W E E K E N D 12 SPORTS MARCH 31 - APRIL 1, 2007 INBRIEF SNOOKER Maradona sedated in hospital Hendry to promote China-made table Later, Pezzella told a news He said Maradona had ’What he needs is peace’ a supermarket shelf. Top world snooker player Medics blame latest health crisis conference that Maradona “was swapped his addiction to cocaine In 2000, Maradona was hos- Cahe said this week that Ma- Stephen Hendry has stable and doing well.” for alcohol. “It happened bit by pitalized with a severe heart radona had an “addictive type of been signed as the image on soccer star’s heavy drinking He said Maradona had friends bit, but that’s what happened.” problem while on vacation in personality”, but he denied he spokesperson for China’s and his two daughters at his Maradona’s hospital stay Uruguay and tested positive was using cocaine again. top snooker table Star BUENOS AIRES: Argentine Maradona – a national hero bedside. Outside, fans wearing was a reminder of the repeated for cocaine before undergoing On Thursday, Cahe was asked Brand, produced by the soccer legend Diego Maradona who led Argentina to a World Argentina’s national soccer health problems – many of drug rehabilitation in Cuba. what he thought Maradona Beijing Xingwei Sports was given sedatives to curb Cup victory in 1986 – was ad- shirt and banners from Mara- them drug-related – he has Four years later, he spent needed to help him put his Goods Co Ltd. alcohol cravings at a Buenos mitted to the private Guemes dona’s former club Boca Juniors faced since retiring from the 10 days in intensive care health troubles behind him. Scotland’s Hendry is one Aires hospital on Thursday clinic late on Wednesday after gathered, some shouting: “Come game in 1997. with heart and breathing He responded that years of of the world’s greatest and doctors said heavy drink- falling ill. His doctor said he on Diego, hang in there”. Cahe said just days ago that problems and re-entered being an internationally recog- snooker players, having ing was to blame for his latest would stay at least a week. Maradona’s personal physi- Maradona had put on weight rehabilitation. nizable star were taking a toll won seven world champi- health crisis. “He’s out of danger and doing cian Alfredo Cahe blamed his and smoked too many cigars, Maradona was suspended on Maradona. onships, 36 ranking tour- The 46-year-old star revered satisfactorily. ... All the tests are patient’s jet-set lifestyle, fam- and was planning a trip to over drugs while playing in “Diego has never been able go naments titles and having as one of the game’s best play- routine,” medical director Hec- ily problems and an addictive Switzerland to get himself Italy in 1991 and kicked out to a restaurant or sit down and made 700 times of breaks ers has battled obesity and tor Pezzella told reporters, add- personality for his fresh bout back in shape. of the 1994 World Cup after a have a coffee in peace,” he said. of 100 or over and eight cocaine addiction, appearing ing Maradona’s condition was of health troubles, and said he A stomach-stapling operation dope test – which he blamed “What he needs is peace.” breaks of 147. In 1994, overweight and smoking cigars not drug-related. “He’s sedated tried to leave the hospital on in 2005 helped Maradona shed on one of his coaching team Queen Elizabeth awarded in recent photographs. ... due to alcohol abstinence.” Thursday. 30 kilograms. buying the wrong medicine off Agencies an MBE to Hendry who was twice voted BBC Scot- land’s Sports Personality of the Year. Set up in 1987, the Xing- Marathon wei has become China’s Lochte breaks records, Phelps adds more gold biggest billiards and snooker table manufactur- entries set SWIMMING Tae-hwan in the 400 freestyle. er. The China-made table Lochte sliced 0.12 off Peirsol’s fi rst hit the headlines last record MELBOURNE: Ryan Lochte mark when he beat his team- year when it was used for broke two world records in mate in a sprint fi nish to reach the 2006 BetFred Premier ATHLETICS under two hours and helped the wall fi rst in 1:54.32. Snooker League. his more famous American Peirsol, swimming in the In February, the World By Chen Xiangfeng teammate Michael Phelps col- lane next to Lochte, had to Professional Billiards and lect his fi fth gold medal at the settle for the silver medal with Snooker Association said World Swimming Champion- Austria’s Markus Rogan taking the table is suitable for all XIAMEN: The 2007 C&D Xia- ships on Friday. the bronze. major world competitions. men International Marathon will Lochte