IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Wushu

Company strikes deal

The Chinese Wushu Association, and Founder, one of China's most innovative and influential high-tech companies, signed a strategic partnership on Wednesday to develop Chinese martial arts.

Wang Xiaoling, chairman of the Chinese Wushu Association, said the cooperative venture will enhance the development of the sport in China and abroad.

Wushu will make its Olympic debut when the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 is held from Aug 21-24, during the Beijing Olympic Games. A total of 128 athletes from 43 countries and regions will vie for 15 gold medals in routine and free combat competitions.

The International Wushu Federation boasts 120 member countries and regions.

Motor sports

Bikers on starter's orders

The 2008 National Motorbike Cross-Country Championships, organized by the Federation of Automobile Sports of China and the China Motor Sports Association, roars off in Beijing on May 17.

The Beijing stop, one of six, will be held on May 17-18 at the Huitongnuo'er Burnout Paradise racing park in Beijing's Haidian District.

Over 100 riders representing 10 teams, including one from Hong Kong SAR, will take part in the Beijing event, featuring 80cc and 125cc groups, 150cc and 110cc junior groups.

The other five stops are Youyu of Shanxi province, Siyang of Jiangsu province, Tongbai of Henan province, Wuyi of Zhejiang province and Lipu of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Baseball

Twins player hits for cycle

CHICAGO: Minnesota center fielder Carlos Gomez became the first Twins player in nearly 22 years to hit for the cycle in Wednesday's 13-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

The last Twins player to accomplish the feat - registering a single, double, triple and homer in a game - was Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett on Aug 1, 1986, against Oakland.

Gomez, who came to Minnesota as part of an off-season trade that sent ace left-hander Johan Santana to the New York Mets, led off the first inning with his second home run of the season, a shot to left field off White Sox starter Mark Buehrle.

Ice hockey

Early round ends in drama

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia: Switzerland held on to shock Olympic champions Sweden 4-2 on Wednesday as the preliminary round of the ice hockey world championships ended with drama on and off the ice.

The win moved the Swiss to the top of Group A with an unblemished record of 3-0. Winless France dropped to the bottom of the standings and into the relegation battle after its 3-1 loss to Belarus.

In Group C, Finland went top of the standings, edging Slovakia 3-2 while Germany capped off a day of turmoil with a stunning 3-2 defeat by Norway.

Soccer

Werder makes top three

BERLIN: Werder Bremen won 1-0 at Hamburg SV on Wednesday despite finishing with nine men to clinch a top-three finish, and at least a place in the Champions League qualifiers, for itself and Schalke 04.

Werder took the lead in Germany's big northern derby through a Hugo Almeida blast early in the second half.

Frank Baumann was sent off soon after and Jurica Vranjes followed him down the tunnel late in the game but Thomas Schaaf's side held on for a win that takes them back up to second place and ends Hamburg's Champions League hopes.

Bayern Munich, who wrapped up the title on Sunday, celebrated in front of its fans with a 2-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld.

(China Daily 05/09/2008 page24)