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☆ Japan’s Yui Susaki: The first ‘grand slam’ wrestler in history aiming to dominate at Paris Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | Mayumi Maruyama | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —She only recently turned 25, but Yui Susaki is already a reigning Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, and is widely touted as the best pound-for-pound freestyle wrestler in the world. Yui Susaki celebrates with her coaches after winning gold in the Women's Freestyle 50kg final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Asahi Shimbun/Getty ImagesShe is also the first wrestler in history to achieve a “grand slam” in the sport – becoming world champion at U15s, U17s, U20s, U23s, senior and Olympic level. The Russian is the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s 74kg category. But the three-time world champion will not compete in Paris, focusing instead on his transition to mixed martial arts.

Persons: Yui Susaki, –, ” Susaki, Shoko Yoshimura, Susaki, ”, “, Zaurbek, I’ve, ” Sidakov, ” Yui Susaki, Sachiko Hotaka ‘, Mayu Mukaida, Risako Kawai, Yukako Kawai, Himari Semans Organizations: CNN, Paris, Games, ”, Tokyo Games, Asahi Shimbun, U15s, U17s, U20s, U23s, Olympic, Wrestling, Team Japan Locations: Tokyo, Paris, Chiba prefecture, Los Angeles, Brisbane, Dagestan, Russian, Niigata, Japan

☆ 10 biggest stories of the first week of the 2024 Summer Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Kyle Feldscher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

The 2024 Summer Olympics are heading into their second weekend, and it’s truly been one for the history books. Turkey's Yusuf Dikec competes in the shooting 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 30, 2024. Aleksandra Szmigiel/ReutersFrench athletes wave flags as they sail in a boat on the river Seine during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty ImagesFrance's Anthony Jeanjean competes in the Men's Cycling BMX Freestyle Park Final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 31, 2024. Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty ImagesVisitors take pictures of the Olympic cauldron as it rises high after sunse on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France.

Persons: it’s, Simone Biles ’, Léon, Simone Biles, Naomi Baker, she’s, Biles, Read, Léon Marchand, Gold, Leon Marchand, Quinn Rooney, he’s, Marchand, “, ”, Philippe Katerine, Dionysus, Katerine, ” Katerine, Anne, Christine Poujoulat, drenching, Cassandre Beaugrand, Alex Yee, New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde, Wilde, Yee, Novak, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Lorenzo Musetti, Clive Brunskill, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Djokovic, Nadal, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Ilona Maher, Maher, Andy Murray, Murray, American’s Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Dan Evans, Andy Murray’s, Kim Yeji, Charles McQuillan, there’s Yusuf Dikeç, Kim, Turkey's Yusuf Dikec, Alain Jocard, Dikeç, Imane Khelif, Angela Carini, dislodging, Carini, Mark Adams, ” Khelif, WADA, CHINADA –, Aleksandra Szmigiel, Franck Fife, Yoshimura Miho, Rwanda's Tufaha, Fabrice Coffrini, France's Anthony Jeanjean, Emmanuel Dunand, Maja Hitij, Amy Woodyatt, Patrick Sung, Gul Tuysuz, Jessie Yeung, Saskya Vandoorne, Ben Church, George Ramsay, Scottie Andrew, Chris Liakos, Simone McCarthy, Andrew McNicol, Kara Fox Organizations: Paris CNN, Paris Olympics, Olympic, Team United, Olympic Games, Bercy Arena, USA, Team France, Paris La Defense, La Défense, Games, CNN, Catholic, French Catholic Church, Paris, Getty, Wimbledon, US, rugby, Team USA, Australia, tennis Shooters, Team Republic of, Chateauroux Shooting, Olympic Committee, Tokyo, China’s, Doping Agency, Tokyo Games, Eiffel, Reuters, Palais Locations: Paris, France, Tokyo, Nanterre, French, AFP, Seine, New, Italy, Los Angeles, Team Republic of Korea, Chateauroux, South Korea, Turkey, Turkish, Beijing

☆ China doping controversy casts a shadow over Olympic swimming
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The global sports doping watchdog World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the assessment without an appeal. Concern only deepened Tuesday, after WADA acknowledged a separate 2022 case in which two Chinese swimmers tested positive for “trace amounts of a prohibited substance metandienone,” a banned anabolic steroid. “I feel so wronged,” said Zhang, denying that Chinese swimmers engaged in doping. The 2022 case, reported by the Times earlier this week, involves a swimmer on the Chinese roster in Paris, according to the paper. Personally, I believe that seven doping tests in one day might have disrupted our Chinese swimming team,” Gao wrote on Weibo.

