Tue, Nov 21, 2006 page19

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ Cricket
  Watson still doubtful

  Australia allrounder Shane Watson remained in doubt for the first Ashes Test against England after a less-than-convincing performance at training yesterday at the Gabba. Watson gave his strained right hamstring a gentle test by running laps and doing some light sprint work for 45 minutes before bowling three overs in the nets. The 25-year-old Watson then left training with team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris to undergo further scans on his injury. A Cricket Australia spokesman said Watson ran at about 70 percent capacity yesterday and would train with the squad today.

  ■ Sumo

  Asashoryu ousts Kokkai

  Grand champion Asashoryu dispatched Kokkai yesterday and took sole possession of the lead at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan. Fighting in the day's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Asashoryu of Mongolia improved to 9-0 when he quickly got both arms around Kokkai, twisting the winless komusubi off balance before pushing him off the ring. Asashoryu, the only grand champion competing in sumo, is aiming to capture his 19th Emperor's Cup in the 15-day tourney. In another major bout, ozeki Chiyotaikai used his trademark arm thrusts to the neck to send Kisenosato out to improve to 8-1.

  ■ Soccer

  Mexico, Jamaica win

  Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 and Jamaica beat Panama 2-0 in Women's Gold Cup soccer quarter-finals on Sunday. First-half goals from Patricia Perez and Monica Gonzalez were enough for Mexico, which advanced to a semi-final against the two-time defending champion US team tomorrow. The US and Canada, which will meet Jamaica in the other semi-final, earned byes into the final four. Dominguez scored Mexico's third goal in the 66th minute. Trinidad hardly tested Mexico goalkeeper Sophia Perez and created only two shots on goal. Audia Sullivan's early goal for Jamaica stood up, while Venicia Reid's score put away Panama for good. Jamaica still has not allowed a goal in six Gold Cup matches and has outscored opponents 38-0.

  ■ Rugby Union

  Gregan praises Giteau

  Australia scrumhalf Matt Giteau received praise yesterday from George Gregan, the man whose place in the Wallabies team he is currently occupying. Giteau, normally a center, played in the Wallabies' 21-6 defeat by Ireland on Sunday, his third Test at No. 9 on Australia's European tour. "Matt's done really, really well there," Gregan told reporters in Adelaide. "He's got a history of playing that position, and he's just a really world-class player, he's played 10 and 12 and then gone to nine, so they're totally different skill sets and he's adapted really well," Gregan said.

  ■ Baseball
  Soriano nears huge contract

  Free agent Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubs reached a preliminary agreement on an eight-year contract worth about US$136 million, a Major League Baseball official said on Sunday. The deal is contingent on Soriano passing a physical, according to the official, who asked that his name not be used because the deal had not yet been announced. If completed, it would be the fifth-largest total package given to a major league player, behind Alex Rodriguez (US$252 million for 10 years), Derek Jeter (US$189 million for 10 years), Manny Ramirez (US$160 million for eight years) and Todd Helton (US$141.5 million for 11 years).

  ■ Golf

  Singh bags Asian Tour title

  India's Jeev Milkha Singh wrapped up the Asian Tour order of merit title with a third-place finish at the Hong Kong Open on Sunday. Singh has enjoyed an excellent season, ending a seven-year title drought with victory at the co-sanctioned China Open in April, which he followed up with a surprise triumph at the European Tour's Volvo Masters in Spain last month. "I'm very excited. It's like a Christmas gift to me now," Singh told reporters after securing his first order of merit title with a record total of US$573,422 and one event still to play. "This year has been excellent. It's like a dream year. With a tied third finish here and winning the order of merit, it is just perfect for me," he added.

  ■ Boxing

  Klitschko plans comeback

  Former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko hopes to return to the ring two years after injuries forced his retirement, according to a German report. Klitschko, the older brother of IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko, plans to start his comeback attempt by working with a physiotherapist in Germany, the Westdeutsche Zeitung reported over the weekend. "We already have a concept," Klitschko trainer Fritz Sdunek said. ``First of all, though, it's important that Vitali's body stands up to the training.'' Klitschko's last fight was an eighth-round stoppage of Danny Williams on Dec. 11, 2004.

  ■ Speedskating

  Friesinger stays unbeaten

  Anni Friesinger of Germany remained unbeaten in five races this year after winning the women's 1,000m at the weekend's speedskating World Cup event. Friesinger won in 1 minute, 15.53 seconds. Erben Wennemars of the Netherlands captured the men's 1,000 in 1:08.88. The Netherlands also won both the men's and women's team pursuit to cap three days of racing. Friesinger is trying to rebound from a disappointing Olympics.
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