CHINA DAILY SPORTS THURSDAY JANUARY 4, 2007 23 INBRIEF Faldo swaps clubs for commentary WINTER SPORTS Czech Rezak completes Vasa- loppet hat-trick Three-time Masters Czech Republic’’s Stanislav Rezak com- pleted a winning hat-trick at the 2007 winner will appear Vasaloppet China, a top-notch cross- country skiing tournament, on Tuesday at Augusta this year, in Changchun’s Jingyuetan Park, Liaon- ing Province. but instead of playing Rezak, the 2005 and 2006 winner, was the fi rst to fi nish the 50km race, scoring he will be behind the a time of two hours and 19 minutes. He also won the VOLVO Cross-country microphone offering Sprint Tournament the previous day, beating favorite Fredrik Persson of analysis and insight Sweden into second place. In the women’s event, local skiers KAPALUA, Hawaii: Three-time champion continued to dominate as Wang Chunli, Nick Faldo will enter uncharted territory when Man Dandan and Li Hongxue raced to he returns to Augusta National for this year’s a 1-2-3. Masters in April. It’s the fourth straight podium fi nish for For the fi rst time since making his debut Li, a star of China’s national team after there in 1979, the former world No 1 will ap- winning the race three times in a row pear at the opening major of the season as a since 2004. non-competitor. Although the experience will be different, MISCELLANEOUS Faldo says he will have no regrets when he drives through the entry gate and along leafy CCTV sports channel gets Li- Magnolia Lane towards the clubhouse for the Ning backing April 5-8 tournament. Leading Chinese sportswear producer “I’ve had my playing career, I’ve been out there Li-Ning, named after former world and 30 years and this is a great opportunity for me to Olympic champion gymnast Li Ning, do something different,” the 49-year-old Briton signed with leading Chinese chan- told reporters in an interview. nel CCTV-5 to provide apparel for the Having cut his teeth as a television golf analyst anchormen and anchorwomen. for ABC Sports over the last two years, Faldo will After 11 years CCTV-5 has become perform the same duty at Augusta National for CBS Britain’s Nick Faldo hits from a sand trap to the second green as he practices at the Augusta National Golf Club for the 2006 Masters golf one of the world’s biggest and most Sports, broadcasters of the Masters since 1956. tournament in Augusta, Georgia, in this April 3, 2006 fi le photo. Three-times champion Faldo will enter uncharted territory when he returns infl uential sports channels. Li-Ning is “I don’t want to be a player who’s an amateur,” to Augusta National for this year’s Masters in April. Reuters the sponsor of several Chinese national Faldo added. “I’m now an analyst and I will be in sports teams including the successful the tower at Augusta for the whole week. “So I thought: ‘Okay it’s getting tough now course when establishing himself as the domi- week’s season-opening Mercedes-Benz Cham- table tennis and gymnastics teams. “Obviously my golf has really been curtailed and I haven’t got the game to seriously compete nant player of his generation, Faldo has become pionship in Hawaii. The two-year contract covers the 2008 and I’m quite happy about that. My playing days at Augusta any more.’ a veritable chatterbox in the broadcast booth. The Golf Channel, signed up by the Tour for Beijing Olympic Games. aren’t completely over but my priority now is “Now I am quite happy to go up in the booth and Several leading players in the modern game 15 years, will broadcast the fi rst three events as Li Ning has signed with NBA players given to CBS.” do the best that I can calling the action,” added the say his analysis has allowed them to understand well as the Thursday and Friday rounds for the such as Shaq O’Neal, Damon Jones and Faldo, Masters champion in 1989 and 1990 Englishman, who missed the halfway cut at last more clearly his on-course thinking as a six- rest of the season. Chuck Hayes, and the world basketball before claiming a third title in 1996, realised his year’s Masters after shooting 79 and 74. times major champion. A major benefi t for Faldo, Europe’s Ryder Cup champions, Spain’s men’s team, as well playing days at Augusta National were probably “I’m very excited about it and I will take on captain for next year, is that he will be able to as their women’s team. It is also the