Persons: Zhang Yufei, Zhang, ”, WADA, CHINADA –, Travis Tygart, “, it’s, CHINADA, Pan, Jonathan Nackstrand, China’s Pan Zhanle, Gao Min, Qin Haiyang’s, ” Gao, Yu Liang, they’ve Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Paris Olympics, Tokyo, China’s, Doping Agency, Tokyo Games, New York Times, ARD, Times, CNN, Getty, Aquatics, Paris Olympic, ’, China national, commentors Locations: Hong Kong, China, United States, Australia, Beijing, Paris, AFP, Tokyo, Weibo, France

Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars on July 30. Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesWith the first chapter of Simone Biles’ comeback at the Olympics already complete, the next is ready to be written. All this comes not long since Biles said she had considered walking away from gymnastics having experienced a mental block called “the twisties” at the Tokyo Olympics. “I started off with therapy this morning,” Biles said on Tuesday after the team event. I told my therapist I was feeling calm and ready.”She ended the day alone in the center of Paris’ Bercy Arena, completing her floor routine to rapturous applause.

Persons: Simone Biles, Jamie Squire, Simone Biles ’, Biles, “, ” Biles, Suni Lee Organizations: USA, Games, Tokyo, US, Paris ’ Locations: American, Paris

But, as events this week in Paris have once again shown, when it comes to women’s skating, Japan’s teenage girls are on fire. Fourteen-year-old Coco Yoshizawa’s late surge helped her beat compatriot Liz Akama, 15, to the gold medal at La Concorde Urban Park, Paris on Sunday. Sakura Yosozumi, then 19, and Kokona Hiraki, then 12, topped the 2021 Tokyo women’s park event. “Since there’s no age limit for skateboarding at the Olympics, any youngsters can compete,” Hiraki, the youngest Olympic medalist since 1936, told CNN in July. Lars Baron/Getty ImagesSkewing youngJapan aside, women’s skateboarding across both categories is dominated by teenage athletes.

Persons: Coco Yoshizawa’s, Liz Akama, ” Yoshizawa, Yuto Horigame, Jagger Eaton, Nyjah Huston, Horigame, Momoji Nishiya, Sakura Yosozumi, Kokona Hiraki, Brown, ” Hiraki, Julian Finney, ”, Junnosuke Yonesaka, Yonesaka, “, ” Akama, Lars Baron, Rayssa Leal, Cui Chenxi, Zhang Haohao, ’, China’s, Mazel Paris Alegado, Trew, Hiraki –, –, it’s Organizations: CNN, Team Japan, Concorde Urban, “, Paris Olympics, Tokyo Games, Urban Sports, Olympic, Concorde, Getty, Japan, Association, Paris, Asian Games Locations: Japan, Paris, Tokyo, France, China, Philippines

☆ Argentina vs. Morocco: Mascherano slams ‘circus’ as chaos descends on Paris Olympics opener
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The chaos kicked off in the final moments of a lengthy added time, when Argentina’s Cristian Medina headed home in the 106th minute to apparently tie the game at 2-2 - sending Argentina players and fans into raptures. Match broadcasts showed some celebrating Argentina players ducking to avoid objects being thrown by fans toward the pitch, while some Morocco supporters entered the field. “It’s the biggest circus I’ve ever seen in my life,” Argentina coach Javier Mascherano said after the game, according to Reuters. It’s not a neighborhood tournament, it’s the Olympics.”CNN has reached out to the IOC and soccer’s world governing body FIFA for comment. Men’s soccer at the Olympics is played by under-23 teams, with three overage players allowed in each squad.

