Basketball

Yi’s exit leaves Chinese hoops floundering (Reuters, via Guardian Unlimited)

2008 Olympics

Track and Field: What are the Chinese medal prospects for Beijing? (IAAF.org)

China-born Li named top US athletics coach for guiding Lagat (AFP) [Editor's note: Bernard Lagat's double gold medal in the 1500 and 5000 meter races at this year's world championships were astonishing. Lagat called James Li, his coach, a "technical genius" for planning the strategy that allowed Lagat, a naturalized Kenyan-born American, to win two hot, humid, tactical races in the pressure of a world championship event. My personal sports highlight of the year.]

Adidas taps punch-bag art, Muhammad Ali to spread Olympic fever (Bloomberg.com)

China to host convention on sport science, August 1-5, 2008 (Xinhuanet)

Badminton: China on track for Olympics despite poor results – coach (Guardian UK)

Curling (yes, curling)

Chinese curling attracts younger crowd (China Daily)

Tennis: WTA Tour to undertake significant China expansion (Bob Larson’s Tennis News)

Olympics: China counts down to glory (China Daily); Beijing 2008 – 500 days to go (Olympic.org); Beijing unveils Olympic medals (TVNZ New Zealand); Olympic sports roundup from the week (Boston Globe)

Snooker: Nation’s hopes rest on rising star (People’s Daily Online)

Sports Marketing: Sports product firm shoots for long-term goals (China Daily)

Olympic gold medalist Wang Meng won the women’s 500m World Cup race in short track speedskating in Budapest yesterday.