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  <title><![CDATA[Shanghai Daily: Sports]]></title> 
  <link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/</link> 
  <description><![CDATA[Shanghai Daily Sports]]></description> 
  <language>en</language>
  <copyright><![CDATA[Copyright 2001-2021 Shanghai Daily Publishing House]]></copyright>
  <webMaster><![CDATA[ShanghaiDaily]]></webMaster>
  
    
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/Shanghai-hosts-Longines-Global-Champions-Tour-with-top-riders/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Shanghai hosts Longines Global Champions Tour with top riders</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:48 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Zhu Yile]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Looking for something unforgettable this May holiday? The Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Center is set to become one of the city’s hottest must-visit landmarks!]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Looking for something unforgettable this May holiday? The Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Center is set to become one of the city’s hottest must-visit landmarks!From May 2 to 4, the 2025 Shanghai Longines Global Champions Tour will take over the venue with all the pomp and pageantry you’d expect from the world’s top show jumping event.Recognized as a five-star show jumping competition under the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), it’s the highest-level and most internationally influential equestrian event ever held in the Chinese mainland-and a true visual spectacle!Matches on May 2 and 3 include both daytime and nighttime sessions.The highlight on May 2’s night session? The second round of the Global Champions League (GCL), with riders facing 1.60-meter-high jumps — a feat only about 100 horses worldwide can conquer.On May 4, the prestigious Longines Grand Prix — also featuring 1.60-meter obstacles — will light up the afternoon session.How to get your ticketsTickets are now on sale through the Juss Sports app or via its mini-programs on WeChat and Alipay.Or simply head over to the City News Service WeChat mini-program, tap “Service-Juss Sports,” and grab your ticket there!Alongside regular tickets, special combo packages like Family Tickets (available for 2 adults + 1 child or 1 adult + 1 child) are also available — perfect for a family day out, complete with special souvenirs.Don’t forget your ID! You’ll need a valid identification document like an ID card, passport or a Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan travel permit to snag your ticket.Meet the starsThis year’s event is bigger than ever, welcoming 99 top show jumping horses — the largest number in the event’s history! They are arriving in two separate batches.The horses are traveling from the Netherlands to Belgium’s Liège Airport, then flying with Qatar Airways (with a stopover in Doha) to Shanghai — a journey of nearly 16 hours. The first charter flight carried a team of 11 professionals, including 10 grooms and one veterinarian, all dedicated to ensuring the horses’ safety and comfort every step of the way.The first batch of 50 elite horses landed safely at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the early hours of April 27, accompanied by a professional team and custom-made horse transport, and have since arrived at the venue.It’s not just the horses that are making history — the rider lineup is packed with stars, too!Henrik von Eckermann (world champion and world No. 1) of Sweden, Briton Ben Maher (Tokyo Olympic champion and fresh off a runner-up finish at the World Cup Finals), and Olympic champs Scott Brash of Britain and Germany’s Marcus Ehning — both crowd favorites — will also be competing, showcasing mind-blowing teamwork with their horses.Chinese riders to watchOn the Chinese side, Pang Qinyu (庞钦宇), signed by Juss Sports, returns for his second appearance in Shanghai. After making a stunning debut in last year’s FEI five-star competition here, he went on to win his first Grand Prix title at Belgium’s Sentower Park.Keep an eye out for young Chinese talent Zhang Yifan (仉怡凡) and You Yanhe (尤彦贺) as well, both entering the competition with wild cards.It’s not just about the competition-the event will also feature exciting activities such as rider autograph sessions and industry forums. Additionally, the B1 and B2 spaces at the venue will be open to all visitors, offering more immersive equestrian cultural experiences.Tips for spectatorsRemember, the horses are super sensitive. Keep it down while they’re strutting their stuff in the arena-no loud noises or flash photography, please! And when they’re done, let’s keep the applause on the quiet side to avoid any spooks.Dress code alert! Regardless of gender, tidy up and keep it classy. Flip-flops, hoodies and singlets are a no-go. Ladies, a chic little hat could be your perfect accessory.Keep the noise and smoke to a minimum during the event. Phones should be either off or on silent-this isn’t the place for ringtones and chat alerts.Kids in tow? Keep a close watch on the little ones and prevent any run-arounds near the arena fence. Keep it safe and enjoyable for everyone!
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/Chinas-Gen-Z-athletes-break-new-ground-fueling-sports-revolution-at-home/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>China’s Gen Z athletes break new ground, fueling sports revolution at home</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Sep 2024 10:53:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Deng Yawen won gold in the women’s freestyle BMX competition on July 31 at the Paris Olympics.

Just days later, fellow 18-year-old Liu Qingyi earned a bronze medal as breakdancing made ]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Deng Yawen won gold in the women&rsquo;s freestyle BMX competition on July 31 at the Paris Olympics.

Just days later, fellow 18-year-old Liu Qingyi earned a bronze medal as breakdancing made its Olympic debut.

Meanwhile, 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao wowed audiences with her first Olympic appearance, becoming the youngest athlete to compete at the Paris Games.

The emergence of these young Chinese Olympians highlight how the country&rsquo;s younger generations are embracing a wider variety of sports &mdash; well beyond China&rsquo;s traditional strengths in disciplines like diving, weightlifting and shooting.

In the past, many of China&rsquo;s athletes were selected, trained at boarding schools and groomed for Olympic success in specific sports. However, thanks to economic growth and a shifting culture, China&rsquo;s Generation Z now has access to a broader range of athletic opportunities that previous generations did not have.

At a dance studio in Beijing, B-Girl Wang Yufan moved effortlessly to a pulsating beat, her fluid movements and sharp spins captivating onlookers. Beneath the brim of her low-slung cap, her youthful face exuded a cool confidence.

&ldquo;I do breakdancing because it&rsquo;s cool,&rdquo; said the 18-year-old.

Yuan Shipeng, 37, manager of the ROD Backstreet Dance Club where Wang trains, used to dance on Beijing&rsquo;s streets over a decade ago. After graduating from university, he founded his first dance club.

&ldquo;At that time, it was tough to attract students. In nine months, I only recruited four students,&rdquo; Yuan recalled.

Individualistic lifestyle

However, things have changed in recent years, as younger generations have begun to embrace a more individualistic lifestyle.

&ldquo;As those born in the 1980s and 1990s have grown up and become parents, they are more open to respecting individuality and allowing their children to try new sports,&rdquo; Yuan explained.

Like breakdancing, climbing is also gaining popularity among China&rsquo;s youth. Xie Yishan, editor at the China Mountaineering Association magazine, noted that there is a booming competition scene for both amateurs and professionals.

&ldquo;A local competition can see several hundred children participate, with record numbers of participants each year,&rdquo; she said.

Xiao Lin, a 12-year-old student who lives in Shanghai, has been learning climbing for two years.

&ldquo;Climbing helps build one&rsquo;s willpower and enhances thinking skills, especially on more challenging walls where you need to figure out your own route,&rdquo; he said.

Skateboarding, a sport once considered rebellious, has also surged in popularity over recent years.

According to the Shanghai Skateboarding Team, the city now has more than 470 registered skateboarders, with nearly 200 new registrants added last year alone. Nationwide, there are more than 400 skateboarding clubs.

&ldquo;In the past, many people thought skateboarding was an unserious and unsafe sport. But as skateboarding culture has developed in China, more and more people are realizing that it is actually safer than sports like football or basketball,&rdquo; said Li Yajie, an amateur skateboarder.

