A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Olympic champion out of European indoors
ATHLETICS:Olympic champion and world pole vault record holder Yelena Isinbayeva will miss next month's European indoor athletics championships because of a virus infection, Russia coach Valentin Maslakov said yesterday.
“Unfortunately she has caught a virus and decided against taking any risks,” Maslakov told local media. “She got sick a week ago and has not had a single training session since.”
Isinbayeva (28) returned to competition after an 11-month break, winning a low-key indoor meeting in Moscow this month by clearing 4.81 metres. She improved on that performance in the following week, winning the Sergei Bubka invitational in Donetsk, Ukraine, with a seasons best of 4.85. Its a big loss for our team as she was performing really well on her return but she wants to get totally healthy,” Maslakov said.
Djokovic goes through
TENNIS: Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic survived an early onslaught from Germanys Florian Mayer to reach the semi-finals of the Dubai championships with a 7-5 6-1 victory yesterday. "When I needed to play well and needed to keep the ball in the court, I did," said Djokovic. The second-seeded Serbian will next play third seed Tomas Berdych who beat German, Philipp Petzschner 7-5 6-4.
Wozniacki eases into last four
TENNIS: World number one Caroline Wozniacki eased into the semi-finals of the Qatar Open with 6-2 6-0 win over Italys Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta made a good start, winning the first game on the 20-year-olds serve before the Dane won 12 of the next 13 games, breaking on six occasions.
“I am very happy to make the semi-finals,” said Liverpool fan Wozniacki, who warmed up in a replica Liverpool shirt. “Liverpool are playing in the Europa League – I thought I should wear it.”
The Dane smashed down five aces and won 82 per cent of the points on her first serve. Wozniacki, who won in Dubai last week, will now play Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, who earlier beat Chinas Peng Shuai 6-2 6-2. The world number 18, unseeded in Qatar, hit four aces and 22 winners and made only nine unforced errors compared to Pengs 18.
Tincknell remains in intensive care
RUGBY:Leeds Carnegie centre James Tincknell remains in intensive care after he was involved in a car crash.
The 22-year-old is in a stable condition in hospital in Middlesbrough, his club said in a statement.
According to reports, Tincknell suffered head injuries in the seven-vehicle accident on the A66 near the Cumbria/Durham border on Monday.
The Aviva Premiership club said: “The club would like to ask all supporters to keep in their thoughts centre James Tincknell, who was involved in a car accident on Monday morning.
“James is currently in intensive care. However, he is in a stable condition and the club are in contact with his family to offer any support they require.”
