Sports Bar

Torch relay begins in Beijing

Chinese President Hu Jintao launched the Asian Games torch relay in central Beijing on Tuesday,kicking off a 21-city nationwide trek that will end in Guangzhou for the start of the event on November 12. Hu handed the Games flame to the first of 2,010 torch bearers at an elaborate and colourful ceremony outside the Temple of Heaven in the capital. The Asiad torch relay will be only held in China and will not be extended to other nations in Asia.

Anand draws against Kramnik

Viswanathan Anand played out a quick draw with Vladimir Kramnik of Russia to remain in second spot after the end of the third round of the Bilbao final masters tournament. The other game between Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Alexei Shirov of Spain also ended in a draw. Kramnik maintained his sole lead on seven points with two victories and his first draw while Anand remained two points.

‘Now,Europe on top in golf’

Colin Montgomerie says Lee Westwood’s imminent rise to the world No. 1 ranking will cap a year in which golf’s balance of power has tipped from America to Europe. With Europeans winning two of the four majors and Europe regaining the Ryder Cup,the team captain said on Tuesday,“It’s a changing of the guard over to Europe.” Westwood,at 8.26,and a member of the winning Ryder Cup team,is expected to take over the top spot from Tiger Woods on Nov. 1 if Woods,at 8.68 follows his schedule of not playing before the HSBC Champions in Shanghai from November 4-7.

Korea’s FI debut on track

Formula One’s debut at the Korean circuit in the form of the Korean Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled this month after F1 officials gave their approval Tuesday following a track inspection. “It is satisfactory,and I will issue the license through (Korea Automobile Racing Association),” Charlie Whiting,FIA’s technical delegate said after close inspection of the final layer of the track. At the end of September,F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone had expressed doubts about whether the race could proceed,with a September 21 inspection called off.

Klitschko to defend IBF title

Wladimir Klitschko will defend his IBF heavyweight title against Dereck Chisora of Britain in Mannheim on December 11. A spokesman for Klitschko’s management group,Klaus-Peter Dittrich,made the announcement on Tuesday. Last month,Klitschko stopped Samuel Peter in the 10th round to retain the title. Klitschko also owns the minor WBO and IBO belts. It was his ninth title defense,and improved his record to 55-3.

Bayern wants Bommel back

Bayern Munich is calling on the Dutch football federation to release captain Mark van Bommel and send him back to Munich for an examination of his knee. Van Bommel missed training on Sunday with a sore knee but was expected to be fit to lead the Netherlands against Sweden on Tuesday. Bayern’s website said it’s board decided to ask Netherlands to return Bommel “immediately” for diagnosis and treatment.