Social media has played a key role in promoting these sports among younger generations, who are eager to express their personalities by sharing their experiences.

By 2023, there were more than 650,000 posts about rock climbing on Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like platform. Over the past four years, the number of these posts has grown nearly 30-fold.

Government support has also played a crucial role. Unconventional sports like climbing and skateboarding have been included in the physical education and health curriculum in several provinces, reflecting a broader acceptance of these sports in children&rsquo;s education.

Ripple effect

This burgeoning interest has naturally stimulated related industries, particularly in equipment manufacturing and sport training.

According to the China Mountaineering Association, the number of climbing gyms on the Chinese mainland reached 636 last year, a 31 percent increase from the previous year. Shanghai leads with nearly 70 gyms, followed by Beijing with more than 50.

A report released by China&rsquo;s e-commerce giant JD.com also indicates that in the first half of this year, transaction volume for climbing chalk, helmets and shoes increased year on year by 151 percent, 42 percent and 40 percent respectively, while transaction volumes for surf swimsuits, leashes and surfboards grew by 473 percent, 175 percent and 40 percent respectively.

Two decades ago, China was often referred to as a &ldquo;tennis desert,&rdquo; with the sport being largely inaccessible due to costly equipment, limited courts and a scarcity of qualified coaches.

Today, with per capita GDP exceeding US$12,000, the number of tennis enthusiasts has ballooned to more than 20 million in China, according to the International Tennis Federation.

The rise of Zheng Qinwen, who won women&rsquo;s singles gold at the Paris Olympics, is fueling further market growth in China.

&ldquo;After her win, my social media feed was flooded with congratulations, even from people who aren&rsquo;t usually interested in tennis,&rdquo; said Liu Fengning, a board member of the China Tennis Association.

&ldquo;The next day, I was inundated with inquiries about court bookings, training programs and professional development from both parents and aspiring youths.&rdquo;

A tennis club manager in Hangzhou, east China&rsquo;s Zhejiang Province, said that their courts remained illuminated well into the night to accommodate eager participants.

Consumer behavior reflects this growing interest. On Tmall, a prominent e-commerce platform, more than 3,000 people added the same model racket used by Zheng to their shopping carts within two days, leading to a more than 2,000 percent year-on-year increase in sales.

But despite the allure of the Olympics, most parents have no plans to train their children to become professional athletes. Instead, they prefer their children to develop a healthy hobby.

In Guangzhou, south China&rsquo;s Guangdong Province, a mother surnamed Qi takes her son to a skateboarding training center two to three times a week.

&ldquo;After watching the Olympics, he told me he wants to be like skateboarder Zheng Haohao and compete one day,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;While I don&rsquo;t plan for him to go down a professional path, I&rsquo;m pleased to see him have a hobby and stick with it.&rdquo;

With support from families, the government and an expanding industry, the future of sports in China seems poised to evolve even further. Whether it&rsquo;s on a BMX bike, skateboard or tennis court, the next generation of athletes is ready to carve out new paths &mdash; each driven by a unique blend of personal style, dedication and the thrill of pushing boundaries.

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/Track-tension-mounts-as-Shanghai-gears-up-for-Formula-E-netzero-races/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Track tension mounts as Shanghai gears up for Formula E net-zero races</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 May 2024 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ma Yue]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[FORMULA E World Championship, the world’s first net-zero all-electric motorsport series, has returned to China after five years.

And for the first time, Shanghai is holding doubleheader races today and ]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		FORMULA E World Championship, the world&rsquo;s first net-zero all-electric motorsport series, has returned to China after five years.

And for the first time, Shanghai is holding doubleheader races today and tomorrow.

Though it debuted in the city, Formula E has a deep bond with China. The first race of the inaugural season took place in Beijing in 2014. The cities of Hong Kong and Sanya in south China&rsquo;s Hainan Province also hosted races until 2019.

With the championship celebrating its milestone 10th anniversary, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds is excited about its long-awaited return to China with a new Shanghai E-Prix.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important for us to race in Shanghai because China is the leading country in electric vehicle manufacturing and the adaptation of electric vehicles,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;Shanghai is a pioneer city regarding the number and promotion of electric vehicles, while FE technology can be applied to road cars,&rdquo; Dodds added. &ldquo;The passionate sporting fan base here makes Shanghai the perfect venue for Formula E.&rdquo;

He promised to present Shanghai with &ldquo;the most environmentally friendly and competitive sports race in the world.&rdquo;

While Formula One sits at the highest peak of motorsports thanks to its extreme application and promotion of automotive technology, Formula E is the undisputed crown jewel of electric vehicles.

A Formula E team&rsquo;s development cost can reach US$140 million. The GEN3 car can reach a top speed of 322 kilometers per hour and still has great potential.

Due to Formula E&rsquo;s leveled car powertrains, chassis, batteries and tires used by 11 teams, the track competition is intense.

Compared with hardware, battery management strategy and software ability matter more.

&ldquo;There can be as many as 100 overtakes in one race,&rdquo; Dodds noted. &ldquo;Last season, the championship was not decided till the last stop, as three teams had the possibility of becoming the winner, which says a lot about FE&rsquo;s competitiveness.&rdquo;

Motorsports&rsquo; most obvious impressions are high horsepower and noisy engine sound, but the all-electric Formula E cars have minimized that irritation to the ears without sacrificing race excitement. It&rsquo;s therefore extremely friendly for family audiences, especially children.

During the race, no earplugs are needed so that the circuit radio commentary and fan cheering are audible, which brings drivers and supporters closer to each other. Entertainment choices at the Fan Village will keep visitors occupied when drivers are off track.

The Shanghai E-Prix is using the top part of the &ldquo;Shang&rdquo;-shaped (上) Shanghai International Circuit.

The Jiading District circuit has hosted the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix for two decades. Though many drivers are old acquaintances of the venue, no one has experience on the new 3.051-kilometer track tailored for the Shanghai doubleheader.

Several drivers shared their insights and expectations of racing at the adjusted circuit in a Formula E car.

S&eacute;bastien Buemi is no stranger to the Shanghai International Circuit. The Swiss was a Toro Rosso F1 driver from 2009 to 2011 and a Red Bull Racing test and reserve driver from 2012.

&ldquo;I have been racing in Shanghai with Formula One and endurance racing for a long time,&rdquo; Buemi told Shanghai Daily. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a good track. I&rsquo;m looking forward to going back.&rdquo;

Buemi joined Formula E&rsquo;s Envision Racing last season and finished sixth in the driver&rsquo;s standings. His 2024 partner is Robin Frijns.

&ldquo;In Formula E, we have groove tires with little down force, so the car can move a lot,&rdquo; he explained.

&ldquo;The cars are relatively small, while the track will feel big for us, so we would have lots of overtaking possibilities on the straights. I think it&rsquo;s going to be interesting, and we need to go to Shanghai to see how this car behaves.&rdquo;

Jaguar TCS Racing driver Mitch Evans said: &ldquo;Normally we&rsquo;re racing on the streets, so the track in Shanghai is going to be a little bit different for us. A permanent facility like the Shanghai International Circuit is very wide, very flowing, very different to a lot of the tracks we race on.&rdquo;

The New Zealander added: &ldquo;One day if we could race on the streets of Shanghai, it would be amazing.&rdquo;

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/Can-Formula-E-serve-as-breeding-ground-for-Chinese-racing-cars/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Can Formula E serve as breeding ground for Chinese racing cars?</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 May 2024 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shen Mengdan]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[UNLIKE Formula E, which is young, the Formula One, founded in 1950, has a long history and a huge fan base. But in a competition dominated by big names of European car companies, Formula One finds no ]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		UNLIKE Formula E, which is young, the Formula One, founded in 1950, has a long history and a huge fan base. But in a competition dominated by big names of European car companies, Formula One finds no fleet of Chinese companies.

