IN BRIEF (Page 7)

Cricket

Strauss defends raging Swann

England captain Andrew Strauss defended Graeme Swann after the spinner flew into a rage over the damp playing conditions during Friday's World Cup defeat to Bangladesh.

Swann was furious that the night-time humidity at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium produced dew that made it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball.

Strauss defended Swann's on-field swearing, which forced one television commentator to apologise on air for the language used.

Tennis

Nadal keeps goals short term

Having suffered an ill-timed leg injury at the Australian Open in January, Rafa Nadal is reluctant to look too far ahead for the rest of this season.

The world No 1 was sidelined for 10 days after losing to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the Australian Open quarterfinals and has competed in only two Davis Cup matches since then.

Nadal is back in action at the Indian Wells ATP tournament, where he won the title in 2007 and 2009, and will launch his campaign against South African Rik de Voest in the second round on Saturday.

Asked by reporters what his goals were for 2011, the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open champion replied: "The goal is the match of tomorrow. That's the first goal, no? We will see."

Soccer

Magath is not leaving

Schalke 04 coach Felix Magath said on Friday he would see out his contract despite widespread reports he was on his way out at the end of the season.

"I will continue to work and try to have as much success as possible with Schalke and I will continue to honor my contract," Magath said two days after steering his team to the Champions League quarterfinals for only the second time.

Before that game, and with last season's runner-up Schalke languishing in mid-table in the Bundesliga, club boss Clemens Toennies had said the club "needs to draw a line right independent of the Champions League run. The club is on fire".

Following its qualification, club bosses refused to comment on Magath's future, with Toennies saying there would be a meeting between him and Magath in the coming days.

Beckham unsure of future

English midfielder David Beckham says he is healthy entering his final season with the Los Angeles Galaxy but uncertain whether or not he has played his final time for an English club.

In an online chat with fans on ESPN's website on Friday, the 35-year-old superstar said he is ready for Tuesday's Major League Soccer season opener at Seattle, his fifth campaign in the US league.

"I'm excited. I'm ready for the season," Beckham said. "I wanted to make sure my fitness was right. That's why I went to Tottenham. I've been working hard."

Beckham, who has scored nine goals for the Galaxy after stints at Manchester United and Real Madrid, missed six months because of a torn left Achilles' tendon.

Miscellaneous

Sports games platform launched

CCTV Sports Promotion Corporation has joined with GAMEBAR, an online game service provider, to launch a sports game platform for sports and online game fans.

Under the agreement reached on Thursday, GAMEBAR will show online games involving sports events such as China's volleyball league, the national diving series, the Wushu Masters and the selection of China's NBA cheerleaders.

According to statistics, among the 253 million netizens in China, there are 65 million sports game fans.

AFP-Reuters-China Daily

(China Daily 03/13/2011 page7)