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Beckham's Galaxy return likely to remain on hold

LOS ANGELES: David Beckham is unlikely to make his second appearance for Los Angeles Galaxy in their final SuperLiga group match in Frisco, Texas on Tuesday as he battles to shrug off an ankle injury.

The England midfielder was restricted to a brief cameo role for his Galaxy debut against Chelsea eight days ago and his new employers do not want him to return unless fully fit.

Although the Major League Soccer club need to win or draw against FC Dallas in Frisco to reach the SuperLiga semi-finals, head coach Frank Yallop will decide on Monday whether Beckham will travel to Texas with the squad.

Mariners' Ichiro posts 1,500th major league hit

SEATTLE, Washington: Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki notched the 1,500th hit of his Major League Baseball career here Sunday in the Mariners' game against the Oakland Athletics.

The Japanese star singled off lefthander Lenny DiNardo in the second inning. The milestone came in his 1,060th major league game, making the 2001 American League Most Valuale Player the third-fastest hitter to that mark.

Al Simmons (1,040 games) and George Sisler (1,048) were the only other players to reach 1,500 hits faster.

Suzuki, who has made the All-Star Game and won a Gold Glove in every year since he entered the majors in 2001, was named the All-Star MVP in the most recent Midsummer Classic.

Vikings ink first-round selection Peterson

MANKATO, Minnesota: The Minnesota Vikings have signed running back Adrian Peterson, their first-round pick in the National Football League draft, the team said Sunday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but ESPN reported that Peterson agreed to a five-year contract with a maximum value of 40.5 million dollars, including 17 million dollars in guarantees.

The seventh overall pick in April's draft, Peterson ended his two-day holdout from Vikings training camp. The running back is expected to split time this season with veteran Chester Taylor.

Peterson, 22, missed seven games last season, his final campaign at the University of Oklahoma, with a serious collarbone injury. Despite the setback, he still went past the 1,000-yard mark.

Henman hopes to spark return to form at Washington

WASHINGTON: England's Tim Henman, battling back from a right knee injury and a second-round defeat at Wimbledon, hopes a return to form begins with a busy schedule and a return to the site of past success.

Henman begins his hardcourt run to the US Open this week at the ATP Washington Classic. He missed three months with a bone spur that aggravated his hamstring and needed five months to return to full health.

"That's a long time to be out of competition. I'm just trying to get back into the rhythm of playing tournaments," Henman said. "My game's in pretty good shape, but upon reflection of the year it hasn't been very straightforward."

(China Daily 07/31/2007 page23)