The pity was compensated a bit by the cheers from the crowd for Shanghai native Zhou Guanyu, China&rsquo;s first F1 racer. He drove at the F1 Chinese Grand Prix for the first time in the city last month.

Now the Formula E&rsquo;s return to China raises hopes for the future success of Chinese racing vehicles.

China has emerged as a formidable force in the field of electric vehicles. The penetration rate of new-energy vehicles in China grew from 0.08 percent in 2013 to 31.6 percent in 2023.

A growing global demand for electric vehicles also propelled China past Japan as the world&rsquo;s largest auto exporter last year.

In the first quarter of this year, 16 Chinese models were among the 20 most popular models of new-energy vehicles globally.

The landing of Formula E in Shanghai is thus no coincidence but a call of the times.

Wang Jiawei is a racing engineer. He is the chief technology officer of Stable Engineering and was a scrutineer at F1 Shanghai for seven years after graduating with a degree in vehicle engineering.

He is now the chief national scrutineer for the 2024 Shanghai E-Prix.

He was also part of the telemetry team, supporting the deployment of the telemetry system at the 2014 Beijing E-Prix, the 2016 Hong Kong E-Prix and the 2019 Sanya E-Prix.

Wang feels China is a significant market for Formula E.

&ldquo;If an international electric-vehicle event is not held in China, it cannot be considered international. Besides, I think the number of races in China organized by Formula E is a little low,&rdquo; he said.

Wang expects that his efforts will help to close the engineering gap in Chinese motorsport and underscore the need for training racing engineers.

&ldquo;Many people in China have no idea what a racing engineer is. In a racing team, engineers play a key role. For example, the driver can only describe how they feel about driving in words after testing the car, which is not accurate, while the engineers can objectively analyze the car&rsquo;s performance based on the recorded data on the track, which involves complex calculations,&rdquo; he explained.

Racing engineers also design racing engines and other key components. However, there are currently no related majors nationwide and no corresponding faculty so far, which are urgently needed, Wang said.

Formula racing is not only a competitive and entertaining event, but also a test field for the continuous technological progress of the automobile industry. Many modern car technologies made their first appearances on the Formula One circuits.

For example, the paddle shift is designed to make the driver concentrate more on driving, allowing both hands to stay on the steering wheel while shifting gears. At the same time, compared with manual shifting, paddle shift also reduces misuse and protects the car and the engine.

&ldquo;Nissan, Porsche and Maserati all use power engineering to test cutting-edge technologies on Formula E cars. Racing is a useful way to determine whether or not technologies are effective,&rdquo; Wang said.

He hopes more Chinese manufacturers will invest more resources in the racing industry.

He also believes that racing may help Chinese carmakers enhance their global brand image.

NIO, a Chinese electric vehicle brand, has already gone global in motorsports. Founded in November 2014, it has already established design and R&amp;D labs in Silicon Valley, Munich, Shanghai and London.

Since its inception, NIO has competed in the Formula E Championship, winning the inaugural drivers&rsquo; championship in 2015.

Wang hopes for further investment from Chinese automakers in Formula E, as well as the development of Chinese racers.

&ldquo;Zhou Guanyu&rsquo;s participation in 2024 introduced Formula One to many Chinese people for the first time. I believe that if Formula E wants to get traction in China, it must learn to convey the Chinese story rather than attempt to sell the European tale in China,&rdquo; he said.

China has begun to develop racing talent.

&ldquo;A number of domestic drivers have already demonstrated exceptional talent. If we want them to be more professional, we can only rely on domestic automakers to invest more resources,&rdquo; Wang stated.

Since 2011, China has also organized Formula Student China competitions, similar to European countries. The competitions test the students&rsquo; comprehensive qualities, including engineering research and development, business and endurance races, as well as their racing engineering and management abilities.

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/Key-Moments-In-Formula-E-History/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Key Moments In Formula E History</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 May 2024 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[FORMULA E is in its 10th season. From its humble beginnings on a napkin, to earning FIA World Championship status, there are lots of wonderful moments to reflect on. Let’s take a trip down memory lane ]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		FORMULA E is in its 10th season. From its humble beginnings on a napkin, to earning FIA World Championship status, there are lots of wonderful moments to reflect on. Let&rsquo;s take a trip down memory lane and see how this magical electric racing series came about, as well as highlights in the last 10 incredible years.

How Formula E was founded

The idea for an all-electric street racing series started out as nothing more than a collection of notes on a napkin. The story goes that former FIA President Jean Todt and Formula E Founder Alejandro Agag met on the evening of March 3, 2011, where they wrote down a few words on what would eventually become the world&rsquo;s first all-electric international single-seater championship.

Formula E wanted to race through the streets of the most iconic cities in the world &mdash; with a grid full of the best racing drivers and teams around &mdash; to show just what sustainable mobility was capable of. As well as great racing, driving electric vehicles helped on the path to a better and cleaner future.

In just three years, Formula E made it from concept to reality &mdash; through prototypes, innovative EV technology for the race track and on to GEN1. It was time we went green.

Season 1: 2014/15

Formula E made its debut on the grounds of Olympic Park in the Chinese capital Beijing in 2014. The race was filled with drama from start to finish, and showed the world that electric racing can not only be better for the environment but it doesn&rsquo;t have to limit the actual racing. Ten teams made up the grid, with the likes of Mahindra, Renault, Audi Sport and Andretti all wanting to be a part of the championship from the start. Nelson Piquet Jr made history when he became the first Formula E champion after an intense season.

Season 2: 2015/16

Formula E welcomed seven new manufacturers for the second season. Ten races made up the calendar in nine different cities, and it was again a nail-biting championship battle. This time it was Sebastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi, with both hunting down their first Formula E title.

The championship had one of its most surreal moments when both championship contenders crashed on the first lap. Buemi and Di Grassi managed to limp back to the pits, with the title now being decided by the important point for fastest lap.

The point went to Buemi, who won the Drivers&rsquo; title with his team Renault e.Dams finishing the Teams&rsquo; Standing on top for another year.

Season 3: 2016/17

This season brought with it lots of change. The calendar got a huge shake up with trips to Hong Kong, a first visit to Africa thanks to Marrakesh and the return of Monaco. However, one of the biggest headlines was the addition of a double-header in New York City &mdash; the first time a motor race had been held in the Big Apple since 1896. From a championship perspective, Di Grassi finally got his hands on the championship trophy &mdash; the most dominant win from a driver so far, winning by 24 points in the Montreal double-header.

Season 4: 2017/18

Season 4 welcomed ABB as the title partner of Formula E, and nine manufacturers were now on board.

Jean-Eric Vergne became the fourth different Drivers&rsquo; Champion in the first four seasons. The Frenchman drove his TECHEETAH to the top spot, finishing 54 points ahead of the second-placed di Grassi.

Formula E continued to make history, like racing in Zurich, which was the first Swiss circuit race since the 1954 Swiss Grand Prix.

