The week in sports: from Real's unbeaten run to Chile's China glory

World
Europe

FIFA: World Cup to include 48 teams from 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gives a press conference on January 10, 2017. /CFP Photo‍‍

World football’s governing body FIFA voted on January 10 to expand the World Cup to 48 teams, from a current 32, starting in 2026. The move was adopted unanimously at a meeting in Zurich, Switzerland and will bring ”benefits without negatives”, said FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who strongly backed the change. “Many more countries will have the chance to dream,” he added. The current 32-team World Cup format has been in place since 1998. Previously, only 24 teams played in the tournament. Critics have said the expanded format will lower the level of the competition, and slammed the decision as a political one.

Volleyball: China’s women win big at CCTV Sports Awards

China's women's volleyball team with coach Lang Ping at the CCTV Sports Awards Gala in Beijing on January 15, 2017. /CFP Photo

China’s Olympic-gold-winning women’s volleyball team swept top prizes at the CCTV Sports Awards gala on Sunday at the Water Cube in Beijing. The Rio champions took four awards, including best team and best female athlete for star spiker Zhu Ting. Coach Lang Ping won the best coach award for the third year in a row, while the squad also won a special contribution award for their performance at last year’s Summer Olympics. Table tennis star Ma Long, who won double gold in Rio, was named best male athlete, while diver Ren Qian won best rookie following his gold medal on the 10-meter platform in Rio. Paralympic fencer Rong Jing, a triple Olympic champion in Rio, was named best disabled athlete.

Football: 40 games, no loss for Real

Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos (C) scores an own goal against Sevilla FC ‍at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on January 15, 2017. /CFP Photo

Spanish giants Real Madrid tallied a magical 40 games without a loss when they came back from behind to draw 3-3 against Sevilla in a Copa del Rey quarter-final match on Friday, marking the longest unbeaten run in Spanish football history. The previous record had been held by arch-rivals Barcelona. This was a notable achievement for manager Zinedine Zidane, whose only coaching gig was for Real’s B team before he took over the reins from Rafael Benitez last January. The celebrations were short-lived however as Real went down 1-2 in a Liga game on Sunday, with an own goal by captain Sergio Ramos.

Doping: Chinese weightlifters lose medals

Cao Lei of China competes in the women's 75kg weightlifting event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 15, 2008 in Beijing, China. /CFP Photo

Three Chinese weightlifters who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics have been stripped of their medals for doping. The decision by the International Olympic Committee on Thursday was also confirmed by China’s weightlifting association. The three athletes – Cao Lei, Chen Xiexia and Liu Chunhong – were found positive for doping after samples were re-tested. China’s Olympic Committee said the three violated Olympic rules and spirit and would receive harsh sanctions.

Football: Chile claim 1st China Cup

Chile's national football team celebrate after winning the final match against Iceland of the 2017 Gree China Cup International Football Championship on January 15, 2017 in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. /CFP Photo

FIFA’s world number four team Chile claimed a new piece of silverware on Sunday when they beat Iceland 1-0 to win the inaugural China Cup football tournament. The Latin American squad had already defeated China on the way to the trophy. Altogether four teams took part in the competition, which was organized by the Wanda Group and the Chinese Football Association in the southern Chinese city of Nanning last week. In the third-place final, China beat Croatia on penalties 1-1 (4-3) on Saturday.