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Giants' Jenkins: Using the R-word a 'hood thing'
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins apologized for tweeting an inappropriate word at a fan Wednesday, saying it was "slang" that is "just part of my culture."
Jenkins was responding to a critical fan. He took exception when asked why the stats Jenkins was using to showcase his effectiveness weren't contributing to any wins.
"I can only do my job.. retard," Jenkins tweeted.
Giants coach Pat Shurmur met with Jenkins later in the day. Shurmur explained that his comments were "very inappropriate and offensive," but wouldn't disclose if his top cornerback would face any discipline.
Jenkins put an apology on social media later Wednesday. He was asked Thursday why he used the word in the first place and again apologized.
"Where I'm from we use all kind of words for slang. If it offends anybody, I'm sorry," Jenkins said. "It's a culture that I grew up in where I'm from, you know what I'm saying, we use all kinds of words for all kinds of slang. If you don't know, it's a 'hood thing. Whatever. I'm not calling nobody no name or pick at nobody. It's just something we use in the hood back at home."
Jenkins never took down the tweet as of Thursday afternoon. He was asked why he waited six hours and until after a conversation with the head coach to apologize. "I really didn't seem so bad with it," Jenkins said. "People like y'all started picking it up and making stories. So I just apologized."
Jenkins denied sending the tweets during practice. He said there is no cellular service in the training room (he's dealing with an ankle injury) and that the tweets just finally went through after practice started. Jenkins wasn't in the fieldhouse for Wednesday's practice.
He was in the fieldhouse for Thursday's practice, but didn't participate because of his ankle. He was later asked if he understood why using the inappropriate word was wrong,
"Like I said, that is a slang I use back with my homeboys in the 'hood," he said.
But that doesn't make it right.
"I never said it was right. I said that was a slang I use back at home," Jenkins said. "I never said it was right. It's just something I use at home.
"I regret it. But at the end of the day it's my slang. So if you take it how you're going to take it, it's on you. I don't mean to offend nobody. My dad always told me, 'Speak freely and own up to what you say.' So I always speak freely as a man and I speak how I want to speak."
Jenkins concluded his press conference by declining to answer whether he would use the word going forward and if he understood why it is an offensive term.
"Next question," he said.
Jenkins, 31, has one year and $11.25 million remaining on his contract. He has 54 tackles and is tied for fourth in the NFL with four interceptions.
This isn't the first time Jenkins' words have gotten him into a precarious position. Earlier this month, he expressed his displeasure with his role after a loss to the Green Bay Packers, questioning why defensive coordinator James Bettcher wasn't using him to follow the opposition's top receiver.
Jenkins spoke with Bettcher and Shurmur last week, and all parties involved downplayed the incident. They said they were on the same page, and Jenkins played well Monday night -- albeit in a different role, as he was the Giants' primary nickel cornerback out of the slot against the Eagles. Jenkins played almost exclusively on the outside during the first 12 weeks of the season.
This also isn't the first time Jenkins has gotten into trouble because of Twitter. He called out receiver Terrelle Pryor after a game in 2016, firing off a pair of obscene tweets that downplayed Pryor's performance during a matchup between the Giants and Cleveland Browns earlier that day.
Jenkins was also suspended in 2017 by former coach Ben McAdoo for failing to return on time from the bye week.
Glen Davis pleads no contest to attack, no jail
LOS ANGELES -- Former NBA player Ronald Glen Davis avoided jail time after pleading no contest to a charge that he attacked a man outside a Los Angeles-area nightclub last year, prosecutors said Thursday.
Davis, 33, was accused of throwing the man into a wall during an altercation in West Hollywood on April 8, 2018.
He entered his plea Wednesday to one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.
As part of a plea agreement, Davis is required to complete 320 hours of community labor over the next year. If he meets that condition and breaks no other laws, the battery count will be reduced to a misdemeanor, prosecutors said.
Davis also paid $104,479 in restitution.
