Top Shot

Chelsea agrees to fee for Lokomotiv's Ivanovic

LONDON: Chelsea finalized a deal to sign Lokomotiv Moscow defender Branislav Ivanovic on Monday.

The 23-year-old has been granted a work permit and the Serbia center-back will complete his move to Stamford Bridge once he has negotiated personal terms and passed a medical, according to a statement on the Premier League club's website.

Chelsea has already paid 15 million pounds for Nicolas Anelka during the transfer window and the purchase of Ivanovic is likely to take its spending to over 20 million pounds.

Lokomotiv wanted around nine million pounds for Ivanovic, who partners Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic in Serbia's defense.

Blues manager Avram Grant targeted Ivanovic, who was also interesting United and Juventus, after John Terry was sidelined with an ankle injury in December.

Portuguese midfielder Maniche loaned to Inter Milan

ROME: Portuguese midfielder Maniche has been loaned by Atletico Madrid to Inter Milan till the end of the season, the Italian first-division club said on Tuesday. The 30-year-old Maniche arrived in the Spanish capital in the summer of 2006 and never really found his feet at Atletico.

Meanwhile, Italy international striker Cristiano Lucarelli of Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk has joined Parma, the Italian first-division club said on Tuesday. Parma did not give details of the length of contract or the transfer fee.

Brazil's top tennis champ to retire this year

SAO PAULO: Brazilian former world No 1 tennis champ Gustavo Kuerten said Tuesday he would retire this year hopefully after playing a tournament at Roland Garros, the court he had cherished most during his career.

"The last two, three years were especially hard," the three-times French Open champion told a press conference in Sao Paulo, admitting his form had slipped since he was at his peak.

He said he was looking forward to taking things easier now - but still intended to play on Roland Garros' red clay one last time.

"I have a few months to prepare," he said, predicting a wild card slot in Paris would give him an "emotional" finale to his 14-year career.

Alonso leads second day of testing in Renault return

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, Spain:Spain's two-time world champion Fernando Alonso was the fastest driver here on Tuesday on the second day of Formula One testing that marked his return to Renault after a tempestuous season at McLaren.

Alonso, who won back-to-back world championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006 and came close last year with McLaren, went around in one minute 19.503 seconds to finish with the fastest lap time at the Circuito de Jerez.

"I don't have concrete goals for this competition. Personally, it's an opportunity to become acclimatized to driving a single-seat car without electronic aids," he said.

Renault has adapted last season's car for testing by removing driver aids which have been banned under new Formula One rules.

'Miracle Mets' hurler Cardwell dies, aged 72

NEW YORK: Don Cardwell, a pitcher on the 1969 World Series-winning New York team dubbed the "Miracle Mets", has died, Major League Baseball said Tuesday.

Cardwell was only 8-10 with a 3.01 ERA in 1969, but he won five games down the stretch as the Mets overtook the Chicago Cubs to win the National League East Division title.

The Mets went on to beat the Atlanta Braves in the NL championship series and the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.

Cardwell, who was 72, died on Monday according to a funeral home spokesman in North Carolina, but no further details were provided.

Suspended NFL player 'Pacman' Jones accused again

NASHVILLE, Tennessee: Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, already suspended from the NFL for conduct issues, could be facing more legal problems.

The Tennessean newspaper reported Tuesday that a woman has accused Jones of punching her at a strip club in Atlanta on January 3.

Wanda Jackson, an employee at the club, filed an application with the Fulton County Magistrate Court asking a judge to consider issuing a warrant against Jones.

Jackson alleges that Jones became angry after accusing the club's management of stealing money and a bracelet from him.

(China Daily 01/17/2008 page22)