London to host 2011 Badminton World Championships

London has won the right to stage the 2011 Badminton World Championships.

Wembley Arena will host the event, which is staged annually apart from in an Olympic year, from 8-14 August.

The arena will also be the venue for the sport at the capital's 2012 Olympic Games after organisers decided against building a new venue in Stratford.

Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy said hosting the competition one year out from the Games made the event "even more special".

Christy added: "I would like to assure the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the players that Badminton England will do all that is possible to make the first BWF World Championships in London a truly wonderful experience for all concerned.

"I would also like reiterate our appreciation to the BWF for their confidence in Badminton England to host the World Championships.

"We have just staged the European Badminton Championships in Manchester and we are now looking forward to the countdown to the 2011 World Championships."

The tournament was last staged in Britain in 2003 in Birmingham, while this year's championships take place in Paris.

Wembley Arena will also be the venue for the sport at the 2012 Games after organisers decided against building a temporary venue at the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London.

China's Lin Dan is the reigning men's champion, having won the last three titles, while compatriot Lu Lan is the women's champion.

Olympic cyclist Sir Chris marries

Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy and his fiancee Sarra Kemp have married in Edinburgh.

Sir Chris, 34, won three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and is Scotland's most successful-ever Olympian.

He had been engaged to Miss Kemp, a lawyer, for about a year prior to the wedding ceremony on Saturday.

Olympic swimming double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington was among the guests at the service in the city's St Giles Cathedral.

The Edinburgh-born cyclist, wearing a grey kilt with sporran and grey jacket, posed briefly on the kirk steps with his wife, who wore a white wedding dress with veil.

The couple had kept the service a closely-guarded secret, with guests reportedly in the dark until the last minute over the venue plans.

South Korea's YE Yang wins China Open

South Korea's YE Yang fired a final-round one-under-par 71 to win the China Open by two shots from Welsh pair Rhys Davies and Stephen Dodd.

The USPGA winner, 38, began the day on 14 under, a one-shot lead over another Welshman Jamie Donaldson who finished three shots adrift of the Korean.

Round of the day belonged to Davies who shot a 67 having carded 65 on Friday.

England's Oliver Fisher was seventh and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell finished tied for eighth place.

Donaldson finished with back-to-back birdies to end his campaign joint fourth with Finland's Mikko Ilonen (73) and Sweden's Johan Edfors (69).

Yang held a one-shot lead at the turn having managed only one birdie on the first nine - at the second.

Donaldson joined Yang at the top of the leaderboard with a short putt at the par-five 12th but on the following hole fortunes took a turn for the worse when he three-putted for a double bogey.

Donaldson bounced back with a fourth birdie of the day on the 14th to once again cut Yang's lead to a single shot, before the Korean responded with a six-foot birdie.

At the 17th, Yang gained a three-shot cushion after Donaldson missed the green at the par-three 17th and failed to make the up and down.

Although Yang bogeyed the last after finding sand off the final tee, his 71 was enough to land him his 10th career title and third on the European Tour.

Despite the victory, the USPGA champion believes he will need to consistently finish in the top places to convince his "doubters".
"It was quite important for me to win," he said.

"There should be some doubters about my game and I know that this win won't abolish all those doubts, but I think it will alleviate me of some of the pressure and unseen pressure those doubters have been throwing at me.

"There have been a lot of expectations of me after the win and it does feel good and alleviating, but I know I still have to work a lot more."

Davies, who came into the event having won his maiden European Tour title in Morocco last month, was delighted with his performance.

"I really gave it a go on the front nine but I am little disappointed I didn't capitalise on the back nine," said the 24-year-old.

"I am real believer in that once you get it going you put your foot down, that couldn't happen but I will take that."

Roger Federer pulls out of Japan Open, Shanghai Masters

Roger Federer withdrew from the Japan Open and Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 on Friday, citing the need to rest after a physically challenging year.

The Japan Tennis Association said the top-ranked Federer was withdrawing from the Oct. 5-11 Japan Open, along with the Shanghai tournament the following week.

"After consultation with my team and doctors, I decided to take the difficult decision to withdraw from both tournaments," Federer said in a statement. "This will allow me a chance to give my body a chance to rest, rehabilitate and recover from a physically challenging year."

