Sports

All Blacks red hot favorites to win Rugby World Cup

New Zealand are raging favorites going into tomorrow's Rugby World Cup in France, but the host's home-soil advantage and a trio of imposing Australian players guarantee a compelling six-week spectacle at the sixth quadrennial tournament.

American media turn on "classless" sore loser

NEW YORK: The American media turned on Serena Williams on Wednesday, labelling the former world No 1 as "classless" and "graceless" after her sullen reaction to her US Open exit at the hands of Justine Henin.

Chinese men's gymnasts claim hat-trick

STUTTGART, Germany: Defending champions China blew its rivals away to claim a third straight men's title at the World Gymnastics Championships yesterday.

Federer outslugs Roddick to reach semis

NEW YORK: Three-times defending champion Roger Federer outslugged Andy Roddick 7-6, 7-6, 6-2 in a near flawless display of power tennis to reach the US Open semifinals on Wednesday.

IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Sports

England lacking talent, say Premier chairman

LONDON: The English game is being hurt by a lack of over-priced talent and a flood of cheaper foreigners, according to Blackburn chairman John Williams.

Brazilian star Massa faces massive task for Ferrari at Monza

MONZA, Italy: Felipe Massa knows exactly what is expected of him in front of Ferrari's vociferous home support here at the Italian Grand Prix - do his utmost and win.

US wins women's team gold

STUTTGART, Germany: The United States claimed the first gold of the world gymnastics championships yesterday when they won the women's team title in a drama-filled finale.

Sports

Chinese men eye gold-medal rush

STUTTGART, Germany: China looks set to surpass its gold-medal haul at last year's worlds as Yang Wei fired the 2008 Olympic hosts into pole position ahead of the Hiroyuki Tomita-inspired Japanese during men's qualifying at the world gymnastics championships on Monday.