IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Cycling

Leiphemer defends Tour of California title

PASADENA, California: American Levi Leipheimer successfully defended his Tour of California title on Sunday, winning the eight-day, 1,069-km race by 49 seconds.

Leipheimer, who held the race lead for the final five days, finished 22nd in the main field on the final stage and claimed the overall title ahead of Briton David Millar.

Christian Vande Velde of the US was third overall in the third edition of the race, trailing Leipheimer by one minute, eight seconds.

Compatriot George Hincapie a Tour de France stage winner and a teammate of Lance Armstrong in each of his seven titles in France, claimed the rainy 150.2-km final stage in three hours, 50 minutes, 57 seconds.

Tennis

Nalbandian back in top 10 after home win against Acasuso

BUENOS AIRES: David Nalbandian defeated Argentinian compatriot Jose Acasuso 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to win the Buenos Aires claycourt title on Sunday and return to the world's top 10.

Nalbandian, the world No 11 at the start of the week, clinched his eighth career title but his first on home soil.

"I don't know why I have never won a tournament in Argentina but I am more than happy," said top seed Nalbandian, who was watched by football legend Diego Maradona in the stands.

"It was a difficult match, just as you would expect."

Unseeded Acasuso had his chances and led 3-1 in the second set tiebreak before Nalbandian stepped up the pressure.

NHL

Madden, Brodeur lift Devils into conference lead

WASHINGTON: John Madden's overtime goal powered the New Jersey Devils to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals and into first place in the Eastern Conference on Sunday.

Madden scored with 49.6 seconds left in overtime to give New Jersey a fifth consecutive victory and sole possession of the conference lead for the first time in seven years.

"It went through a maze of guys," Capitals netminder Brent Johnson told reporters when asked about Madden's winning goal.

"I don't know if it hit this crossbar or the post, but it must have dropped right in front of my pad. Madden just got his backhand on it, quick. I thought my pad was down, but the puck slid right under my pad."

Golf

China Tour welcomes foreign players

Foreign golfers will compete on the Omega China Tour in its upcoming fourth season as the circuit looks to improve the standard of play, organizers said Sunday.

More than $1 million in prize money will be on offer at the 10 events scheduled for 2008, they said.

Ten foreign players based in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau will receive fully exempt status after a 36-hole qualifying competition at Golden Gulf Golf Club in Zhuhai, to be held on Monday and Tuesday.

"Opening up the Omega China Tour to properly accredited foreign professionals living in Greater China is aimed at raising the standard and level of competition on the circuit," said Nick Mould of the World Sport Group.

"It is all about raising the profile of the game in China," Mould, the group's president for East Asia, said in a statement.

Soccer

Real coach Schuster regrets underestimating Getafe

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster should have known better, after all he was the coach at Getafe last season, but he paid the price for not taking his old club seriously on Sunday.

Getafe, now with another former Real player Michael Laudrup at the helm, beat the Spanish giant 1-0 to end its 100 percent home record in La Liga this season.

"We threw away our opportunities despite defending much better. Our recent rivals have hardly had any chances but we've been making small errors which have let them win," said Schuster on Sunday, after Real's third loss in eight days.

"Up until now things have been going well but we seem to be having problems in the last few games which haven't been there before."

(China Daily 02/26/2008 page22)