Federer reached the final of all four Grand Slams this year, winning the French Open for the first time in his career, then breaking Pete Sampras' record with his 15th major title at Wimbledon.

He also earned two points for Switzerland last weekend during a 3-2 victory over Italy in the playoffs to remain in the top-tier World Group of the Davis Cup.

It is the second time Federer has pulled out of the Japan Open just before the start of the tournament. He also cited fatigue as his reason for withdrawing from the 2007 event.

"I'm disappointed that I have to withdraw from Tokyo and Shanghai as they are two of my favorite cities," Federer said. "The fans have been great to me over the years."

U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and third-ranked Andy Murray are scheduled to take part in the Japan Open.

Gay clocks stunning 100m in China

Tyson Gay equalled the second fastest time ever over 100m with 9.69 seconds at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.

The American has struggled with a groin injury of late but still won a Worlds silver medal behind Usain Bolt.

At China's end-of-season meet, Gay, 27, equalled the world record Bolt set when he won Olympic gold last year before he reduced it to 9.58 secs in Berlin.

American Carmelita Jeter ran 10.64 secs to overtake Marion Jones as the world's second fastest woman over 100m.

Only the late Florence Griffith-Joyner has run faster having run 10.49s.

Gay, who has been suffering from a strained groin and is set to have an operation, admitted at the start of the month he had been "running on one leg".

After running the third-fastest 100m in history, 9.71, at the World Championships, where he had to pull out of the 200m, Gay beat Jamaican Asafa Powell by 0.16s in China with American Darvis Patton in third (9.89).

Gay revealed afterwards he intends to challenge Bolt's world record when he returns to full fitness.

"I'm not too motivated because I've not been fully healthy," he said. "I ran my run so well, even though my groin hurts."

The Chinese crowd saved their biggest cheer for former world and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang as he returned to action for the first time since limping out of the Beijing Bird's Nest last year.

"Being back on the track is a pivotal step for me," Liu said ahead of the 110m hurdles race.

The 26-year-old 2004 Olympic gold medallist had an operation in the United States in December to repair the Achilles tendon that forced his agonising Olympic withdrawal during qualifying.

However, the local superstar was pipped on the line by American Terrence Trammell with both men clocking 13.15s.

"I didn't expect I could run so fast, but once I stepped on the track I could not hold back," Liu said.

Meanwhile, Russian Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva failed in three attempts to improve her own pole vault world record of 5.06m.

There were other victories for Wallace Spearmon in the 200m, while Britain's Rob Tobin impressed in second place behind Lashawn Merritt in the 400m.

India grouped with US in U-21 World Volleyball

Hosts India, ranked tenth in the world, have been drawn in Pool A along with with the mighty United States of America, Tunisia and Belarus in the 16-nation fifth FIVB Mens Under 21 World Volleyball Championships to be held at Pune from July 31 to August 9.

The hosts were among the eight seeded teams for the tournament, which is to be held at the Shiv Chatrapati Sports City in Balewadi.

The other seeded teams in the fray are three-time winners (1993, 2001 and 2007) and defending champions Brazil, currently ranked third, their arch-rivals from South America Argentina (rank 2), top-ranked Iran, last editions losing finalists Russia (rank 4), France (rank 5), China (rank 6) and USA (rank 7).

The draw of lots assigning the preliminary groups were held here last night by the international volleyball federations technical delegate Shanrit Wongprasert in the presence of organising committee chairman and Maharashtra's Finance Minister, DilipValse Patil.

K Murugan, Secretary-General of the Volleyball Federation of India, assured the international volleyball federation (FIVB) representatives that top-class facilities would be offered to the teams during the championship.

A memorable Olympics

It was to be China’s time to shine, a year of celebrations with the Olympic spirit touching the hearts and minds of one-fifth of the world’s population as the Olympics headed to Beijing.

Instead, months before the August 8-24 Games, human rights groups disrupted the globally televised torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, setting off a chain of worldwide protests.

From Paris and London to San Francisco and Seoul, the Beijing Olympics torch relay became a target for human rights protesters as it meandered across the globe.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced mounting criticism and bad press for its decision to award the Games to China, given the country’s human rights record. “We are not an activist organisation,” IOC chief Jacques Rogge said, defending the decision and saying the Games would bring change to China.

