MOTORCYCLING

16-year-old Lorenzo wins 125cc race

RIO DE JANEIRO: Sixteen-year-old Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo won the first race of his grand prix career after a dramatic finish to the Brazilian 125cc grand prix on Saturday.

Lorenzo overtook Australia's Casey Stoner and San Marino's Alex de Angelis near the end of the final lap to secure the win in 41 minutes 51.624 seconds.

Riding a Derbi and born on May 4, 1987, Lorenzo became the second-youngest rider to win a motorcycling grand prix. He moved to 14th place in the world championship standings after doubling his tally to 50 points.

"It was spectacular," he told reporters.

"When I lost the lead after four laps I thought my chance had gone but I managed to keep up with the leaders until the last lap."

VOLLEYBALL

Chinese spikers sweep Philippines

HO CHI MINH CITY, Viet Nam: China overcame a slow start to sweep the Philippines 3-0 in their preliminary round Group A match at the 12th Asian Women's Volleyball Championship yesterday.

Defending champion China claimed victory 25-16, 25-7 and 25-22.

Starting nervously, the Chinese were tied by the Filipinos 16-all in the first set before Chinese head coach Chen Zhonghe made use of attacker Chu Jinling. She initiated a 5-0 run with her aggressive serve to claim the first-set win.

"The young players didn't do well in the serve and receive. When we fell behind, they were a little bit nervous," Chen said after the match. "I didn't make any replacements, I want them to come over their nerves by themselves."

Defending champion China will battle runner-up South Korea today.

FOOTBALL

Wigan continue surprising start

LONDON: Wigan Athletic consolidated their surprise leadership of the English first division with a 1-0 home victory over Watford on Saturday, their sixth win in a row.

Lee McCulloch's 11th-minute goal was enough to seal the points and open a two-point gap on Sheffield United, who twice came from behind to beat Cardiff City 5-3 to climb to second.

West Ham United, who clinched the services of former Reading boss Alan Pardew as their new manager on Thursday, lost momentum with a 2-0 defeat at Gillingham, Trevor Brooking's first defeat as the London club's stand-in manager. Pardew takes over the managerial duties from October 18.

Wigan have 19 points from eight games with Sheffield United on 17. West Bromwich Albion, who conceded a last-minute equalizer at Crystal Palace in a 2-2 draw, are third on 16, the same as West Ham.

ATHLETICS

Gatlin upsets 100m favourites

MOSCOW: American Justin Gatlin upset world champion Kim Collins and world record holder Tim Montgomery to win the men's 100 metres at the US$2 million Moscow Challenge on Saturday.

Gatlin, the world indoor 60 metres champions, ran a modest 10.05 seconds on a chilly night at the Luzhniki Olympic stadium to claim a cool US$500,000 first prize.

European 100 metres champion Dwain Chambers of Britain was a distant second in 10.18, with American Montgomery third in 10.19.

Collins, who pulled off an upset victory at the world championships in Paris, came sixth in a time of 10.36.

The sprinters were competing for a record US$1 million in prize money, half of which went to the winner.

Chryste Gaines was the only runner to go under 11 seconds in the women's 100 metres, sealing a one-sided victory over a strong field including world 100 and 200 metres champion Kelli White.

In earlier action, Maria Mutola of Mozambique, one of several world and Olympic champions on view, easily won the 800 metres in a time of one minute 58.82 seconds.

MISCELLANEOUS

Celebrity take to the bridge

The 2003 Diaoyu Playing Card Cup Beijing Celebrity Bridge Competition was held at the Diaoyutai State Guest House yesterday.

The event, organized by the Beijing Sports Press Association, the Beijing Bridge Association, the Hangzhou Yuren Paper Co Ltd and the Zhejiang Wuyi Diaoyu Industrial Co Ltd, attracted over 100 participants from all walks of life in Beijing.

Tong Yuren, president of the Yuren company, pledged further support to China's sports development and social charities.

(China Daily 09/22/2003 page8)