Persons: Javier Mascherano, ” Soufiane Rahimi, Etienne’s Stade Geoffroy, Guichard, Argentina’s Giuliano Simeone, Argentina’s Cristian Medina, ducking, “, ” Mascherano, It’s, ”, Lionel Messi, aren’t, Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Otamendi Organizations: CNN, Morocco, Paris Summer, Saint, Argentina, raptures, ”, Reuters, ” CNN, IOC, FIFA, Manchester City, Games Locations: Argentina, Morocco, ” Argentina, Liverpool, Barcelona, Paris

☆ French players make history with top two picks in 2024 NBA Draft
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Washington Wizards took fellow Frenchman Alexandre Sarr with the second overall pick. “He gave me all his knowledge to this day, and it’s really special to have someone like him in my corner.”Two more French players featured in the draft’s top 30. With the sixth overall pick, the Charlotte Hornets selected 18-year-old power forward Tidjane Salaun, while the New York Knicks picked Pancome Dadiet in 25th. France has had a handful of prominent faces in the league’s history, most notably four-time NBA champion Tony Parker and two-time NBA All-Star Joakim Noah. Excluding the new draftees, there are a total of 10 active French players in the NBA.

Persons: Frenchman, Victor Wembanyama’s, Zaccharie Risacher, JL, “, ” Risacher, Frenchman Alexandre Sarr, Alex Sarr, Timothy A, Clary, Olivier, ”, Sarr, it’s, Salaun, Pancome Dadiet, Tidjane Salaun, Sarah Stier, Melvin Ajinca, Armel Traore, “ Wemby ”, Rudy Gobert, Tony Parker, Joakim Noah Organizations: CNN —, NBA, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, ESPN, Washington Wizards, Perth, Australian National Basketball League, NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Spurs, France, Minnesota Timberwolves Locations: CNN — France, Brooklyn , New York, Bresse, France

☆ Zaccharie Risacher: French players make history with top two picks in 2024 NBA Draft
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Atlanta Hawks took compatriot Zaccharie Risacher as the top pick this year at the event in Brooklyn, New York. The Washington Wizards took fellow Frenchman Alexandre Sarr with the second overall pick. “He gave me all his knowledge to this day, and it’s really special to have someone like him in my corner.”Two more French players featured in the draft’s top 30. With the sixth overall pick, the Charlotte Hornets selected 18-year-old power forward Tidjane Salaun, while the New York Knicks picked Pancome Dadiet in 25th. Excluding the new draftees, there are a total of 10 active French players in the NBA.

Millions around the world caught a glimpse of the North Korean men’s team in two World Cups. The secrecy surrounding the North Korean national team was also evident in the case of star player Han Kwang Song. Carl Recine/Action Images/ReutersEarning respectWhen An joined the North Korean national team upon receiving a call-up letter in 2002, he remembers not being immediately accepted by teammates. To be accepted by the squad, newcomer An had to prove himself to the other North Korean players. Although, as fate would have it, An met his former teammate and current manager of the North Korean national team, Sin Yong Nam, last March.

Persons: –, Yong Hak, Han Kwang, Han, “, ”, Yong, Son Heung, Pak Kwang, Choe, I’ll, ” Han, Yong Nam, ‘ It’s, ’ ”, “ Han’s, ‘, …, Kim Jong Hun, Jong Tae, Philip Fong, Kim, Jong Tae Se, Carl Recine, didn’t, Sin Yong Nam, Sin Organizations: CNN, Korean men’s, CNN Sport, North, Korean, Juventus, Qatari, Al, UN, North Korean, –, SC, Cagliari, South, Tottenham Hotspur, Radio Free Asia, Tokyo's, Getty, Portugal, DPRK, Thailand Locations: North Korea’s, East, Italy, Middlesbrough, England, South Africa, Portugal, North Korean, Japan, Qatar, North Korea, Myanmar, China, Pyongyang, South Korea, Austria, Tokyo, DPRK, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Korean, AFP, Korea

