22 TUESDAY APRIL 3, 2007 SPORTSCHINA CHINA DAILY

INBRIEF Beijing has SNOOKER 500m yuan Star table lauded by players and offi cials event fund China-made Star Brand snooker table has won scores TENNIS of praise from players and offi cials after the 2007 China By Zhao Rui Open which ended on Sunday in Beijing. Approved by the World The rivalry between Beijing and Snooker Association, the Star Shanghai to become China’s No Brand table by the Beijing 1 sports center heated up yes- Xingwei Sports Goods Co Ltd, terday when the capital city became the offi cial table for announced a 500 million yuan the event. It is the second time ($62.5 million) budget for inter- the table has been used in a national events after the Beijing major world event after it hit Olympics in 2008. the headlines in 2006 when it Beijing won the rights to host was used for the BetFred Eng- a nine-day elite Women’s Tennis lish Premier League snooker Association (WTA) tournament competition. last week, becoming one of four “The Star Brand table is proba- cities hosting elite events on a 20- bly the best table I ever played tour top-level calendar in 2010. on,” said Stephen Hendry, the “This is just a beginning for the seven-time world champion- city as the government will start ships winner. Hendry has a 500 million yuan sports foun- been signed as a spokesperson dation to support such top events for the brand. right after the Olympic Games in Joe Swail, impressed by the ta- 2008,” said Sun Kanglin, director ble’s performance, has contacted of Beijing Sports Bureau. “Win- the company with an intention ning the rights to the WTA event to buy some for his friends. is a timely encouragement for us, World Snooker Association as we beat cities like Dubai, Tokyo chairman Rodney Walker told China's snooker sensation Ding Junhui is seen during the 2007 China Open, which concluded on Sunday in Beijing. Ding, the 2005 winner of the inaugural event, is and Bangkok. company president Gan Lian- the face of Chinese snooker at the age of just 20. Yang Shizhong “I think it’s a great idea to take tong that the players were all advantage of the Beijing Games, very satisfi ed with the table when the city will become the and hoped to see it again. center of the world’s attention,” Sun said, without specifying BASKETBALL Snooker looks forward to bright future what other events the city will be attempting to attract. Gatorade champions “Everybody sees their im- Invitational — at the end of the good and the boys also proved “Now we are confi dent about to get NBA tickets Young talent, growing interest provement, it has given us the year. Negotiations are also un- they could play as well as their continuing the effort to import The 2007 Gatorade 3-on-3 confi dence to increase invest- derway with the World Snooker British counterparts.” international events in the Basketball Challenge will take mean sport is ready to take off ment in the sport and import Association for some other Challenges, however, remain. post-Olympic period. The gov- place from mid-April in 13 more international tourna- small international events. After Ding Junhui was eliminat- ernment is set to increase the competition zones in China. By Li Wei he is young and talented,” said ments to China.” “We are working on bring- ed in round one, attendances at support year by year.” As an extra incentive to win, Doherty. “I hope I can remem- Before 2006 the State General ing 10 Main Tour stages to the Beijing University Students Sun also said Beijing is the national champions will ber this match and have some Administration of Sports didn’t China,” said Zhang. “In this Gymnasium plummeted. Dur- negotiating with Shanghai to be given the chance to fl y to After a punishing 5-1 first more great matches like this in give any fi nancial support to way, our players are able to ing