Canucks move to brink of NHL title

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - With a fortunate bounce and a flawless goalie, the Vancouver Canucks are heading back to Boston with the chance to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time.

Japanese veteran too good for young rivals

WEIHAI, Shandong province - Forty-year-old Kiyomi Niwata of Japan showed her younger rivals a clean pair of heels on her way to victory in the "China Town Cup" ITU World Series Triathlon in Weihai, Shandong province, on Saturday.

Mexicans launch doping probe

LOS ANGELES - Five Mexican footballers who were suspended from the Gold Cup for doping after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol were flown to Los Angeles on Friday for more tests.

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Pent-up ambition

In 1984, Xu Haifeng etched his name into Olympic history by winning China's first ever Olympic gold in the men's 50m pistol. Nearly three decades later, Xu is aiming to rewrite China's sports history again - this time in the modern pentathlon.

The week that was

Boss Blatter denies any crisis at FIFA

Soccer chief says bribery claims will be solved within the organization's 'family'

Acting president Zhang keen to improve AFC operations

BEIJING - China's Zhang Jilong claims he will try his best to improve the Asian soccer community after temporarily taking the helm of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Chinese media has reported.

Victorious Sharapova vows to make clay mark in Paris

PARIS - Maria Sharapova has vowed to put years of claycourt under-achievement behind her, starting with victory over German 15th seed Andrea Petkovic in Wednesday's French Open quarter-finals.

Li's husband safe from sack despite back-seat role

PARIS - China's Li Na joked that her stunning third-set comeback at the French Open on Monday was due to her husband and sometime coach leaving the arena - but said she could never bring herself to sack him.

Ticket sales launched for China Open

BEIJING - Fans can book their seats for the 2011 China Open four months before the tournament swings off after the event's organizing company activated ticket sales recently.

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