The word “boycott” crept into discussions months before the Games but in the end none materialised. Even Iraq, temporarily suspended weeks before the Olympics, managed to send athletes to China. By the time the Olympics started with a record 204 teams from around the world parading in the spectacular Bird’s Nest stadium, both local organisers and the IOC were under intense media scrutiny.

Internet restrictions for foreign media, pro-Tibet protests and Beijing’s air quality grabbed the headlines in the days running up to the Games. However, the dazzling opening ceremony showcasing the might of modern China, which invested an estimated $40 billion to prepare for the Games, set the stage for memorable performances in breathtaking venues.

US swimmer Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals while Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt captured the 100 and 200 metres sprint double as well as a 4x100m relay gold in world record-breaking time.

Defending Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Liu Xiang added drama when he hobbled off the track minutes before his first heat, stunning a capacity Bird’s Nest crowd. Team China, though, were unstoppable, topping the medals table with 51 golds, leaving the United States second with 36. Russia were third and Britain fourth .

The IOC saw record television audiences in most major markets and used the YouTube video-sharing website to post Olympic footage online, recording more than 16.5 million hits and unlocking the potential of new media to attract younger viewers. The opening ceremony alone was seen by 1.2 billion people around the world.

Doping concerns led to extensive pre-Games testing by federations and Olympic teams which rooted out some 50 cheats. An additional 5,000 tests were conducted during the Games, nabbing nine athletes, but the Games were spared the embarrassment and unwanted distraction of a major doping scandal.

The spotlight quickly switched to the 2012 Summer Games after the Beijing closing ceremony, with the British capital already struggling with its biggest project, the one-billion-pound Olympic village.

Saina loses thrilling semifinal against Wang

Saina Nehwal played her heart out but lost to world number six Chen Wang of Hong Kong in an edge-of-the-seat semifinal of the World Super Series Masters Final on Saturday.

The world number 10 Indian used every trick from her arsenal but failed to match the experience of her third seed Hong Kong opponent and went down fighting 15-21 21-14 16-21 to bring down curtains in the prestigious tournament.

An attacking player, Wang rode on her smashes and better net play to wrest the first game as Saina huffed and puffed helplessly all across the court.

However, the 18-year-old Indian raised her game and rallied to pocket the second game 21-14. The third game was a cliff-hanger as the two rivals fought tooth and nail. At one point, Wang opened up a four point lead but Saina narrowed down the gap pocketing two quick points.

Finally, however, it was the Hong Kong girl who had the last laugh as she sealed the match in 42 minutes. Saina became the first Indian to reach the semifinals of
the World Super Series Masters Finals yesterday when she beat Hongyan Pi of France in straight games and later edged out local favourite Mew Choo Wong in a thrilling contest on a single day.

The Beijing quarterfinalist will next play in the Malaysian Super Series and the Korean Super Series in January next year.

Babus paid more than athletes in Beijing Olympics

Indian athletes may have brought home the country’s maiden gold and two bronze medals from the Olympics, but it was the bureaucrats and politicians accompanying them who were paid more by the government during their stay in Beijing.

In a reply to a query filed by DNA under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Union youth affairs and sports ministry said that while athletes and coaches were paid $50 each as daily pocket allowance, the babus and netas who went to Beijing as part of the official delegation received $75 a day.

The pocket allowance was over and above the spending on boarding and lodging. For the sports contingent these expenses were taken care of by the Beijing Olympic Committee while for the delegation, they were borne by the Indian embassy.

Among the people who received $75 a day were minister of state for youth affairs and sports MS Gill and Lok Sabha members Vijay Bahuguna and Krishna Tirath. The other members of the official delegation were Rajya Sabha member Bhubaneshwar Kalita and several bureaucrats, including sports secretary Sudhir Nath, two joint secretaries, and Sports Authority of India director-general Sayan Chatterjee.

The ministry said Rs12.19 lakh was spent on the travel of the 13 bureaucrats and politicians and arrangements for their lodging and boarding were made by the Indian embassy at Beijing.

“We used to get an allowance of $50 a day, which is hardly anything abroad...one hardly gets a few decent meals in it. The problem is much worse at the Asiad, where players get no allowance,” said Commonwealth boxer Virender Singh said.

Asiad medal-winning runner Bharat Kumar, said, “ If only players could get better allowances, they may change their lifestyle a little.”

Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1215438

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt eyes world record domination

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt believes he can significantly lower his world records for the 100m and 200m.

Bolt clocked 9.69 seconds in the 100m in Beijing and then broke Michael Johnson's world record of 19.32 in the 200m final by lowering it to 19.30.

Asked how fast he thought he could run 100m, Bolt said: "Perhaps 9.52 seconds, but I must make progress in different areas, especially at the start."

Bolt's coach Glenn Mills is hopeful he can go under 19 seconds in the 200m.

"I believe, based on what he did in Beijing, given similar conditions, if he runs the 200m at a time when he is fresh, we are hoping that we can get under the 19 seconds barrier," Mills said.

"We are also hoping to take the 100m to somewhere where it will stay for a good while."

In winning the 100m, Bolt significantly slowed down as he approached the finishing line and Norwegian physicist Hans Eriksen has estimated the Jamaican could have run 9.55 seconds if he had finished at full pace.

Last week in the Journal of Experimental Biology, Stanford University biology professor Mark Denny concluded male sprinters could get the 100m record down to 9.48 and the 200m down to 18.63.

As well as his 100m and 200m wins in Beijing, the 22-year-old Bolt led Jamaica's 4x100m sprint relay to Olympic victory in a record time of 37.10.

Milkha didn’t know Mary Kom was a champion boxer

World champion says the athletic legend struck off her name from the list of Khel Ratna nominees as he hadn’t heard about her

MC Mary Kom may have been a three-time champion going into the World Championships at Ningbo City in China, but no one would have wagered on her taking gold once again. After all, she had been busy giving birth to and rearing her twin sons, a two-year hiatus not one that prepares a boxer for such a top-class competition.

But the diminutive 25-year-old from Manipur proved a widely believed theory — will power often makes up for any deficiencies in preparation. Mary’s actual dream run comprised avenging her loss in the final of the Asian Championships in September, putting it 8-3 across against Korean Ok Jong in the semifinals in China, and then powering her way to a 7-1 verdict against Romanian Steluta Duta in the final.

The fatigue of returning in the early hours of the morning may have subdued her voice a little, but the words were as precise as her punches.

“It was not as easy as it might seem. It is definitely the best of my four medals because I managed to win despite coming back after such a long lay-off. I had put in a lot of hard work during the last four months and it proved worth the effort,” said Mary, quick to thank her near and dear ones.

“But for their support, I could not have done it. I was a little disappointed after losing to Ok Jong in the final of the Asian Championships and I was also not taking well to the thought of leaving my children to go and compete,” said the champion 46 kg pugilist, who is fast becoming a household name.

Coach Anup Kumar was all praise for Mary, saying her cool mind and superior basics saw her cruise through.

“I was expecting her to finish in the medals bracket, though gold had seemed improbable. But she gave little chance to her opponents with her superb reach, speed and counter-attacks,” said Kumar.

“I think this is the best example that one can have of a comeback. Just imagine, returning to top-class boxing after two years, practicing for just four months and then producing such high class stuff! This is what dreams are made of,” he added.

Mary Kom though revealed that she was hurt about being ignored for the Khel Ratna award.

“I have won the World Championship four times on the trot. Mahendra Singh Dhoni gets a Khel Ratna for winning just one World Cup, I fail to understand why am I being ignored then. How can anybody expect an athlete to stay motivated if he or she is ignored like that?” Mary Kom said.

Mary Kom said that what hurt her the most was the fact that it was sheer ignorance about which sport she competes in that could have cost her the award. “Last year, when my name was recommended by the federation, I had been short-listed along with Dhoni but Arjuna awards selection committee chairman Milkha Singh struck off my name saying that he did not know which sport I competed in. That hurt me terribly,” she revealed.

“I want to ask him today, how many more titles do I have to win for him and for the country to believe that I deserve the honour?” she asked. “Don’t give me the award if you think I am not worthy but please don’t insult me with statements like that.”

Sweden in stunning World Cup win-Golf

Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson overturned a three-shot deficit to seal a dramatic World Cup victory for Sweden at Mission Hills in China.

The Swedes scored a nine-under 63 to see off Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal.

Japan and Australia tied for third, while England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher carded 67 to end in sixth, 12 shots off the pace.

Defending champions Scotland, led by Colin Montgomerie, were 20 shots back.

