IN BRIEF (Page 24)
Tennis
Clijsters through to last eight in Antwerp
ANTWERP, Belgium: Second seed Kim Clijsters booked a quarter-final spot at the Diamond Games with a convincing 6-0, 6-2 second-round victory over Russian Olga Poutchkova on Wednesday.
The world number four, returning to action after missing last week's Paris Open through injury, showed no signs of her hip problem as she cruised through.
Belgian Clijsters next faces Russia's Ana Ivanovic or Nathalie Dechy of France yesterday.
Eighth seed Ivanovic defeated Belarussian Anastasiya Yakimova 6-3 6-2 in the first round on Wednesday.
"I felt good and the crowd were brilliant as always. I was a little nervous but it passed," Clijsters told reporters, adding that she was nursing a cold.
"I am just focusing on the next game and hopefully it all goes well. But I will have to move up a gear."
Soccer
Tricky draw for Copa America holders Brazil
CARACAS: Holders Brazil landed a tricky draw for the Copa America on Wednesday as they were thrown into Group B along with Mexico, Ecuador and Chile.
Brazil lost 1-0 in their last meeting with Mexico while Ecuador reached the last 16 at the World Cup in Germany and Chile appear set for a revival with a talented crop of young players.
The draw was kinder to hosts Venezuela who will face Uruguay, Bolivia and Peru - the latter pair regarded as the weakest of the 12 teams - in Group A.
Argentina, beaten on penalties by Brazil in the 2004 final, will face the United States, Paraguay and Colombia in Group C which appears full of potential pitfalls.
The tournament, being held in Venezuela for the first time, takes place from June 26 to July 15.
Cricket
Pollock sets up rout of Pakistan
JOHANNESBURG: Shaun Pollock ensured South Africa would go to the World Cup high on confidence after a masterly bowling performance routed Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day international at the Wanderers stadium on Wednesday.
Pollock took five for 23 as Pakistan were bowled out for 153. AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis hit half-centuries as South Africa cruised to a nine-wicket victory with 21.4 overs to spare. South Africa won the series 3-1, with one match rained off.
Pollock was named man of the match and clinched his third man of the series award of the South African summer. He took the award for both the Test and one-day series against India earlier in the season.
Vaughan 'confident' of playing in World Cup
LONDON: Michael Vaughan did his best to allay fitness fears after being named on Wednesday as captain of England's 15-man squad for the World Cup, which starts next month in the West Indies.
The 32-year-old Yorkshire batsman must undergo two weeks' of "intensive treatment" on a hamstring injury before England depart for the Caribbean on March 2.
Vaughan has spent most of the past 12 months out of international cricket with a long-standing knee problem and missed England's 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia.
England play their first warm-up match against Bermuda in St Vincent on March 5. Their first match in the tournament proper is a Group C fixture against New Zealand in St Lucia on March 16.
They have yet to win the World Cup although England were the losing finalists in 1979, 1987 and 1992.
(China Daily 02/16/2007 page24)
