IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Tennis

Roddick plans to skip Beijing Olympics for US event

WASHINGTON: US star Andy Roddick will skip the Beijing Olympics in August to defend his crown at the ATP Washington Classic two weeks before the US Open.

Roddick will bring star power to the only event on the men's tennis tour that conflicts with the high-profile showdown for Olympic gold in China.

Roddick has decided to remain in the US to better preapre for the US Open, the year's final Grand Slam tournament that starts in New York on Aug 25, the day after the Olympics concludes in Beijing.

Sixth-ranked Roddick captured the ATP title in Dubai last weekend with victories over Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the run.

Roddick defeated big-serving US wild card John Isner in last year's Washington final.

The Olympic tournament and Washington's event are both set to be played on the week starting Monday, August 11.

Soccer

Argentina's Riquelme, Tevez to miss Egypt friendly

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina has left out midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme and forward Carlos Tevez from its squad for this month's friendly away to African champion Egypt.

Coach Alfio Basile called up uncapped Girondins Bordeaux striker Fernando Cavenaghi for the match in Cairo on March 26, while Porto's Lisandro Lopez was also given the chance for a rare outing.

Basile said he would be interested to see how the team, which usually revolves around Riquelme, would perform without the mercurial playmaker.

"When Riquelme doesn't play in my team, the whole system changes," Basile told a news conference. "He's a player who controls the whole team and it's difficult to find someone else who can do the same thing.

"But it's good to test other ways of playing."

Pato in, Ronaldinho out of Brazil squad for Sweden match

RIO DE JANEIRO: AC Milan's 18-year-old striker Alexandre Pato is to make his Brazil debut after being named in the squad for the friendly against Sweden in London later this month.

Barcelona's Ronaldinho was left out while four other uncapped players were called up, coach Dunga naming several hopefuls for the Beijing Olympics.

Dunga urged Brazilians not to get carried away with the recent performances of Pato, who was included in the squad for last month's game with Ireland but had to pull out because of injury.

"Alexandre has played some good games but, in the desire to create another star quickly, people get carried away," said Dunga.

Germany, Bayern to give Kahn special farewell honor

BERLIN: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn will receive a special retirement send-off after the German Football Association agreed to a testimonial match between club and country in September.

The game between Germany and Bayern will take place at the Allianz Arena and mark the end of a 20-year career in which Kahn won a reputation as one of the world's finest keepers.

"It won't be an easy moment for me when I call it a day," Kahn said in a statement. "But the match on September 2 will be a fantastic football night and it's a great honor for me."

Kahn, 38, lost his position as his country's number one to Jens Lehmann ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Olympics

Cuba holds US to draw in soccer qualifying match

TAMPA, Florida: Cuba produced an upset by holding the United States to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday in the opening round of Olympic qualifying games for North and Central America.

The US, which failed to qualify for the 2004 Games in Athens, is competing with CONCACAF rival Cuba, Panama and Honduras in Group A in an eight-team tournament after which the two finalists will head to the Beijing Games in August.

"The US played very well but we improved after the break and I think it was a fair result," Cuba coach Raul Gonzalez told reporters.

The Caribbean island nation has never played the US at this level before.

US coach Peter Nowak said there was no cause for panic.

"It was the first game and we know we should have played better and that we will play better - everything is open in this group," he said.

(China Daily 03/13/2008 page23)