☆ Faisal Halim: Acid attack leaves Malaysia soccer star in ‘critical but stable condition,’ officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Heather Chen | Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A star player for Malaysia’s soccer team is in “critical but stable condition” after an acid attack that left him with fourth-degree burns, officials said late Tuesday. Malaysian soccer officials said Faisal Halim’s movement and speech had been affected and he would require more surgery. Halim, who plays as an attacker for Selangor Football Club as well as Malaysia’s national team, was taken to a nearby private hospital in the capital, while still conscious. He had suffered severe burns to his face, neck, shoulders, hands and chest, officials add. Specialist doctors on Tuesday concluded that Halim had suffered fourth-degree burns, not second-degree burns as previously thought, said officials from the Football Association of Selangor.

Persons: Faisal Halim’s, Halim, “ Faisal, Mokhtar, “, ” Mokhtar, –, Akhyar Rashid, Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, ” Halim Organizations: CNN, Malaysian, Selangor Football Club, Football Association of Selangor, Motive, Football Association of Malaysia, Malaysia’s, AFC Asian, Qatar —, South, Kyrgyzstan, Selangor, Malaysia, Liga Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian, Malaysia, Halim, Qatar, South Korea

☆ Gukesh Dommaraju: Indian teenager becomes youngest challenger for world chess title, will face reigning champion from China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Teenage Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, better known as Gukesh D, became the youngest player to claim the men’s Candidates Tournament in Toronto, Canada Sunday. The 17-year-old grandmaster’s win sets up an opportunity to dethrone reigning world champion Ding Liren of China at the 2024 World Chess Championship later this year. Gukesh is set to become the youngest player ever to challenge for a world chess title. China’s Tan Zhongyi won the women’s Challenger category to qualify for a world title match against compatriot and reigning world champion Ju Wenjun – date also unknown. Gukesh is the second Indian to play in a world championship after legendary Indian player Viswanathan “Vishy” Anand.

Persons: Gukesh Dommaraju, Ding Liren, Ding, Garry Kasparov’s, Gukesh, Hikaru Nakamura, “, ” Gukesh, ”, Kasparov, ” Kasparov, Narendra Modi, Gukesh’s, Magnus Carlsen, China’s Tan Zhongyi, Ju, Rameshbabu, Carlsen, “ Pragg, Viswanathan “ Vishy ” Anand, Anand, “ I’m, ” Anand Organizations: CNN, International Chess Federation, FIDE, Indian Locations: Toronto, Canada, China, Russian, Asia, Britain, India, Vaishali

☆ Chinese runner’s win invites suspicion after rivals appear to step aside
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Chinese runner He Jie’s victory Sunday in the Beijing Half Marathon is facing a probe after his win was called into question by Chinese internet users because a trio of African runners appeared to deliberately slow down to let him win. The Chinese runner crossed the finish line in 1:03:44 to claim the $5,500 first prize, with the African trio just one second behind in joint-second place. The video clip shows the African runners applauding He’s win and patting him on the back, though the Asian Games marathon champion appears less enthused despite winning his first ever competitive half marathon. Some Chinese internet users called for an investigation into the race, while others demanded action from organizers. He is ranked 77th in the world in men’s marathon by World Athletics and is expected to lead the way for Asian runners in the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Persons: Kenya’s Willy Mnangat, Robert Keter, Ethiopia’s, He’s, patting, “, ”, ” Xstep, It’s, Mark Dreyer, That’s, “ It’s, Jie, ” Dreyer Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Asian Games, Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, Chinese Athletics Association, CNN, Sporting, World Athletics Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Kenya, Weibo, China’s Ningxia

☆ Akebono: Pioneering US-born sumo wrestling champion dies aged 54
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Tokyo CNN —Pioneering US-born former sumo wrestling champion Akebono has died, his family announced in a statement Thursday. Widely considered to have blazed a trail for other foreign sumo wrestlers, the 54-year-old died of heart failure at a hospital in Japan. Born Chad George Ha’aheo Rowan in Hawaii, Akebono became the first non-Japanese yokozuna – a sumo grand champion, the highest rank in the sport. According to the Japan Sumo Association, Akebono was rushed to hospital after a wrestling match in 2017 and had been unwell ever since. I was talking with him about meeting under a tree in Hawaii with all our fellow sumo wrestlers when we grew older.

