Sports Briefs

■ Golf

Hansen going to US Open

Anders Hansen is going to the US Open for the first time, after rising to No. 49 in the world ranking on Monday following his playoff victory in the BMW Championship on the European Tour. Hansen was among 14 players who became exempt from US Open qualifying by being in the top 50 in the world ranking or the top 10 on the current US PGA Tour money list. The US Open is to be played from June 14 to June 17 at Oakmont. The 36-hole qualifying will be held next week. It was the first victory for the 36-year-old Dane since he won at Wentworth five years ago.

■ Athletics

Powell raring to go

World 100m record-holder Asafa Powell planned a fast race on his return yesterday from a bout with knee tendinitis. The Jamaican sprinter, who was to open his season at the AthleticsBet meet in Belgrade, said on Monday he was "looking to run under 10 seconds." Powell, 24, twice last year equaled his world mark of 9.77 seconds but had early season setbacks and missed a couple of planned competitions. "The tendinitis is gone and I have trained really well in the past few weeks, so I expect a good performance in my first appearance this season," Powell said.

■ Ice Hockey

Predators going nowhere

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman said on Monday that even if the sale of the Nashville Predators goes through, the franchise "is not going anywhere." Craig Leipold has signed a letter of intent to sell the Predators to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie for US$220 million after losing US$70 million in 10 years of ownership. The terms of the sale, which must be approved by three-fourths of the NHL's board of governors, call for the deal to be completed by June 30. Bettman said he met with Balsillie last week and asked whether the co-CEO of Blackberry makers Research in Motion had intentions to relocate the franchise. "He told me that he did not," Bettman said.

■ Athletics

Kiplagat wins Bolder Boulder

Edna Kiplagat of Kenya won her third race this season, bolting out to a big lead halfway through the 10km Bolder Boulder, which was marred by a fatality in the citizen's portion of the annual Memorial Day run. A man in his 60s collapsed midway through the course earlier in the day, race spokesman Dave Plati said. His identity wasn't released. This was the first fatality in the 29-year history of the race, which this year included more than 45,000 participants. When the citizen's race was over, Kiplagat ran away from the elite women's field, finishing in 33 minutes, 42 seconds and beating Ethiopia's Amane Gobena by 17 seconds. American Elva Dryer was third in 34:01. The men's race was much closer as Ridouane Harroufi of Morocco pipped Ethiopian Solomon Tsgie Asfaw.

■ Ice Hockey

Markov signs contract

Russian defenseman Andrei Markov signed a four-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal on Monday, the National Hockey League club announced. Markov has 46 goals and 161 assists in 411 career NHL games, all with the Canadiens. He played for Russia at last year's Winter Olympics in Turin. "Andrei Markov is one of our best players and a huge part of our hockey team," Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey said. "We drafted and developed a player who has become an elite defenseman in the NHL."

■ Soccer
Gazza has stomach op
Former England player Paul Gascoigne is recovering from emergency surgery on a perforated stomach ulcer. His agent, Jane Morgan, said Gascoigne had been admitted to the hospital on Sunday evening -- his 40th birthday -- with severe stomach pains. "He underwent emergency surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer and will remain in hospital for a few days," Morgan said on Monday. "He's recovering well." Gascoigne made 57 appearances for England, but his career was cut short by injuries and off-the-field troubles, including heavy drinking.

■ Cricket
Younis avoids punishment
Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has avoided disciplinary action for refusing to accept the captaincy of the national side and for opting to play for English country Yorkshire instead of his country. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf told reporters yesterday that Younis was well within his rights to either accept or refuse their offer to become captain following the World Cup. Younis turned down the captaincy after Inzamam-ul-Haq stepped down after the team's first round exit from the World Cup in March. Younis cited form and pressure for his decision.

■ Soccer
Toni leaves Fiorentina
Italian club Fiorentina announced on Monday the departure of their star forward Luca Toni, who has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich. A Fiorentina statement said Toni met with the Tuscan club's president Andrea della Valle earlier on Monday. "We thank him for the significant contribution he has made to the club over two seasons, scoring 49 goals," said the club. According to the Italian press, Toni is expected to sign for Bayern with the German giant's president, Franz Beckenbauer, confirming his interest in the player this month. The 30-year-old was the top scorer in Serie A last season with 31 goals before winning the World Cup last summer.

■ Soccer
Poborsky calls it quits
The Czech Republic's most capped player Karel Poborsky, retired from the sport on Monday. The 35-year-old Ceske Budejovice midfielder said he had lost his enthusiasm for the game, which saw him win 118 caps -- scoring eight goals and featuring in the Euro '96 final as well as the Euro 2004 semi-finals. "I made my mind up during the winter break," said Poborsky, who is also president of the First Division club. "It was becoming more and more difficult to get motivated." Poborsky also played for Manchester United, Benfica, Lazio and Sparta Prague and last month became technical director of the national side.

■ Rugby Union
Brooke recovering from op
Former All Black forward Zinzan Brooke is recovering in a Spanish hospital after surgery on a head injury, a spokesman for the Barbarians said on Monday. Brooke, who was coaching the Barbarians' tour of Tunisia and Spain, sustained the injury after last Wednesday's 52-26 win over Spain in Elche. "He got the injury while getting out of a taxi at the hotel in the early hours of Thursday morning. He fell down and hit the back of his head on the ground," Barbarians press officer Alan Evans said. His wife flew out to be with him but when he still complained of headaches on Sunday, hospital staff operated to relieve the pressure on his brain caused by a clot.