IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Soccer

S Korean players dislocate shoulders to dodge draft

SEOUL: Ninety-two current and former South Korean soccer players have been indicted for dodging military service by intentionally dislocating their shoulders to receive medical exemptions, a prosecutor said yesterday.

South Korean men spend up to 24 months in the military as part of mandatory service, a duty which can hamper the careers of athletes.

The players, including 15 professional K-League players, dislocated their shoulders by methods such as swinging their arms while holding heavy weights or having fellow players jump on their shoulders, the official said.

The majority of the indicted players were in minor, domestic soccer leagues. Local media said if they are found guilty, they will most likely have to perform community service for two years, but some could be forced into the military or sent to jail.

NHL

Rangers score 5 straight goals to upset Canadiens

MONTREAL: The New York Rangers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to stun the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 on Sunday.

Scott Gomez, Chris Drury and Martin Straka each had a goal and an assist in the big comeback as the Rangers used five consecutive goals to win their third game in a row.

Gomez tied the scores at 3-3 15:30 into the second period and Drury put the Rangers ahead to stay midway through the third.

"This guy (Drury) is just phenomenal," Rangers coach Tom Renney told reporters. "He has been a great man all year long but it's great to see him get what he deserves."

Netminder Henrik Lundqvist played a big role in the win, stopping 10 consecutive shots in the third period. He had 25 saves for the game.

"We play much better in front of him when he is solid," Renney said. "If we minimize the chances, Henrik can beat anybody in this league."

Golf

New season signals big expansion for Asian Tour

NEW DELHI: The Asian Tour kicks off its anticipated 2008 season this week in India, bolstered by more events and bigger prize money than ever as interest in golf continues to soar.

Since professional golfers in Asia formed a new player representative body in January 2004 - the Asian Tour - to ensure control over their careers and the development of the sport in the region, growth has been phenomenal.

From 22 tournaments in 2004 offering $12.3 million in prize money, the Tour will feature 30 tournaments with at least $29 million this year, with 14 countries and regions hosting events.

With bigger prize money, the world's top players are being drawn to the region, which has helped fine-tune the games of Asian golfers who now find themselves able to compete in Europe and the US.

Rugby

France makes winning start to Six Nations

EDINBURGH: France made a positive start to the defense of its Six Nations title with a 27-6 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Man of the match Vincent Clerc scored two tries and fellow winger Julien Malzieu added a third.

Scrum half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde converted all three and France also benefited from the goal kicking of center Damien Traille, who landed two penalties.

It was an impressive performance from a new-look France side, which dominated the back row battle and moved the ball much more effectively behind the scrum to deliver coach Marc Lievremont victory in his first match in charge.

(China Daily 02/05/2008 page24)