Sweden, pre-tournament favourites, started the final day four behind Spain, but five early birdies fired them up the leaderboard.

Karlsson and Stenson, the two highest-ranked players in the event, were in blistering form and pulled into the outright lead with four more birdies on the back nine to finish on 27-under.

Joint overnight leaders Australia carded a disappointing 76 to finish eight shots behind the winners, level with Japanese pairing Ryuji Imada and Toru Taniguchi.

It was the second World Cup win for Sweden after Per-Ulrik Johansson and Anders Forsbrand's 1991 triumph in Rome.

Stenson, who despite enjoying a fine season in 2008 failed to secure any victories, said: "I thought it was our turn today.

"I was starting to run out of tournaments, so it was nice to win this one. It has been a while.

"This is my third last. So I've got two more to go in South Africa. But winning for Sweden is nice."

After a strong finish by England, Poulter was left to rue missed opportunities, after being unable to match their third-round 63.

"We should have had a chance to win this golf tournament. That's what we come here for," Poulter said.

"It didn't happen on Thursday and Friday and that's just such a shame to be so far out of the picture."

Ireland's Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell suffered their worst round of the tournament with a five-over 77 to drop to 16th.

Scotland's Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth were unable to defend the World Cup to finish seven-under-par, tied for 19th place.

Lisa Dobriskey slams 'Russian seven'

British 1500m star Lisa Dobriskey has backed her sport's move to give longer bans to the seven Russians caught cheating before the Beijing Games.

World athletics' governing body has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the bans handed to the seven by their national federation.

The Russian federation backdated the bans to get their athletes back for next year's world championships.

"I would definitely be angry if they were able to run," said Dobriskey.

"I'd feel cheated if I had to line up against any of them in Berlin next year.

"And I speak for the majority of women's 1500m runners because it has caused quite a big stir, and not only in our event but in athletics in general."

The seven women, who include double world 1500m champion Tatyana Tomashova and 1500m indoor world record-holder Yelena Soboleva, were provisionally suspended in July, shortly before this summer's Olympics, after being found guilty of tampering with their urine samples.

The suspensions followed a year-long investigation by the sport's governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), after it had grown suspicious they were being tipped off ahead of "no-notice, out-of-competition" tests and then manipulating their samples.

A trap was sprung at last year's world championships in Osaka when DNA in samples taken from the seven did not match the DNA in their earlier samples. Five of the women were in Russia's team for Beijing.

Having denied claims of systematic doping, the All Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) caused consternation last month when it finally announced details of the bans it was dishing out.

The athletes were given the mandatory two-year bans but those suspensions were backdated to the time of those first out-of-competition tests, April and May of 2007. This meant they would be eligible to compete in Berlin in August.

The IAAF, however, wants those sanctions to start no earlier than the day the athletes were provisionally suspended. It also wants the Lausanne-based arbitration body to extend the bans beyond the mandatory two-year minimum.

"It is unacceptable that these athletes, who have committed serious and deliberate breaches of our anti-doping rules, would receive an effective ban of approximately nine to 10 months and see them eligible to compete in the summer of 2009," said IAAF president Lamine Diack.

"What is more, I consider the circumstances surrounding these cases warrants the IAAF to seek extended bans."

The 25-year-old Dobriskey, who finished fourth in the women's 1500m Olympic final in Beijing, supports Diack's stance entirely.

"It would be very damaging to the sport if they are allowed to get away with this, simply because they've obviously cheated," she said.

"They need to be punished and be seen to be punished. We need to set an example and show people who are cheating, or who are thinking about cheating, that they can't get away with it."

The Loughborough-based star said she was particularly disappointed with Tomashova, one of the favourites for Olympic gold in Beijing and an athlete she had admired for many years.

"As it stands they will have missed only one season," Dobriskey added.

"OK, I know it was an Olympic season but people miss the Olympics through injury, when they haven't done anything wrong. So I think it would be very damaging if the Russians are allowed to compete next year, and very unfair."

The other athletes in question are middle-distance runners Svetlana Cherkasova, Yulia Fomenko and Olga Yegorova, former world champion hammer thrower Gulfiya Khanafeyeva and European discus champion Darya Pischalnikova.

