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��� CURLING

Canada suffer first loss

China upset previously undefeated Canada at the world men���s curling championship on Wednesday, the first loss for Canada in eight round-robin games. Canada���s Kevin Martin failed on a last-rock draw, allowing China to earn the 6-5 win in an extra end. Canada rebounded to defeat the Czech Republic 6-1 and stayed atop the standings with an 8-1 record. The US defeated Sweden 8-6 and Germany 8-5 to improve its record to 5-4, tied with Australia, China and France. In the other late games, Norway beat France 6-4, China beat the Czech Republic 7-3 and Scotland downed Switzerland 6-4. In earlier games, Scotland beat Australia 6-4, Norway topped Denmark 7-3, Sweden defeated Germany 6-5, France beat Denmark 7-4 and Australia defeated Switzerland 7-6.



��� SOCCER

Sullivan and Brady arrested

Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady were arrested on Wednesday by British police as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in English soccer. Though City of London Police, the force charged with investigating irregularities in transfer dealings, declined to confirm the names of the two people arrested, Britain���s Press Association said, citing unnamed sources, they were Brady and Sullivan. In a statement, police said: ���A 59-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were today arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, as part of the City of London Police���s ongoing investigation into football corruption.��� It added that the pair had been released on bail.



��� CRICKET

Gayle likely to play in Test

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said on Wednesday he was more than likely to play in the opening test with Australia next month even though it clashes with the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gayle and fellow West Indies batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have signed up with teams in the IPL which begins on April 18. With the Twenty20 competition running during the first two Tests against Australia there were doubts over whether the trio would return from the multi-million dollar IPL. Gayle will earn an US$800,000 annual fee. ���We haven���t discussed anything but we know the rules already, you have to get permission from your board, so obviously it is more than likely you have to come back and play,��� Gayle said.



��� SOCCER

City, Juve to visit Hong Kong

Manchester City and Juventus will play exhibition matches in Hong Kong next month against a South China invitational XI, a report said yesterday. The English Premier League side, owned by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, will appear at Hong Kong Stadium on May 22, followed by a match between South China and the Italians, the South China Morning Post said. ���They are both quality sides and they have promised to bring their best players to Hong Kong as their domestic seasons will have ended in early May,��� convener Steven Lo Kit-shing said.



��� CYCLING

Herrero wins third stage

David Herrero of Spain won the third stage of the Tour of Basque Country, and Tour de France champion Alberto Contador stayed overall leader for the third straight day on Wednesday. Herrero finished the 195km stage ��� the longest at the 48th edition ��� in 4 hours, 54 minutes and 24 seconds. Luis Leon Sanchez of Spain was runner-up, while world champion Paolo Bettini of Italy placed third.
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