Who's hot, who's not in China Sports (Week 27)

It's the pork's fault

China finished 1-5 at the women's volleyball Grand Prix finals, with rare losses to their Turkish and Thai opponents, triggering some jitters about their performance in London later this month. The reason? Not the bad passes, not the weak morale, not the terrible defense...Blame it on the pork!

"The players haven't eaten pork for three weeks, fearing it is clenbuterol-tainted," said coach Yu Juemin. "They therefore were devoid of nutrition, which influenced the games."

Unhappy Conca considers exit plan

Guangzhou Evergrande has been riding in both CFA and the Asia Champions League, but its star striker Dario Conca is pondering an early departure due to things that are making him unhappy.

In an interview with Lance! a Brazil newspaper, the Argentinean revealed he was feeling uncomfortable with things happening to him in China. Adjusting to the local environment is making him exhausted. And he hopes to buy out his contract for €300 million and return to the Brazilian league's Fluminense.

But some Chinese media pointed out that unless Evergrande cancels the contract or reaches a transfer agreement with another club, Conca has to wait until next summer for a buyout because of CFA rules. And that would cost him one and a half year's salary, which is $10.5 million.

Zheng, Peng out at Wimbledon, heads high

When Serena Williams has 23 aces and 54 winners in one match, it is a mission impossible to tame the grass court predator. But Zheng Jie still managed to make it a hard fight for the 5-time champion, who won the match, 6-7, 6-2, 9-7, in the third round at Wimbledon on Saturday night.

Zheng's hope for a championship remains in the mixed doubles as she and Rohan Bopanna of India beat Mike Bryan/Lisa Raymond of the US on Thursday night.

Peng Shuai was the one who went furthest among the three Chinese "golden flowers" in the singles. She lost to Maria Kirilenko of Russia in the fourth round, tying her personal best at the event.