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Thursday, August 06, 2009
Ecclestone eyes return to Montreal
LONDON: Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve may return to the Formula One calendar in 2010 after Bernie Ecclestone hinted that a deal had been reached to reinstate the Canadian Grand Prix. The Montreal leg of the F1 season was dropped in 2009 after a row over fees between F1 rights holder Ecclestone and track promoters. Confirming an interview he gave to a Swiss motor magazine this week Ecclestone told CBC Radio on Wednesday: "We have an in-principle agreement of how we're going to make the race happen." In June, Quebec Finance Minister Raymond Bachand and the City of Montreal stated that the federal and provincial governments were ready to meet the shortfall required to see the street circuit back on the F1 scene. Ecclestone said a formal agreement has to be reached in the next few weeks in order to make the deadline for the 2010 calendar.
Neck pain poses problem for Schumi
ROME: Michael Schumacher has been shedding the pounds as he prepares to come out of retirement to fill in for the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari although a pain in the neck is a slight concern, he said on his website. "I'm currently in the midst of my preparations for the upcoming race. I already lost three kilograms even if it is also important to me for to build up muscles," the seven times Formula One world champion said on www.michael-schumacher.de.
Ashraful to get medical treatment
DHAKA: Bangladesh's injured captain Mashrafe Mortaza will travel to Australia this week for medical treatment on his wounded knee, the country's cricket authorities said on Wednesday. Mortaza hurt his right knee while bowling in the first Test match against the West Indies at Kingstown, St Vincent last month. The 25-year-old fast bowler missed the rest of the tour, in which Bangladesh won all three One-day Internationals and two Test matches. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said Mortaza would leave for Melbourne on Thursday to consult orthopaedic surgeon David Young. Bangladeshi newspapers said Mortaza's knee required surgery that would see him sidelined for nearly a year.
Astarloza denies doping allegations
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain: Spanish cyclist Mikel Astarloza, who was suspended after he failed an out-of-competition doping test, said on Tuesday he is certain he will be cleared of the allegations. "I received a call from the UCI and I thought it was a joke. I was the first to be surprised because I know that I have done nothing wrong," he told a news conference in the northern city of San Sebastian.
Pak cueists win in Iran event
KARACHI: Pakistan's cueists got off to a winning start in the IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship 2009 that got underway in Keish Island, Iran, the other day. According to the information made available by the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) on Wednesday, Asjad Iqbal tamed local cueist Navid Shafiee 4-1 while Hamza Akbar was awarded a walkover. The draws of the tournament have been revised due to a large number of dropouts and even the duration of the event has been curtailed by a couple of days.
Hardy returns following suspension
FEDERAL WAY, Washington: Former swimming world record holder Jessica Hardy of the United States has returned to competition after serving a one-year suspension for testing positive to a banned substance. Hardy, 22, will compete in the 100-metre freestyle on Wednesday at the US Open championships. She swam in a Junior Olympics meet with 15-year-old swimmers last weekend to qualify. A one-time 100 breastroke record holder, Hardy tested positive for the supplement clenbuterol, a prohibited anabolic agent, in a disputed drug test weeks before she was to swim at the Beijing Olympics. She says she spent tens of thousands of dollars, depleting her savings, to get a two-year suspension reduced to one year by an arbitration panel.
Brazil stay at top of FIFA rankings
BERNE: Brazil stayed top of the FIFA rankings despite not playing any matches in July while Spain and Netherlands remained in second and third places respectively. World champions Italy have slid to fifth in the FIFA world rankings. Italy's fall follows their first round elimination from the Confederations Cup won by Brazil with Germany moving up one spot to fourth. The United States missed out on a chance to move into the top 10 when they lost 5-0 to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, FIFA said. The result left them 12th while Mexico, despite moving up three places, are still a disappointing 30th. Canada were the biggest climbers as they leapt 26 places to 66th. Australia (16th) are the highest-ranking team from the Asian confederation while Africa's best side are 18th-placed Ivory Coast.
PBF names jury members, judges
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) have announced jury members and referees/ judges for the 33rd KESC Cup National Boxing Championship to be held from August 11 to 14 here at the PNS Karsaz. Jury members: Ghulam Hussain Patni, Arshad Javed Qureshi, Khuda-e-Rahim, Judges: Muhammad Akram Khan, Muhammad Younus Pathan (Sindh), Juma Khan (Sindh), Qadir Zaman (NWFP), Itrat Nazir (NWFP), Syed Ashraf Ali (Navy) , Syed Muhammad Sharif (Railways), Muhammad Yousuf Butt (Punjab), Aftab Ahmed Qureshi (Punjab), Arshad Hussain (Pakistan).
Salgado leaves Real Madrid
MADRID: Veteran Spanish international defender Michel Salgado is to part company with Real Madrid after ten years with the club, the Primera Liga giants said on Tuesday. "Real Madrid and Miguel Angel Salgado (Michel Salgado) have agreed to end their collaboration," the club said on its website. The 33-year-old arrived at Real from Celta Vigo in 1999 and had a contract until 2011, but played little last season. Salgado won two Champions League titles with Real Madrid in 2000 and 2002, the Intercontinental Cup in 2002 and four Primera Liga titles in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2008.
Vlasic ready to produce her best
BERLIN: World high jump champion Blanka Vlasic is yet to hit peak form this season but is ready to produce her best leap when she defends her title in Berlin later this month. Relaxing at her home town of Split 10 days before the start of the championships, Croatian Vlasic said memories of her Osaka triumph in 2007 would spur her on. The 25-year-old, who will be competing in her fifth world championships, played down her much-anticipated face-off with Friedrich.
Ibrahim stars in KESC League
By our correspondent
KARACHI: West A beat Central A by 2-0 in the KESC Youth Football League held here at the Aga Khan University Ground on Wednesday. For West A Pervez Ibrahim scored both the goals in the 13th and 43rd minutes. Meanwhile Malir A snatched a 1-0 victory against East A. Midfielder Imtiaz Ali scored the lone goal of the match in the 13th minute.
Mason pulls out of Berlin C'ships
LONDON: Germaine Mason, a high jump silver medallist at the Beijing Olympics last year, has pulled out of the Great Britain team for this month's world athletics championships. The 26-year-old Jamaica-born star will be a non-show in Berlin after suffering an ankle ligament injury at last week's IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting in Stockholm.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