Persons: Akebono, Chad George Ha’aheo Rowan, –, Akebono Taro, “, Akebono “, Rahm Emanuel, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Masaru Hanada, ” Hanada, I’m, ” Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, Yokozuna, Japan Sumo Association, Twitter, Japanese Olympic Committee, Nagano, Japan’s Locations: Japan, Hawaii, Tokyo, United States, ”, Washington, I’ll

CNN —Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in said on Wednesday that he apologized to Tottenham Hotspur forward and South Korea captain Son Heung-min in person in London after a brawl took place between them at the Asian Cup this month. The pair clashed about playing table tennis while on international duty with South Korea ahead of the team’s 2-0 loss to Jordan in the Asian Cup semifinal on February 6. A television screen in Seoul, South Korea, shows the image of the pair that Son shared on Instagram. “So even if I were to face the same situation again, I would act for the sake of the team,” Son added. The Taegeuk Warriors scraped through to the Asian Cup semifinals, despite only winning one game in regulation time during the competition, before being upset by Jordan.

Persons: Germain, Lee Kang, Son Heung, Jordan, ”, Son, Ian Walton, Kim, Lee “, ” Kim, Lee, Heung, ” Lee, Lee’s, Instagram, Jung Yeon, Kang, ” Son, “, “ Kang, Karim Jaafar, Jürgen Klinsmann Organizations: CNN, Paris Saint, Tottenham Hotspur, South, Korean national football, Korea Football Association, Athletic, Yonhap News Agency, English Premier League, Brighton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham, South Korea, Instagram, Getty, South Korean, Taegeuk Warriors, Qatar Locations: South Korea, London, Seoul, AFP, Jordan

☆ Pan Zhanle: Chinese teenager breaks 100m freestyle world record at World Championships
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —China’s 19-year-old swimming phenom, Pan Zhanle, recorded the fastest 100 meters in history on Sunday as he smashed the men’s freestyle world record and established himself as the pacesetter ahead of the forthcoming Paris Olympics. “Breaking the world record just came naturally. Chinese men's 4x100 meter freestyle world championship gold medallists Wang Haoyu, Zhang Zhanshuo, Ji Xinjie and Pan Zhanle. Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesPan is the first Chinese male to hold the world record in the event. The two other Chinese world record holders in history are Zhang Lin, whose 800m freestyle swim from 2009 still stands, while controversial compatriot Sun Yang has held the 1,500m freestyle since 2012.

Persons: CNN —, Pan Zhanle, Pan, David Popovici, –, “, ” Pan, Wang Haoyu, Zhang Zhanshuo, Ji Xinjie, Zhanle, Ian MacNicol, Zhang, Qin Haiyan, Zhang Lin, Sun Yang Organizations: CNN Locations: Paris, Doha, Romanian, Zhejiang, Fukuoka, Japan, China, Italy

☆ Jessie Lingard: Former Manchester United star makes shock move to South Korea’s FC Seoul
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Gawon Bae | Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has signed for South Korea’s FC Seoul in a surprise move that ends the England international’s months-long search for a new club. He also impressed for England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where the team reached the semi-finals. Following a successful loan spell with Premier League side West Ham in 2021, Lingard made a permanent transfer to newly promoted Forest, becoming the team’s highest-paid player. FC Seoul, South Korea’s oldest professional club, finished seventh in the top division last year. The new K League season begins next month, when Lingard could make his debut in FC Seoul’s clash with Gwangju FC on March 2.

