IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Snooker

Ding gears up to shoot down rival Rocket

China's snooker sensation Ding Junhui is fully prepared for the upcoming Snooker World Championships.

"I will think of Ronnie as one of my regular opponents." Ding said before flying to England.

Ding's first match against two-time world champion Ronnie "the Rocket" O'Sullivan, looks like a tough proposition after he was trounced 8-3 by him in this year's Wembley Masters.

Ding has struggled to pick himself up from that defeat, including a second round exit from the China Open in March.

"I felt tired physically and psychologically." Ding told reporters after the match.

Golf

Nicklaus to tutor kids during Beijing Open

The 2007 Beijing Open at the Pine Valley Golf Resort & Country Club from April 23rd to 29th will see 35 current Chinese players gunning for glory

The aim is to drive the development of golf in China and to encourage more young Chinese players to participate and experience the level of play in international golf tournaments.

In order to upgrade the sport in China, the Open will offer a Children's Clinic in which more than 300 junior players from professional golf schools and foreign junior golf fans from around Beijing will participate. Legendary golfer, and designer of Pine Valley's main course, Jack Nicklaus will conduct the clinic himself along with other notable Asian Tour players.

Nicklaus will head to Beijing on April 25 and will also stay to inaugurate the second course at Pine Valley.

Motor sports

Xi'an to host motorbike championships

The 2007 Jialing Cup National Motorbike Championships will be held at the Sanqiao International Automobile Trading Castle in Xi'an during the May Day holidays.

The event, organized by the Federation of Automobile Sports of China, Chinese Motor Sports Association, the Shaanxi Sports Bureau and the Jialing Group, will attract around 100 participants.

The competition will feature 80cc, 125cc, 250cc and home-made 150cc groups. The participants for the 80cc group will be under 18 years old. The organizers are still discussing if the 70cc group will be held at the tournament. The 70cc group is for drivers under 11 years old.

Jialing Group, known for producing motorbikes, is an avid supporter of China's motor sports development having been sponsoring the championships since 2001.

(China Daily 04/19/2007 page22)