Digest

Golf

Baoding range will help grow game

China's first workshop-style golf training facility opened in Baoding, Hebei province, on Saturday - part of a program aimed at introducing the sport to thousands of schools in more than 100 counties.

The facility, which is China's largest indoor range, has 38 tee boxes and 20 pro coaches.

Tang Yilong, president of the promotion company heading the project, said the goal is to let ordinary citizens in China's third- and fourth-tier cities enjoy the experience of playing golf.

Wei Qingfeng, an official with the China Golf Association, said the project will boost the CGA's objective of having 30 million citizens playing golf by 2020.

Soccer

Welsh teen leaves Exeter for Chelsea

Highly-rated 16-year-old Welsh defender Ethan Ampadu has secured a dream move to Premier League champion Chelsea from Exeter, the English fourth-tier side announced on Saturday.

Ampadu, who trained with Wales ahead of its Euro 2016 campaign, played 13 matches for Exeter last season after becoming its youngest debutant at age 15.

He has been capped at the Under-17 and Under-19 levels.

Cycling

Fractured kneecap shelves Valverde

Spanish veteran Alejandro Valverde sustained a broken kneecap in a crash that knocked him out of the Tour de France on Saturday, his Movistar team said.

Valverde's departure could have a major impact as he was due to help Movistar's Colombian leader Nairo Quintana in the mountains.

The 37-year-old Valverde, who was third overall two years ago, came down hard on a slippery bend in wet conditions during Saturday's opening stage 14km time trial.

Briton Geraint Thomas won the stage and will wear the leader's yellow jersey in Sunday's second stage from Dusseldorf, Germany, to Liege, Belgium.

Baseball

Gurriel's bat lifts Astros over Yanks

Yuli Gurriel belted a two-run homer in the fifth inning and added a two-RBI double in the eighth as the Houston Astros rallied for a 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday in Houston.

The Astros trailed 6-3 in the eighth before Jose Altuve walked with one out and stole second and third before scoring on a groundout by Carlos Correa. Evan Gattis then connected off Dellin Betances (3-3) on a towering shot to the train tracks atop left field to cut the lead to 6-5.

Carlos Beltran walked and was replaced by pinch-runner Josh Reddick, who reached second on an error by first baseman Chris Carter before stealing third.

Swimming

Dressel takes third US title in 50 free

Caeleb Dressel captured his third title of the US Swim Championships by winning the 50m freestyle on Saturday in the final race of the qualifying meet for the world championships.

Dressel, who earlier captured the 50 and 100 butterfly titles, won the 50 free in 21.53 seconds, beating Nathan Adrian by .34 of a second.

China Daily - Agencies

(China Daily 07/03/2017 page24)