Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 31 Week of 8 September 2025
(1) LeBron James writes op-ed for Chinese state media as NBA aims to rebuild in China
LeBron James has used basketball diplomacy to connect fans in the U.S. and China
(2) Asia Cup: Afghanistan cricket coach Jonathan Trott wants improvement despite Hong Kong rout
Team ‘a bit fortunate’ and have a few areas to work on as 94-run win is boosted by several dropped catches by city team
(3) Singapore Gymnastics appoint first men’s artistic head coach Francisco Azra with eye on Olympics
Singapore Gymnastics appointed Francisco Azra as its first men’s artistic gymnastics coach in September, aiming to enhance performance and grow the sport.
(4) Asian golfers ‘dreaming of something bigger’ as Im Sung-jae targets Macau Open
South Korea’s Im will be back on Asian Tour for first time in eight years when he plays in the casino city in October
(1) LeBron James writes op-ed for Chinese state media as NBA aims to rebuild in China
(Photo Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NBA great LeBron James wrote a rare op-ed in Chinese state media this week, pointing to basketball as an avenue for diplomacy amid tensions with the U.S. Writing in Monday’s edition of the People’s Daily newspaper, the 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star said “basketball is not only a sport, but also a bridge that connects us.” The piece was published as James was in China ahead of two NBA pre-season games next month in Macao between the Phoenix Suns and the Brooklyn Nets. And it comes as leaders in China and the U.S. seek options to avert a potential trade showdown between the world’s two biggest economies.
James’ article holds symbolic significance, as Communist Party media rarely feature foreign sports figures’ bylines. The gesture aligns with the NBA’s efforts to rebuild its brand in China after a five-year rift triggered by then-Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s 2019 tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters. Commissioner Adam Silver’s refusal to punish Morey led to China banning NBA broadcasts for over a year, with regular coverage only resuming in 2022.
Recent visits by stars like Stephen Curry and De’Aaron Fox signaled improving ties, and James expressed humility at his reception in China: “It’s super humbling… to get the love, I just wanted to pour it back to the community and to this country”(Xinhua). His op-ed and the Macao games represent strategic steps toward normalizing NBA-China relations, leveraging basketball’s cultural appeal to transcend political friction.
News Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/lebron-james-writes-op-ed-chinese-state-media-125398721
(2) Asia Cup: Afghanistan cricket coach Jonathan Trott wants improvement despite Hong Kong rout
(Photo Credit: SCMP/Reuters)
Despite a 94-run victory over Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener in Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott expressed clear dissatisfaction with his team’s batting performance. After electing to bat first, Afghanistan stumbled to 95-6 within 13 overs before benefiting from Hong Kong’s fielding errors—including three dropped catches of opener Sediqullah Atal (73)—to post a competitive 188-6. Trott acknowledged the luck involved, stating, “We were fortunate with dropped catches that let us off,” while emphasizing the need for immediate improvement ahead of tougher group-stage matches.
Trott highlighted the team’s hectic schedule: six games in 12 days, including a tri-series final loss to Pakistan just 48 hours earlier, as a factor but insisted batsmen must take greater responsibility. While praising Atal’s resilience and Azmatullah Omarzai’s explosive 53 (21 balls), he noted: “I would like us to have batted better… Some players need to find form and score runs.” His comments underscored a focus on batting consistency despite being satisfied with the final total and the pitch’s conditions.
With days off before facing Bangladesh on September 16, Trott stressed the urgency of refining techniques and readiness for upcoming challenges. Meanwhile, Hong Kong, dismissed for 94-9 in their reply, must regroup quickly for their next match against Bangladesh on Thursday. The contrast in trajectories highlights Afghanistan’s need to convert narrow wins into dominant performances while Hong Kong seeks redemption after a comprehensive defeat.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/cricket/article/3325053/asia-cup-afghanistan-cricket-coach-jonathan-trott-wants-improvement-despite-hong-kong-rout?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article
(3) Singapore Gymnastics appoint first men’s artistic head coach Francisco Azra with eye on Olympics
(Photo Credit: JASON QUAH)
Singapore Gymnastics has hired its first-ever men’s artistic gymnastics head coach, Francisco Azra from Brazil, to elevate the men’s program following 15 years of groundbreaking achievements by female gymnasts (including Lim Heem Wei’s 2012 Olympic debut and Tan Sze En’s 2021 Tokyo participation). Azra, a former national gymnast with coaching experience in Brazil and England, aims to secure Olympic qualifications, enhance regional/global performances, and expand talent pipelines. His contract extends through 2028, aligning with Singapore’s goal to debut male gymnasts at the Olympics, though he emphasizes long-term development: “No one achieves anything quickly… transformation takes two, three Olympic cycles.”
Azra’s appointment complements recent administrative shifts, including Nabilah Littleford as Performance Development Manager and Berfin Serdil Ors transitioning to Performance Director. He joins existing coaches Ryosuke Kusumi and Park Gi-yong at the National Training Centre, providing dedicated leadership for 19–20 male gymnasts while strengthening ties with local clubs. The team faces a packed 2025 schedule: October’s World Championships in Jakarta, November’s Junior Worlds in Manila, and December’s SEA Games in Thailand, where Singapore targets five medals (including one gold), a feat last achieved in 2017.
Azra outlines a three-pronged strategy: popularizing gymnastics through clubs, enhancing coach education, and broadening competition exposure. He cites Brazil and Britain’s multi-cycle transformations as models, stressing that systemic growth requires “planning, hard work, and push.” While immediate focus is on podium results, the broader mission is to build a sustainable legacy—empowering Singaporean gymnasts to become “big dogs” on the international stage and inspiring future generations through structured, passionate development.
News Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singapore-gymnastics-appoint-first-mens-artistic-gymnastics-coach-francisco-azra-with-eye-on
(4) Asian golfers ‘dreaming of something bigger’ as Im Sung-jae targets Macau Open
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
South Korean golfer Im Sung-jae will make his Asian Tour return after nearly a decade at October’s SJM Macau Open, marking his first appearance on the tour since a T7 finish at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan. The two-time PGA Tour winner, who has qualified for the Tour Championship for seven consecutive years since 2018, returns to a significantly transformed Asian golf landscape, noting: “Asian players are dreaming bigger and can now compete with American or European professionals.” His Macau debut signals both a homecoming and a recognition of the region’s rising competitive stature.
Im, consistently ranked within the PGA Tour’s top-30, brings notable major championship prowess to Asia, including a fifth-place finish at the 2025 Masters following prior top-10 placements (T2 in 2020, T8 in 2022). The 27-year-old emphasizes his desire to be a “good role model” for younger generations by demonstrating daily discipline and hard work. His Macau performance—the first of several Asian events, aims to leave “a lasting impression,” with a subsequent return to Korea for the DP World Tour’s Genesis Championship, which he won in 2019.
Beyond immediate competitions, Im envisions a enduring career centered on two core ambitions: claiming a Masters green jacket and maintaining a consistent world top-10 ranking. He stresses longevity in the sport, stating: “Definitely keeping that PGA Tour card, or even as a senior tour player, is what I want to do. I’m just loving the game.”This philosophy reflects both his pride in Asian golfers’ global ascent and his personal commitment to evolving as a competitor while inspiring future talent across the region.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3325148/asian-golfers-dreaming-something-bigger-im-sung-jae-targets-macau-open?module=top_story&pgtype=section