the fi nal between Graham host the ATP Masters Series in the USA to watch their favorite round defeat at the China the future.” this non-Olympic sport, and win more ranking points and Dott and Jamie Cope on Sunday, alternate years starting 2009. NBA teams play. Open, Li Hang was puzzled to Li was not the only benefi ci- most teenage hopefuls would experience without paying only about 30 percent of the “It’s still possible,” said Sun. At least 50,000 hoopsters are fi nd himself the center of media ary. opt for jobs like coaching in that much.” seats were taken. “We will have discussions with expected to join the event and attention. The tournament, now in its Snooker’s big names are The World Snooker Asso- the ATP and Shanghai sports challenge for the national crown. However, aged just 16 and third year, plays a crucial role behind the direction the sport ciation, the global governing authority and we wouldn’t rule Competitions in the Beijing beaten by an opponent of the in snooker’s development in I think China will is taking. body of the sport, said they out the possibility of the fi rst ever zone will begin on April 7 at calibre of world number 1 Ken China. It is helping the sport “China has made a strong im- had learned from the tourna- combined event in Beijing. On the China University of Mining Doherty, perhaps it was under- switch from the back alleys become a major pact on the sport, not only on its ment. other hand, we will be happy to & Technology and Beijing standable that Li should be in to the mainstream, and at the snooker base in the players but also on the growing “The Chinese market has great have a WTA tournament without University of Chemical Tech- such demand. same time it is also helping near future. atmosphere,” said former world potential, but it’s a hard market the ATP Masters Series.” nology. “I played quite a good young talent like Li fi nd a way champion Jimmy White. “Eve- and not easy to get involved,” said The organizers of the Masters Fans who dream of watching game, didn’t I?” he told into the professional ranks. STEPHEN HENDRY rybody is learning to appreciate Simon Leach, who heads the or- in Shanghai reportedly paid the the latest NBA action fi rst- reporters. “Playing against “The China Open is a door for Snooker world champion snooker, from fans, media, spon- ganization’s Beijing offi ce. “We ATP $7.6 million in 2002 for the hand should visit Mygator.cn him was simply unbelievable. Chinese players,” said Zhang sors as well as offi cials.” want to help China promote the event, with that price rising to and fi ll in the application form I’m used to watching him on Xiaoning, director of the Mul- Stephen Hendry echoed this sport, and we are also learning to over $9 million last year. Sun as soon as possible. television. ti-ball Games Administrative local amateur clubs. point of view, saying the coun- do it in the right way through the refused to say how much Beijing Gatorade, a leading sports “I made some good pots, I Center, the governing body of But Zhang said the Center has try is set to become a major China Open.” paid for WTA Tier I event, but said drink brand under Pepsi, has mean, I think my boss was the sport in China. “Playing put one million yuan ($130,000) player in the snooker world. He added that the England- it would be worth the money. long been a partner of the watching the match on TV and against the big names helps into snooker in 2007, including “I think China will become a based World Snooker Association “For sure it’s a big amount NBA and also the sponsor I don’t know if there is any them know where they are supporting players in overseas major snooker base in the near is branching out to help promote but we are OK with it,” he said. of stars like Dwyane Wade, chance he can send me to the going to go and how good they events and