Top shot
Maradona speaks out against FIFA altitude ban
LA PAZ, Bolivia: Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona believes a FIFA ban on high-altitude international matches is "ridiculous," and will play a charity game with President Evo Morales in the thin air of Bolivia's mountain capital.
"It's ridiculous that they want to take away Bolivia's chance to play on its own soil," Maradona told reporters on Sunday at the presidential palace in La Paz. "God has given each of us our place, and we have to respect that."
At a meeting in Zurich on Friday, soccer's governing body ratified a rule requiring players to acclimate for at least a week before international games above 2,750m, and two weeks for matches higher than 3,000m.
With matches often scheduled within days of one another, the rule virtually bans games at those altitudes. FIFA said it was concerned about negative health effects on players unaccustomed to thin air.
Morales, a soccer fan, has led a spirited campaign against the ban, even playing a game at 6,000m on the icy slope of an Andean peak to prove the game could be played anywhere.
'Oh no!' Friberg rallies to win Mexico City event
MEXICO CITY: Sweden's Louise Friberg fired a final-round 7-under 65 as she rallied from a 10-shot deficit to capture the LPGA's MasterCard Classic on Sunday.
Friberg, of Helsingborg, reached 6-under 210 to post a one-stroke victory over Tawain's Tseng Yani for her first LPGA Tour title.
Making her fourth career LPGA start in her rookie season, Friberg entered Sunday's final round 10 strokes behind South Korea's Oh Ji-young.
Oh suffered a final-round collapse, tumbling down the leaderboard with a 7-over 79. Friberg had an eagle and six birdies with just one bogey.
"After the first week in Hawaii, it didn't take me many hours to feel at home on the LPGA Tour," Friberg, of Helsingborg said. "I didn't think I would win so quickly.
"I'm going to stick with my game plan and keep going, but I don't think this has all sunk in yet."
Lin Dan back to winning ways with Swiss final triumph
LONDON: World champion Lin Dan returned to his title-winning ways on Sunday to lift the Swiss Open with a 21-13, 21-18 victory over former world No 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia.
The Chinese suffered a shock defeat in the All England final in Birmingham a week ago, losing to compatriot Chen Jin, but in Basel breezed by Lee in their badminton Super Series event.
Victory in the women's singles final on Sunday went to top seed Xie Xingfang, who beat Chinese compatriot and Olympic champion Zhang Ning 21-18, 21-17. The result was a relief for Xie after a first-round loss in Birmingham.
The mixed doubles proved a disappointment for the British duo of Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg, who had beaten Indonesia's world champions Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir in the semis.
The Britons could not reproduce that form and lost 21-15, 21-9 to the Chinese fifth seeds He Hanbin and Yu Yang.
Martin beats McEnroe to win Champions Series opener
NAPLES, Florida: John McEnroe is still looking for his first Champions Series title.
Todd Martin beat McEnroe 6-3, 6-1 Sunday to win The Oliver Group Champions Cup for his third career Champions Series victory.
"I thought I was hitting the ball well but missed my chances," McEnroe said. "I also didn't get a good handle on break points in the first set. When I miss a point that I feel I should get and don't - that is frustrating. I had a few break points and missed them."
All three of Martin's titles in the series have come against McEnroe, who has said this will be his final year of competitive tournament tennis.
The 37-year-old Martin earned $50,000 for the victory while the 49-year-old McEnroe won $32,000.
(China Daily 03/18/2008 page22)
