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sports Diamars 18 Januari 2022

Former NBA great Yao Ming addresses Peng Shuai, Olympics

(AP) — Former NBA great ty temple gatherings he went they watched a winter sports
Yao Ming said Monday he to as a child in Shanghai. exhibition.
and others had a pleasant talk
when they met last month “On that occasion, even with “We had a pleasant chat,” he
with Chinese tennis player the neighbors I had bickered said. “We asked many ques-
Peng Shuai, whose disap- with, I would nod my head tions about the game as we
pearance after making a sex- (in greeting),” he said. “Then were not familiar with snow
ual assault allegation against we went on with whatever sports.”
a former government official we needed to do. I think we
raised international concern. need more of this kind of At one point, it was unclear if
temple gathering.” he said Peng was OK. Some,
He also said it is unfortunate including the translator for
that Novak Djokovic won’t He also called sports a bridge the news conference, heard
play at the Australian Open for communication, saying her say “she was fine that
because of his COVID-19 there are sometimes colli- day,” but others thought Yao
vaccination status. But Yao sions on bridges, but “we said “we were all fine that
added that he isn’t qualified hope we can keep the bridge.” day.”
to judge Australia’s pandemic
policies. Peng, who won Grand Slam The International Olym-
titles in women’s doubles, pic Committee, which has
Yao, who played for the denied making the assault al- been pressured to move the But, he said, “speaking as a Freedom’s position, but that
Houston Rockets from 2002- legation to a Singapore news- Games from China because former athlete, I think it’s a “everyone receives informa-
11 and is now president of paper on the same day photos of human rights concerns, pity for a player to lose such tion from different channels
the Chinese Basketball As- of her with Yao and two for- came under further fire after an opportunity and for the and it may lead to different
sociation, used stories and mer Olympians were posted IOC President Thomas Bach spectators to lose an oppor- points of view.”
humor to deflect challenging on social media. The photos held a video call with Peng. tunity to enjoy watching the
questions at a news confer- appeared to be part of a cam- An IOC statement said that player’s skills.” Yao, who is 41, said society
ence to promote the Beijing paign to respond to interna- she assured Bach and others should embrace technology
Winter Olympics, which tional demands that Peng be that she was well. The former Rockets center because it brings more con-
open in 18 days. allowed to talk freely about also said he wants to invite venience and promotes com-
her situation. Regarding Djokovic, Yao said Boston Celtics center Enes munication. But he started
Asked about China’s rela- he is not familiar with Aus- Kanter Freedom, who has ar- his answer by saying, “If you
tions with the U.S., which Yao said that he has known tralia’s pandemic measures, gued for a boycott of the Bei- allow me to choose, I would
has announced a diplomatic Peng for about 20 years. The “so I’m not in a position to jing Olympics, to visit China rather go back to 10 years
boycott of the Beijing Games, four Chinese sports figures comment if he did right or to develop a deeper under- ago without these high tech-
Yao likened sporting and cul- were photographed on an wrong.” standing of the country. He nologies so I can move more
tural events to the communi- observation deck from where said he couldn’t comment on freely.”

Ex-champion Sofia Kenin out in 1st round of Australian Open

(AP) — Sofia Kenin was the round exit at Melbourne son who everyone respects ments, which he had to with-
Australian Open champion Park on Monday. The 11th- very much,” Kenin said of Sebastian Korda is part of a draw from. But Korda said he
in 2020, and made it to the fi- seeded Kenin was beaten by her WTA ranking status. long line of Australian Open was asymptomatic and was
nal of the French Open, too, 2017 U.S. Open runner-up “Obviously, it’s not the best champions of one sort or an- able to stay in shape and prep
that year, when she climbed Madison Keys 7-6 (2), 7-5 in news. ... But I don’t have a other. somewhat for the year’s first
to a career-high ranking of an all-American matchup. doubt I can get back there.” Slam because Tennis Aus-
No. 4. His father, Petr, won the tralia gave him some gym
“It’s not easy, but it’s just a Keys, also a former Top 10 Grand Slam tennis tourna- equipment “so I wouldn’t
She’s going to drop a lot number. It doesn’t change player who reached the Aus- ment in 1998; each of his just sit around and kind of do
closer to No. 100 after a first- who I am. I’m still that per- tralian Open semifinals in sisters, Nelly and Jessica, has nothing.”
2015, used 16 aces to extend won the LPGA golf event
her recent run of success: She that goes by the same name; Korda, who has been to the
is coming off a hard-court and Sebastian himself was fourth round at Wimbledon
title at Adelaide on Saturday. the junior champion at Mel- and the French Open, said he
bourne Park in 2018. didn’t feel rusty playing his
“Just some unforced errors first match of the new season.
and some forced errors -- be- Until Monday, Sebastian, a
cause Maddy forced them. 21-year-old American, never And Norrie, a left-hander
I was right there. It’s disap- had played in the main draw who won the hard-court ti-
pointing,” Kenin said. “It’s a of the Australian Open, opt- tle at Indian Wells last year,
little bit of a bummer.” ing to play lower-level Chal- didn’t think Korda looked
lenger Tour a year ago instead rusty, either.
Last season was difficult for of trying to qualify in Mel-
her: She was off the tour for bourne. His main-draw de- “Any time I had a chance to
the second half of the year but was quite a success Mon- kind of come back, he served
because of a foot injury and a day, a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 victory his way out of it,” Norrie
bout with COVID-19. over 12th-seeded Cam Nor- said. “And, yeah, on the big-
rie of Britain, who played ger points he was much bet-
Her ranking has remained as college tennis at TCU. ter than me.”
high as it has thanks in large
part to getting to hold onto “A lot of kind of history in the Norrie wasn’t exactly pleased
the points she earned by win- family here,” Korda said. with his own effort, though,
ning the trophy at the Austra- describing it as “maybe my
lian Open two years ago. But He tested positive for CO- worst match in the last eight
after a second-round loss in VID-19 when he arrived in months or so. Disappoint-
2021, she now departs even Australia intending to play ing.”
earlier. a couple of tune-up tourna-