Cricket: South African captain Hansie Cronje yesterday dismissed charges of match-fixing against him by Indian police as "rubbish".
New Delhi Additional Police Commissioner K K Paul said charges of criminal conspiracy had been registered against Cronje, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom following last month's one-day series in India.
"We will seek the help of Interpol as a huge international crime has been committed," Paul said.
Similar charges have been filed against two Indians and one of them, Delhi-based businessman Rajesh Kalra, has been arrested.
Kalra, who was taken by police to a New Delhi court, denied having known Cronje and said he did not provide cellular phones to the South African skipper to fix matches.
The charges relate to the five one-day international series South Africa played in India between March 9th and 19th. India won the series 3-2.
Tennis: In front of a hometown crowd a shell-shocked Pete Sampras was blown off the court in straight sets by Jiri Novak yesterday to give the Czech Republic a stunning 1-0 lead in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final tie.
Novak stormed to a 7-6 (7-1) 63 6-2 victory in handing the former world number one his worst ever Davis Cup defeat.
Rowing: The host club and Garda may fight it out for the men's senior eights title at the Neptune Regatta today, writes Liam Gorman.
Garda have had a disappointing time so far this year and tomorrow may give them a chance to kick start their year. Only two other senior eights - Cork BC and Old Collegians - are entered.
Top Irish single sculler Albert Maher has opted for Neptune's eight and four as his two events of the day. However, the men's singles scull is very strong - should Niall O'Toole beat Donal McGuinness he is seeded to meet lightweight double sculls partner Derek Holland in the quarterfinals.
The other side of the draw is also strong with contenders such as Emmet O'Brien, Brendan Dolan and Neil Casey.
Snooker: Mark Williams is snooker's official new number one for next season thanks to his quarter-final victory over Anthony Hamilton at the Regal Scottish Open in Aberdeen last night. The 25-year-old left hander becomes the first Welshman to top the rankings for 17 years courtesy of his 5-2 success and the earlier defeat of previous number one John Higgins.
Scottish Open (in Aberdeen) - Quarter- finals: M Fu (Hkg) bt J Higgins (Sco) 5-3. Frame scores (Fu first): 70-8 51-67 101-9 69-72 108(107 break)-16 92-0 22-78 73-8; M Williams (Wal) bt A Hamilton (Eng) 5-2 (Frame scores (Williams 1st): 126(105 break)-6 47-70 89-25 0-103 49-59 21-70 50-73); R O'Sullivan (Eng) bt D Harold (Eng) 5-1 (Frame scores (O'Sullivan 1st): 70-48 62-54 5261 93-4 81-23 125(103 break)-15); G Dott (Sco) bt M Stevens (Wal) 5-3 (Frame scores (Dott 1st): 27-96 72-17 54-44 73-42 77-32 0-140 (140 break) 0-82 66-17).
GAA Film: A Year 'Til Sunday, the fly-on-the-wall documentary charting Galway's triumphant All-Ireland football season in 1998, has just won Best Documentary at the Celtic Film and TV Festival in Aberystwyth, Wales. The film, which was made by Power Pictures, was selected out of a field of 24 entries from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and France. "This is a great achievement and we're all absolutely delighted," said David Power of Power Pictures.