Season 5: 2018/19

The start of a new era for the all-electric street racing series: GEN2 was here. Car swaps were a thing of the past, and drivers had more power thanks to a new lightweight battery that was pumped out 250kW (335bhp) for a top speed of 280 kilometers per hour. Formula E reinvented racing again with ATTACK MODE to bring a new tactical element to the races.

Several big names joined the grid, with the likes of Formula 1 legend Felipe Massa at Venturi Racing, Belgian fan-favorite Stoffel Vandoorne in the new HWA Racelab squad and Pascal Wehrlein at Mahindra Racing.

Unpredictability reigned supreme for another season of unforgettable racing, as Vergne became the first two-time champion.

Season 6: 2019/20

Porsche was a new entry on the grid, with the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team also bringing its name to the championship.

Things got off to a fantastic start, with entertaining races in Diriyah, Santiago, Mexico City and Marrakesh, before the world was plunged into uncertainty and lockdown following the coronavirus pandemic. Racing was on hiatus. When it was safe to do so, Formula E got racing again &mdash; hosting six races in nine days at the Berlin Tempelhof Airport venue. It was here that Antonio Felix da Costa clinched his first Drivers&rsquo; Championship.

Season 7: 2020/21

After six seasons of racing on the streets of the world&rsquo;s best cities, Formula E gained World Championship status. As a result, a talented grid of 12 teams, including 10 manufacturer outfits, and 24 of the best drivers from around the globe fought it out to be the first Formula E World Champion. Diriyah made history as the championship&rsquo;s first night race, with new locations for E-Prix including Valencia, Spain; and Puebla, Mexico.

In the end, only one could become champion and that honor was handed to Nyck de Vries. The Dutchman, and his teammate Vandoorne, also helped Mercedes in sealing the Teams&rsquo; Championship for the first time in its Formula E history.

Season 8: 2021/22

Season 8 brought with it lots of changes. Qualifying got a big shake-up, with a new never-before-seen qualifying format introduced for race day. There were the usual group stages, but instead of leading to Super Pole, they now fed into one-on-one duels. A one-shot lap for the drivers to battle for the Julius Baer Pole Position. The championship also hit its 100th race at the final race of the season in Seoul, South Korea, and said a fond farewell to its beloved GEN2 era.

Season 9: 2022/23

GEN3 arrived &mdash; the most technologically-advanced Formula E car yet. The third generation of car has two powertrains, and is the most efficient formula racing car ever and also the fastest Formula E car yet with a top speed over 322 kph.

Once again the championship broke new ground, racing on four new circuits in three new countries. A trio of back-to-back races in India, South Africa and Brazil were a season highlight, having never raced there before. Portland also saw a return of racing to the United States of America.

Season 10: 2023/24

After 10 years, we&rsquo;re here at Season 10, and there&rsquo;s so much to look forward to. New races in Tokyo, Shanghai and Misano are just some of the highlights, as a huge percentage of the field have swapped teams for the new year. It has all the ingredients for the best season yet &mdash; make sure you&rsquo;re along for the ride.

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/Formula-E-offers-Formula-One-adrenalin-in-a-muffled-package/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Formula E offers Formula One adrenalin in a muffled package</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ma Yue]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[PORSCHE’S Pascal Wehrlein won the season opener race in Mexico City last Saturday to kick off the 10th season of the FIA Formula E World Championship.

Formula E, the world’s first net-zero all-electric ]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		PORSCHE&rsquo;S Pascal Wehrlein won the season opener race in Mexico City last Saturday to kick off the 10th season of the FIA Formula E World Championship.

Formula E, the world&rsquo;s first net-zero all-electric motorsport series, will make its maiden appearance in Shanghai in May with a double-header. I visited Mexico City to familiarize myself with the championship and its particular charms, attending the opening race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.

Intense but friendly to the ears

Unlike other motorsport series, FE has one-day practice, qualifying and racing. It is demanding for teams and drivers, but fulfilling for the fans.

At the Mexico City E-Prix, the second practice and qualifying sessions were at 7:30am and 9:40am, respectively. The race began at 2:03pm and lasted one hour, followed by the podium ceremony. During race intervals, live bands and jongleurs kept spectators entertained till 8pm, ensuring a festive atmosphere throughout the day.

Due to the leveled car powertrains, chassis, batteries and tires used by 11 teams, the race schedule and track competition are intense. Compared with hardware, battery management strategy and software ability matter more.

Wehrlein led the Mexico opener from pole to flag, only losing it briefly during Attack Mode and Full Course Yellow. The race was close until Envision&rsquo;s Sebastien Buemi made a mistake and created a gap. Jaguar debutant Nick Cassidy followed Buemi to finish third.

Despite a strong start, Wehrlein, like other Formula E drivers, knows it&rsquo;s too early to talk about advantage. Seven drivers won and 11 finished on the podium in 16 events last season. Three drivers competed for the driver&rsquo;s title in London&rsquo;s season-ending rounds.

Motorsports&rsquo; most obvious impressions are high horsepower and noisy engine sound, but the all-electric Formula E cars have minimized that irritation to the ears without sacrificing race excitement.

FE&rsquo;s GEN3 car, which can reach a top speed of 322 kilometers per hour, is an elegant and nimble beast like a leopard on the circuit&rsquo;s straights.

From a platform overlooking the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez&rsquo;s hairpin corner, I was able to avoid the effect of formula cars&rsquo; gear shifts on my ears.

No earplugs are needed during the race, even for children. The circuit radio commentary and fan cheering are audible, which brings drivers and supporters closer to each other.

Big brands and familiar faces

Jaguar, Porsche, McLaren and Nissan are among the Formula E World Championship&rsquo;s top names. Formula One drivers who had raced at the Shanghai International Circuit were also seen here.

Shanghai motorsport fans will remember Buemi. The Swiss was a Toro Rosso racer from 2009 to 2011 and a Red Bull Racing test and reserve driver since 2012.

One of the most successful Formula E drivers in 2014, he won 13 races and has earned 31 podiums.

Buemi joined Envision Racing last season and finished sixth in the driver&rsquo;s standings. His 2024 partner is Robin Frijns. He will return to the Shanghai International Circuit in May as a Formula E driver.

&ldquo;I have been racing there with Formula One and endurance racing for a long time,&rdquo; Buemi told Shanghai Daily. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to going back. It&rsquo;s a good track, and it will be a very good race.&rdquo;

The majority of Formula E races are on the streets. Given the relatively wide track at the Shanghai International Circuit, Buemi said a lot of overtaking possibilities can be expected, especially along the straights.

&ldquo;In Formula E, we have groove tires with little downforce, so the car can move a lot ... I think it&rsquo;s going to be interesting, and we need to go there to see how this car behaves.&rdquo;

The Swiss acknowledged that F1 continues to be his favorite series because of his passion for speed, but he loves how competitive Formula E is.

&ldquo;The competition we experience here in Formula E, with the grid being so close, it&rsquo;s amazing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You hear the crowd a lot since you don&rsquo;t have an engine, but it (the car) behaves quite similarly to what you would anticipate from a typical single-seater. And our preparation for FE is more extensive.&rdquo;

Other Formula E drivers on the grid that Shanghai motor-racing fans may recognize include Porsche&rsquo;s Antonio Felix da Costa, Penske&rsquo;s Stoffel Vandoorne, and Mahindra&rsquo;s Nyck de Vries, who recently returned to Formula E following a brief stint in F1.