Phil Lane ready for challenge of 2012

British Paralympic Association chief executive Phil Lane has warned that there is more hard work ahead as the team work towards London 2012.

In Beijing, Great Britain were second in the medal table behind China but Lane insists there is no room for complacency.

"We have to look at what we have achieved and be ruthless at improving standards," he said.

"We need to rise to the challenge of competing in a home Games in 2012."

Speaking at the launch of ParalympicsGB's Beijing report, Lane praised the achievements of Britain's team in China where they came away with 102 medals, including 42 golds, but warned of other nations catching up.

"This was an extraordinary performance achieved with the pressure of following a successful Olympics and in the backyard of a dominant home nation," he said.

"In what was the most competitive Games I have known, the GB team was the best prepared and best organised to leave these shores and our athletes rose magnificently to the challenge.

"But to retain our place in the medal table in the future will be a test.

"The USA have regrouped and pushed us close for second in the table, Russia are much more prominent and nations like the Ukraine, Brazil and South Africa are making huge strides.

"It means that there is more pressure on established Paralympic nations and we have to be strong and find those small margins which can keep us in front and hold off both new and old rivals."

However, with many anticipating a cut in resources when UK Sport announces the ongoing funding for Olympic and Paralympic sports next week, Lane is keen that the money is channelled in the most effective way.

He says they will need a figure in the region of £6-7m over the next four years to 'back existing winning habits and break new ground.'

"We are the envy of other nations because of what we have achieved but we want to build on our winning formula and challenge sports which didn't achieve in Beijing," he said.

Lane also added that they would be working on developing new talent and ensuring that the 2012 organisers deliver a Games current and future athletes.

But he refused to be drawn on UK Sport's hopes that the British team would be in a position to top the medal standings in London.

"There would be be no greater crowning glory than to top the medal table but we are realistic about the situation.

"We all know that if China turn up in London with the volume of numbers we know they have and with investment they will be a difficult set of opponents.

"But we will do our best to strive and if we get the funding right we will be right."

Jeev Milkha Singh , Jyoti Randhawa struggle

Ill at ease in the fearsome foursome format, the Indian duo of Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa brought home a level-par card to lie tied 10th in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup here on Friday.

Both Jeev and Jyoti had predicted that going would be tough in this alternate shot format and with the Mumbai mayhem playing on their mind, the focus was not really there.

The duo, in fact, were under pressure after a poor start which saw them two-over before birdies on the seventh and ninth helped them go even-par.

The 11th hole birdie put them, for the first time, one-under but dropping a bogey on the 15th meant it was back to square one again as they fell 10 shots off the lead.

India’s two-day total of 139 has them at the 10th place which they share with the Philippines and with the fourball format returning for the third round tomorrow, both Jeev and Jyoti want to make amends to raise some sporting cheers back home.

“We feel bad what’s happened out there. Obviously we have been watching the news quite a bit,” said Jeev, who has captured the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit title this year.

Jyoti was equally upset with the terror strikes and said, “I did feel for the people that for no rhyme or reason got injured. It does affect us a little bit. But what can you do? You’re here to play and try to do the best you can.”

Meanwhile, Spain opened up a four-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the USD 2.5 million, 28-nation event after a breathtaking foursomes display by Miguel Angel Jiminez and Pablo Larrazabal who blasted a sensational 63.

Spain was 17 under 127 for 36 holes. Australia (68) and Germany (69) were in second place behind Spain, which opened on Thursday with a 64 playing the easier fourball (best ball) format.

Jeev Milkha Singh wants World Cup debut to be memorable

Jeev Milkha Singh wants to cap a great season by making his World Cup debut this week memorable.

Jeev, now ranked 45th in the world, will be one of the major stars of this week's Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.

Jeev, who has wrapped the Asian Tour Order of Merit with some more tournaments still left on the calendar, will be partnered by Jyoti Randhawa, as India make their strongest bid ever at the World Cup.

Another Order of Merit winne Robert Karlsson, the first Swede to win the Harry Vardon Trophy as Europe's leading money winner, will also be hoping to making it a double winning a World Cup gold medal at the spectacular José Maria Olazábal designed course on the Mission Hills complex. Karlsson ranked No. 6 in the world will partner World number one Henrik Stenson.

