BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. China loses to Australia in basketball friendlies
Missing key players Han Xu, Li Meng, Huang Sijing and Li Yueru due to injuries and schedule conflicts according to head coach Zheng Wei, China's women's basketball team lost to Australia in its first two warm-up matches before the Paris Olympics.
Led by 43-year-old legend Lauren Jackson, Australia beat China 72-70 and 80-72 in the two games, and the two sides will stay in Shenyang for June 2's game 3.
2. Former Brazil star Kaka visits China's Village Super League
Former Brazil international footballer Kaka visited China's Village Super League in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on the night of May 27.
Despite on a workday, the stadium was full of spectators cheering and welcoming Kaka as he entered the stadium.
Earlier, Kaka said in a video that he was invited by the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development and a Chinese smartphone brand to participate in the "Chasing Dreams" charity football event, which aims to boost local youth football and the development of the VSL.
3. China hold hosts Australia in women's soccer friendly
Despite conceding a 95th-minute goal, China held hosts Australia to a 1-1 draw in a women's soccer friendly in Adelaide on the night of May 31.
This was the first high-level international match for the Chinese team since Australian Ante Milicic took the reins of the Steel Roses on May 11.
Midfielder Zhang Linyan put China 1-0 ahead in the 30th minute when forward Wurigumula out-muscled Australian defender Kaitlyn Torpey and put a cross to the near post where Zhang flicked her shot past the Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold into the far corner.
4. Zheng stays the only remaining Chinese player at French Open singles
Chinese player Wang Xinyu was defeated by Russia's Anastasia Potapova in a three-set thriller 7-5, 6-7 (8-6), 6-4 in the third round of the French Open on May 31, stopping at the same stage for the second consecutive year.
Another Chinese player, Zhang Zhizhen, lost three consecutive sets to the 9th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, also halting at the round of 32 stage on the red dirt major for the second year in a row.
Thus, women's 7th seed Zheng Qinwen is the only Chinese player remaining in the singles competition at this year's Roland Garros, and she will face off against world No.70 Elina Avanesyan in the third round.
5. China wins over the Netherlands but loses to Japan at VNL
China beat the Netherlands in the FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 3-1 on May 29 in Macao, China, but lost to Japan 25-22, 19-25, 25-18, 25-17 on May 31.
After the matches, Japan narrowed the points gap with China, moving up from eighth to seventh, while China remained sixth in the world rankings.■
