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■ Athletics
Krauchanka wins decathlon
Andrei Krauchanka held off Olympic champion Roman Sebrle and world champion Bryan Clay to win the Hypo Meeting decathlon on Sunday. Olympic champion Carolina Kluft won the heptathlon, edging Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine by 55 points. Krauchanka, from Belarus, finished third in the 1,500m for a personal best score of 8,617 points. Sebrle, a five-time winner of the Hypo Meeting, finished second with 8,518. After the first five disciplines on Saturday, Clay looked set for a new world record but finished 18th in the discus and third overall with 8,493. Kluft fought off a challenge by Blonska, who won the javelin but missed a chance to overtake Kluft's lead by finishing only seventh in the 800m.

■ Table Tennis
Wang Liqin defends title
Wang Liqin rallied to defend his title in the men's singles on Sunday at the World Table Tennis Championships, while Zhang Yining and Wang Nan retained their women's doubles title. Wang Liqin, who trailed 3-1 in sets, defeated top-ranked Ma Lin of China 4-11, 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6. It was Wang's second gold in three finals after winning the mixed finals with Guo Yue on Friday. Ma led the fifth set 7-1 but Wang recovered to equal countryman's Zhuang Zedong record of three world titles. Olympic and world champions Zhang Yining and Wang Nan easily beat Guo and Li Xiaoxia 11-5, 11-6, 13-11, 11-9. China dominated the championships and took all five gold medals. Guo, 18, beat Li on Saturday to become the youngest woman to win gold in the singles after knocking out Olympic and world champion Zhang Yining in the semi-finals.

■ cricket
Inzamam praises Sonn
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq yesterday praised late International Cricket Council president Percy Sonn for his handling of the Oval Test controversy last year. Inzamam said Sonn, who died on Sunday aged 57 in Cape Town, had ensured Pakistan were treated fairly after they forfeited the fourth Test against England in August. "Mr Sonn ensured Pakistan got a fair trial in the Oval case and because of his efforts the truth prevailed," Inzamam said. "Sonn backed Pakistan's legal stance and because of him, the investigations were impartial and ended in Pakistan's victory."

■ Athletics
New women's record set
Tatiana Lysenko set a world record of 78.67m in the women's hammer throw, the Russian Track and Field Federation said on Sunday. The Russian also held the previous record after throwing 77.8m last August in Tallin, Estonia. Lysenko set the new mark on Saturday at the Russian nationals in Sochi the federation said on its Web site.

■ Cricket
Whatmore denies reports
Bangladesh's outgoing coach Dav Whatmore yesterday denied as "mere speculation" reports he had been offered a job with India, saying nothing had been finalized yet. Indian media had reported for the past week that Whatmore, 53, had been offered a one-year contract by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which could be extended by another two years. "I am not India's coach, it is mere speculation," he told reporters a day after completing his four-year tenure with Bangladesh. "I have had discussions with BCCI officials where I told them I was interested but that's all there is to it. I have not heard from them since."


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