India with Jeev and Jyoti Randhawa are expected to provide a strong Asian challenge. Jeev is fresh from his recent victory in the Barclays Singapore Open besides two other successes in Europe (Bank Austria Open) and Japan (Sega Sammy Cup) this year. He is back in World's top-50, at 45th place.

"I always missed the World Cup because I was either defending a title or committed to some other event. This time I am in good form and playing well. Jyoti and I hope to do well and make a serious attempt at the title. That will be a nice bonus for the season," said Jeev.

"Jyoti and I should pair well and we will be hoping to compliment each other's strengths," he added.

Jyoti said, "Jeev is in great form. I hope to raise my play with him. Last week in Hong Kong I found the rhythm towards the end and hope I will be able to stretch it into the tournament here."

The 28 two-man teams will play two rounds of foursomes and two of fourball to determine the winner of famous World Cup trophy.

Scotland, represented by Colin Montgomerie and a new partner in Alastair Forsyth, will be defending their title in the company of the host nation China, which once again field Liang Wen-chong and Zhang Lian-wei.

China feel confident they can improve on their 11th place of last year and build on the China's success of the Olympic Games in Beijing to further help the growth of the game in their country.

Scotland, on the other hand, waited for 54 years to savour World Cup success when Montgomerie and Marc Warren edged out the United States in a dramatic play-off.

A total of 18 exempt nations and nine more countries, which emerged through qualifiers in Asia, Europe and Latin America, join the host nation in the World Cup.

Two of last week's winners are also in action with Lin Wen-Tang, who claimed a spectacular victory in the 50th UBS Hong Kong Open and will represent Chinese Taipei alongside Lu Wen-teh. And Prayad Marksaeng, who won the Dunlop Phoenix on the Japan Golf Tour, will be partnering Thongchai Jaidee for the Thailand team.

New Zealand and France will have the honour of getting the event underway as the first group out. Other groupings include that of Venezuela with 2006 champions Germany, Philippines and Ireland paired together and Mexico and England.

The World Cup was first played as the Canada Cup in 1953 and was renamed the World Cup in 1967. The event entered a new era last year following the agreement, which brought the watchmaker Omega together with Mission Hills. The event is set to continue in China till 2018.

Motor racing-Chinese GP likely to stay after 2010 - organisers

The Chinese Grand Prix is likely to continue in Shanghai beyond 2010 as the city continues its drive to become one of the great sporting hubs of the world, according to the organisers of the Formula One race.

Reported comments by the deputy director of the Shanghai sports ministry, Qiu Weichang, that the city might give up its right to a five-year extension on the Grand Prix after 2010 were lost in translation, said Leon Sun of organisers Juss Events.

"I've spoken to Mr Qiu and he never said the Grand Prix was going to leave China," the general manager of event management at the municipality-owned company told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"I think it's probably some misunderstanding in translation. I would say it's likely it will stay after 2010. Formula One has only been here for five years. To build a spectator base is not easy, it's a long term operation.

"We think Formula One is a very good product, a very good event for Shanghai city so at least from our company's point of view we want to continue promoting and building the event.

"Research shows there are more and more race fans in China, so I don't think we will say no to the Formula One Grand Prix."

Formula One rights holder Bernie Ecclestone said at this October's Grand Prix that he thought the race had a secure long-term future.

Sun, who took over running the grand prix this year, said there would be more "internal discussions" before negotiations over extending the contract beyond 2010 began

Chinese Grand Prix likely to stay after 2010 - organisers

The Chinese Grand Prix is likely to continue in Shanghai beyond 2010 as the city continues its drive to become one of the great sporting hubs of the world, according to the organisers of the Formula One race.

Reported comments by the deputy director of the Shanghai sports ministry, Qiu Weichang, that the city might give up its right to a five-year extension on the Grand Prix after 2010 were lost in translation, said Leon Sun of organisers Juss Events.

"I've spoken to Mr Qiu and he never said the Grand Prix was going to leave China," the general manager of event management at the municipality-owned company told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"I think it's probably some misunderstanding in translation. I would say it's likely it will stay after 2010. Formula One has only been here for five years. To build a spectator base is not easy, it's a long term operation.

"We think Formula One is a very good product, a very good event for Shanghai city so at least from our company's point of view we want to continue promoting and building the event.

"Research shows there are more and more race fans in China, so I don't think we will say no to the Formula One Grand Prix."

