Small World

Making her international debut in 1994 as a powerful wing-spiker, Li has been playing the libero position in the National team. Gao said Li, who broke her lower arm near the wrist, was surely out of the World Cup due from November 2, 1999.

Vanessa vaults US into medal round

TIANJIN, CHINA: Yang Wei and Li Xiaoping spearheaded a high-scoring blitz with 9.8 points each as three-time defending champion China took an early lead today in men’s team qualifying at the World Gymnastic Championships. The ease of the Chinese scoring contrasted with the USwomen team’s hair-raising entry into the six-team medal round on the strength of its final routine, a 9.762 effort in floor exercises by Vanessa Atler.

Only 17 of 47 men’s teams saw action today, with China amassing 230.546 points to 224.322 for Ukraine, 224.245 for Germany, 223.831 for Romania, 233.733 for Spain and 223.059 for France. Australia, needing to finish in top 12 to qualify for its home Olympics next year, stood seventh with 217.645.

But strong rivals including Russia, Belarus, US and Japan were not scheduled to compete until tomorrow.

Melbourne to host C’wealth Games

MELBOURNE: Melbourne was officially named today as the host city for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Australian officials said. Australia’s second largest city was the sole contender when the deadline for bids closed earlier this year after Wellington gave up its campaign. Melbourne, which hosted the 1956 Olympics, was approved unanimously by the 72 delegates of the Commonwealth Games Federation at its meeting in Nadi,Fiji, today, local media reported. More than 6,000 athletes and team officials are expected to make the trip to Melbourne for the Games which will run from March 15-26.

Central Railway, Mumbai corner glory

ALLAHABAD: Central Railway, Mumbai won the team event in the All-India Railways Bridge Championship with the highest tally of 58 victory points (VPs) in the final super league round. The team, comprising SK Seth, PK Bajpai, Rana Roy, GN Manna and VD Bhave, defeated Core (Central Organisation for Railway Electrification) 23-7 went down 11-9 to South Eastern Railway but retrieved their chances by trouncing Eastern Railway in a crucial match 24-6 to clinch the title with 58 VPs.

FINAL TALLY

Central Railway 58 VPs, Southern Railway 52, South Eastern Railway 52, Eastern Railway 37 and Core 33.

Churchill Brothers reign supreme

MARGAO: Formidable Churchill Brothers emerged champions of the Director’s Special Professional Football League with a 2-0 victory over Dempo Sports Club 2-0in a crucial final round match of the tournament at Nehru stadium, Fatorda here today.

Substitute Kaustau Ghose in the 71st minute and Santan Colaco in the 88th minute scored for the winners.

Having tallied 15 points, Churchill inscribed their name on the trophy and walked away with a cash prize of Rs one lakh, while defending champions Salgaocar Sports Club with 13 points had to be content with the second place and a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and the Fair Play trophy plus Rs 10,000.

Pia, Joshna set up summit clash

INDORE: Pia Abraham and Joshna Chinappa (both Tamil nadu) set up a title clash in the girls u-17 section of the National Junior and Sub-Junior Squash Championship here today.

In the boy’s section, top seeded Junaid Nathani (Maharashtra) and second seeded Nirav Tomar (Delhi) sailed into the quarter-finals scoring easy straight game victories over their respective rivals.

In the girls’ semi-finals, Joshna overcame Rhea Bhandare 9-5 9-7 8-10 9-4, while Pia outplayed Rachita Bora 9-29-4 9-6.

In the under-13 boys, Jay Bhagat (Maha) upstaged A Shukla (HP) 9-3 9-4 1-9 4-9 10-8 in a thrilling five-setter.