Who's hot, who's not in China Sports (Week 24)

Breakthroughs for China's golfers

Feng Shanshan, 22, became the first Chinese golfer to win a major after capturing the LPGA Championship on Monday.

Feng is compared in various media reports to China's tennis Grand Slam winner Li Na with her triumph at the year's second women's major, which helped her move up to world No 4. She's got a good sense of humor and is fluent in English.

Andy Zhang became the youngest competitor to qualify for this week's US Open at the age of 14. A Beijing native, Zhang lives in the United States and attends the Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

But his 79-shot first round result on Thursday was unsatisfying, as he still had to fight a bundle of nerves in his major debut.

End of an error

Two former Chinese soccer chiefs, Nan Yong and Xie Yalong, were handed lengthy jail sentences for taking bribes and match-fixing.

Nan and Xie, both former directors of the Chinese Football Administrative Center, were sentenced to 10 1/2 years for taking bribes worth more than 1.48 million yuan ($235,000) and 1.36 million yuan, respectively, between 1999 and 2009.

Several former Chinese national team players also received prison terms for taking bribes.

With the verdicts handed out, China's soccer clampdown, which went on for nearly three years, finally came to an end. Altogether 59 people, including soccer officials, players, referees and club bosses, have been put behind bars for taking bribes, gambling and racketeering in the movement aimed at cleaning up widespread corruption on and off the pitch.

Gloomy Donewald

The frustration and pressure could easily be detected in coach Bob Donewald as the Chinese men's national basketball team was crushed by Australia, 78-55, in a friendly game on Wednesday night. Donewald was ejected during the second quarter for screaming at a referee.

The team lost all three friendly games against the Australians during their 10-day overseas training, based on which Donewald is set to cut members for the final roster for the London Olympics. But it is proving not an easy task, as none of the green hands competing for the second unit really stood out.

Cheng tears up tendon, Olympic hope

Dreams of a third Olympic appearance for Cheng Fei, a veteran gymnast, were smashed as she tore her Achilles tendon during training on Thursday. She underwent successful surgery the same day but needs about 10 weeks to recover. She pocketed one gold and two bronzes from the previous two Olympic Games before she suffered severe knee and feet injuries. But the 24-year-old, the oldest active Chinese gymnast, decided to come back for a last shot at Olympic glory and was off to a terrific start as she won the vaulting gold in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in April.