Inbrief

The Cubans, winners of two straight Olympics and World Championships each, won 25-19, 25-23, 25-18. European champions Russia, hot favourites after beating Cuba, China and Brazil to win the Grand Prix in August, also posted their fifth straightwin beating Japan 25-15 25-22 23-25 25-18.

Brazil and South Korea have four wins each, while China and Japan have 3-2 records after five rounds. The top three finishers in the 12-team round robin will be eligible for the Olympics.

Younis Ahmed to sue Ali Bacher
JOHANNESBURG: Former Pakistani test cricketer Younis Ahmed is suing South African cricket boss Ali Bacher with a claim of over 7.6 million Rands approx Rs 10 crore for defamation and damages, Ahmed8217;s lawyers said today. Ahmed, the Test star of 1970s who toured with the rebel team here, lodged the claim with Johannesburg High Court to be heard on November 17.

Ahmed claimed that Bacher distributed a document apparently from Scotland Yard alleging that the British agency was looking for him for fraud, to the unions of the South African Cricket Board. Bacher, however, said: 8220;The cricket board will resolutely contest Ahmed8217;s claim in court8221;.

Ahmed, who has over 18,000 runs against his name in first class cricket, and runs arestaurant here, lost his job as marketing director in British confectionery major IM-Pack, when the company cancelled his contract after the accusation.

Rennie blunts Gallage burst
BULAWAYO: Sri Lanka were held up by an unbroken century stand after medium-pacer Indika Gallage took the first four wickets in their opening tour match against a Zimbabwe President8217;s XI today.

Gallage reduced the President8217;s team to 62 for four before opener Gavin Rennie hit an unbeaten 114 and Gary Brent scored 55 in an unfinished fifth wicket stand of 153. The President8217;s XI were 215 for four when rain ended play early on the first day of the three-day match.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe President8217;s XI 215-4 in 62.3 overs G Rennie batting 114, G Brent batting 55; I Gallage 4-41 vs Sri Lanka.

British Johnny dares Mike Tyson
LONDON: Britain8217;s Johnny Nelson took just four rounds to defeat Frenchman Christophe Girard and retain his WBO cruiserweight title at Widnes, and then challenged Mike Tyson for afight. Nelson, 32, who won the title last night, said his next target was former world heavyweight champion Tyson.

He believes that he would end the controversial American8217;s career and said: 8220;Mike Tyson, I8217;m going to deal with him. I don8217;t say things if I don8217;t mean it. I won8217;t shout for fights if I don8217;t want them.

8220;I saw Mike Tyson fight and I8217;ll deal with that boy. He8217;ll get seriously hurt. I8217;ll expose him and that8217;ll be his last fight ever.8221;

Birsamunda, Lyallpur schools win
NEW DELHI: Rourkela8217;s Birsamunda Vidyapitha and Lyallpur Khalsa School, Jalandhar registered contrasting victories in their super league matches of Nehru Cup Sub-Junior Hockey Tournament here today.

While the Jalandhar boys raced past Paradise Academy, Manipur with a convincing 7-0 margin, the Rourkela lads edged out Khalsa Academy, Amritsar 3-2. Rosan Minz 15th minute, Anardeep Ekka 16th and Bikes Topps 39th scored for Birsamunda while Balwinder Singh 25th and 41st mins fought a valiant battle for theAmritsar outfit.

The heroes for Lyallpur Khalsa were Gurpreet Singh and Joga Singh, who scored three goals each and enhanced their teams chances for the knock out stage.