SPORTS DIGEST:BOXING: Three Irish boxers are just one fight away from maintaining the Irish Amateur Boxing Association's remarkable sequence of having won medals at every tournament, including the Olympic Games, they have entered this year at the 37th European Senior Championships in Liverpool.
Ryan Lindberg, Ross Hickey and David Oliver Joyce all claimed last-16 wins at the Greenbank Academy over the weekend. Belfast bantamweight Lindberg beat Samir Mammadov of Azerbaijan 11-3 on Saturday to set up tomorrow's last-eight clash with Germany's Denis Makarov.
Hickey, the reigning Irish lightweight champ from the Grangecon club in Co Wicklow, followed that up with a 10-7 win over 2006 European silver medallist Oleksandr Kluchko of the Ukraine.
The Ukrainians lodged an objection against Hickey following Saturday's defeat, claiming that he should have received a public warning for holding.
However, that objection was dismissed, and Hickey will now face Famil Suleymanov of Azerbaijan tomorrow with a bronze medal up for grabs.
Meanwhile, current Irish featherweight champ Joyce yesterday produced one of the performances of the weekend, a 16-3 win over English 2008 Olympian Joe Murray.
Murray, who has strong family ties in Ireland, managed to score just one point in this clash as two of his points were awarded when Joyce received a warning for a low blow.
Joyce is facing a formidable challenge in the Wednesday's 57kg quarter-final, however, as he meets Ukrainian Olympic champion and 2007 World silver medallist Vasyl Lomachenko, who was boxer of the tournament at the Beijing Olympiad.
Carroll scores podium double in China
MOTOR SPORT: Adam Carroll scored a victory and a second place finish in round two of the AIGP World Cup of Motor Sport in Chengdu, China, yesterday.
Ulsterman Carroll led the sprint race from pole to win for A1 Team Ireland. Robert Doornbos (Netherlands) was second.
This was the second win for A1 Team Ireland in the series.
Carroll started the feature race from the front row alongside Danny Watts, who led from the start until he fell back following the mandatory pits stops, when the lead was taken over by Filipe Albuquerque of Portugal, who went on to take the chequered flag. Carroll put in a strong challenge in the closing laps, cutting the gap at the flag to just 0.571 seconds. Watts was third ahead of Neel Jani and Fairuz Fauzy (Malaysia).
"We came here determined to have the best weekend we could and at least try to win a race or come away with a couple of podiums," Carroll said. "This is just great for the (Irish) team, it's the confidence we all need and I really think we can challenge the rest of the season for the championship".
Malaysia lead the series on 28 points, with Ireland second ahead of France, with both on 23 points but the advantage going to Ireland following the Chinese results.
South Africa clinch series
CRICKET:Hashim Amla proved his worth as a limited-overs opener when his century guided South Africa to a series-clinching 128-run victory over Bangladesh.
Amla hit 140 off 135 balls - his maiden ODI century - to lead South Africa, who were sent in to bat, to 358 for four.
Amla and captain Graeme Smith, who returned from a prolonged elbow injury to score 65, shared an opening stand of 136 off 146 balls before Jacques Kallis kept the momentum going with a run-a-ball 49.
AB de Villiers, whose 54 not out came off 27 deliveries, and Albie Morkel, with 37 not out in 13 balls, then put the bowling to the sword in the closing overs to help South Africa soar to their highest one-day score against the tourists.
Bangladesh failed to extend themselves in the run-chase as they meandered to 230.
India back in control of final Test
CRICKET: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh restored India's ascendancy on the fourth day of the final Test against Australia after off-spinner Jason Krejza took two wickets in two balls.
At the close Australia, who need to score 382 in their second innings to square the series, were 13 without loss.
Dhoni scored 55, and Harbhajan reached 52 to guide India out of trouble after debutant Krejza had dismissed Vangipurappu Laxman (4) and Saurav Ganguly first ball.
The pair added 108 as India reached 295 all out after exploiting Australia's decision to use part-time bowlers to lift the over rate.
Lekuraa wins Athens Classic
ATHLETICS:Kenyan Paul Lekuraa won a close finish to the 26th Athens Classic Marathon yesterday, but the event was overshadowed by the death of a club runner taking part in one of the parallel races.
Lekuraa, who set a race record of two hours 12 minutes 42 seconds, had to sprint down the final stretch and was only a stride ahead of compatriot Seurei Julius Kiprotich.