Persons: Jesse Lingard, Lingard, ” Lingard, ” Organizations: South Korea CNN — Former Manchester United, South Korea’s FC Seoul, FC Seoul, K League, English Premier League, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, UEFA Europa League, England, Premier League, West, FC Seoul’s, Gwangju FC Locations: Seoul, South Korea, England, Korea, Russia, Old Trafford, yesteryear, West Ham, South

☆ Lionel Messi no-show ignites booing and calls for refunds at Inter Miami match in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —Thousands of soccer fans in Hong Kong were left disappointed when Argentine superstar Lionel Messi failed to take to the field in a friendly match for Inter Miami on Sunday. What started with overwhelming cheers and rapture ended in boos and calls for refunds in the sold-out, 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium. Inter Miami — out to prove a point having gone winless during a worldwide pre-season tour — comfortably defeated a Hong Kong XI 4-1 in an event branded as Tatler XFEST Hong Kong. According to Reuters, tickets went on sale in December and cost between 880 and 4,880 Hong Kong dollars (about $113 and $624). “This whole Messi in Hong Kong thing has been building up for quite some time.

Persons: Lionel Messi, —, Messi, Ballon, Hong, “ Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Louise Delmotte, David Beckham, Messi ”, ”, XFEST, Suárez, “, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Leo, Luis, ” Martino, apologetically, Hong Kong, “ Leo, Suarez, ” Suárez, Martino, Yapp Hung, Yapp, Messi superfan Christer Leung, ” Leung, Lionel, Lam Yik, Reuters “ Messi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Argentine, Inter Miami, Hong Kong Stadium, Inter Miami —, Hong, Reuters, CNN, Miami, Al, MLS, Major League Soccer, Hong Kong XI, fai, Messi, Argentina, ’, Inter, USA, Sports, Ardent, Argentina national, Australia, Nigeria, Vissel Kobe Locations: Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, America, China, Beijing, Argentina, Ivory Coast, Hangzhou, Japan

☆ Kamila Valieva ban: US figure skaters awarded gold for 2022 Beijing Olympics after Russian skater disqualified
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The United States Figure Skating team will receive a gold medal for their team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, after Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was handed a four-year ban Monday over a long-running doping controversy. Valieva, now 17, had led the Russian Olympic Committee to first place in the team event ahead of the US and Japan — before her doping test came back positive for performance-enhancing substance trimetazidine. CNN Sport has contacted the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Russian Olympic Committee for further comment. Even with the latest news of Valieva’s ban, Alexander Kogan, director general of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, said that he still views his athletes to be the champions in the team event. In its Monday announcement, CAS said that the decision to ban Valieva for four years is “final and binding,” explaining that the parties can appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal “within 30 days on limited grounds.”

Persons: Kamila Valieva, Japan —, Valieva, ”, Sarah Hirschland “, Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim, Vincent Zhou, Alexander Kogan Organizations: CNN, United, Skating, Russian Olympic Committee, Olympic, Paralympic, IOC, International Olympic Committee, International Skating, CNN Sport, Japanese Olympic Committee, Swiss Federal Locations: United States, Japan, Canada, Beijing

CNN —After more than three years of going missing from world soccer, North Korean striker Han Kwang Song has reappeared, playing for his country in two recent World Cup qualifiers and scoring in the 6-1 win over Myanmar on Tuesday. Attempting to qualify for the World Cup for a third time, North Korea lost 1-0. The North Korea football federation, the Asian Football Confederation and world soccer governing body FIFA didn’t respond to CNN’s request for comment on Han’s return to international football. The return of the North Korean wunderkind has surprised soccer pundits and fans, who worried about his safety and promising career being cut short. The Covid-19 pandemic led to North Korea fully sealing its borders, making it impossible for Han and fellow repatriated North Korean nationals to return home.

Persons: Han Kwang, Han, Duhail, –, Korean wunderkind, Max Canzi, ” Canzi, Han’s, Nicholas Pennington, Kwang, Choe, Pölten, Alberto Mier, Qatar’s, ”, Kim Jong, Kim, Tullio M Organizations: CNN, North, Myanmar, North Korean, Qatar, Al, Asian Football Confederation, FIFA, Korean, Serie, CNN Sport, Syria, Cagliari, Austria’s SKN, Italy’s, UN, Juventus, United Nations Security Council, Qatar Stars, Qatar Stars League, UNSC, Qatar Airways, Perugia, Getty, Tokyo, Beijing Winter Games, International Olympic Committee Locations: North Korean, Syria, Saudi Arabian, Jeddah, North Korea, Yangon, Rome, Qatar, Korean, Pyongyang, Myanmar, Austria’s SKN St, Arezzo, Qatari, Korea, Ahli, Doha, Puglia, Beijing, Asia

