

In a February interview with newspaper Mundo Deportivo, he declared the team were not good enough to win this seasons Champions League. And in April, he criticized the board for implying players were not willing to accept a pay-cut to help ease the teams financial difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic.

(Xinhua)10:16, July 05, 2020

BERLIN, July 4 (Xinhua) — Robert Lewandowskis brace helped Bayern Munich to overpower Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 in the DFB Cup final to clinch their second piece of silverware of the 2019-2020 season on Saturday.

The German record champions snatched their 20th German Cup title while the Werkself lifted their last title in 1993.

Bayern took the reins from the start in the 77th German Cup final and came across several half chances in the opening stages as Lewandowski and Joshua Kimmich tested Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.

With ten minutes gone, Bayern produced the first promising chance of the game but Kingsley Coman, who had all the time and space, shot into the arms of Hradecky from inside the box.

The Bavarians efforts paid off with 16 minutes played as David Alaba opened the scoring with curling a free kick over the wall to beat Hradecky into the top right corner.

Hradecky had his hands full as Serge Gnabry unleashed a hammer from 14 meters.

The German international remained in the thick of things as he doubled the lead moments later after finishing off a counter attack with a low shot into the far post corner in the 24th minute.

Leverkusen tried to respond but all their opportunities were either ruled offside or neutralized by Bayerns well positioned defense.

After the restart, Leverkusen head coach Peter Bosz made amendments and fielded Kerem Demirbay and Kevin Volland.

Volland almost rewarded Bosz for his substitutions but the German international wasted a golden chance after missing a square pass with just Bayern custodian Manuel Neuer to beat in the 57th minute.

Bayern punished Leverkusens wastefulness two minutes later after Hradecky fumbled Lewandowskis long-range effort into his own goal to make it 3-0 on the scoreboard.

Leverkusen kept trying to fight back and were able to reduce the arrears in the 64th minute when Sven Bender nodded home a corner at the back post.

Peter Bosz men grew in confidence but Bayern showed no mercy and killed Leverkusens hopes of a comeback in the 89th minute after Ivan Perisic set up Lewandowski, who chipped the ball over the onrushing Hradecky for his overall seventh goal in a German Cup final.

Kai Havertz penalty in stoppage time could not save Leverkusen from defeat.

Bayern Munich reaped their 13th domestic double and 50th national title overall.

It is our 50th national title and that is the most important thing today. After we established a three-goal lead we retracted a bit too much but we were lucky that Leverkusen lacked in accuracy in front of the target. Otherwise it would have been an exciting second half, said Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

(Xinhua)10:37, July 05, 2020

BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) — Chinese badmintons Super Dan Lin Dan announced his retirement on social media on Saturday, ending his illustrious 20-year national team career.

From 2000 to 2020, after 20 years, I have to say goodbye to the national team. It is very difficult to say it out loud, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion said on Weibo, Chinas twitter-like social media.

Being 37 years old, my physical condition and injuries no longer allow me fight alongside my teammates. There is gratitude, reluctance and frustration. In the days to come, I hope to spend more time with my family, and I will also look for a new competition, Lin added.

After going through four Olympic cycles, I have never thought about leaving, nor would I want to think about it. I dedicated everything to the sport I love. Persistence is the word I told myself in every suffering moment in order to keep my career longer. Rather than simply pursuing rankings as a young shuttler, Im challenging my physical limits as an old athlete under the sports spirit of never giving up.

Lin thanked the country, his coaches, family and fans for the support during his career. My thanks also go to my excellent opponents who inspired me.

The rivalry between Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Lin was believed by many as the greatest in mens singles history.

Lee, who announced his retirement last June due to health reasons, called Lin the greatest opponent on Weibo after Lin posted his announcement. Please believe that all the laughter, tears and promises are a unforgettable diary. My greatest opponent. Proud of you.

Indonesian prodigy Taufik Hidayat, Danish legend Peter Gade, Lee and Lin were deemed the Top Four Kings of the badminton world. We three are missing you for a long time! wrote Lee.

Lin had a lackluster performance entering the Tokyo Olympic cycle and also encountered many challenges in the Olympic qualification process. The hope of gaining a ticket to Tokyo is slim, but the 37-year-old didnt give up and still trained hard for his goal of reaching his fifth Olympic Games. However, the Tokyo Olympic Games was postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, further casting a shadow on Lins journey to Tokyo.

After this years All England Open, Lin continues to train with the Chinese national team in Sichuan province. However world badminton tournaments restart plan has changed repeatedly and his injury is still lingering, Lin feels that it is more and more difficult to continue training, and eventually made the decision to retire, Chinese Badminton Association said in a statement.

Zhang Jun, president of the Chinese Badminton Association, expressed his thanks to Lin for his contribution to the Chinese badminton team.

Over the years, Lins performance in training and competition, and his achievements, have proved that he is an excellent athlete. I hope that Lins new life after retirement will go well, and I hope he will not stay away from badminton and continue to work hard to promote badminton in a new way.