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24 TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2007

INBRIEF TENNIS Hansen edges out archrival Kitajima Murray eyes top 10 MIAM: With a repeat title in 2:10.13 with Kirsty Coventry and a fi nal this season, Briton Lenton storms 100m butterfl y; of Zimbabwe second and Aussie Andy Murray believes he is Stephanie Rice third. on the cusp of a top 10 place China claim 9 of 10 diving golds Dutch star Pieter van den as he advances at the Sony Hoogenband came close to Ericsson Open. MELBOURNE: Brendan Han- big races are.” cracking Ian Thorpe’s 200m The 19-year-old, who retained sen won his battle with frus- An irked Kitajima said he freestyle world record, below San Jose crown last month, trated rival Kosuke Kitajima expected to win and had un- the pace for the fi rst 100m in reached the fourth round in yesterday to take the 100m derestimated the American. his semi-fi nal before fading. Miami on Sunday, beating breaststroke world title as “I am really frustrated to lose. He still finished fastest, American Robert Kendrick Libby Lenton stormed from I can’t beat him, I was supposed ahead of Michael Phelps in 6-3, 6-1. behind to sneak the 100m but- to win,” he said. “I knew how second. South Korea’s Park “My game’s been going pretty terfl y gold. different Hansen was from Tae-Hwan, who won the 400m well this year, so whatever Popular South African Roland me, but I didn’t know he good freestyle title on Sunday, quali- I’m doing on court I’d like Schoeman touched fi rst in a fast he was.” fi ed fi fth. to think is more my tennis,” and furious 50m butterfl y fi nal to Lenton, a former 100m free- “I think I am in good shape. he told reporters. “I’d say again deny America’s Ian Crocker style world record holder, was Michael Phelps is also very I’m pretty close (to a break- while Katie Hoff swam the fourth a surprise winner of the 100m good, and we have Park and through).” fastest time ever to win the 200m butterfly, outkicking defend- some other guys, so it will be Murray’s victims this season individual medley. ing champion and teammate an exciting fi nal on Tuesday,” include Top 10 threats Tommy American world record hold- Jessicah Schipper in a new said the Dutchman. Haas, Nikolay Davydenko and er Hansen, beaten by Kitajima championship record time of China, meanwhile, grabbed Andy Roddick. at the Athens Olympics, was a 57.15 seconds. the final two diving titles for “The ones I haven’t beaten stroke ahead at the 50m turn Schipper took silver in 57.24 a big confidence booster in (Rafael Nadal, Ivan Ljubicic and out-touched the Japanese and versatile American Natalie their hunt for all eight gold and rival Novak Djokovic) star to become the most suc- Coughlin was third in 57.34, a at the Beijing Olympics next I’ve lost close matches to. cessful breaststroke swimmer new American record. year. “I’m close to the top 10. I’m in championship history. “It’s an unbelievable feeling Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia 12th in the world, so I guess He has now won four gold, I have. I think things have re- won China its fourth consecu- I’m getting close to it.” one silver and one bronze. ally changed for me tonight. tive 3m synchronized spring- Both men went under one You cannot ask for a better start board gold while Lin Yue and SOCCER minute with Hansen clocking from me,” said Lenton, who has Huo Liang took the men’s 59.80 seconds and Kitajima been working on her kick with synchronised 10m platform Romario nets goal number 59.96secs. Brenton Rickard took coach Stephan Widmer. crown. 999 in Vasco win the bronze in 1:00.58 to become Schoeman successfully It gave the powerhouse nation RIO DE JANEIRO: Former the fi rst Australian to ever win defended his butterfly title nine out of 10 diving gold here Brazil striker Romario took a medal in the event. in 23.18 seconds, to give his and made Guo the most suc- his self-declared career tally “I put a lot of effort this year country their first medal of cessful diver in world champi- to 999 goals on Sunday, scor- into this race,” said Hansen, the meet ahead of Crocker onships history with eight gold ing the third goal in Vasco da who took the world mark off and Denmark’s Jakob Schiott and one silver. Gama’s 3-0 win over arch-ri- Kitajima at the 2003 Barce- Andkjaer. Guo said China’s team was vals Flamengo. lona world championships and “That was one breath, I’m a still young and had more to Romario, performing on his shaved the record again last little out of breath now but there offer. favourite stage at the Mara- year to 59.13sec. were no tactics,” he said. “The “Overall China are young div- cana stadium, scored Vas- “I was relying on my experi- sky is the limit at this point in ers with a very high standard. co’s third goal in the 79th ence from the past. I knew I had time.” Even though they’re young they minute and was agonisingly to swim my own race and that’s They were under world have enough ability to compete close to reaching the 1,000 what I did. record pace for 150m of the on the world platform,” she milestone eight minutes US swimmer Brendan Hansen powers to win the men’s 100m breaststroke fi nal yesterday in “This is a good thing but women’s 200m individual med- said. later. Melbourne at the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships. Hansen won the gold medal it’s just motivation for the ley but tiredness scuppered a The 41-year-old was left with ahead of Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima and Australian swimmer Brenton Rickard. AFP Olympics – that’s where the new mark as Hoff came home AFP only Bruno to beat from close range but the