Cavendish shines, Schumacher leads

CHATEAUROUX, France: Briton Mark Cavendish finally delivered on his position as one of the world's top sprinters when he powered to his first Tour de France stage victory on Wednesday.

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New office rides wave of popularity

As China prepares to host one of the world's top women's tennis events next year, the WTA is trying to ride the wave of the sport's popularity here by opening its Asia-Pacific headquarters.

Schumacher upsets big guns to lead

CHOLET, France: German Stefan Schumacher caught the favorites out to snatch the Tour de France overall leader's yellow jersey with victory in the fourth stage, a 29.5-km time trial around Cholet on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay Rays reverse ways, go from worst to first

NEW YORK: The Tampa Bay Rays have turned the American League upside down, rebounding from the worst record in the major leagues last year to the best mark so far this season and are dreaming of their first postseason action.

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Zhao ready to put bad luck behind her

The number 8 is not a lucky for Zhao Ruirui. China's towering spiker was wearing the normally auspicious number when she seriously injured herself four years ago.

FIVB chief: China must treat every match like a final

Wei Jizhong, Chinese vice-president of volleyball's world governing body FIVB, has told the national women's team: it must play every match like the final if it hopes to defend its Olympic gold medal in the August.

KTV 'frenzy' a cakewalk

It's hard to gauge which story caused a bigger stir among Chinese fans of Yi Jianlian: that the NBA sophomore was suddenly shipped to the New Jersey Nets on the eve of the NBA draft, or that he was caught partying at a KTV in Beijing until 4 am when he was supposed to be preparing mind, body and soul for the Olympics.

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