China property tycoon Wang Jianlin eyes sporting trophy

Shanghai

CHINA'S richest man, Wang Jianlin, has built a US$100 billion business empire founded on shopping malls, but now he has set his eyes on a new trophy - building a global sports conglomerate to match his country's economic and political might.

News on Friday that Mr Wang's company Wanda group had become a top-level sponsor for football's scandal-tainted governing body Fifa was just the latest show of its founder's ambitions.