Published on Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2007/05/28/2003362879

SportsBriefs


AGENCIES
Monday, May 28, 2007, Page 19

¡½ TENNIS

Dementieva wins in Istanbul

Elena Dementieva won the Istanbul Cup on Saturday when Aravane Rezai withdrew from the final because of a knee injury while trailing 7-6 (5), 3-0. It was the 13th-ranked Russian's first singles title this year, a clay-court warmup for the French Open. "I feel pretty confident after this win. I feel really great," Dementieva said. "Hopefully, I'll continue to play well the next week." Rezai, who beat Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams earlier in the tournament, had injured her knee in the semifinals on Friday. "I'm happy that I'm here in the final ¡X but of course I'm upset that I lost," Rezai said.

¡½ ATHLETICS

Wariner wins 400m

Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner won the 400m on Saturday at the FBK Games in a stadium-record 44.43 seconds. The American held off a strong challenge by Gary Kikaya of Congo, opening a lead in the final turn and extending it in the final 50m. Kikaya finished second in 44.77, followed by Darold Williamson of the US in 45.37. Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie, who has focused on marathons since the 2004 Athens Olympics, was a surprise contender in the 10km race and finished fifth. Gebrselassie set four world records at Hengelo in the late 1990s. Ethiopia's Sileshi Sihine won the race in 26:48.74, edging Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge in the final sprint.

¡½ SOCCER

Celtic complete double

Celtic completed the domestic double by defeating Dunfermline 1-0 in the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday ¡X courtesy of Cameroon defender Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe's late winner. The fullback, on-loan from French club Rennes, was Celtic's unlikely Hampden hero by prodding home the only goal of the game in the 84th minute. This meant Gordon Strachan's team added the Cup to their Scottish Premier League title this season and ended captain Neil Lennon's seven year career with the Glasgow club in style. But the result was tough on Stephen Kenny's Dunfermline who had been the better side for large periods of the final.

¡½ SOCCER

Juventus win Serie B title

Juventus has won a record 27 Serie A titles. On Saturday, it won its first in Serie B. The Bianconeri clinched the second-division championship with a 2-0 win over Mantova a week after ensuring promotion to Serie A. David Trezeguet put Juventus in front with a header off a cross from Federico Balzaretti in the 55th minute and Pavel Nedved scored with a lob in the 73rd. "We just wanted the fans to enjoy it today," Nedved said. "It was a special day. We showed our character this season." Juventus, which was relegated and penalized nine points in the Italian match-fixing scandal, has 85 points with two games remaining.

¡½ VOLLEYBALL

France put US away

France recovered from a 25-13 loss in the first game to beat the US 3-2 in their opening World League match in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday. The French, paced by Bojidar Slavev and Romain Vadeleux and setter Pierre Pujol, defeated the US 13-25, 25-19, 25-17, 24-26, 15-13 at the University of Portland's Chiles Center. A second match was set for yesterday. The matches open six weeks of World League play and are key in preparation for next year's Olympics in Beijing. The US team is in a pool that includes France, Japan and Italy.