IN BRIEF (Page 22)
Tennis
Shanghai finalizes Masters Series host deal
SHANGHAI: Shanghai on Monday finalised an agreement making it the first Asian city to host an ATP Masters Series event, domestic media said.
ATP chief executive Brad Drewett signed the agreement with Shanghai Administration of Sports director Yu Chen, Xinhua News Agency said.
Officials described the permanent deal as a boost for China's biggest city, which will lose the season-ending Masters Cup tournament after 2008.
"Shanghai has finally maked its dream come true," said Qiu Weichang, the Shanghai sports body's deputy director.
The nine annual Masters Series tournaments are a step above the regular ATP events with an elite 32-man field.
The WTA has separately announced that Beijing will host one of four elite events as part of a streamlined women's tour.
China, not a traditional power in tennis, is emerging as a force in the women's game thanks to rising stars such as Li Na and Zheng Jie.
Triathlon
Henan to hold national Ironman championship
The 2007 China National Ironman Triathlon Championships will be held in Suixian County, Henan Province on July 1.
The event, organized by the Cycling and Fencing Administrative Center, the China Ironman Triathlon Association, the Henan Provincial Sports Bureau and the Shangqiu People's Government, will attract over 300 participants from 32 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and Hong Kong and Macao.
Competitions include men's and women's groups, youth and junior shorter distance groups. The official competition, namely the men's and women's groups, will be competed to Olympic standard - 51.5 kilometers including 1.5-km swimming, 40-km cycling and 10-km running. Other athletes will only have to swim 0.75 kms, bike for 20 kms and run for five kms.
Wang Hongni won China's best international achievement by clinching the Asian Games women's title. She was 11th at the World Cup in Japan in 2005 and was 40th at Athens Games, both the best by a Chinese.
Jiang Zhihang was the best Chinese male triathlete after finishing 24th at the 2005 World Cup.
Chinese men have been ineligible for the Olympics.
(China Daily 04/18/2007 page22)