Bond with China

Formula E has a deep bond with China, with the first race of the inaugural season taking place in Beijing in 2014. The cities of Hong Kong and Sanya in Hainan Province have also held FE races.

Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds emphasized the significance of the new Shanghai E-Prix in discussing the long-awaited return of Formula E to China.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important for us to race in Shanghai because China is the leading country in electric-vehicle manufacturing and the adaptation of electric vehicles,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;FE technology can be applied to road cars. We will present you with the most environmentally friendly and competitive sports race in the world.&rdquo;

Envision Racing, the defending champion team based at Silverstone Park, is majority-owned by Envision Energy, a Chinese wind turbine and energy-management software company.

The rebranded ERT Formula E Team is the evolution of Team China Racing, which helped Nelson Piquet Jr win the inaugural drivers&rsquo; championship title in 2015. Shanghai driver Ma Qinghua joined the Chinese team in 2019, when it changed its name to the NIO 333 Formula E Team, but was unable to finish the season.

The Chinese team has a new name and style for the 2024 season, with British driver Dan Ticktum and Brazilian colleague Sergio Sette Camara driving under the ERT banner.

Formula E&rsquo;s next visit is a double-header of night races in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on January 27 and 28. The Round 11 and 12 double-header races at Shanghai International Circuit will take place on May 25 and 26.

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/Rural-sports-create-online-and-reallife-sensation-across-China/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Rural sports create online and real-life sensation across China</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[GUESS what the most popular football competition in China is right now? If you thought it was the Chinese Super League, think again.

Thanks to its festive atmosphere and frequent surprise world-class ]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		GUESS what the most popular football competition in China is right now? If you thought it was the Chinese Super League, think again.

Thanks to its festive atmosphere and frequent surprise world-class goal-scoring performances, a village football tournament held in Rongjiang County, southwest China&rsquo;s Guizhou Province, has captured the attention of media, social platforms, and even overseas stars.

Organized and played by locals, the amateur football tournament has been dubbed cun chao (村超) by Chinese netizens, which translates to &ldquo;village super league.&rdquo;

On the Chinese Twitter-like social media platform Weibo, the hashtags and topics related to cun chao have garnered more than 200 million views, and several videos of cun chao have received millions of likes on the short-video platform Douyin.

The down-to-earth nature of cun chao even caught the attention of former England star Michael Owen, who recorded a video to show his support.

&ldquo;I want to say congratulations to cun chao for all your success, for getting all the good results in football. I wish cun chao all the very best for the future. I&rsquo;m sure you gonna get better and better,&rdquo; said Owen.

From May to July of this year, 20 teams from Rongjiang County are participating in the cun chao tournament on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Divided into two groups, the teams will compete in round-robin matches and knockout stages, with the final scheduled for July 29.

The players in this village tournament come from diverse backgrounds. They are vendors, farmers, tilers, butchers and factory workers by profession, representing various ethnic groups such as Miao, Dong, Shui, Han and Yao.

With free admission, thousands of spectators flock to the county&rsquo;s stadium for every match. The stands are often filled to capacity, with some people standing nearby or even squatting on the ground due to the lack of empty seats.

According to local government statistics, the average attendance of cun chao matches has exceeded 10,000, putting it on par with the country&rsquo;s professional league, the CSL.

For many spectators who travel from far and wide to watch cun chao games, it&rsquo;s about more than just football.

Rongjiang is home to 15 ethnic groups, with ethnic minorities making up more than 83 percent of its 385,000 population. The county boasts 11 national intangible cultural heritages, such as the Dong folk song and Dong pipa (a four-stringed Chinese lute) singing.

Before matches, representatives from each team&rsquo;s cheerleading squad, dressed in traditional ethnic costumes, carry local specialties on their shoulders, play the reed pipe and dance as they enter the field alongside the local football players. Spectators can also enjoy folk song and dance performances during half-time breaks.

The atmosphere at the venue was so electric that the renowned Chinese sports TV commentator Han Qiaosheng had to climb a ladder to provide commentary.

Han noted that despite covering numerous sports events, including the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, he found the &ldquo;village super league&rdquo; in Rongjiang to be unique and entertaining.

David Geary, a football enthusiast from the United Kingdom, attended a cun chao match last week. He was amazed to see so many villagers playing football and organizing their own teams.

&ldquo;Football brings people together, which is at the core of sports. In cun chao, all villagers come to support their teams, and that&rsquo;s what football should be like,&rdquo; said Geary.

The village tournament has firmly put Rongjiang on the map. However, the county has a long-standing football tradition despite its seemingly rapid rise to fame.

According to Lin Tao, an official of the county government, football was introduced to Rongjiang in the 1940s and has since become an integral part of the locals&rsquo; lives.

In 2021, Rongjiang was listed by the Chinese Football Association as one of the model counties for football development.

Li Mingxing, the head of the county&rsquo;s football association, recalled the absence of standard football pitches in the past.

But the harsh conditions didn&rsquo;t deter local people from pursuing their football dreams. Whether on paddy fields, riverbanks or rugged terrain, residents were often seen playing football.

In recent years, governments at all levels have increased efforts to promote development in rural China, resulting in the expansion and improvement of local sports venues and exercise facilities.

Currently, Rongjiang has more than 30 village football teams and 14 standard football pitches, according to Lin.

&ldquo;The upgrade of sports facilities has laid a solid foundation for events like this to flourish and encourage more people in the countryside to engage in physical activities,&rdquo; he said.

Cun chao is just the latest rural sports phenomenon that has swept China.

A village basketball tournament, also in Guizhou Province, has made a significant impact online and offline and is known as &ldquo;cunBA&rdquo; among netizens.

Insiders attribute the immense popularity of &ldquo;cunBA&rdquo; and cun chao to the fact that these tournaments truly belong to the local people and foster a sense of community unlike any other event.

&ldquo;&lsquo;CunBA&rsquo; and cun chao represent a vibrant lifestyle filled with rural enjoyment. They are the result of the country&rsquo;s rural revitalization campaign and, in turn, will contribute to rural revitalization,&rdquo; said Qin Chuan, a columnist for a Wuhan-based newspaper.

Taking advantage of the cun chao craze, the Rongjiang County government is developing local tourism and the economy, much like Taipan County with &ldquo;cunBA.&rdquo;

&ldquo;On match days, 200 to 300 stalls have been set up around the stadium to sell local products,&rdquo; said Xiong Zhuqing from Fengle Village, who sells home-grown watermelon. &ldquo;We can earn up to nearly 4,000 yuan (US$560) in one night.&rdquo;

According to Xu Bo, the head of Rongjiang County&rsquo;s government, they have extended invitations to village football teams outside Rongjiang to transform cun chao into a nationwide competition.

&ldquo;We will continue to leverage the cun chao brand to boost rural revitalization, ignite people&rsquo;s passion for football and create a pure atmosphere for playing football,&rdquo; said Xu.