Known by the nickname "Big Baby," Davis played for the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and LA Clippers.
The 2020 NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6.
It has been nearly five months since the most recent NBA trade -- a rare break in the transaction game. With almost all of the trade restrictions across the league lifting in December, that could start to change.
Get the latest intel and analysis from our experts here, including trade grades and live after-the-buzzer updates. For more on the deadline, tune in to the Woj & Lowe: Trade Season Special (7 p.m. ET Sunday, ESPN2/ESPN App), featuring NBA experts Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.
Trade tracker | 30-team guide | Draft assets
Latest updates
Dec. 11: Who will be the buyers and sellers at the NBA trade deadline? Which teams make sense as destinations for Kevin Love? Zach Lowe talks to John Hollinger of The Athletic on the latest edition of The Lowe Post, addressing those questions and more.
Dec. 10: The Memphis Grizzlies are determined to find a trade for forward Andre Iguodala before the deadline, rather than buying him out, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on The Jump.
Dec. 6: As NBA trade possibilities expand beginning Dec. 15, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expressing willingness to listen to offers for All-Star forward Kevin Love, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Cleveland is open to moving Love before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, should the Cavaliers find a requisite package of young assets and/or future draft picks, league sources said.
Dec. 6: After firing David Fizdale, the Knicks' front office should pursue trades for the team's veterans approaching the deadline, including Marcus Morris, Wayne Ellington and Bobby Portis, ESPN's Kevin Pelton writes.
Need-to-know trade info, tools
Injured Knebel, Brewers agree to $5.1M salary
SAN DIEGO -- The Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a one-year contract for $5,125,000 with pitcher Corey Knebel, who is returning from Tommy John surgery.
A 28-year-old right-hander, Knebel hurt his elbow during spring training and had surgery on April 3. He had been eligible for salary arbitration and will have the same salary as in 2019.
His deal includes a $50,000 bonus for being comeback player of the year along with other award bonuses.
Knebel had 39 saves in 2017, when he was an All-Star, and 16 the following season.
His deal was announced Tuesday.
Winter meeting notes: Mazara, Roark could be helped by fresh starts
Catching up on a few leftover moves from this week's winter meetings as I fly home ...
• The Rangers finally tired of waiting for Nomar Mazara, to whom they gave $5 million when they signed him as a 16-year-old in 2011, to convert his promise into production, trading him to the Chicago White Sox for fringe prospect Steele Walker. Mazara has a .261/.320/.435 line across four full years in the majors, making him well below average for a corner outfielder in both OBP and power, with an execrable .231/.272/.361 career line against lefties. He doesn't swing and miss often, but he also swings at too many pitches outside or around the perimeter of the strike zone, pitches he can foul off or put in play but can't hit hard -- and he really doesn't make enough hard contact for a corner outfielder who's a below-average defender. I thought Mazara would be a better hitter than this, but after four years there's been zero improvement in his approach at the plate; perhaps the change of scenery and coaching staffs will help.
This year's winter meetings wind down having delivered a historic explosion of expenditures. With contenders having paid top dollar, we asked Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez, Jesse Rogers and David Schoenfield for their takeaways from the industry-shaking events in San Diego.
Where would you rank the Yankees' midnight (ET) addition of Gerrit Cole among the all-time biggest winter meetings moves?
Doolittle: Meh. It's a big deal, don't get me wrong. But let's not let the dollar signs blow away our perspective. Frank Robinson was traded during the winter meetings. Dave Winfield signed with the Yankees. There was the Padres-Blue Jays trade with Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter, Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. Nolan Ryan. Alex Rodriguez. Manny Ramirez. I'm bully on Cole, but let's give this some time to breathe.
Schoenfield: Let's not get carried away here. Cole is an amazing pitcher coming off a historic strikeout season, and the money is obviously tremendous, and he might lead the Yankees to three or four World Series titles in the next five years (or maybe none). But I doubt this classifies as a top-10 all-time move at the moment. After all, Cole has basically had one season for the ages. Maybe he'll have more. Or maybe he's Jake Arrieta, circa 2015.
