A round-up of today’s other stories in brief
Els doubtful for Dubai finale
GOLF: Triple major winner Ernie Els is likely to withdraw from the season-ending Dubai World Championship, the South African said yesterday.
“I just don’t know about Dubai and I don’t know if I want to go there, and it’s just that I am not a fan of the golf course out there,” Els said.
“I love Dubai and I’ve won the Desert Classic three times but the golf course for the Dubai World Championship just doesn’t suit my game.”
Taylor world’s top female boxer
BOXING: World lightweight champion Katie Taylor has scooped the AIBA world female boxer of the year award for the second time running.
The Bray woman, who claimed her third AIBA world lightweight title on the trot in Barbados last month, was presented with the 2008 AIBA World female boxer of the year award in Moscow two years ago.
There was no AIBA World female boxer of the year award in 2009.
Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, president of the World amateur boxing organisation AIBA, yesterday confirmed Taylor will be presented with the 2010 honour at their awards ceremony in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on November 2nd.
Taylor beat China’s Cheng Dong 18-5 in the final to retain her title in Barbados.
The win against Dong was Taylor’s 100th victory from 106 bouts since 2001.
Tendulkar hits unbeaten 191 in robust reply by India
CRICKET: Sachin Tendulkar struck an unbeaten 191 and starred in a marathon 308-run stand with Murali Vijay to fuel India’s robust reply in the second Test against Australia in Bangalore yesterday.
A day after passing 14,000 Test runs, Tendulkar lit up the third day’s play with his 49th Test century while Vijay (139) registered his maiden to help India reach 435 for five wickets at close.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (11) was giving company to Tendulkar at stumps with India, who lead the two-match series 1-0, 43 runs behind Australia’s first innings total of 478.
Tendulkar hit a sparkling 319-ball knock studded with 20 fours and two sixes.
Resuming on 128 for two, both Tendulkar and Vijay, who was reprimanded by match referee Chris Broad for wearing too many logos on his pad on Sunday, made the most of a highly productive morning session when boundaries flowed from their blades.
Tendulkar hit Nathan Hauritz for a six to reach 99 and repeated the treatment in the off-spinner’s next over to bring up his ton.
Vijay reached his century with a single off Peter George. Mitchell Johnson finally broke the partnership, India’s highest third wicket stand against Australia, in the final session when he dismissed Vijay and debutant Cheteshwar Pujara (four) in the same over.
Score: Australia 478 (Marcus North 128, Ricky Ponting 77, Tim Paine 59, Shane Watson 57) v India 435-5 (Sachin Tendulkar 191 not out, Murali Vijay 139).
Northern boxers still on for five golds
BOXING: Northern Ireland will have five boxers competing in tomorrow’s finals at the Commonwealth Games after recording five semi-finals wins from five in Delhi yesterday.
European light-flyweight champion Paddy Barnes, Tommy McCarthy, Patrick Gallagher, Eamon O’Kane and Steven Ward all marched into tomorrow’s finals at the Talkatora Stadium.
Barnes chalked up a 5-0 victory over Amandeep Singh of India and Gallagher completed the Indian double with a 5-4 verdict over Dilbag Singh to set up a welterweight final with England’s Callum Smith.
O’Kane, who is captaining the Irish side in Delhi, eased past Keiran Harding of Wales, winning 12-6, while 2008 and 2009 Irish light-heavyweight finalist McCarthy cruised into the 81kg decider with an impressive 9-4 verdict over Joshua Makonjio of Kenya.
Ward beat Scottish heavyweight Stephen Simmons 6-1.
Djokovic imperious in China Open final
TENNIS: Novak Djokovic demolished Spain’s David Ferrer 6-2 6-4, while fellow top seed Caroline Wozniacki was dragged into a battle of wills before she won the rain-delayed China Open final in Beijing yesterday.
Wozniacki lived up to her billing as the new world number one when she withstood some fierce rallies to tame second-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3 3-6 6-3 to claim the title 24 hours later than planned.
Djokovic took advantage of the 3-1 first set lead he had opened before torrential rain ended play on Sunday to win the title in the Chinese capital for the second successive year.
“China is definitely a special place for me,” the 23-year-old said as he received the gold China Open Cup.
Mitchell stabbed in Johannesburg
RUGBY: John Mitchell will remain in South Africa as Gauteng Lions coach despite being stabbed twice in a break-in at his apartment, the former New Zealand coach said in Johannesburg yesterday.
Mitchell was stabbed in his upper arm and thigh early on Sunday morning in the upmarket suburb of Hyde Park and received stitches in hospital before being released.
His housemate, fellow New Zealander and Lions conditioning coach Wayne Taylor, was uninjured after fleeing the apartment and calling the police.
“I am still very committed to the Lions,” Mitchell said. “This is a beautiful country and I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to work here.
“I won’t let this deter my commitment or passion for the team, but I need to make sure that I am totally secure in where I live, as it is not at all nice waking up and having to defend your life.”
Local media reports said the electric fence and alarm system had been disabled in the complex.
