IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Snooker

Ding proud to earn top ranking

China's Ding Junhui said on Wednesday he is very "proud" to become the first Asian world No 1 in snooker. "I am very proud," the two-time UK Championship winner said. "It's a great honor as a Chinese to become the world No 1." The 27-year-old will become No 1 when snooker's world rankings are revised at the end of the UK Championship on Sunday. Ding will become the 11th world No 1 in snooker history after Ray Reardon, Cliff Thorburn, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and Judd Trump.