over during last year’s tournament. the challenge again.” Commentating style closely monitor the growing number of Europe- offi cial marketing partner of ATP on the “I stood just off the ninth fairway in the rough Faldo, whose career haul of six majors also Asked to describe his commentating style, ans competing on the PGA Tour. Chinese mainland. with a three-iron in my hand going: ‘I can’t hit it included three victories at the British Open, will Faldo replied: “I just duck and dive and go with “My fi nger will be on the pulse and I will know on the green, there’s no way I can get this damn replace Lanny Wadkins as lead golf analyst for the fl ow each week. If you know what you’re go- all the scores,” he said. “I’ll certainly keep my Climbing to new high on New thing on the green’,” he recalled. CBS in the tower. ing to get, there’s no point in having me. eyes on what the guys are up to.” Year’s Day He is expected to shine in his new role, having “I’ve enjoyed giving my insight, and I’ve en- The 2008 Ryder Cup will take place at Val- The China Sports Lottery New Year’s Giant bunkers earned a glowing reputation over the last two joyed the experience of just being there watch- halla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from Day climbing events have been held “I had giant bunkers up the left and knew, years with ABC for his blend of wit and insight- ing the golf tournaments.” September 19-21. around the country, kicking off a new even if I hit it on the green, it would repel and ful comments. Faldo will also work as lead PGA Tour analyst year of national fi tness efforts. bounce off. Known for his taciturn persona on the golf this year for the Golf Channel, starting at this Agencies Chinese sports minister Liu Peng, China’s fi rst Olympic champion Xu Haifeng, legendary table tennis queen Deng Yaping and Beijing Olympic venue constructors took part in the event at the Badaling Section of the Great Wall in suburban Beijing. Participants Nalbandian in Australian Open fi tness race formed climbing contigents in the fi ve Olympic colours – red, black, yellow, TENNIS it is too early to say if I will be fi t for top-10 player for the fi rst time.” “It was good to begin the season title here in 2003. green and blue. the Australian Open.” Earlier world No 2 and top seed with a win but I am not 100 percent Fifth seed Carlos Moya of Spain, a Climbing events were also held in CHENNAI, India: World No 8 David Nalbandian has a distinguished Rafael Nadal of Spain opened his yet. I need some more matches for two-time champion here, overcame a Tianjin, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Shandong, Nalbandian said he was racing to be record at the Australian Open, reach- 2007 campaign with a 6-4, 6-2 win that. But I feel good with my serves slow start to beat Alexander Waske of Hunan, Guangdong, Chongqing, Tibet, fi t for the season’s fi rst Grand Slam ing last year’s semi-fi nal after three over the seasoned German Rainer and returns,” he said. Germany 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang. after crashing out of the Chennai consecutive last-eight defeats. Schuettler. Asian star Paradorn Srichaphan “This was my fi rst match in more The event started in 1996. The par- Open against little-known Kristian The 25-year-old Pless, ranked 84 Schuettler, a former world No 5 and of Thailand, seeded seventh here, than two months so it took time for ticipating cities and provinces have Pless on Tuesday. and still looking for his fi rst title on 10 years older than the 20-year-old defeated Simone Bolelli of Italy 7-6 me to get into the game,” said the 30- increased from last year’s six to 11 this The second seed from Argentina the circuit, fought back from a set Nadal, was on equal terms until the (7/5), 6-4 in the fi rst round. year-old Moya, a former world num- year. blamed a long-standing tendonitis down and then 0-3 in the deciding sixth game in which he broke the Paradorn, who withdrew from ber one who is now ranked 43rd. problem in his left leg for the 2-6, third set to record his maiden win Spaniard to lead 4-2. the singles at the Asian Games in Sixth-seeded Fabrice Santoro of 6-3, 7-5 opening-round upset in his over a top-10 player. But Nadal, cheered by about 700 December due to a wrist injury, said France went through the easy way fi rst match of the year.