developing the sport future,” he said. “They are get- the sport in China, including set- “Money is not a problem for us Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter UK just like Ding Junhui. The can be. They are on their way to at the grassroots level. The ting more professional year ting up its fi rst overseas offi ce in as both sponsors and fans are and Michael Jordan. match really gave me a lot of becoming professionals.” budget is set to be increased by year, and I’ve seen great Beijing in 2005. showing great interest in the It will invite some of the confi dence.” Five out of eight Chinese next year. improvement. “We get to know more upcoming event.” basketball icons to join a Adding to the joy, his per- wildcard players beat their pro In a bid to give home players “The tournament is great for Chinese players, the national Tennis Cardinal, a China Open number of activities in the US, formance was hailed by his opponents to reach the event’s more top-level experience, the the sport and great for Chinese training system, the market, promotion that opens to all the together with the winners of hero Doherty. main draw, something that Center will stage another top fans. The idea to give local and now we are taking steps to fans around the country, has the Challenge. “Li is obviously impressive, delighted Zhang. tournament — the Shanghai players eight wildcards is very improving,” he said. raised its curtain last week. SCOREBOARD

BASEBALL fi nal-round scores here on Sunday from the NBA W D L Gf Ga Pts Hamburg 1 (Mahdavikia 60) VfL Wolfsburg 0 Ascoli 3 10 16 22 45 19 NEWYORK: Result of Sunday’s game (home $two million Kraft Nabisco Championship, NEWYORK: Results from Sunday’s games Man United 25 3 3 74 21 78 Standings: Portuguese league team in CAPS) fi rst major of the women’s golf season (USA (home team in CAPS) Chelsea 22 6 3 55 19 72 W D L Gf Ga Pts LISBON: Portuguese league results on NY Mets 6 ST LOUIS 1 unless noted): DETROIT 94 Miami 88 Liverpool 17 6 8 48 21 57 Schalke 04 16 5 6 42 27 53 Sunday: 285 - Morgan Pressel 74-72-70-69 Chicago 105 ATLANTA 97 Arsenal 16 7 7 52 28 55 Werder Bremen 15 6 6 61 33 51 CRICKET Naval 0 Nacional Madeira 0 286 - Catriona Matthew (GBR) 70-73-72-71, GOLDEN STATE 122 Memphis 117 Bolton 15 5 11 36 38 50 VfB Stuttgart 14 7 6 45 31 49 Academica 0 Uniao Leiria 0 World Cup Brittany Lincicome 72-71-71-72, Suzann Washington 121 MILWAUKEE 107 Tottenham 14 6 11 44 44 48 Bayern Munich 14 5 8 41 31 47 V. Setubal 2 Estrela Amadora 0 BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Results and table Pettersen (NOR) 72-69-71-74 PHOENIX 126 Dallas 104 Everton 12 10 8 38 26 46 Leverkusen 12 6 9 43 36 42 Maritimo 1 Sporting Braga 2 in the Super Eights of the 2007 World Cup 287 - a-Stacy Lewis 71-73-73-70, Shi Hyun BOSTON 98 Cleveland 96 Reading 13 5 13 43 39 44 Nuremberg 9 14 4 38 25 41 Benfi ca 1 FC Porto 1 on Sunday: Ahn (KOR) 68-73-74-72, Stacy Pramma- TORONTO 107 Charlotte 94 Portsmouth 11 10 10 37 32 43 Hanover 9 8 10 33 39 35 Saturday At Georgetown, Guyana nasudh 76-70-70-71, Meaghan Francella Minnesota 105 ORLANDO 104 (OT) Blackburn 12 4 15 37 45 40 Hertha Berlin 9 7 11 37 44 34 Belenenses 1 Aves 0 Sri Lanka bt West Indies by 133 runs 72-72-69-74 Utah 86 HOUSTON 83 Newcastle 10 7 14 34 40 37 Aachen 9 6 12 42 48 33 Boavista 3 Pacos Ferreira 1 Super Eights standings (played, won, lost, 288 - Maria Hjorth (SWE) 70-73-72-73 INDIANA 100 San Antonio 99 Middlesbrough 9 9 13 32 38 36 Hamburg 6 14 7 30 27 32 tied, no-result, run-rate, points): 289 - Angela Stanford 72-75-73-69, Lorena Denver 114 SEATTLE 103 Man City 10 6 14 23 34 36 VfL Wolfsburg 7 11 9 27 30 32 Scottish Premier League Australia 3 3 0 0 0 +2.01 6.0 Ochoa (MEX) 69-71-77-72, Se Ri Pak (KOR) LA LAKERS 126 Sacramento 103 Fulham 7 14 10 32 45 35 Energie Cottbus 8 8 11 29 36 32 GLASGOW: