IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Swimming

Phelps wins 400-yard medley at California event

LONG BEACH, California: American swimming star Michael Phelps won the 400-yard individual medley at the Southern California Grand Prix short- course swim meet on Sunday.

World-record holder Phelps broke his own California meet record with a time of three minutes, 38.28 seconds.

Phelps, who is gearing up for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, earned $2,000 for the win.

Hungary's Tamas Kerekjart finished second in 3:46.96, while fellow American Tim Liebhold was third in 3:50.64.

Olympic silver medalist Kara Lynn Joyce won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:43.70, just out- touching runner-up Mary Descenza. Joyce collected another $2,000 for winning the 200-yard freestyle.

Olympic gold medalist Kaitlin Sandeno placed third in 1:45.13.

Basketball

NBA bans Hawks guard one game for flagrant foul

NEW YORK: Atlanta Hawks guard Anthony Johnson was suspended one game by the NBA Sunday for his flagrant foul on Friday on Spanish guard Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors.

Johnson was ejected by referee Luis Grillo for swinging his elbow and striking Calderon in the head with his forearm with 41.3 seconds remaining in the second quarter of Toronto's 89-78 home victory on Friday.

The ban means Johnson will be suspended for the Hawks' home game Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Johnson, an 11-year NBA veteran, has averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 assists over 29 games this season. He has averaged 5.7 points and 3.0 assists in 642 total NBA games with seven different clubs.

Golf

Philippines wins Women's World Cup with big finish

SUN CITY, South Africa: The Philippines won the fourth edition of the Women's World Cup of golf on Sunday with an explosive finish that included birdies at each of the last four holes.

Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin combined for a final round of 7-under-par 65 in the bestball (each team member playing their own ball with the best score on each hole counting) to give them a 54-hole aggregate of 18-under-par 198.

Korea's Ji-Yai Shin and Eun Hee Ji finished second on 200 following a final round of 67, with Chinese Taipei (Amy Hung and Yun Jye Wei) and Japan (Shinobu Moromizato and Miki Saiki) tying for third on 203, Saiki eagling the par-5 closing hole with its island green to move up a spot.

France's Gwladys Nocera and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement, who is four months pregnant, were fifth on 205 following 67.

Soccer

Hicks rubbishes claims of Liverpool sale

LIVERPOOL, England: Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has denied reports that he is contemplating selling his stake in the Premier League club to a Dubai investment consortium.

Dubai International Capital - the investment arm of the Dubai Government - was said to be preparing to launch a 500-million pound bid to buy Liverpool, with Hicks' shares their first target.

But the American tycoon, who owns the club together with fellow American George Gillett, is adamant he has no plans to relinquish his connections with the five-time European champion.

In a statement, Hicks said reports of a potential sale were "a complete fabrication and ... absolutely and categorically untrue".

He added: "I have not received any offer to purchase the club from the DIC or anyone else, much less accepted any such offer. Nor do I have any intention of doing so."

(China Daily 01/22/2008 page24)