Ding joins greats with third world title
China's world No. 1 Ding Ning clinched her third singles crown after retaining her title at the Table Tennis World Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany by beating compatriot Zhu Yuling 11-4, 9-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7 yesterday.
She is the third Chinese woman paddler to win a hat-trick of world singles titles following Deng Yaping and Wang Nan.
On Saturday, Maharu Yoshimura and Kasumi Ishikawa edged out Chinese Taipei's Chen Chien-an and Cheng I-ching 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 to win Japan's first mixed doubles gold in 48 years.
That's correct: £28m too little for Salah
LONDON • Roma have told Liverpool that £28 million (S$50 million) will not be enough to sign their Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah.
The two clubs have held initial talks over a possible deal during which the English team indicated they would be prepared to offer £28 million for the player. The Serie A side, however, would not contemplate selling the 24-year-old for that price and it is now up to Liverpool to see if they want to increase the offer.
THE GUARDIAN
Due in 3 months but Serena still a hit
PARIS • At six months pregnant, tennis star Serena Williams is refusing to let her baby bump get in the way of forehands or backhands - the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is still working out and playing tennis to retain her touch, said her coach.
"She's working out and she even played tennis the other day," Patrick Mouratoglou said on the sidelines of the French Open on Saturday. "She said to me she didn't want to lose her touch. Of course she went slow, but she wanted to hit the ball."
REUTERS
Dovizioso a popular winner at home
LUCO DI MUGELLO (Italy) • Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso thrilled the home crowds with a stirring MotoGP victory at Mugello yesterday that saw him edge out championship leader Maverick Vinales of Yamaha by 1.281 seconds.
Another Italian, Danilo Petrucci, also on a Ducati, was third, while veteran superstar Valentino Rossi of Yamaha won plaudits for racing in pain after a training accident and finishing fourth, having set the early pace.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
