Local star Ding advances as Dott's title defense gets pinched

Local sensation Ding Junhui enjoyed a happy start at the Snooker China Open yesterday as he overcame a 2-1 deficit to beat world No 18 Joe Perry 5-3 at the Beijing University Students Gymnasium.

Loisel ignores e-mail sacking

China's women's soccer coach Elisabeth Loisel is scheduled to arrive in Beijing today to learn about her future despite reports that a recent e-mail from the China Football Association (CFA) to Loisel released her from her contract and asked her not to return to China.

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Serbians sweep at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California: Steadily growing in self-belief, Serb Novak Djokovic has made a dream start to the year but refuses to accept he is the game's top player on current form.

Top seeds safely through to NCAA Sweet 16

WASHINGTON: No 1 seeds Memphis Tigers and North Carolina Tar Heels recorded contrasting wins on Sunday to join top-ranked Kansas and UCLA in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Bernard smashes his third world record

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands: Alain Bernard shattered his third world record in as many days on Sunday to achieve a rare sprint double when he broke the 50m freestyle mark at the European swimming championships.

Spurs claim key win over Mavericks

DALLAS: The San Antonio Spurs took advantage of an injury to Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki to beat the Mavericks 88-81 on Sunday in a key Western Conference game for both teams.

IN BRIEF (Page 24)

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Nadal rallies to defeat Tsonga

INDIAN WELLS, California: Rafael Nadal eked out a victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday, avenging an Australian Open defeat and reaching the quarterfinals of the Pacific Life Open.

Heat tie third-lowest score in NBA history

TORONTO: Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker each scored 14 points and the Toronto Raptors held Miami to the third-lowest point total in the shot-clock era, beating the Heat 96-54 on Wednesday.