Print

Mail

wiki links

Sports Briefs

CYCLING

Arvesen Wins Eighth Stage

Kurt Asle Arvesen won the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, beating world champion Paolo Bettini in a sprint finish. The Norwegian completed the 200km course in 4 hours, 44 minutes, 59 seconds for his second career Giro victory. He won the 10th stage of the race in 2003. Assan Bazayev was third, followed by Evgeni Petrov — both with the same time as Arvesen and Bettini. Marco Pinotti, who finished 23rd, retained the overall leader's pink jersey. Arvesen edged Bettini in a sprint over the closing 500m at the Fiorano circuit, a private track owned by Ferrari for its car testing. "I wanted victory, but it didn't happen," Bettini said.

CRICKET

Pakistan Down Sri Lanka

Salman Butt and Yasir Hameed hit half centuries and Pakistan beat World Cup runner-up Sri Lanka by 98 runs on Sunday to claim the three-match Warid Cup series. Pakistan posted imposing 313 for nine in the allotted 50 overs, and then dismissed Sri Lanka for 215 in 39.5 overs to take a 2-0 lead in the series. The final match of the one-day series will be played today. Butt and Hameed sparked Pakistan with an entertaining 98-run stand for the second wicket off 100 deliveries before both fell in successive overs to legspinner Malinga Bandara.

FORMULA ONE

Track Manager Fired

The head of Shanghai's multimillion dollar Formula One auto racing track has been fired as part of an investigation into the alleged misuse of city pension funds, state media reported yesterday. Yu Zhifei, a former city government official and general manager of the Shanghai International Circuit, was also expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and is facing prosecution, the Shanghai Daily and other newspapers said. Yu was a key force behind Shanghai's racing circuit, designed by famed German architect Hermann Tilke and located on former swamp land about one hour west of the city.

SOCCER

Romario Nets 1,000th Goal

Veteran striker Romario scored the 1,000th goal of his career on Sunday, converting a 48th-minute penalty in Vasco da Gama's 3-1 victory over Sport of Recife in the second round of the Brazilian national championship. The 41-year-old Romario delighted a cheering crowd that packed Rio's Sao Januario stadium to see the 23-year veteran. After the goal, the game was suspended — with Vasco leading 3-0 — as his mother, father wife, children and a horde of journalists rushed onto the field. Romario then ran around the pitch, waving to the cheering crowd. "I dedicate this goal to all the people who helped me and who were always by my side, like my parents, my children and all of you," a teary-eyed Romario said.

This story has been viewed 783 times.