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/basketball/James-mum-on-AbdulJabbars-COVID19-flak/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>James mum on Abdul-Jabbar’s COVID-19 flak</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Basketball]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[LeBron James said he had no response to National Basketball Association great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who criticized the Los Angeles Lakers forward for a social media post in which he appeared to question]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		LeBron James said he had no response to National Basketball Association great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who criticized the Los Angeles Lakers forward for a social media post in which he appeared to question the difference between COVID-19 and the flu and common cold.James had posted an image on Instagram last week showing three cartoon Spidermen pointing at one another with the words “COVID”, “flu” and “cold” superimposed over each of them. He added a caption that read: “Help me out folks.”Lakers great and NBA Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar criticized the meme in a letter on self-publishing platform Substack addressed to James, saying it implied the 36-year-old did not understand the difference between the ailments.“With 106 million Instagram followers, making such a post is automatically politically impactful, because he questions the validity of the efforts to get the country vaccinated,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote.“As is evident by some of the comments that cheer LeBron’s post, he’s given support to those not getting vaccinated, which makes the situation for all of us worse by postponing our health and economic recovery.”James, who guided the Lakers to a 132-123 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, told reporters he did not have a response to Abdul-Jabbar.“And if you saw the post and read the tag, you’re literally, honestly asking, ‘Help me out? Help me figure it all out’,” he added.“We’re all trying to figure this pandemic out. Trying to figure out COVID, the new strains and the flu. People literally forgot about the flu during these times. Like, that’s still going around.“This is flu season ... People have forgotten about common colds. That happens, especially with a lot of our kids that are in school. My daughter is in first grade so a lot of these kids are getting common colds and getting the flu.”Four-time NBA champion James is fully vaccinated and recently recovered from COVID-19.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/tennis/Djokovic-withdraws-from-ATP-Cup/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Djokovic withdraws from ATP Cup</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Tennis]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Novak Djokovic has pulled out of this week’s ATP Cup in Sydney, organizers said yesterday, heightening doubts over whether he will defend his Australian Open title.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Novak Djokovic has pulled out of this week’s ATP Cup in Sydney, organizers said yesterday, heightening doubts over whether he will defend his Australian Open title.There has been intense speculation as to whether he will travel to Australia, having refused to confirm if he has been inoculated against the coronavirus.“World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2022 ATP Cup,” organizers said in a statement ahead of Saturday’s start to the team tournament.“Team Serbia will now be led by world No. 33 Dusan Lajovic.”Djokovic, the nine-time Australian Open champion, could win a record 21st Grand Slam title if he plays at Melbourne Park next month, but to enter Australia he and members of his entourage have to be vaccinated.He has previously expressed his opposition to the vaccine and his father Srdjan said in late November that Djokovic would probably not play the first Grand Slam of the year, accusing the organizers of “blackmail.”Djokovic has been named in the entry list for the Australian Open, which starts on January 17, but he could yet withdraw. He was also originally on the entry list for the ATP Cup.Tennis Australia has organized charter flights to bring international stars into Melbourne and Sydney.Defending women’s Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was among those to touch down on Tuesday, but Djokovic was not on board. Players can also opt to fly commercial.The ATP Cup has been hit by several withdrawals — either because of COVID-19 or injury — and as a result France will replace Austria in Group B after Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak pulled out, organizers said yesterday.Team Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who has COVID, Aslan Karatsev and Evgeny Donskoy have also withdrawn, the ATP Cup said, as has the USA’s Austin Krajicek.COVID-19 looks set to cast a dark shadow over the Australian Open and the raft of tournaments in the country beforehand.Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal, who was due to play a warm-up event in Melbourne next week, was among several players to have contracted the virus at an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament this month. His Abu Dhabi opponent, Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov, also later tested positive.Three female players at the same event tested positive as well — Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ons Jabeur.Earlier yesterday, Nick Kyrgios urged Nadal and Djokovic to play at the Australian Open, saying it would be a “disaster” if the ‘Big Three’ were missing.Swiss ace Roger Federer has already pulled out as he recovers from a knee injury and Nadal’s plans are unclear.The dominant ‘Big Three’ have won 20 Grand Slam titles each and Kyrgios said tennis still needs them, starting in Melbourne next month.“I honestly don’t know Novak’s current situation with anything COVID-related or what he needs to play,” the colorful Kyrgios told the Melbourne Age newspaper.“I hope he’s had a good Christmas and I hope he’s able to play in the sport for as long as possible because I’ve voiced before I think Federer, Nadal and Djokovic need to be (playing). If all three aren’t there, it’s a disaster.”The Australian Open has been hit by a series of injury pullouts, with major winners Serena Williams, Bianca Andreescu, Stan Wawrinka and Thiem all missing out.Kyrgios, a crowd favorite at Melbourne Park, has not played since late September due to knee problems, slipping to 93rd in the rankings, which ruled him out of contention for the Australian team for the ATP Cup in Sydney.The 26-year-old will begin his 2022 season at an ATP 250 event in Melbourne next week and was yesterday handed a wildcard for the Sydney Tennis Classic the following week.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/soccer/Arsenal-boss-Arteta-virus-positive-to-miss-City-game/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Arsenal boss Arteta virus positive, to miss City game</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Soccer]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will sit out Saturday’s English Premier League game at home to Manchester City after testing positive for COVID-19, the London club said yesterday.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will sit out Saturday’s English Premier League game at home to Manchester City after testing positive for COVID-19, the London club said yesterday.Arsenal is fourth in the table on 35 points after 19 games, 12 points behind leader City. “Mikel is isolating in line with government guidelines and we wish him well,” Arsenal said in a statement. Arteta previously tested positive in March 2020, shortly before the pandemic forced the EPL to shut down for more than three months. The 39-year-old is also the latest EPL manager to test positive after Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira and Aston Villa’s Steven Gerrard. A record 103 positive COVID-19 cases were found among players and staff in the EPL over the past week following a raft of fixture postponements during the busy festive period.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/tennis/Paire-frustrated-again/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Paire frustrated again</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Tennis]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Frenchman Benoit Paire’s preparations for next month’s Australian Open have been dealt a body blow after he revealed he has again tested positive for COVID-19.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Frenchman Benoit Paire’s preparations for next month’s Australian Open have been dealt a body blow after he revealed he has again tested positive for COVID-19. The 32-year-old, a former top-20 player, was forced to pull out of the 2020 US Open after testing positive. The following month he returned another positive test when he arrived in Germany to play the Hamburg Open. “Hello, my name is Benoit Paire and for the 250th time I am positive for COVID,” the frustrated Frenchman said on Twitter. Paire, ranked 46th, was part of the playing group which had to endure 14 days of hard quarantine ahead of this year’s edition of the Australian Open. After being knocked out in the first round, Paire lashed out at organizers, saying quarantine conditions for players had been “shameful.” “Last year was tough, and this year start exactly the same way!!” he tweeted yesterday.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/american-football/NFL-legend-Madden-dies/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>NFL legend Madden dies</title>