Anyway, some of the bigger moves that happened at the winter meetings: Albert Pujols to the Angels, CC Sabathia to the Yankees, Alex Rodriguez to the Rangers (and Manny Ramirez to the Red Sox the same year). In 1998, Kevin Brown became the sport's first $100 million player, and before you say Brown is no Gerrit Cole, he had gone 51-26 with a 2.33 ERA the previous three seasons and had 15.6 WAR the prior two, compared to 12.1 by Cole. In 1992 in Louisville, Barry Bonds and Greg Maddux -- the best player and the best pitcher in the game -- both signed with new teams.
Then you have some of the biggest trades: Chris Sale to the Red Sox, Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers, Gary Carter (arguably the best player in the game at the time) to the Mets in 1984 and, going way back, Frank Robinson to the Orioles in 1965. And don't forget the 1990 blockbuster between the Padres and Blue Jays that Brad mentioned. But, yes, $324 million is a lot of money.
Gonzalez: My first winter meetings were in 2011. I was new on the beat, covering, of all teams, the Los Angeles Angels. Near midnight on that Wednesday, I received a text message confirming the buzz that had begun to spread through the lobby in Dallas: The Angels were in the running for Albert Pujols, which seemed unfathomable at the time. The following morning, with the Rule 5 draft set to begin, news spread that C.J. Wilson had joined the Angels and then, mere seconds later, that Pujols was joining them too. There was palpable buzz throughout the hotel that I still remember. The Cole signing felt the same way.
Rogers: It's huge. We don't see nearly decadelong deals for pitchers every December. This one will be remembered for a long time. People don't realize what nine years really is. That's twice as long as the entire careers of many players. It's something we've never seen for a pitcher.
What would it take for another team to pass the Yankees as the team to beat?
Doolittle: A shocking blockbuster trade that at present is difficult to conceive. For instance, if the Red Sox decided to punt on 2020 and trade Mookie Betts for prospects or the Cubs did the same with Kris Bryant. And then those players went to an already great team.
Schoenfield: That's going to be difficult to achieve, given what Cole is likely to mean to the Yankees, turning a 103-win powerhouse into, umm, something even more powerful. After signing Anthony Rendon, maybe the Angels now trade for Mookie Betts and David Price and sign Hyun-Jin Ryu. Maybe the Dodgers trade for Francisco Lindor and sign Madison Bumgarner. Maybe the Mets will ... ahh, right, they'll probably add a mop-up reliever and backup catcher.
Gonzalez: The Dodgers going for it: signing someone such as Josh Donaldson to play third base and taking suddenly expendable pieces such as Gavin Lux or Corey Seager or Max Muncy to swing a previously unfathomable trade for someone such as Noah Syndergaard and then engaging the Brewers for Josh Hader. Sound like a lot? That's because the Yankees are really, really good right now. The Dodgers are glad they're in the other league.
Rogers: Perhaps we saw it Wednesday. The Angels' signing of Rendon puts them in play for the pennant. Call me crazy, but the Astros can be dethroned. The A's are good, but Joe Maddon's first year is bound to be an exciting one. That's assuming the Angels add pitching, but even if it's a stretch to think they can jump Oakland, Houston and New York, there are good teams out there. The league -- finally -- might be at its most competitive in 2020, with fewer teams at the bottom of a rebuild. But those damn Yankees are damn good.
Which move do you like better: Strasburg to the Nationals for 7/$245 million or Cole to the Yankees for 9/$324 million?
Doolittle: I like them equally. No, really. Cole's record of durability merits the extra years, and he's getting only $1 million more in AAV. In both cases, this is viewed through the prism of the marketplace. The chances for either of them to go seven or nine years unscathed from a health standpoint are minuscule. But this is the market for them right now, and pitchers such as these two are scarce.
