IN BRIEF (Page 24)
Soccer
Romario stuck on 999 as Vasco suffer shock loss
RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Brazil striker Romario was left stuck on a career total of 999 goals on Wednesday after failing to score in Vasco da Gama's Copa Brasil tie against second division Gama.
To add insult to injury, Gama scored with the last kick of the game to win 2-1 and knock Vasco out of the tournament to the astonishment of the crowd who had turned up expecting to celebrate Romario's 1,000th goal.
The Copa Brasil second round second leg tie had been switched to the Maracana stadium especially for Romario to try and emulate Pele, who also scored his 1,000th goal at the famous arena in 1969.
Instead, Gama stole the show as they won 4-3 on aggregate while the 41-year-old former Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven striker barely touched the ball.
Tennis
Venus improves record over Schnyder to 9-0
AMELIA ISLAND, Florida: Venus Williams continued her quest back to the top of women's tennis on Wednesday, upsetting fourth seed Patty Schnyder to reach the third round of the Amelia Island championship.
The 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win improves Williams's record over the Swiss world No 16 to 9-0.
"This was one of the tougher matches," Williams said about the one-sided series. "I know it's frustrating for her and that probably played a role."
Former world No 1 Williams, now ranked 32nd, will face Meilen Tu of the US next.
In other action, second seed Jelena Jankovic blew past Czech Iveta Benesova 6-1 6-2 in 55 minutes. Also moving on were number eight seed Tatiana Golovin, No 12 Samantha Stosur, No 13 Sybille Bammer and No 16 Alona Bondarenko.
Williams showed great spirit in her match with Schnyder.
Weightlifting
Chakhoyan banned for life after second offence
SYDNEY: Former world champion weightlifter Sergo Chakhoyan has been banned for life after a second doping offence, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) announced yesterday.
ASADA said Chakhoyan had tested positive for the banned stimulant benzylpiperazine (BZP) during the Commonwealth, Oceania and South Pacific championships at Melbourne in October 2005.
Chakhoyan, 37, had previously been suspended for two years after testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane.
Chakhoyan was born in Armenia but moved to Australia in 1997 and competed for his adopted country at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. He won the 85 kilogram world title in 2003.
Baseball
Off to quick start, Bonds delivers 735th home run
SAN FRANCISCO: Getting off to a quick start on his quest to become Major League Baseball's all-time home-run king, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds hit his first home run of the season on Wednesday.
With two out in the bottom of the first inning Bonds drove the ball deep over the center field fence in a home game against the San Diego Padres. The crowd roared as Bonds rounded the bases.
By hitting his 735th career homer, the 42-year-old Bonds moved within 20 of tying Hank Aaron.
Bonds, the seven-time Most Valuable Player, needs to hit more home runs than anyone who turned 43 during a season to pass Aaron.
The on-field drama takes place amid a continuing federal investigation into whether Bonds lied to an earlier grand jury when he said he never knowingly used steroids.
(China Daily 04/06/2007 page24)
