A round-up of today's sports news in brief
Nalbandian back for Argentina
TENNIS:David Nalbandian has recovered from a leg muscle tear and left for Stockholm to join Argentinas Davis Cup team. He was injured during the Buenos Aires Open, his comeback tournament from hip surgery last May, and pulled out of the world group, first round tie.
However, having recovered he is joining the Argentine team who have lost Juan Martin del Potro and Juan Monaco to injury.
Consolation for Barry
TENNIS:Ireland's Sam Barry yesterday gained some consolation for his shock first round singles defeat in the ITF U18 Circuit Grade 2 event in Luxembourg. After number two seed Barry's 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 3-6 loss to France's unseeded Gregoire Barrere on Wednesday, the Limerick player came up trumps in his corresponding doubles contest in the indoor hardcourt tournament.
But Barry and Tunisia’s Slim Hamza, the top seeds, had to survive a tough battle before they disposed of the gutsy challenge of British duo Daniel Cochrane and James Hignett on a 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 10-3 (champions’ tie-break) scoreline. Today, Barry and Hamza take on Italian duo Andrea Dall’aste and Giammarco Micolani with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
In Casablanca, Bray player Stephen Martin exited in the first round of the main draw 6-0 6-4 to Moroccan Youssef Tamimount.
Sidebottom ruled out of tour of Bangladesh
CRICKET:England bowler Ryan Sidebottom will miss the rest of the tour of Bangladesh after succumbing to a thigh injury.
Left-armer Sidebottom will not play any part in the final one-day international today or the two-Test series.
He will be replaced by Yorkshire paceman Tim Bresnan, who is currently in Bangladesh for the one-dayers.
Steven Finn is to join the England squad in Bangladesh as the tourists’ injury worries started to mount today.
Middlesex seamer Finn (20), has been with the Lions in Dubai but has been drafted in as cover for the injured Stuart Broad and Sidebottom.
Ajmal Shahzad could be drafted in for his ODI debut today although Durham bowler Liam Plunkett is also available.
Doherty ends White's hopes
SNOOKER:Ken Doherty moved closer to qualification for the World Snooker Championships last night with a 10-3 defeat of Jimmy White.
Doherty, leading 6-3 going into the evening session, ended White’s hopes with four unanswered frames.
Doherty will face fellow Irishman Joe Swail on Monday for a place in the tournament.
John Parrott has admitted he could quit snooker after also failing to qualify.
The 1991 world champion has steadily fallen down the rankings and is now certain to slip out of the top 64 for next season.
The 45-year-old lost 10-6 to Chinese teenager Anda Zhang at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport and said yesterday: “If I’m off the tour, it’s fairly certain that I’ll retire. I certainly won’t be playing any lower down.”