Schoenfield: I'll take Cole, who was not only better in 2019 but also has slightly better stuff and has been more durable.
Gonzalez: Both of these are contracts the organizations are going to have to swallow on the back end. The key is how much value they'll get in the front half. I'll take my chances on Cole.
Rogers: Reluctantly, I'll say Cole. He's a machine right now. Maybe he'll still be one in nine years.
What's the next move the Angels should make, now that they've landed Rendon?
Doolittle: Pitchers. Ryu. Bumgarner. Keep the momentum going. Well, within reason, dollar-wise, because adding depth to the roster is important for them as well.
Schoenfield: Obviously, they still need to address what was the American League's worst rotation (at least by ERA). The Angels' rotation had a worse ERA than the Orioles' -- and what have they done? Traded for an Orioles starter. I'm sure the Angels will do something, but I'm not exactly sold on this offense, even with Rendon hitting behind Mike Trout. Kole Calhoun hit 33 home runs with 108 OPS+ (and good defense) and is a free agent. This team is counting on Justin Upton to come back strong and are hoping rookie Jo Adell can replace Calhoun's production in right field (33 home runs and good defense), but how about trading for Willson Contreras to upgrade the offense at catcher?
Gonzalez: They began Wednesday roughly $70 million below the luxury tax threshold and still need pitching. With Rendon and Andrelton Simmons on the left side of the infield, I'd like to see the Angels get a starter who can induce a lot of ground balls, such as Hyun-Jin Ryu or Dallas Keuchel -- or, given their needs, both. They can then trade for a catcher. Billy Eppler said earlier Wednesday that he was talking to two teams about catching.
Rogers: Sign Madison Bumgarner, and trade a hitter for some more pitching, if that's possible. Heck, sign two pitchers. L.A. can't waste any more of Trout's career, and the offense should give any second-tier pitcher enough backing. Just gobble up some arms by any means necessary.
How wide is Scott Boras' smile right now?
Doolittle: I just want to know if the Boras Corporation is going to have an IPO anytime soon.
Schoenfield: Marvin Miller just got inducted into the Hall of Fame. How about putting Scott Boras in? (duck!)
Gonzalez: His special cherry trees are blooming.
Rogers: Almost as wide as the smiles on his players who just signed.
Which move not involving the big three of Cole, Strasburg and Rendon were you most intrigued by at these winter meetings?
Doolittle: Josh Lindblom to the Brewers. Milwaukee needed another starter badly, and I'm always fascinated by players who go overseas and then come back. In Lindblom's case, his numbers in the KBO weren't just an upgrade from what he did in the majors. They were also an upgrade from what he did in a previous stint in the KBO. I'm eager to see what he learned.
Schoenfield: The Dodgers giving Blake Treinen $10 million is certainly interesting since the A's non-tendered him in lieu of a salary of $8.5 million or so in arbitration. If Treinen can rediscover his 2018 form, the Dodgers won't have to use Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen in the 2020 postseason.
Gonzalez: Michael Wacha to the Mets for a deal that starts at $3 million and can go as high as $10 million if he hits all of his incentives. The Mets don't necessarily need starting pitching. But if Wacha can somehow round back into form, New York's rotation would be very good.
Rogers: I'll say Treinen as well. The Dodgers didn't exactly crush it out of the bullpen this season, and now they're relying on a reclamation project to help in 2020. Very interesting.
What is one move that didn't get done in San Diego that you think could come soon?
Doolittle: I think Starling Marte will be on the move sooner than later. There's good demand for him, and Ben Cherington needs to start to put his stamp on the Pirates' roster.
Schoenfield: With Rendon off the market, it's Josh Donaldson's turn. Maybe he'll replace Rendon in D.C.
Gonzalez: I think the next tier of starting pitchers will start to get going, with Bumgarner, Ryu and Keuchel getting settled. All they really needed was for Cole to sign.
