IN BRIEF (Page 23)

China Daily | Updated: 2008-03-21 07:05

GOLF

Liang carries Asian Tour's charge in Doral

A strong Asian Tour cast began competing in the WGC-CA Championship in Doral yesterday with every intention of making their presence felt against the world's elite.

Chinese star Liang Wenchong, last season's Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, leads the region's challenge in the lucrative $8 million event headlined by world No 1 and titleholder Tiger Woods.

Other Asian Tour stalwarts who will compete in Doral include Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, ranked second in Asia at the end of last season, Indian duo Jeev Milkha Singh and S.S.P. Chowrasia, South Africa's Anton Haig and James Kingston and current Order of Merit leader, Mark Brown of New Zealand. Liang has been drawn to play in the first two rounds alongside Sergio Garcia.

Liang is looking forward to his WGC debut. "The highest you can go in golf is the US PGA Tour and I hope to reach there someday. In order to get there, I have to first train here (in Asia) and get enough experience so that I would be able to compete against the best players," said Liang, who won one title and produced eight top-10s last season.

SNOOKER

Major financial boost for sensation Ding Junhui

China's snooker sensation Ding Junhui renewed his contract with leading Chinese billiards and snooker table producer Xing Pai Group.

The two sides did not disclose the terms of the contract. Ding has been the company's contract player since 2005.

"I hope the new contract would bring me good luck this year since I had a not very good 2007," Ding said.

Ding, world No 8, will play in next week's China Open.

Meanwhile, another Chinese snooker prospect, Tian Pengfei, signed with the Beijing Xingwei Sports Goods Co Ltd, a subsidiary company of the Xing Pai Group.

The Xing Pai (Star) tables first rose to global prominence in 2006 when they were used for the BetFred English Premier League snooker competition, the first time Chinese snooker tables were used in England for a major competition. China Open, Shanghai Masters and Euro-Asia Masters also use the company's tables as the official ones.

(China Daily 03/21/2008 page23)