Chinese paddlers strike first

Top Chinese paddlers drew first blood at the new Olympic venue yesterday, cruising into the next round of the International Table Tennis (ITTF) Pro Tour Grand Finals at Peking University Gymnasium.

IOC strips Jones of five Sydney medals

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge announced on Wednesday that Marion Jones, who last month admitted to oping, had been stripped of her five Sydney Games medals.

Heartbroken Rangers miss out on British sweep

PARIS: Glasgow Rangers' Champions League campaign came to a heartbreaking end on Wednesday when a 3-0 loss to Lyon meant they failed to complete a British sweep of clubs into the last 16.

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Hat-tricks guide Flyers to spiteful win

PHILADELPHIA: Joffrey Lupul and R.J. Umberger both scored hat-tricks to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to an 8-2 rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Liverpool, Real Madrid reach last 16

BELGRADE: Liverpool and Real Madrid secured berths in the Champions League last 16 with emphatic wins in their final group matches on Tuesday.

Wenger, Fergie support Capello for England job

LONDON: Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson are backing Italian Fabio Capello to take over the vacant job of England manager.

Ford injured, Raptors beat Hawks

ATLANTA: Toronto Raptors point guard T.J. Ford was taken off the court on a stretcher following a scary fall late in the 100-88 NBA victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.

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Alonso returns to Renault for 2008

LONDON: Double world champion Fernando Alonso will return to Renault next season in an all-new lineup with Brazilian Nelson Piquet junior, the Formula One team announced on Monday.

Hawks beat Magic at home for 3rd straight victory

ORLANDO: Josh Smith had 25 points and a season-high 16 rebounds and Joe Johnson scored 24 points as the Atlanta Hawks won their third straight NBA game 98-87 over the Orlando Magic on Monday.

Conte to tell Pound about doping

SAN FRANCISCO: The head of the former BALCO laboratory Victor Conte promised on Monday to tell World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Dick Pound on Wednesday the names of Olympic athletes he believed were involved in doping.