Sunday Sports

IN BRIEF (Page 7)

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-20 07:25

Soccer

Benzema says he is in peak

Real Madrid's French international Karim Benzema believes he is in his best form since he joined the Spanish giant from Lyon in July 2009.

The 23-year-old striker struggled to impress following his 35-million-euro ($49.6 million) move but he has scored nine goals in his past seven appearances, including once during Real's 3-0 Champions League win on Wednesday over his former side, Lyon.

"Now I am lucky and my teammates are giving me a lot of balls to score goals," he said.

Asked if he felt he was was in his best form since he arrived at Real, Benzema said: "I think so because now mentally and physically I am very well. I am very well physically, I can run a lot."

Abidal recovering well from surgery

Barcelona's French defender Eric Abidal is recovering well from surgery to remove a liver tumor, coach Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

The 31-year-old French international underwent the three-hour operation on Thursday at a Barcelona hospital. Neither the club nor the hospital have provided details about the kind of tumor Abidal has.

"As far as we know, the operation went very well and Abidal is developing well. We must thank the doctors for their good work and hope people respect the privacy that his family has asked for," Guardiola told a news conference.

Lucho unhurt after armed gang raid

Didier Deschamps expressed concern on Friday after revealing star midfielder Lucho Gonzalez was the latest Marseille player to fall victim to armed burglars.

Lucho was at home in Aix-en-Provence when four individuals broke into his appartment late on Thursday. They stole bank cards, jewelry and other valuable belongings before escaping in the Argentinian player's car.

Marseille coach Deschamps said Lucho handed over his personal effects and had been left unharmed.

"Obviously he's very upset, who wouldn't be upset or shocked by such an incident?" said former France international Deschamps, who led Marseille to the league title last year.

Tennis

Djokovic extends win streak to 18

Novak Djokovic, who won the title here in 2008, defeated Richard Gasquet of France 6-2, 6-4 in a quarterfinal match at the WTA and ATP Masters 1000 tournament on Friday.

The reigning Australian Open champ extended his match win streak to a career best 18 in a row as he clinched the victory on Friday when Gasquet pounded a pair of forehands into the net on the final two points of the match.

Djokovic advances to the semi-finals where he will play the winner of the other semi between Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro.

Djokovic has now lost just 12 games in Indian Wells as he continues his impressive 2011 season.

Golf

Biggest golf show held in Beijing

The China Golf Show 2011, China's largest exhibition for the industry, teed off on Friday and ends today at the China National Convention Center.

The three-day show, hosted by the China Golf Association and Reed Guanghe Exhibitions, has attracted about 350 national and overseas brands, including John Deere, Toro, Titleist, Mizuno, Adams, Srixon, Honma, E-Way, Dunlop, Yonex, X-swing, Union Golf and Zerofit.

The show also includes a series of clinics for things such as golf development and course management. China's top players, Liang Wenchong and Zhang Lianwei, will be on hand to meet golf enthusiasts today.

Horse Racing

Long Run races to Gold Cup glory

Favorite Long Run won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday to become the first six-year-old winner since Mill House in 1963.

Given a brilliant ride by 28-year-old amateur and dentist by profession Sam Waley-Cohen, the 7/2 shot beat home two former Gold Cup winners - the Paul Nicholls-trained duo of Denman, winner in 2008, and Kauto Star, winner in 2007 and 2009.

Nicholls also trained the fourth home in the shape of What A Friend, part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was at the track.

The 2010 winner Imperial Commander was prominent for a large part of the race but was pulled up entering the straight seemingly lame.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 03/20/2011 page7)