IN BRIEF (Page 11)

China Daily | Updated: 2009-01-30 07:33

NHL

Zetterberg signs contract

DETROIT: The Detroit Red Wings and Swedish forward Henrik Zetterberg have agreed to a 12-year contract extension, the NHL club said on Wednesday.

The deal, worth $72 million according to media reports, is one of the richest ever offered by the Red Wings, the Stanley Cup champion.

In five seasons, the 28-year-old Swede has averaged 30 goals and 36 assists, and has 43 points in 45 games this season.

But Zetterberg has produced some of his best work during the Stanley Cup playoffs, claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, contributing scoring 13 goals and 14 assists to the Red Wings championship run last season.

Soccer

Brazilian cities gets nod

SAO PAULO: FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday that world soccer's governing body would allow 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil to stage the tournament in 12 cities rather than 10.

FIFA had initially wanted the tournament to be staged in 10 cities as it believed having fewer venues would make the logistics easier.

But after a meeting with Sao Paulo state governer Jose Serra, Blatter said FIFA would allow 12 cities. "This country is not a country, it's a sub-continent, five-time world champions, and we are going to divide the Cup in 12 different cities," he said.

Seventeen Brazilian cities have put themselves forward as candidates and a FIFA committee will begin a whirlwind one-week tour of them today.

Owen out with injury

LONDON: Newcastle United striker Michael Owen faces a lengthy spell out after injuring his ankle in his side's 2-1 defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday.

Owen hobbled out of the match after 19 minutes and faces scans to reveal the extent of the damage.

"Michael's on crutches for his own protection and he's going to have a scan tomorrow," Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear told the club's website (www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk) on Wednesday.

To make matters worse for relegation-threatened Newcastle, midfielder Joey Barton also suffered an ankle injury.

Tennis

Dementieva to lead Russia

MOSCOW: In-form Elena Dementieva will lead holders Russia in next month's Fed Cup first-round tie against China, the Russian tennis federation said on Wednesday.

The Olympic champion heads a powerful team that includes world No 8 Svetlana Kuznetsova and No 18 Anna Chakvetadze. Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev also called up Fed Cup debutant Alisa Kleybanova for the Feb 7-8 tie at Moscow's Olympic arena.

Dementieva has won tournaments in Auckland and Sydney this year and extended her unbeaten run to 15 matches by crushing Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro to reach the Australian Open semifinals on Wednesday.

Baseball

Cubs land Heilman deal

CHICAGO: The Chicago Cubs added another experienced arm to their pitching staff by acquiring Aaron Heilman from the Seattle Mariners for infielder Ronny Cedeno and left-hander Garrett Olson on Wednesday.

Heilman, who was traded to Seattle from the New York Mets last month, exits without ever playing for the Mariners.

The 30-year-old right-hander has spent most of his six seasons in the Major Leagues, all with the Mets, as a reliever but is expected to be given an opportunity to earn a spot as the Cubs' fifth starter behind Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Rich Harden.

Heilman struggled last season posting a record of 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA and just three saves in 78 games.

(China Daily 01/30/2009 page11)