IN BRIEF (Page 24)
FOOTBALL
Materazzi headbutted again in Inter victory
MILAN: Inter Milan maintained their 11-point lead at the top of Serie A and extended their record run of consecutive league wins to 14 matches with a 2-0 victory at 10-man Sampdoria on Sunday.
But the game was marred by Inter's Italian international defender Marco Materazzi once again being the victim of a headbutt.
On Sunday, it was Sampdoria's Gennaro Delvecchio who was the guilty party and he was sent off in the seventh minute for the assault.
Angered by a late challenge on Inter keeper Julio Cesar, Materazzi exchanged angry words with Delvecchio before the Sampdoria midfielder's head hit him squarely on the chin.
Toure keeps Arsenal's FA Cup hopes alive
LONDON: Kolo Toure kept Arsenal in the FA Cup as his late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw against Bolton in the fourth round on Sunday.
Arsene Wenger's side were in danger of being eliminated after falling behind to Kevin Nolan's goal early in the second half.
But Toure popped up with a header 12 minutes from full-time to preserve Arsenal's unbeaten record at their Emirates Stadium home and set up a replay next month.
Bolton though could yet rue Nolan's failure to kill the tie off when, at 1-0 up, he failed to round Manuel Almunia, the keeper saving at his feet.
Barcelona handle the pressure to stay top
MADRID: Reigning Spanish champions and league leaders Barcelona endured some difficult periods but eventually prevailed for a 3-1 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
The win means Barcelona preserve their one point lead at the top of La Liga after their nearest rivals Sevilla had won 4-2 at Levante earlier on Sunday.
Argentine international Javier Saviola headed Barca ahead after 34 minutes following a cross from Giovanni van Bronckhorst but the Dutch defender went from hero to villain midway through the second half.
ATHLETICS
Coach: Public exposure helps Liu Xiang relax
Public exposure will not influence Liu Xiang's form, according to the hurdler's coach Sun Haiping.
"Athletes train very hard every day and are isolated from the public. Moderate public exposure will help Liu relax physically and psychologically," Sun said after Liu received an award for China's best sports image representatives.
"I am glad that Liu appears to be very happy while attending public activities like shooting commercials."
Sun also stressed they would limit Liu's commercial activities as required by China's General Administration of Sports. The administration suggests Liu pose for not more than five ads.
MISCELLANEOUS
National roller-skating championships wrap up
China's national speed roller-skating championships concluded at the Western Coast International Circuit in Haikou, Hainan Province on Sunday.
The four-day event, which also serves as the Roller-skating Marathon Open, attracted 41 teams and over 287 athletes from around the country. Qianwei Team, Liqun and Jiangsu Aodesai teams dominated the track.
The tournament was organized by the National Fitness Centre of the General Administration of Sports, the Chinese Roller-skating Association, the Municipal Government of Haikou and the Department of Sports of Hainan.
(China Daily 01/30/2007 page24)