		<category><![CDATA[American Football]]></category>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Famed National Football League coach and commentator John Madden died unexpectedly on Tuesday at the age of 85, the NFL reported.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Famed National Football League coach and commentator John Madden died unexpectedly on Tuesday at the age of 85, the NFL reported. Madden led the then-Oakland Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory over the Minnesota Vikings in 1977 and became a fixture as a beloved television analyst after retiring from coaching. “Nobody loved football more than Coach,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.” Madden, who went 103-32-7 in 10 seasons as Raiders coach from 1969-78, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/tennis/Novak-mystery-deepens-as-stars-arrive-ahead-of-Australian-Open/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Novak mystery deepens as stars arrive ahead of Australian Open</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Tennis]]></category>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:14:14 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Novak Djokovic has not withdrawn from the ATP Cup despite claims he was almost sure to do so, Tennis Australia said yesterday, as other top players, led by Naomi Osaka, began arriving ahead of the Australian]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Novak Djokovic has not withdrawn from the ATP Cup despite claims he was almost sure to do so, Tennis Australia said yesterday, as other top players, led by Naomi Osaka, began arriving ahead of the Australian Open.There have been serious doubts as to whether men’s world No. 1 Djokovic would travel to Australia, having refused to confirm if he has been vaccinated against the coronavirus.An unnamed member of his team told Serbian newspaper Blic that they were “99 percent” sure that he would not play in the ATP Cup, which comes ahead of the Australian Open, adding to the intrigue over whether Djokovic would be at the first Grand Slam of the year.But Tennis Australia said the Serb had yet to pull out of the teams event, which is due to start on Saturday in Sydney with Djokovic drawn to play Norway’s Casper Ruud on the opening day.“We haven’t heard of any withdrawals from Team Serbia for the ATP Cup,” a spokesperson said.TA has organized charter flights to bring international stars into Melbourne and Sydney, with the first arriving yesterday. Defending women’s Australian Open champion Osaka was among those to touch down, but Djokovic was not on board, TA said. Players can also opt to fly commercial.Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic could win a record 21st Grand Slam title if he plays at Melbourne Park, but to enter Australia he and members of his entourage have to be vaccinated.The 34-year-old has previously expressed his opposition to the vaccine and his father Srdjan said in late November that Djokovic would probably not play the Australian Open, accusing the organizers of “blackmail.”The ATP Cup has already been hit by several players testing positive for COVID-19, including Russian world No. 5 Andrey Rublev and Canada’s Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov.Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal, who was due to play a warm-up event in Melbourne next week, also contracted the virus. They all played in an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament this month.Three female players at the same event also tested positive — Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ons Jabeur.TA has organized the charter flights to help minimize the risk of getting the virus on the trip over, with all passengers having to provide proof of a negative test in the 72 hours before flying. The Australian Open starts on January 17.Meanwhile, Dominic Thiem has pulled out of the Australian Open to work towards regaining full fitness after a long-standing wrist injury, the former world No. 3 said yesterday.The 28-year-old Austrian, who has not played since suffering the injury at the Mallorca Open in June, was unable to defend his US Open title this year.He had earlier withdrawn from the ATP Cup and other warmup events ahead of the Melbourne hardcourt major.“I am now feeling well again, my wrist is in optimal condition and I am practicing normally with a very good intensity,” Thiem said on Twitter.“After the short holidays, my team and I have assessed all matters and we have decided to make some changes to my initial tournament schedule.”Thiem, who has slipped to 15th in the rankings, reached the final at Melbourne Park last year before winning his maiden major title at Flushing Meadows.He opted against playing five-set matches on his return to competition at the Australian Open, deciding to start his 2022 season at the Cordoba Open in Argentina at the end of January.“I will miss the Australian fans, but I will be back (there) in 2023,” Thiem added. “We believe this is the right decision in order to have a good return to competition. For the moment I will remain in Austria for a few more days and then head to practice outdoors and get ready for my first event of the season.”Thiem became the latest top player to pull out of the Grand Slam due to injury after Roger Federer, Milos Raonic, Jennifer Brady, Karolina Pliskova, Serena Williams and Bianca Andreescu.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/soccer/Rangnick-irked-by-passive-Man-United-display/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Rangnick irked by passive Man United display</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Soccer]]></category>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:14:14 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick was unhappy with his team’s lackluster performance in a 1-1 English Premier League draw at struggling Newcastle United on Monday.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick was unhappy with his team’s lackluster performance in a 1-1 English Premier League draw at struggling Newcastle United on Monday.Newcastle missed a number of good chances and only a majestic performance by goalkeeper David De Gea spared Rangnick his first defeat as Manchester United’s boss.“I didn’t like the performance at all,” the German told Sky Sports as he stretched his unbeaten run in all competitions to four games.“Today we didn’t control the game apart from a few moments. It’s all about energy, physicality and who wins the second ball. In all those areas we weren’t at our best. The good thing is we got a point but the performance needs to be better.”The visitors looked uncomfortable every time Newcastle came forward and Rangnick, who started his tenure with 1-0 wins over Crystal Palace and Norwich City, defended his decision to revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation against Newcastle.“Today it was not a question of formation — it was a question of how aggressive we were,” the German said. “You have to be ready and able to win those direct duels and this was not often the case.“If you want to be competitive here you have to get physical and this was not the case in many parts of the game. We shouldn’t look for excuses — we need to be better and get more physical.”Newcastle manager Eddie Howe rued his team’s missed chances although he praised Allan Saint-Maximin, who gave the home side an early lead at St James’ Park before Edinson Cavani levelled.“We are very disappointed as we deserved to win. The lads executed the game plan brilliantly. I thought we were very good and didn’t deserve to concede.“Naturally with someone like (Saint-Maximin) you want him to have the ball all the time. When he’s on song there’s nobody quite like him. Key to our success is trying to feed him as much as we can,” Howe said.The result left United seventh in the standings on 28 points from 17 games, behind sixth-placed West Ham United on goal difference. Newcastle stayed 19th on 11 points from 19 matches.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/cricket/Debutante-Boland-becomes-instant-Ashes-cult-hero/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Debutante Boland becomes instant Ashes cult hero</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Cricket]]></category>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:14:14 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Test debutante Scott Boland etched his name in the record books and became an instant cult hero in Australian cricket with an astonishing six-wicket haul that wrapped up the Ashes on day three of the third]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Test debutante Scott Boland etched his name in the record books and became an instant cult hero in Australian cricket with an astonishing six-wicket haul that wrapped up the Ashes on day three of the third test in Melbourne yesterday.Plucked from obscurity when called up by selectors on Christmas Eve, the 32-year-old Victoria paceman finished with outrageous innings figures of 6-7 in four overs, sending his home crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground into delirium. Dismissing opener Haseeb Hameed (7) and night watchman Jack Leach in his first over late on day two, Boland returned yesterday to trap Jonny Bairstow leg before wicket for five in his second over. His third over produced the prized wicket of England skipper Joe Root (28), with his fourth accounting for tailenders Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson, each going for ducks. Along the way he matched the 19-ball record for the fastest five-wicket haul in tests shared by England’s Stuart Broad at the 2015 Ashes and Australia’s Ernie Toshack in 1947. Finishing with a seven-wicket match haul in a thumping innings and 14-run win, Boland could not have asked for a better debut. “I’ve never had a crowd behind me like that,” said Boland, who slotted into the side after injuries to pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson. Boland is only the second Indigenous Australian male to play a test after Jason Gillespie, who played his last test in 2006. The bowler grew up unaware of his Indigenous heritage, which includes links to the Gulidjan people, an Aboriginal tribe from the western part of his home state Victoria.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/soccer/Alba-positive-for-COVID19/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Alba positive for COVID-19</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Soccer]]></category>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:14:14 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Barcelona left back Jordi Alba is set to miss Sunday’s league trip to Real Mallorca after testing positive for COVID-19, the LaLiga club said yesterday.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Barcelona left back Jordi Alba is set to miss Sunday’s league trip to Real Mallorca after testing positive for COVID-19, the LaLiga club said yesterday. The 32-year-old is the third Barcelona player to be infected during the Christmas period after defenders Clement Lenglet and Dani Alves returned positive tests on Monday. “Jordi Alba has tested positive for COVID-19, ruling him out of Tuesday afternoon’s training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper... the player is in good health and self-isolating at home,” the club said in a statement. Barcelona, which last played in the league against Sevilla on December 21, is seventh in the standings with 28 points from 18 games. Before the holidays, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao were hit by the virus, with David Alaba, Marcelo, Marcos Asensio and Luka Modric among those infected at Real, while Spain internationals Unai Simon and Inigo Martinez had COVID-19 at Bilbao.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/soccer/Unfancied-Trabzonspor-takes-Turkish-football-by-storm/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Unfancied Trabzonspor takes Turkish football by storm</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Soccer]]></category>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Dec 2021 00:05:00 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Remi Banet]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Trabzonspor supporter Samet Kordali is “100-percent sure” that his unfancied club from Turkey’s Black Sea coast will finally lift the first title of his lifetime.