☆ Jeremy Lin: Basketball star revels in Taiwan homecoming with younger brother playing on same team
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Former NBA sensation Jeremy Lin launched a “dream” 14th professional basketball season by playing alongside his younger brother last week in Taiwan, the island his parents left to emigrate to the United States. While playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League amid the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Lin claimed he had been called “coronavirus” on court. By the end of the year, Lin had moved to the Chinese Basketball Association’s Beijing Ducks, and later the Guangzhou Loong Lions, in a chapter that was somewhat soured by the country’s strict pandemic regulations. Matt Beyer, co-founder and CEO of East Asia Super League and former agent for Chinese NBA trailblazer Yi Jianlian, said the impact of Lin’s presence in the region could not be underestimated. To have him now playing in the East Asia Super League is a huge draw for the fans.”

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Jeremy Lin, –, Joseph Lin, Lin, ”, Joseph, Matt Beyer, Yi Jianlian, ” Beyer, ‘ you’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — Former NBA, New, New Taipei City, South Korea’s SK Knights, Asian Super League, Fubon Braves, New York Knicks, NBA, Toronto Raptors, Santa Cruz Warriors, League, Asian, Basketball Association’s Beijing Ducks, Guangzhou Loong Lions, Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Steelers, East Asia Super League, Harvard, East Asia Super Locations: Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States, New Taipei, New Taipei Kings, Taiwan’s, California, Taipei, China

☆ South Korea breakdancing: Korean b-boys eye Asian Games and Olympic gold
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

South Korean breakdancing team Jinjo Crew at the World K-pop Concert in 2021. Jeon Jiye, or b-girl Fresh Bella, will feature for the South Korean delegation at the Asian Games. The veteran, from the legendary Jinjo Crew, is a multiple world champion and Asian Games gold medal contender. There is added motivation after the country’s emphatic success in fellow Asian Games debutant, esports. “At the Asian Games, we will see all of this.

Persons: John Jay Chon, Breakdancing, Seo, –, United States –, Ronald Reagan’s, Han Myung, breakdancing, “, ”, Jeon Jiye, Fresh Bella, Jiang Han, Kim Heon, Korea’s, Kim, esports, We’ve, ” Kim, ” Kim Heonwoo, ’, Kwon Jang, Kwon, ” Kwon, we’re, We’re, Chen Po Chun, Chen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Korean, South, Asian, Summer, South Korean, World, Games, CNN, Getty, Asian Games, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Korea’s, Korean, American, South Korea, United States, Korea, Hangzhou, China, Paris, Bronx, Xinhua, South, Seoul, United Kingdom, Asia, Japan, somebodies

Beijing CNN —A decade ago, Zhang Weili was handing out flyers to rushing commuters in front of her local subway station. Zhang, born in China’s northern Hebei province, is her country’s first and only champion in US-based promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Our preparations and tactics were spot on,” Zhang told CNN from Black Tiger Fight Club in Beijing. The Black Tiger Fight Club MMA gym in Beijing is where China's first and only UFC champion, Zhang Weili, trains. The Black Tiger Fight Club training area in Beijing, China.

Persons: Beijing CNN —, Zhang Weili, she’s, Zhang, Brazil’s Amanda Lemos, Joe Rogan, ” Zhang, “, Mengchen Zhang, Rose Namajunas, Namajunas, won’t, ”, CNN Bruce Lee, Bruce Lee, Cai Xuejun, ’, gesturing, didn’t Organizations: Beijing CNN, UFC, CNN, Black Tiger Fight Club, Fight Club, Fight, MMA Locations: Beijing, China’s, Hebei, “, Lemos, China, Lithuanian, Jacksonville , Florida