Scottish Premier League result Sri Lanka 3 2 1 0 0 +2.07 4.0 72-70-70-77 Aston Villa 7 13 10 29 35 34 Eintr. Frankfurt 6 13 8 34 45 31 on Sunday: Hibernian 0 Hearts 1 (Zaliukas 81) New Zealand 2 2 0 0 0 +0.98 4.0 290 - Jee Young Lee (KOR) 70-77-71-72, NHL Wigan Athletic 9 6 16 30 45 33 VfL Bochum 8 6 13 32 42 30 England 2 1 1 0 0 +0.05 2.0 Sarah Lee (KOR) 72-74-70-74 NEWYORK: Results from Sunday’s games Sheffi eld United 8 7 16 25 45 31 Mainz 05 7 9 11 24 40 30 Spanish league South Africa 2 1 1 0 0 -0.71 2.0 291 - Ji-Yai Shin (KOR) 76-72-71-72, Brittany (home team in CAPS) Charlton 8 6 17 29 49 30 Bielefeld 7 8 12 32 36 29 MADRID: Spanish football league results Detroit 4 COLUMBUS 1 West Indies 4 1 3 0 0 -1.18 2.0 Lang 71-73-75-72, Ai Miyazato (JPN) 76-73- West Ham 7 5 19 25 51 26 Dortmund 7 8 12 29 38 29 on Sunday: CHICAGO 2 Edmonton 1 Ireland 2 0 2 0 0 -1.02 0.0 69-73, Paula Creamer 73-67-73-78 Watford 3 11 17 19 47 20 M’gladbach 6 7 14 22 33 25 Atletico Madrid 1 (Fernando Torres 16) Bangladesh 2 0 2 0 0 -3.77 0.0 ... NEW JERSEY 3 Boston 1 Real Mallorca 1 (Arango 53) French league Italian Serie A Note: - Teams who defeated fellow quali- 293 - Karrie Webb (AUS) 70-77-73-73, Carolina 4 FLORIDA 3 (OT) Getafe 2 (Manu 43, Casquero 61) Real PARIS: French league results on Sunday: ROME: Italian league results on Sunday: fi ers in the fi rst round carry forward the Laura Davies (GBR) 74-73-73-73 SAN JOSE 6 Los Angeles 2 Zaragoza 2 (Sergio Garcia 21, D’Alessandro 35) Nantes 0 Sedan 1 (Ducourtioux 61) Inter Milan 2 (Maxwell 56, Crespo 70) two points from that match as well as the 295 - Jimin Kang (KOR) 76-73-73-73 NY RANGERS 7 Toronto 2 Gimnastic Tarragona 1 (Portillo 14) Recrea- Le Mans 2 (Is. Bangoura 46, De Melo 52) Parma 0 run-rate. 296 - Angela Park (BRA) 73-74-75-74, Auxerre 2 (Akale 66, Kaboul 71) tivo Huelva 1 (Sinama Pongolle 10) SOCCER Chievo 1 (Brighi 34) Sampdoria 1 - Teams who played each other in fi rst Julieta Granada (PAR) 74-77-72-73, Lindsey Nice 1 (Laslandes 11) Monaco 1 (Plasil 79) Racing Santander 5 (Christian 56, Garay (Quagliarella 27) round do not meet in the Super Eights Wright (AUS) 74-69-77-76 Belgian league Troyes 0 Sochaux 1 (Pitau 33) 64-pen, Zigic 69, 88, Murillo 77-og) Ath- Cagliari 2 (Biondini 12, Budel 24) Messina 0 - Top four qualify for the semi-fi nals BRUSSELS: Belgian football league results Toulouse 1 (Elmander 72) Saint-Etienne 0 letic Bilbao 4 (Prieto 7, Etxeberria 62, 79, Portugal Open Atalanta 2 (Loria 39, Doni 65-pen) Fioren- on Sunday: Lille 0 Valenciennes 2 (Doumeng 77, Hassli Iraola 83) ESTORIL, Portugal: Scores after the fourth tina 2 (Ferreira 27, Pazzini 32-pen) GOLF Mouscron 2 FC Bruges 1 90+3) Celta Vigo 1 (Angel 43) Real Madrid 2 (Van and fi nal round of the Portugal Open here Empoli 4 (Pozzi 44, 74, Saudati 53-pen, 71) Shell Houston Open RC Genk 2 St Truden 0 Lens 1 (Rozehnal 52-og) Paris Saint Ger- Nistelrooy 27-pen, Robinho 83) on Sunday (GBR and IRL unless stated. Par Ascoli 1 (Soncin 50) HOUSTON, Texas: Leading fi nal-round scores Saturday main 2 (Diane 3, Armand 72) Osasuna 0 Sevilla 0 71, (x) denotes amateur): Livorno 4 (C. Lucarelli 20, 83-pen, 90+2, here on Sunday from the $5.5 million Shell 277 - (x) Pablo Martin-Benavides (ESP) 73 Mons 5 RC Genk 0 Standings: Standings: Fiore 45) Catania 1 (Sottil 14) Houston Open (USA unless noted): 70 66 68 Anderlecht 0 Zulte Waregem 0 W D L Gf Ga Pts W D L Gf Ga Pts 271 - Adam Scott (AUS) 69-71-65-66 278 - Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 70 69 72 67 Beveren 1 Lierse 1 Lyon 20 5 4 54 23 65 Torino 0 Palermo 0 Barcelona 16 8 4 59 26 56 274 - Stuart Appleby (AUS) 66-72-67-69, 281 - Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74 71 67 Westerlo 1 Mouscron 0 Lens 13 10 7 43 33 49 Udinese 2 (Di Natale 58-pen, Iaquinta Sevilla 16 6 6 48 24 54 Bubba Watson 71-67-64-72 69, David