broke Aaron Peirsol’s It was Peirsol’s fi rst defeat in attract a record 24,500 partici- record in the 200 backstroke the event since he fi nished sec- GOLF pants from home and abroad on fi nal before teaming up with ond to Lenny Krayzelburg in the Saturday, taking a step further to Phelps as the United States de- Olympic fi nal at Sydney in 2000, Singh, Els confi rm for become one of the most popular molished Australia’s mark for ruining his bid to join Australian Shanghai but no Tiger marathon events in the world. the 4x200 freestyle relay. long-distance freestyler Grant SHANGHAI: Vijay According to the organizing Phelps, who swam the Hackett as the only swimmers Singh, Ernie Els, and committee, professional run- lead-off leg in the relay, edged to win the same event at four Sergio Garcia have all ners and amateurs from 48 closer to breaking Ian Thorpe’s world championships. confi rmed they will play countries and regions have record of six gold medals at a “Ryan swam a wonderful at the HSBC Champions registered to run in the fi fth world championships when he race, can’t take that away from in Shanghai this year Xiamen marathon, among collected his fi fth in as many him. He defi nitely earned it,” but Tiger Woods will not whom the youngest runner is events. Peirsol said. make the trip. 13 and the oldest is 90. The 21-year-old also booked Lochte had fi nished second to The tournament at “The rapid development of the his place in Saturday’s 100 but- Peirsol in the 100 backstroke fi - Sheshan International Xiamen Marathon is amazing. I terfl y fi nal and has another two nal and was runner-up to Phelps Golf Club from November have made three wishes for this events on Sunday to complete in the 200 individual medley 8-11 has become known year’s tournament: there will be his bid to scoop an unprec- but struck gold twice when he as “Asia’s Major” with $5 a new record set; all the partici- edented eight titles. followed up his breakthrough million in prize money. pants will enjoy the sport and Libby Lenton bagged her win in the backstroke with World No 1 Tiger Woods, the city; and the weather will third gold medal in Melbourne another victory in the relay. who has played at the pre- be fi ne,” said Hiroaki Chosa, by beating the fastest fi eld ever Lochte and Phelps joined vious two tournaments, president of Association of assembled to win the women’s forces with Klete Keller and will not compete with his International Marathons and 100 freestyle and her Austral- Peter Vanderkaay to win the wife due to give birth this Road Races. ian teammate Leisel Jones com- gold in a time of 7:03.24, slash- summer, organizers said. There will be eight race cate- pleted the 100-200 breaststroke ing 1.42 off the previous record Last year 10 of the world’s gories, including the men’s and double for the second time. of 7:04.66 set by a Thorpe-led top 20 players competed, women’s marathon (42.195km), Japanese Olympic champion Australian team at the 2001 but South Korea’s Yang the half marathon, a 10km race Kosuke Kitajima capitalized world championships in Fuku- Yong-eun upstaged them and a 5km race. The men’s and on the absence of American oka, Japan. all to win at 14 under, two women’s marathon will also rival Brendan Hansen to win It was the 12th world record strokes ahead of Woods. serve as the National Marathon the men’s 200 breaststroke in the past four days at the Championships, which will in- final and provide Asia with championships. Ryan Lochte of the US reacts after winning the men’s 200m backstroke swimming fi nal at the CRICKET volve 131 athletes competing for its second gold medallist this World Swimming Championship in Melbourne on Friday. Lochte won the race in a new world the national title. week after South Korean Park Agencies record time of 1:54.32. Reuters Strength underpins When asked to compare the impressive Kiwi win Xiamen Marathon with the more ST JOHN’S, Antigua: All- prestigious ones in London, New round strength, which York and Boston, Hiroaki said it took New Zealand to a 3-0 is only a matter of time before series win over Australia Xiamen catches up. Ding gets advice from snooker champion last month, underpinned In Xiamen, only 4,470 out an impressive seven- of all of the 24,548 who have SNOOKER play any more,” he said. of a suspect temperament for the ister a semi-fi nal clash with World disappointed with the way he wicket win over West registered will compete in the “Sometimes it’s not about fi rst time against O’Sullivan in Championships winner Graeme performed on Friday.