Flamengo goal- keeper managed to save the shot with his foot. Vasco’s next game is against Bangladesh Americano in their own and We have nothing to hide, insists China’s swim coach more modest Sao Januario stadium on Wednesday and SWIMMING from the sport in China. became angry with persistent win knocks Romario said he would ask “There are no doping prob- We learned from questions about China’s dop- club president Eurico Miranda MELBOURNE: Head coach lems now. China takes this America and ing record, and particularly India out of to transfer the game to the Zhang Yadong has hit back at problem seriously. If you have former head coach Zhou Ming, Maracana. rumors that China is secretly a doping problem you will be European countries, who oversaw the worst period of World Cup training 50 swimmers to un- prohibited permanently in especially Germany. China’s doping history. Arsenal have fl opped this leash on the Beijing Olympics, China,” he said. Zhou was banned for eight CRICKET season, says Fabregas and insisted doping was no Speculation about a secret We learned both years after the 1998 scandal LONDON: English Premier- longer a problem. training camp resurfaced last ways, the positive but has since reappeared as a PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: ship giants Arsenal’s season He appealed for the inter- week when Australian coach and the negative coach in China. India were knocked out of the has been a failure their stylish national community to give Ken Wood said he suspected Zhang said China developed World Cup on Sunday after young Spanish midfi elder Cesc his swimmers a fair go as he China was grooming a group of ways. a drugs problem in the 1980s Bangladesh beat debutants Ber- Fabregas claimed on Sunday. attempted to halt persistent swimmers no-one knew about because it “learned from muda in a fi nal Group B match The 19-year-old told the News speculation that China was not so they could blitz the medals ZHANG YADONG America and European coun- to reach the Super Eights. of the World that fi nishing being transparent. at the Olympics. tries, especially Germany. We India, the 1983 champions the season without a trophy “I have read about a secret But he stopped short of Head coach of China’s swimming learned both ways, the positive and finalists four years ago, was sad and the past few training camp where children suggesting the Chinese were team and the negative ways.” were condemned to their earli- weeks had been really hard are treated inhumanely (to evading drug testers by not But he said it was in the past est exit since 1992 when Ban- after seeing themselves prepare for the Beijing Olym- sending them to the world and China was now a clean gladesh clinched a seven-wicket knocked out of the Champi- pics),” Zhang told yesterday’s championships. Schubert, meanwhile, made China won only one swimming country. win in the rain-marred match at ons League, FA Cup and los- The Australian newspaper. “When they identifi ed those clear last week that sport gold at the Atlanta Olympics “The reports always say Queen’s Park Oval. ing in the League Cup fi nal to “That’s a joke, it’s not true, 100 swimmers 18 months ago, would not tolerate a repeat of two years later. China has a huge doping con- Bangladesh progressed Chelsea. you can’t take that seriously. 50 of them have disappeared, the 1994 world championships, The decline was only tem- trol problem; we ask that you beyond the opening round for They also trail Premiership There is no chance for the you don’t know what they are when Chinese swimmers per- porary and by 1998 China’s give China a fair judgment,” the fi rst time after reaching a leaders Manchester United by Chinese team to hide anyone. going to do,” he said. formed beyond expectations women were rising back to he said. revised target of 96 with 21 20 points. That’s impossible.” “I think Beijing’s going to be amid widespread suspicions the top – until four more posi- “From 2000, there’s no balls to spare. Bermuda had “This season there will be He said that 90 percent of the the one and I just think they’re of doping. tive tests and the discovery of problem in the national team. scored 94 for nine in a match nothing and that’s hard,” said 45 swimmers competing at the keeping them away and train- Later that same year seven Human Growth Hormone in We have some problems before reduced to 21-overs-a-side. Fabregas, who is one of the World Swimming Champion- ing them in the different area swimmers tested positive for a swimmer’s luggage at that 2000 but now we have sunlight Sri Lanka, champions in youngsters heralded by manag- ships here would make up their and competing among them- steroids at the 1994 Asian year’s world championships and the old times are gone.” 1996, topped the group by win- er Arsene Wenger as guarantee- team in Beijing next year, and selves, for whatever reason.” Games in Hiroshima, which in Perth. ning all three of their matches ing the club a bright future. said drugs had been removed US head coach Mark left the squad so decimated that The newspaper said Zhang AFP while India were eliminated af- “To be so many points behind ter managing only one victory. United is not good enough.” Bangladesh, who upset India “It was so disappointing to go last week, simply needed to out of the Champions League avoid defeat to reach the next to PSV Eindhoven.” stage with Sri Lanka. McClaren’s England future in doubt after Rooney row The Indians were relying on Adebayor out of national Bermuda to cause an upset to team over bonus row SOCCER day, England have fallen the individuals Wayne Rooney, innovate tactically during the soon conclude that the less sneak