I got a message out of the blue this week from Patrick McEnroe – the former US Davis Cup captain turned ESPN commentator and, yes, brother of John – to go on his Holding Court podcast to talk about tennis and China, plus everything in between. It was a lot of fun – you can find that episode here (and see the video clip below). Just days earlier, I had the chance to talk to Chinese F1 driver Zhou Guanyu on my own China Sports Insider Podcast – and he had a lot to say (full show blurb below). We also talked on the show about China losing its hosting rights to the 2023 Asian Cup – and see some of my comments I made on the topic to Reuters here.
Category Archives: Tennis
NHL Pulls Plug on Olympics & Coach Grignard Talks Tennis in China
After months of negotiations over whether NHL players would be going to the Beijing Olympics, COVID-19 stepped in and made the decision for them: NHL players will not be playing. Despite a provisional agreement last summer between the NHL and the Players’ Association, there was always a get-out clause if the pandemic caused too much schedule disruption this season, and with Omicron ripping through the league, in the end there was no other choice. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the misinformation over China’s quarantine rules (discussed in last week’s show) didn’t cause the players to pull out by themselves, but, as a hockey fan, I was really looking forward to seeing the NHL players here.
Continue reading NHL Pulls Plug on Olympics & Coach Grignard Talks Tennis in China
Hockey Drama and Steph Hsiao Talks NFL in China
Episode 10 of the China Sports Insider Podcast is another packed show, in which we tackle tennis, F1, and ice hockey, plus hear from Steph Hsiao about the NFL in China.
This coming Monday, December 6, should see some sort of announcement over the make-up of the Chinese men’s Olympic ice hockey team for Beijing 2022 – as well as a final decision on whether or not China will get kicked out and replaced by Norway. After literally years of wrangling over the citizenship issue – i.e. how to recruit foreign-born players for Team China – sources from inside the camp indicate that this decision is coming right down to the wire. Simply put, some players are more comfortable signing away their existing citizenship in exchange for a Chinese passport than others – but the exact make-up of the roster could dramatically affect how China fares against the NHL’s best next February. Listen to the show directly on the player below or go to our landing page on SupChina here. It’s also available on all the usual podcast sites (search “China Sports Insider Podcast”).
Continue reading Hockey Drama and Steph Hsiao Talks NFL in China
More Peng Shuai, Olympic Boycotts and Esports in China
Listen below to the latest edition of the China Sports Insider Podcast. It’s been taking me a little while to get the latest episodes up on here (apologies for that), so if you want to get the new shows as soon as they come out, please subscribe via your preferred podcast player.
Continue reading More Peng Shuai, Olympic Boycotts and Esports in China
Peng Shuai’s “Statement” and What it Means for Tennis in China
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the podcast yet, I’d really suggest you check this one out (see embed below). The is the eighth one we’ve done and it’s the best one yet. For a start, there’s a LOT going on right now! The Peng Shuai saga has completely blown up everywhere (except for China of course, where it’s heavily censored), Zhou Guanyu is set to make history as China’s first F1 driver as he will partner Valtteri Bottas at Alfa Romeo next season, there’s been a dramatic reversal from the International Ice Hockey Federation which could still lead to China getting kicked out of the Olympics, and we talk to Rowan Simons – who’s been inside the Chinese soccer world for more than 25 years. Full blurb below:
Continue reading Peng Shuai’s “Statement” and What it Means for Tennis in China
Sun Yang Banned for 4+ Years, Will Miss Tokyo Olympics
In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the 2022 Olympics and elsewhere:
- Chinese swimmer gets ban of 4 years and 3 months at doping retrial
- Soccer star Li Ying comes out as lesbian
- IOC member hails China’s winter sports progress with some dubious stats
- Commemorative stamps released for 2022 Winter Olympics venues
- Golfers set for Tokyo, Zhang makes history at Wimbledon
- The latest 2022 Olympics boycott talk from around the world
- All the other features and stories of interest
China Inches Closer to Unlikely World Cup Berth
In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the 2022 Olympics and elsewhere:
- China is into the third round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying
- WTA set to decide on the future of China tournaments for this year
- Peter Hessler’s bizarre take on the Chinese skiing industry
- Eileen Gu Ailing nominated for an ESPY Award
- Chinese diver to compete for Australia at Tokyo Olympics
- The latest 2022 Olympics boycott talk from around the world
- All the other features and stories of interest
Bending – and breaking – the rules in Chinese football
Here is today’s China Sports column for SupChina, which you can read in full here. Below is a summary of what went on this week.
Continue reading Bending – and breaking – the rules in Chinese football
Carlos the Jackass, CFA on trial and the search for the new Li Na goes on
Here is today’s China Sports column for SupChina, which you can read in full here. Below is a summary of what went on this week.
Continue reading Carlos the Jackass, CFA on trial and the search for the new Li Na goes on
10 sporting questions for the Year of the Monkey
After a breathless few weeks during which the entire sporting world has been talking about Chinese football (with yours truly quoted by AFP three times, FT twice, El Pais, Hicimos, Vice Sports and interviewed by CCTV, BBC and Al Jazeera among others), let’s take a look at a few stories that could be cropping up over the next 12 months…
Continue reading 10 sporting questions for the Year of the Monkey