And when that day comes at the end of ]]></description>
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		Trabzonspor supporter Samet Kordali is &ldquo;100-percent sure&rdquo; that his unfancied club from Turkey&rsquo;s Black Sea coast will finally lift the first title of his lifetime.

And when that day comes at the end of the season in May, the northeastern city of Trabzon &ldquo;will be on fire,&rdquo; Kordali said with a dreamy glint in his eye.

Trabzonspor is the uncontested leader of the Super Lig after 17 matches, on course to lift their first championship trophy since 1984.

Although they suffered their first loss earlier this month, they rebounded with a 2-0 win against third-place Hatayspor in front of a feverish crowd recently.

Boosted by the arrival of Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik, they are nine points clear of second-place Konyaspor and the bookies&rsquo; favorites to win the league.

&ldquo;Here, every child supports the club,&rdquo; Hamdi Caliskan, 57, said outside the team&rsquo;s official store, where the club&rsquo;s burgundy-and-blue shirts are flying off the shelf.

&ldquo;We are the first club to have broken Istanbul&rsquo;s reign.&rdquo;

In 1976, Trabzon became the first city outside Istanbul to win the title, which until then was the preserve of the three Turkish giants: Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas.

The city of 300,000 is mainly known among Turks for its fishing port, nationalist fervor and the football club, which some affectionately call the &ldquo;storm of the Black Sea.&rdquo;

In the old city&rsquo;s cafes, the team dominates every conversation and their colors even decorate some locals&rsquo; Muslim prayer beads.

&ldquo;I went to Trabzon several times during my career as a referee,&rdquo; retired match official Deniz Coban recalled in 2019.

&ldquo;People&rsquo;s relationship to football is very different there. An 80-year-old grandmother would turn around on the street because she knows you.&rdquo;

This passion for the local club is rare in Turkey&rsquo;s regions, where many still support the famous Istanbul side, says Can Kakisim, an associate professor and expert on football.

&ldquo;Trabzon is a city apart because the majority support Trabzonspor,&rdquo; he said.

Several anecdotes reveal the passion &mdash; some say hysteria &mdash; surrounding the club.

In 2015, the team&rsquo;s president, angry at an unawarded penalty, locked the referees in the locker room for four hours.

The drama only ended after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan placed a soothing phone call to the fuming football boss.

Earlier this month, a man threatened to commit suicide by jumping off the rooftop of an apartment building in the city center.

In a video that went viral, one person down bellow shouted: &ldquo;Brother, don&rsquo;t go until you see the championship victory!&rdquo;

Respected opponents

Among the older citizens, some still revel in the nostalgia of a bygone era when Trabzonspor grabbed six championships and six Turkish Super Cups between 1976 and 1984.

Since then, Trabzonspor has gained a reputation for being &ldquo;respected opponents&rdquo; who can put up a decent fight against the Istanbul sides, said historian Mehmet Yuce.

But Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas do not really treat Trabzonspor as an equal, focusing instead on their intense internal rivalry.

&ldquo;Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas have existed for more than a century and so they don&rsquo;t see Trabzonspor (formed in 1967) as a team of their calibre,&rdquo; Yuce said.

The club, which has finished second on nine occasions, has the added advantage of not playing in the European leagues.

For Kakisim, a new championship title is &ldquo;necessary&rdquo; for keeping alive the passion among younger fans.

Gokhan Alparslan is one of them.

Painting houses during the week, the 25-year-old sells team scarves for 30 liras (US$1.70) on match days in the stadium&rsquo;s parking lot.

This year, he watches games on the television but if Trabzonspor clinches the title, he thinks selling team scarves could make him rich. &ldquo;Maybe then I&rsquo;ll be able to buy a season ticket to go inside the stadium,&rdquo; he laughed.

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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/soccer/Liverpool-vs-Leeds-among-2-EPL-games-postponed/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Liverpool vs Leeds among 2 EPL games postponed</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Soccer]]></category>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:21:58 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[COVID-19 cases in the visiting teams have forced the postponement of the Liverpool vs Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Watford games scheduled for Boxing Day, the English Premier League announced]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		COVID-19 cases in the visiting teams have forced the postponement of the Liverpool vs Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Watford games scheduled for Boxing Day, the English Premier League announced yesterday.The number of EPL games called off due to COVID-19 outbreaks is now up to 12 in the last two weeks but the League said it was its intention to continue playing fixtures “where safely possible.” “Following postponement requests from Leeds United and Watford as a result of COVID-19, the Premier League Board met this morning and regrettably agreed to call off the two affected clubs’ Boxing Day fixtures,” it said in a statement. The League said Leeds would have been unable to fulfil the fixture due to a number of players with COVID-19, injuries and illness. Watford, which has already had two games called off this month, continues to have an insufficient number of players to field a team, the League said. “Due to players coming out of isolation, it is fully expected Watford will be available for their fixture on Tuesday 28 December, against West Ham United,” the League added.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/tennis/Murray-handed-wildcard/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Murray handed wildcard</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Tennis]]></category>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:21:58 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[Former world No. 1 Andy Murray has been handed a wildcard into the main draw of next month’s Australian Open, the tournament organizers said yesterday.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		Former world No. 1 Andy Murray has been handed a wildcard into the main draw of next month’s Australian Open, the tournament organizers said yesterday. The Briton, down at 134th in the world rankings after long injury layoffs due to hip surgery, has reached the final five times at Melbourne Park — the last of them in 2016 — but has never won the crown. “I’m really excited to be back playing at the Australian Open,” the 34-year-old said. “I’ve had some great times in Australia playing in front of the amazing crowds and I can’t wait to step back out on court at Melbourne Park.” Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, last played the hardcourt major in 2019. He received a wildcard in 2021 too but was unable to compete at the year’s opening major after testing positive for COVID-19.
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		<link>http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/cricket/Lara-Steyn-join-Hyderabad/shdaily.shtml</link>
		<title>Lara, Steyn join Hyderabad</title>
		<category><![CDATA[Cricket]]></category>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:21:58 +0800</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
		<description><![CDATA[West Indies batting great Brian Lara and former South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn have joined the revamped coaching staff of the Indian Premier League’s Sunrisers Hyderabad, the franchise said ye]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		West Indies batting great Brian Lara and former South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn have joined the revamped coaching staff of the Indian Premier League’s Sunrisers Hyderabad, the franchise said yesterday. Lara, who scored more than 22,000 runs in international cricket before retiring in 2007, was named as the strategic advisor and batting coach of the side that won the popular Twenty20 tournament in 2016. Steyn, who announced his retirement from all forms of the game in August, was named as the pace bowling coach of the franchise he played for in the past. Hyderabad finished last in the 2021 edition of the eight-team tournament after which head coach Trevor Bayliss of Australia stepped down. He was replaced by former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody, who worked as the director of cricket last season.
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