Formula One rights holder Bernie Ecclestone said at this October's Grand Prix that he thought the race had a secure long-term future.

Sun, who took over running the grand prix this year, said there would be more "internal discussions" before negotiations over extending the contract beyond 2010 began.

The home of the Grand Prix is the stunning $350 million circuit on the outskirts of Shanghai, which can seat 200,000 fans but has rarely come anywhere close to accommodating that number.

Sun said around 80,000 spectators had turned up on race-day last month, conceding that at least some of those people had received their tickets as a result of a "trade off with business partners".

"But we consider those sales because you move your costs down and you have more promotional materials," he said.

LONG RUN

Briton Lewis Hamilton had the chance to clinch the drivers' championship in Shanghai for the last two years but the race has been shifted to April in the 2009 calendar, a move Sun believed would work out well in the long run.

"In the first half of the year, there are not many international events in Shanghai, the Autumn is very busy," he said. "The first year will always be tough when you change an event but in the long-term view, I think it's a good move."

China's financial capital has lost a round of the motorcycling world championship, the Asian Open golf tournament and the season finale of men's tennis, the ATP Masters Cup, from next year's calendar.

In place of the Masters Cup, however, the impressive Qizhong tennis complex will host a new Masters Series tournament from next October.

Juss has signed up Swiss watch company Rolex as "presenting sponsor" of the event and Sun is confident that, despite the global economic downturn, the city will continue to attract big international events.

"I think for sure there will be more events coming to Shanghai, the only thing we don't know is when and how," said Sun, who will be co-tournament director of the new Shanghai Masters 1000.

Bolt and Isinbayeva scoop awards

Usain Bolt and Yelena Isinbayeva have been named as male and female athletes of the year by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

The Jamaican sprinter and Russian pole vaulter took the awards as well as £67,000 each at a ceremony in Monaco for their superb Olympic displays.

Bolt, 22, became the first man in history to break world records in all three sprint events at a single Games.

Isinbayeva, 26, raised the world record to 5.05m to retain her Olympic title.

Bolt broke the 100m world record of 9.74 seconds held by compatriot Asafa Powell earlier in the season but he again eclipsed the new mark by clocking 9.69 in Beijing.

He then broke Michael Johnson's world record of 19.32 in the final of the 200m by lowering it to 19.30 before leading Jamaica's 4x100m sprint relay to Olympic victory in a record time of 37.10.

"I have a motto that anything is possible, but this really is such an honour," said Bolt, who became Jamaica's first Olympic 100m champion.

"Just to be included with every great name in the sport is wonderful. I'll try to do it year after year."

Isinbayeva, who took athlete of the year honours in 2004 and 2005, added: "I'm very proud. It feels like the first time."

During the season the Russia raised her own world record in the pole vault three times, first to 5.03 metres in Rome and 5.04 in Monaco in June and then at Beijing - her 24th world best mark.

Isinbayeva just edged out Ethiopian distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba, who produced an unprecedented Olympic double victory in the 5000 and 10,000 metres in Beijing.

Cuban 110m hurdler Dayron Robles won the male performance of the year award after setting a new world record of 12.87sec as well as claiming the Olympic title.

Dibaba and Barbora Spotakova, of the Czech Republic, who set a new world record after claiming the Olympic javelin title, took the women's equivalent.

Pamela Jelimo, who won the 800m Olympic title at the age of 18, was given the revelation of the year award.


IAAF Award winners

Male world athlete: Usain Bolt (Jam)

Female world athlete: Yelena Isinbayeva (Rus)

Male performance: Dayron Robles (Cub)

Female performance: Tirunesh Dibaba (Eth)/ Barbora Spotakova (Cze)

Revelation of the year: Pamela Jelimo (Ken)

Distinguished Career award: Kajsa Bergqvist (Swe)/Stefan Holm (Swe)/Jefferson Perez (Ecu)

Inspirational award: Henry Rono (Ken)

80 Years of Women Athletes at the Olympic Games: Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA)

Special Olympic award: Usain Bolt (Jam)/Tirunesh Dibaba (Eth)/Yelena Isinbayeva (Rus)/Francoise Mbango (Cmr)/Angelo Taylor (USA)/Andreas Thorkildsen (Nor)

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Photos

Paralympics Heroes Parade