through on a better net LOME: Arsenal striker Em- five points behind Croatia, Frank Lampard and Andrew match. expensive option of a pay-off run rate. manuel Adebayor and two LONDON: Steve McClaren’s the pacesetters in their Euro Johnson, who missed the Most of the infl uential foot- makes more sense. Having been favorites to win of his Togolese international days as England manager 2008 qualifying group, and fl urry of half-chances England ball writers who follow England the match, Bangladesh skipper teammates have been kicked appeared numbered yester- three adrift of Russia, who created late in the game having have long since concluded that French blues Habibul Bashar admitted the out of the national team fol- day after details of a furious currently occupy the second been largely outplayed for the McClaren is a natural number Meanwhile, France coach celebrations had been rather lowing a row over bonus bust-up with Wayne Rooney qualifying spot. fi rst hour. two who has been promoted Raymond Domenech has hit low key on Sunday. payments, offi cial sources emerged at the same time as With home and away games There were also reports of beyond his ability. out at criticism of his side’s “It is not like India (when we revealed on Sunday. revelations that the Football against the Russians to come, a dressing room bust-up with It seems England’s hardcore unimpressive 1-0 win over were overjoyed), we are more National captain Adebayor Association could sack him for England remain masters of their Rooney, who was allegedly an- fans, who responded to Satur- Lituania in their Euro 2008 relieved now,” he said. has been excluded along with a cut-price 2.5 million pounds own destiny and McClaren’s job gered by McClaren’s decision to day’s substitution of Aaron Len- qualification match saying Coach Dav Whatmore praised striker Kader Cougbadja, who ($4.9 million) would appear safe at least until single him out for criticism in non by Stewart Downing, with a the circumstances were far the side for their fi ghting dis- plays for Jazira in the United According to media reports, the trip to Estonia in June. the closed-doors inquest at the chant of “you don’t know what from easy. play in tough conditions, with Arab Emirates, and defender McClaren’s contract, which The former Middlesbrough Ramat Gan stadium. you’re doing” have arrived at a Playing on a far-from-per- bad weather causing four stop- Nibombe Dare of Belgian sec- runs until 2010, includes a manager will however be con- Rooney reportedly stormed similar conclusion and that will fect pitch and with some no- pages in the match. ond division side RAEC Mons. clause which allows him to be cerned by the apparent will- out of the dressing room after be worrying for the powerbro- table players absent from the “This is very signifi cant for us,” The Togolese Football Federa- dismissed in return for a sever- ingness of individuals within McClaren highlighted his fail- kers of the FA. ranks including the injured he said. “I thought it was very dif- tion (FTF) decision was taken ance payment equivalent to one the Football Association, his ure to score a competitive goal England are the most valu- Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, fi cult to wait all day against a team “after analysis of indisciplined year’s salary. employers, to leak confi dential for England since Euro 2004. able brand in international Franck Ribery and Louis we had to beat and beat well.” behaviour” shown by the play- Less than a year since he contractual details which can The player reportedly football. That status has partly Saha, it took a 73rd-minute Bermuda chartered accoun- ers “before and after the match stepped up from his position only fuel speculation that an responded by throwing his been built on the phenomenal goal from Bolton’s Nicolas tant Saleem Mukuddem handed Togo-Sierra Leone” on Saturday. as deputy to Sven-Goran Er- axe is being sharpened behind boots and kit at the wall in global success of the Premier- Anelka to offer a reshuffled Bangladesh the early jitters and Togo moved top of Group iksson, McClaren knows the the scenes. frustration and the argument ship, but it is also underpinned France team the valuable India a sliver of hope after pick- Nine of the 2008 Nations Cup possibility of that clause being McClaren’s cause has also not was so loud it could be heard by a belief that England have three points. ing up three quick wickets in qualifi ers after beating Sierra activated has risen sharply as a been helped by the fi rst indica- in the Israel dressing room good enough players to seri- “The aim is to qualify for seaming conditions. Leone 3-1 in a game in which result of a run in which England tions of a split between him and next door. ously challenge for a major Euro 2008. We had to carve out Mukuddem, 35 reduced the Adebayor scored twice. have managed only one goal in the players. The players have not escaped trophy. a win over there (Lithuania), innings to 37 for three in the But according to sources close fi ve games their worst run in The head coach’s post-match some severe criticism from the With the cost of failure to under diffi cult circumstances,” eighth over as Bangladesh to the FTF the ongoing prob- 26 years. comments after Saturday press, but the media have reach the Euro 2008 finals said Domenech. chased in gloomy conditions. lem over player bonuses is at After a goalless draw with night’s match in Tel Aviv came largely focused on McClaren’s estimated at up to 100 million the heart of the decision. Israel in Tel Aviv on Satur- close to pinning the blame on inability or unwillingness to pounds, McClaren’s bosses may AFP Agencies