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■ Golf
Brothers book Open berths
Teenage Taiwanese brothers Pan Fu-chiang (潘福強) and Pan Cheng-tsung (潘政琮) grabbed two of the four spots available in the inaugural international qualifying event for the China Open in Sanya, China, the Asian Tour said yesterday. Pan Fu-chiang, 18, shot a final round seven-under-par 65 to secure his place in the US$2 million European and Asian tour sanctioned tournament in Shanghai next month, while his brother needed an eagle at the final hole to win his spot.

■ Soccer
Abramoviches divorced
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and his wife Irina have divorced in Russia, the couple said. The break-up would not affect Abramovich's corporate interests, including Chelsea Football Club, according to a statement issued on behalf of the pair late on Tuesday. "Mr and Mrs Abramovich have divorced in Russia on a consensual basis and have agreed terms in respect of arrangements for their children and a financial settlement," it said, without disclosing details.

■ Basketball
Bogut apologizes for gesture
Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut apologized Tuesday for getting "caught up in the heat of the moment" and making an obscene gesture toward the home crowd while leaving the court. The Australian may face disciplinary action from the NBA for the outburst, which came near the end of Milwaukee's 108-93 loss to Toronto on Monday night. Bogut, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA's annual draft in 2005, was ejected after committing a flagrant foul against Toronto's Chris Bosh with 49 seconds remaining. "Our fans have been very supportive of me since I came to Milwaukee and they certainly didn't deserve my reaction coming off the court. I got caught up in the heat of the moment and let my emotions get the best of me," Bogut said in a statement.

■ Cycling
Pellizotti takes lead
Franco Pellizotti won the second stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race on Tuesday, taking the overall lead from David Millar. Pellizotti of the Liquigas team led a trio of Italian riders over the line, with Daniele Bennati in second spot and Luca Paolini crossing in third. Pellizotti completed the 177km trek from Vatan to Limoges in three hours, 57 minutes and 36 seconds. Bennati and Paolini, also of Liquigas, headed a group of 26 riders all sprinting home two seconds behind Pellizotti.

■ Soccer
Ronaldo steals the show
Cristiano Ronaldo gave a further glimpse of a potentially glittering future as Manchester United paid tribute to their European past on Tuesday. United celebrated 50 years of European competition by beating a Europe XI 4-3 and Ronaldo was the undoubted star of the show in front of 74,343 supporters at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. Bobby Charlton, a member of Matt Busby's team that fulfilled a burning ambition by winning United's first European Cup in 1968, had tipped Ronaldo to be one of the game's great players in the build-up to the showpiece match. The 22-year-old Portuguese international did not disappoint him, with a dazzling display capped by a stunning set-piece goal in his 45-minute appearance which further explained United's desire to secure his long-term future on a new contract.

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