Wed, Oct 11, 2006 page19

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ Cycling
  Michele Gobbi comatose

  Italian cyclist Michele Gobbi was in a coma on Monday with severe head injuries following a fall in the GP Beghelli race. Blood flowed from Gobbi's head and his helmet was split in two after the accident in Saturday's race. He was airlifted to a Bologna hospital, where he is being treated. The 29-year-old Gobbi rides for the Milram team. He has four victories in his pro career.

  ■ Snooker

  `Beckham of the baize' dies

  Paul Hunter, the British snooker player dubbed "the Beckham of the baize," died after an 18-month battle with cancer late on Monday, aged 27. The three-times Masters champion is survived by a wife and daughter, the sport's governing body World Snooker said. "Paul was a man who had everything going for him, an outstanding talent, good looks, fame, riches, charm and a beautiful wife," World Snooker Chairman Rodney Walker said on the governing body's Web site. "This shows us just how quickly life can change. It's a bitter blow for snooker but most importantly for his family and our thoughts are with them."

  ■ Athletics

  Kiplagat nets bonus

  Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands will receive a bonus of US$50,000 for setting a world record in the women's 20km road race in Debrecen, Hungary. Kiplagat, who moved to the Netherlands from Kenya in 2003, finished in 1 hour, 3 minutes, 21 seconds to win Sunday's inaugural IAAF World Road Running Championships. She broke the previous record of 1:03:26, set by Paula Radcliffe of Britain on Oct. 6, 2001, in Bristol, England. Kiplagat will receive the bonus even though Sunday's race was not part of the IAAF's World Record Program, the International Association of Athletics Federations said on Monday. "After seeing the fantastic competition yesterday and the great world record of Lornah Kiplagat, we believe it is right that athletes at this event should also be rewarded for exceptional performances, even if we do not have a sponsor for that," IAAF president Lamine Diack said in statement.

  ■ Golf

  European Tour extended

  The Portugal Masters and the MasterCard Masters in Australia have been added to next year's PGA European Tour schedule, helping to take the total to at least 50 tournaments for the first time. The schedule, which also includes the return of two events, starts next month with the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai and will finish 12 months later with the Volvo Masters at Valderrama, Spain. "We share with all sports the incentive to break records and we are naturally both delighted and encouraged to announce, that for the first time in our 36-year history, there will be more than 50 tournaments on the schedule," said Keith Waters, the director of international policy for the European Tour. The MasterCard Masters will be staged next month at Huntingdale Golf club in Melbourne.

  ■ United States
  Glenn Myernick dies

  Glenn Myernick, an assistant coach for the US soccer team and a former head coach of Major League Soccer's (MLS) Colorado Rapids, died on Monday after suffering a heart attack last week. He was 51. Myernick collapsed on Thursday after his regular morning jog and never regained consciousness, Rapids spokesman Jurgen Mainka said. Myernick coached the Rapids from 1997-2001, taking them to the MLS Cup title game in his first year, and coached the US Olympic team from 2002-2004, when it failed to qualify for the Athens Games.

  ■ North Korea

  Women's team pulls out

  North Korea has pulled out of an international women's soccer competition scheduled for later this month in South Korea, citing a "complex" situation, organizers said yesterday, in an apparent reference to the country's nuclear test. North Korea had been scheduled to participate in the 2006 Peace Queen Cup Korea from Oct. 28-Nov. 4, but a South Korean businessman acting as an agent for the North's team told organizers on Monday that the North's participation would be difficult, according to Huh Kyung-rak, an official of the organizing committee. "He cited that the situation is complex," Huh said. "I think it's because of the North's nuclear test."

  ■ Poland

  Ronaldo the danger man

  Poland has struggled in European Championship qualifying and faces Portugal today with winger Cristiano Ronaldo in top form. With four points from three games, the Poles want at least a draw in Chorzow. Portugal, on four points from two games, hasn't lost on the road in international qualifying for 10 years. "Of course we're going there looking for a win, even though we know Poland is a tough outfit," said Ronaldo, who scored two goals last weekend in Portugal's 3-0 win over Azerbaijan. The Manchester United winger has taken over the playmaker role left by retired Luis Figo.

  ■ The Netherlands

  Van Persie to lead attack

  Robin van Persie is expected to again play as a lone striker in the Netherlands' European Championship qualifier against Albania today. He was the only striker when he headed in the equalizer in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria. With Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Dirk Kuyt out or in doubt with ankle injuries, Van Persie should fulfill the role again. "I think Robin played well as a central striker," Netherlands coach Marco van Basten said on Monday "He is the kind of player who can play in every position up front." Vennegoor is injured and Ruud van Nistelrooy turned down a call-up.
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