Rogers: I don't think there is any doubt that the Cubs want to make a big trade. Or two of them. Sometimes the rumors are true, so watch both Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras closely. They might not be Cubs for long -- or at least one might not be.
Which team are you most surprised didn't make a big move at the winter meetings?
Doolittle: The Rangers. With the new park coming and rumors about Rendon flying around, I thought they'd make a splash. Dealing away Nomar Mazara -- while defensible -- wasn't what I had in mind for this team.
Schoenfield: Are the Mets awake? After swinging for the fences last offseason, their moves this year have been to add a center fielder who can't hit and an injury-prone starting pitcher. Meanwhile, their division rivals have made significant transactions, and their intracity rival signed the big cheese.
Gonzalez: The Dodgers, though it's not for lack of trying. They presented Cole with a $300 million offer and found out Rendon didn't have much interest in playing for them. But they still have a ton of payroll flexibility and a ton of depth from which to trade. They also have a burning desire to add elite-level talent. They'll do something big.
Rogers: Cincinnati. The Reds smell blood in the water and did some pouncing before the meetings, but I figured they would make another splash. It'll happen again soon, I imagine.
Watched on national television by hundreds of thousands of Brazilians nationwide, the announcement was made on Tuesday 10th December at the Brazilian Olympic Awards evening held at the Cidade das Artes (City of Arts), located in Barra da Tijuca, the area of Rio de Janeiro that was the focal point for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Present in Zhengzhou, preparing for the Agricultural Bank of China 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, the 23 year old acknowledged the accolade by video link.
Sixth time awarded
Organised by the Brazilian National Olympic Committee, the 21st edition of the occasion, it was the sixth time the “Fan Favourite” award had been made.
Not only does the award reflect the popularity of Hugo Calderano, it also reflects the major effect he is having on raising the status of the sport in Brazil; nothing replaces a hero, nothing supersedes an icon to which youngsters can admire.
All-round sportsman
Thankfully Hugo Calderano chose table tennis, he is one of those special characters who could have chosen any sport where a ball was concerned; he’s most adroit at basketball and volleyball.
The recent video released by the International Table Tennis Federation endorsed that fact; the major bonus with Hugo Calderano is that there is no sense, no hint of arrogance, he is one of the most humble, courteous and well-mannered young men you could which to meet. He was the same when 13 years old, plying his skills in his native Rio de Janeiro, he is the same now.
Global vote
Thousands of votes were received, the vote being global, not just restricted to Brazil; incredibly Hugo Calderano received a massive 48 per cent, a clear endorsement for his personality and for the sport of table tennis.
Understandably, Alao Azevedo, who except for the period between 1992 and 1995, has always been the President of the Brazilian Table Tennis Confederation, was naturally delighted.
“I am very happy with this award; it represents Brazilian table tennis is growing and getting more popular. Thanks to this fantastic player Hugo Calderano, our chances for the future are more brilliant!” Alaor Azevedo
Flavia Saraiva, who plays for Flamengo, one of Brazil’s foremost football clubs, was next in line; he received 36.4 per cent.
Other contenders included Olympic medallists Bruno Rezende (volleyball), Ana Marcela (aquatic marathon) and Mayra Aguiar (judo), in addition to the 2019 surfing world title contender Italo Ferreira.
Zhengzhou review: Olympic champion falls, Olympic places reserved
In addition, in the women’s singles, colleague Zhu Yuling departed proceedings in round one, as in the men’s singles did Germany’s Timo Boll and in the men’s doubles the Korea Republic pairing of Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu.
Ding Ning, the no.7 seed, suffered at the hands of Japanese defender, Hitomi Sato, the no.15 seed and suffered for the second time this year. In June in Sapporo they had met at in the second round at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum Lion Japan Open; on that occasion Hitomi Sato had won in six games (12-10, 6-11, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9); in Zhengzhou she prevailed by a very similar margin (4-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4).