Griffi ths 76 69 68 68, Martin St Truiden 1 Charleroi 1 Sochaux 12 10 8 36 34 46 90+2) Lazio 4 (Stendardo 18, Mauri 50, Real Madrid 15 6 7 39 25 51 275 - Tommy Armour 68-71-70-66 Kaymer (GER) 72 69 73 67, Graeme Storm FC Bruges 4 FC Brussels 1 Toulouse 13 7 10 34 33 46 Behrami 51, Rocchi 60-pen) Valencia 15 5 8 40 28 50 276 - Robert Garrigus 69-72-70-65, 72 67 70 72 Friday Bordeaux 13 5 11 31 30 44 Standings: Real Zaragoza 13 8 7 42 29 47 Anthony Kim 70-73-66-67, Hunter Mahan 282 - Andrew Oldcorn 76 69 66 71, Sven Stru- Germinal Beerschot 1 Lokeren 2 Lille 11 10 9 36 29 43 W D L Gf Ga Pts Atletico Madrid 12 8 8 33 24 44 68-71-68-69 ver (GER) 70 70 72 70, Alastair Forsyth 73 69 Dutch league Saint-Etienne 12 6 12 46 40 42 Inter Milan 25 4 0 63 23 79 Santander 11 10 7 35 34 43 277 - D.J. Trahan 71-72-66-68 69 71, Michael Jonzon (SWE) 71 71 69 71 THE HAGUE: Dutch football league results Marseille 12 6 12 36 31 42 Roma 17 8 4 56 23 59 Huelva 12 6 10 36 36 42 278 - Bob Estes 67-71-69-71, Bernhard 283 - Alexander Noren (SWE) 71 68 68 76, on Sunday: Le Mans 10 12 8 37 35 42 Lazio 16 7 6 51 24 52 Getafe 10 9 9 25 21 39 Langer (GER) 71-70-67-70, Arron Ober- Stephen Gallacher 68 71 73 71, Tom White- Excelsior 3 ADO The Hague 1 Auxerre 10 12 8 34 35 42 Palermo 13 9 8 43 34 48 Espanyol 9 11 8 31 31 38 holser 70-71-69-68, Steve Stricker 68-73- house 74 71 68 70, Alejandro Canizares Vitesse Arnhem 0 Feyenoord 1 Rennes 10 10 9 25 24 40 Empoli 12 9 8 32 28 45 Villarreal 10 8 10 29 35 38 (ESP) 71 72 71 69, Mark Foster 77 67 70 69, 68-69, Johnson Wagner 66-75-64-73 Ajax 3 Heracles Almelo 0 Lorient 10 10 10 27 30 40 AC Milan 14 10 5 39 25 44 La Coruna 9 9 10 21 30 36 Peter Lawrie 73 70 71 69 279 - Tom Byrum 71-68-71-69, Jeff Maggert FC Twente 3 FC Utrecht 0 Monaco 10 9 11 35 31 39 Fiorentina 15 8 6 47 26 38 Osasuna 10 5 13 34 33 35 67-71-67-74, Sean O’Hair 70-71-69-69, 284 - Gary Orr 70 73 73 68, Lee S James 73 Sparta Rotterdam 2 SC Heerenveen 2 Nancy 9 9 11 26 34 36 Sampdoria 9 9 11 36 36 36 71 70 70, Luis Claverie (ESP) 72 68 73 71, Real Mallorca 9 6 13 29 40 33 Paul Stankowski 69-71-65-74, Bo Van Pelt Saturday Valenciennes 10 6 14 31 40 36 Udinese 9 8 12 36 41 35 Real Betis 7 11 10 28 34 32 71-70-68-70 Ross McGowan 68 68 72 76 NAC Breda 1 PSV Eindhoven 1 Nice 7 11 12 26 31 32 Atalanta 7 12 10 42 42 33 285 - Jamie Spence 72 73 66 74, Nick Levante 6 10 12 23 38 28 ... Willem II Tilburg 1 NEC Nijmegen 0 PSG 7 10 13 29 37 31 Livorno 7 11 11 31 44 32 Celta Vigo 6 9 13 28 40 27 280 - Angel Cabrera (ARG) 74-70-69-67, K.J. Dougherty 69 69 75 72, Pelle Edberg (SWE) AZ Alkmaar 2 RKC Waalwijk 0 Sedan 6 12 12 38 46 30 Torino 8 8 13 24 39 32 71 71 71 72, Simon Dyson 67 74 73 71 Athletic Bilbao 6 8 14 31 45 26 Choi (KOR) 70-70-71-69, Stephen Leaney Friday Troyes 7 9 14 29 45 30 Catania 8 8 14 37 58 32 286 - Benn Barham 72 67 77 70, Soren Real Sociedad 4 9 15 20 36 21 Roda JC Kerkrade 0 FC Groningen 1 Nantes 6 11 13 25 37 29 (AUS) 70-71-69-70 Kjeldsen (DEN) 72 73 72 69, Euan Little 72 Siena 6 13 10 25 32 30 Tarragona 5 6 17 29 51 21 281 - Daniel Chopra (SWE) 68-72-68-73, 69 72 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE) English Premiership German league Cagliari 6 12 11 23 32 30 Padraig Harrington (IRL) 71-72-66-72 76 68 74 68, Simon Khan 73 68 76 69, Paul LONDON: English Premiership result on BERLIN: German football league results Chievo 6 10 13 32 40 28 283 - John Senden (AUS) 71-72-72-68 Lawrie 72 72 67 75, Paul McGinley 76 70 Sunday: on Sunday: Reggina 9 9 11 38 41 25 To comment or alert us to a story, Kraft Nabisco championship 70 70, Emanuele Canonica (ITA) 73 70 71 Tottenham 1 (Keane 40-pen) Reading 0 VfL Bochum 2 (Gekas 35, Epalle 42) Messina 5 9 15 28 48 24 e-mail [email protected] RANCHO MIRAGE, California: Leading 72, Van Phillips 75 70 72 69 Standings: Hanover 0 Parma 4 10 15 24 48 22