■ OLYMPICS
China gymnasts ‘old enough’
China has denied reports that two of its female gymnasts are too young to compete in next month’s Beijing Olympics, state media reported yesterday. “Our Olympic squads were recently named and we registered their ages according to their ID cards and other legal documents presented by their regional gymnastics associations. [The documents] show they are all over the minimum age for the Olympics,” Zhang Peiwen, manager of China’s national gymnastics team, told the China Daily. Chinese media and the New York Times have raised questions about whether He Kexin (何可欣) and Jiang Yuyuan (江鈺源), two athletes named in the squad, have yet turned 16, which became the minimum age for Olympic competitors in 1997. Online records listing Chinese gymnasts along with reports in Chinese news media indicated that He and Jiang could be as young as 14, the New York Times report said.
■ RUGBY UNION
MacDonald to miss rematch
All Blacks fullback Leon MacDonald was yesterday ruled out of next weekend’s Tri-Nations rugby rematch against Australia, adding pressure to New Zealand’s attempt to even the ledger. Team doctor Deb Robinson said MacDonald had ongoing concussion symptoms after suffering a blow to the head during the 30-28 loss to South Africa on July 12. Although called back into the side for next weekend’s match, MacDonald continued to be fatigued in training and at team meetings, signs he was still feeling the effects of the blow, Robinson said. There was no immediate word on a replacement, but the selectors may revert to last week’s fullback Mils Muliaina who had been moved to the wing to make way for MacDonald.
■ OLYMPICS
Asahara offers bathtub tips
Veteran Japanese sprinter Nobuharu Asahara is so eager to help his younger team mates cope with the pressure of the Olympics he has been offering advice while soaking in the bath. The 36-year-old, set to run in his fourth Olympics, is fast running out of places to hide from questions from fellow athletes. “The Olympics are nearly here so I’ve been bombarding him with questions,” the country’s top sprinter Shingo Suetsugu told local media. “We have even been talking in the [communal] bath. It’s a real help. He’s always ready to help and never shows his nerves. It has a calming effect on the athletes.” Asahara secured his Beijing spot by finishing runner-up in the 100m at the Japanese national championships last month behind Naoki Tsukahara. “The age gap doesn’t bother me,” Asahara said. “I try to be friendly with everyone. I have had experience of being unable to peak or recover [between races] so hopefully I can help them.”
■ BOXING
Billy Graham to retire
British boxer Ricky Hatton will be without his trainer for November’s IBF light welterweight title fight against Paulie Malignaggi after he announced his retirement. Billy Graham, Hatton’s trainer of 11 years, said he would retire following a fight tomorrow. His previous fight with Hatton was Hatton’s lopsided points victory over Juan Lazcano in an IBO light welterweight title fight in May. “Ricky and Billy had a meeting yesterday in which Billy admitted he was not going any further,” Hatton’s father, Ray, said. “It was quite emotional because they have been together for so long.”
■ BASKETBALL
Serb leaves NBA for Europe
New Jersey Nets forward Nanad Krstic has signed a two-year deal to play for Triumph Moscow, his agent told ESPN on Tuesday, making the Serbian the sixth non-US player to bolt the NBA for Europe this year. The deal with the Russian club, worth about US$9 million, came after agent Marc Cornstein searched in vain to find a deal with NBA clubs, Cornstein told ESPN. “At the end of the day, Triumph offered him the most love,” Cornstein said. “This was too good of a deal to pass up for him.” Others to leave the US elite league for Europe since the season ended include Slovenia’s Bostjan Nachbar and Primoz Brezec, Spain’s Juan Carlos Navarro and Jorge Garbajosa and Argentina’s Carlos Delfino. The top US player to spurn the NBA for more money in Europe was Josh Childress, who dumped the Atlanta Hawks and inked a three-year deal with Greece’s Olympiakos for US$20 million.
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