One C'ship to hold 24 events in 2018

One Championship announced yesterday it will stage a record 24 live events across Asia next year and will enter new markets in South Korea and Japan.

The Singapore-based mixed martial arts promoter has scheduled 18 events for this year, which is the most in a single season.

One Championship has about 450 fighters in its stable. Among its biggest stars are Japan's Shinya Aoki and Canadian Angela Lee, who has roots in South Korea and Singapore. Lee will face Japan's Mei Yamaguchi on Nov 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in a rematch of their championship bout from last year.

Chinese players are unskilled: Tevez

BEIJING • Carlos Tevez has hit back at suggestions from Shanghai Shenhua's chairman Wu Xiaohui that he is unfit to play, describing Chinese football players as "not naturally skilled" and doubting whether they will be able to compete with the best nations "even in 50 years".

The Argentinian forward signed a lucrative two-year contract with Shenhua worth an estimated £630,000 (S$1.15 million) a week in December but has featured just 13 times in the Chinese Super League this season.

THE GUARDIAN

Lappartient is new UCI president

BERGEN (Norway) • France's David Lappartient claimed a landslide victory as he was elected International Cycling Union (UCI) president, replacing incumbent Brian Cookson after the Briton failed to restore the credibility of the sport in his only term.

Lappartient, the European Cycling Union (UEC) president, became the first Frenchman to take charge of the global body since Achille Joinard (1947-57).

REUTERS