A second defeat in a row for Ding Ning at the hands of Hitomi Sato; for Zhu Yuling, who had won in 2016 in Doha, it was five in succession. The no.9 seed, she was beaten by colleague Wang Manyu; the 20 year old who thus maintained her unblemished record when facing her compatriot on the international scene.
Better and better
Recent results suggest the defeats experienced by Ding Ning and Zhu Yuling were no great upsets. It was the same for Timo Boll, the no.9 seed, a result that underlined the increasing good form of his opponent.
Just under one month ago on the ITTF World Tour in Austria, Timo Boll had come within whisker of beating Fan Zhendong (11-2, 4-11, 11-13, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 14-12). Somewhat differently, at the Men’s World Cup in Chengdu there had been no great moments of drama when they met, Fan Zhendong had prevailed in five games (11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10). In Zhengzhou, Fan Zhendong, the no.2 seed, was in no mood for charity, a close contest but a straight games win was the order of the day (11-5, 18-16, 12-10, 11-7).
Farewell to Timo Boll, who had won in 2005 in Fuzhou, it was the same for Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu, the men’s doubles champions in 2016 in Doha. The top seeds, they experienced defeat when facing Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju, the no.7 seeds (11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-1). The defeat brought to an end a dismal year for Lee Sangsu; he fell short of qualifying for the Grand Finals in the men’s singles as well as the mixed doubles with Jeon Jihee.
Focus of attention
Contests that caught the eye but of course much attention focused on the mixed doubles; win and a place in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was reserved. Matters advanced according to seeding.
Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem, the top seeds beat Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej and Barbora Balazova, the no.2 seeds (12-10, 11-9, 11-7); Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito the no.4 seeds accounted for Tristan Flore and Laura Gasnier, the no.7 seeds (11-7, 11-6, 11-6). In the opposite half of the draw, China’s Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen, the no.3 seeds, overcame Korea Republic’s Cho Daeseong and Shin Yubin, the no.5 seeds (11-3, 11-5, 13-11); Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching, the no.2 seeds, halted the aspirations of Hungary’s Adam Szudi and Szandra Pergel (11-7, 11-3, 11-4).
However, as the host nation, Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito automatically qualify; thus a further place for the mixed doubles event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games becomes available.
The pertinent regulation reads:
“Any unused quota places obtained at the World Tour Grand Finals / World Tour 2020 tournaments will be reallocated to the next best-placed eligible mixed doubles pair, not yet qualified, from the May 2020 ITTF Olympic Mixed Doubles Ranking list.”
According to status
Meanwhile, as play progressed on the opening day in Zhengzhou, predominantly matters advanced as status advised.
In the men’s singles, Xu Xin, the top seed, beat colleague Zhao Zihao, the no.12 seed (5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4), colleague Liang Jingkun, the no.7 seed, overcame Wong Chun Ting, the no.16 seed (11-4, 11-6, 11-8, 11-1). Not to be upstaged, Lin Yu-Ju, the no.6 seed, halted the progress of Sweden’s Mattias Falck, the no.13 seed (11-7, 11-9, 13-11, 11-9).
Likewise, in the women’s singles, Liu Shiwen the no.6 seed, ousted Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa, the no.11 seed (11-7, 14-12, 11-7, 11-9), compatriot Wang Yidi, the no.8 seed, ended the hopes of Japan’s Miu Hirano, the no.10 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5).
Austria repeated
Similarly, in the men’s doubles with the exception of Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu it was success for the leading pairs; however there was a close call.
Just under one month ago at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum bet-at-home.com Austrian Open, in the first round Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska had beaten colleagues Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang by the very narrowest of margins (10-12, 8-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-9).
In the opening round in Zhengzhou, the no.4 seeds, they repeated the feat, again succeeding by the minimal margin in the decider (9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9). Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang commenced play the no.6 seeds.
Record maintained
Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska appear in the same half of the draw as Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Yu. In the opposite half, all China contests witnesses Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin, the no.2 seeds, facing Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan, the no.3 seeds.