☆ Cui Chenxi: Teen skateboarder becomes China's youngest Asian Games gold medalist
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Thirteen-year-old Cui Chenxi of China clinched gold in women’s skateboarding at the Asian Games on Wednesday, becoming the country’s youngest gold medalist as teenage girls continue to dominate the sport. The street event requires competitors to perform tricks on a track scattered with stairs, rails, ramps, benches and more. While the men’s sport tends to be dominated by athletes in their late teens or early twenties, women’s skateboarding has skewed increasingly younger. China's Cui Chenxi competes in the final of the women's street skateboarding event during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Meanwhile in the street event, Momiji Nishiya became Japan’s youngest-ever Olympic champion at 13, while 13-year-old Rayssa Leal of Brazil finished second and 16-year-old Nakayama third.

Persons: Cui Chenxi, Cui, ” Cui, ”, Zeng Wenhui, Ito Miyu, Japan, Funa Nakayama, China's Cui Chenxi, Hector Retamal, ” Cui’s, Alegado, Margielyn Didal, Didal, I’m, Japan’s Hinano, Li Yujuan, Mao Jiasi, Li, Sakura Yosozumi, Kokona Hiraki, Brown, Momiji Nishiya, Rayssa Leal, Nakayama Organizations: CNN, Asian Games, Reuters, Roller Sports, Paris Olympics, Games, Olympic, Getty, Weibo, Japan’s, Brazil Locations: China, Shandong, Hangzhou, Jakarta, Indonesia, Lausanne, Tokyo, AFP, Philippines

☆ Japan in tears after first ever win against European team in FIBA World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Japanese players and fans were left in tears after the country claimed its first ever victory against European opponents in the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Sunday. It was Japan’s first World Cup win in 17 years – its last came as host nation against Panama at the then-named FIBA World Championship in 2006. Japan lost all five of its group games at the postponed 2019 World Cup held in China. The 2023 FIBA World Cup is co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia – the first time multiple nations have hosted the event. The FIBA World Cup runs until September 10.

Persons: Yuta Watanabe, League’s Yudai Baba, Josh Hawkinson, 5’7, Yuki Kawamura, Tom Hovasse, Japan's, Hiro Komae, ” Hovasse, Stephen Curry ”, Japan's Yuta Watanabe, Kyle Anderson Organizations: CNN, FIBA Basketball, Finland, Phoenix Suns, NBA, Panama, FIBA, Keisei Tominaga, Germany, Okinawa Arena, Kyodo, Getty, Japan, Indonesia – Locations: Japan, Okinawa, US, China, Asia, Finland, Australia, Oceania, Serbia, Philippines, Indonesia

☆ China was once a women’s soccer superpower. This year’s World Cup is a first step in reclaiming that status
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Simone Mccarthy Andrew Mcnicol Candice Zhu Cnn | Simone Mccarthy | Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The rapid development of women’s soccer programs across Europe and the Americas has fielded a new generation of powerful teams-to-beat. I hope through these matches, we can form a clearer picture of the current position of Chinese women’s soccer,” she told state media earlier this month. China scores against New Zealand during a group match at the 1991 Women's World Cup in Guangzhou. That’s even as more than thirty years ago, when China hosted the first ever-women’s World Cup in its southeastern Guangdong province. But as norms change, seeing China’s women’s team competing on the world stage at events like the World Cup would also “inspire girls” to play, Peng added.

Persons: Shui, ”, Xiao Yuyi, Rajanish, Xi, –, China's Zhang Ouying, Carla Overbeck, Vincent Laforet, Wang Shuang, Germain, Zhang Linyan, Chan Yuen Ting, Chen guo, Chan, Denmark’s Amalie Vangsgaard, Zhang, they’d, China's, Gary Day, William Bi, “, it’s, Qi Peng, China’s, Peng Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, AFC Asian, womens, FIFA, Americas, Roses, Denmark, Haiti, AFC, Asian, America, Rose Bowl, Veterans, Paris Saint, Swiss, Grasshopper Club, League, Jiangsu, CNN, New Zealand, Sports, AP Soccer, Xi, Sport Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Europe, China, England, South Korea, Mumbai, India, Pasadena , California, France, “, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Beijing

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