IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Zou gunning for global fistic glory

Now that he is the first Chinese boxer to notch a hat-trick in the Top 10 pro rankings, Zou Shiming is one victory away from challenging for a world championship.

India's coaches punch in at the Games

Shiv Thapa could not hide his relief at the Asian Games boxing venue on Wednesday. Not because he had been awarded a walkover in his first bout - dodging punches was not the issue.

Kvitova, Bouchard advance in Wuhan

World No 3 Petra Kvitova overcame Caroline Garcia to power through to the semi-finals of the $2.4 million WTA Wuhan Open on Thursday, while Canadian sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard also made it into the last four.

Jeter's farewell could be a wet one

Looks as though there might be rain when Derek Jeter ends his reign in the Bronx.

Legend's retirement draws kudos

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig:

Rested Ronaldo remains red-hot

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Cristiano Ronaldo's three-week break at the start of the season to ease knee and hamstring injuries is the reason for the Portuguese's sensational form.

Tennis was 'only chance' after dad's death - Li

China's Li Na said her ground-breaking career can be traced back to the death of her father when she was 14, a pivotal moment which meant tennis success was her "only chance."

Score board

A rivalry based on respect

Chinese swimming star Sun Yang and his South Korean counterpart Park Tae-hwan always appear as hostile rivals in TV commercials and newspaper headlines but in reality they share respect and admiration.

Sun still shining, despite sporadic setbacks

Sun Yang had been labeled China's "bad boy" of swimming for a number of out-of-pool scandals, but the young star says he has learned a lot from the ups and downs and is ready to embark on a new phase of his career.

Medals don't matter to the Maldives

Their swimmers train in the Indian Ocean and their women's soccer and handball teams haven't managed a goal between them at the Asian Games, but the Maldives says it does not care about success - yet.