Impressively, in round one Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin beat Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Wong Chun Ting, the no.5 seeds (11-7, 11-5, 11-3); Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan overcame Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan, the no.8 seeds (11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 11-7).
Thus Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan maintained their somewhat unwanted record. Crowned world champions in 2013, as a pair they have never reached a men’s doubles final on the ITTF World Tour or at the Grand Finals!
World champions progress
Success for China, it was the same in the women’s doubles; Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, the no.3 seeds and reigning world champions, beat Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.8 seeds (11-7, 13-11, 11-7).
They now meet top seeds, Japanese teenagers Miyu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki. They progressed courtesy of success against the combination of Slovakia’s Barbora Balazova and the Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova (11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4).
Progress for the top seeds, in the opposite half of the draw it was the same for the next in the order of merit. Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun overcame Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching, the no.7 seeds (11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4). Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu and Cheng Hsien-Tzu, the no.4 seeds await; in the opening round they ended the hopes of Japan’s Miu Hirano and Saki Shibata, the no.5 seeds (11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9).
On Friday 13th December, the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles semi-finals will be played; the opening round and quarter-finals of the women’s singles will be enacted. Likewise, the men’s singles first round will be completed as well as two quarter-finals.
Alex Rieder: Wasps back-row forward forced to retire through injury
Wasps back-row forward Alex Rieder has been forced to retire from professional rugby on medical grounds.
The 28-year-old spent 19 months on the sidelines before returning with a try against Saracens in the Premiership Rugby Cup in September.
However, Rieder is unable to continue playing and had an operation on his knee this week.
"I'm obviously gutted that I have to retire from playing the game I love," he told the club website.
"It's been a real rollercoaster with plenty of highs and lows over the past few years.
"I'd like to thank everyone at the club for their support throughout. I've made some fantastic lifelong friends and will always keep an eye on the boys' progress in the future."
The former Yorkshire Carnegie and Rotherham Titans player joined Wasps in 2015 and made a total of 32 appearances for the club.
Wales centre Watkin faces Six Nations fitness battle
Wales centre Owen Watkin faces a battle to prove his fitness before the Six Nations with the prospect of a month out because of a knee injury.
Watkin, 23, limped off during Ospreys' 40-19 loss to Racing 92 on Saturday and a scan has revealed cartilage damage.
He will have a meeting with a specialist on Tuesday, 17 December, to decide the next course of action.
Wales open their 2020 Six Nations campaign against Italy on 1 February in Cardiff.
Watkin is expected to miss the Ospreys' Christmas and New Year Pro14 derbies against Cardiff Blues, Dragons and Scarlets with an absence of at least four weeks initially being predicted.
The centre will hope the specialist appointment next week does not result in a longer-term diagnosis.
It will be worrying for Wales coach Wayne Pivac, already without British and Irish Lions Test centre Jonathan Davies for his first Six Nations campaign because of a knee injury.
Watkin partnered Hadleigh Parkes in Wales' midfield as Pivac began his reign with a 43-33 victory over Barbarians in an uncapped match in November.
Cardiff Blues centre Willis Halaholo was in Pivac's first squad but has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Ospreys centre Scott Williams and Bath midfield man Jamie Roberts are established alternatives Pivac could consider for the Six Nations.
World Cup top try scorer Josh Adams was tried in the centre in the closing minutes against Barbarians, while fellow Cardiff Blues wing Owen Lane has been identified as a long-term midfield option.
Ospreys outside-half Gareth Anscombe has been ruled out of the Six Nations, while Scarlets fly-half Rhys Patchell and Exeter prop Tomas Francis are doubts to take any part in the tournament.
Captain Alun Wyn Jones, James Davies, Aaron Shingler, Liam Williams, George North, Taulupe Faletau, Ellis Jenkins and Josh Navidi are all currently sidelined.
Dragons forward Cory Hill will make his return from a 10-month absence this weekend.
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