Dakar Rally:Long-time motorcycle leader Marc Coma crashed out of the Dakar Rally on stage 13 yesterday with the finishing line less than three days away. The Spaniard crashed his KTM 52 kilometres into yesterday's special stage between Kayes in Mali and Tambacounda in Senegal.

Coma's misfortune allowed Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) to take the stage win by six minutes from American Chris Blais (KTM). Spain's Carlos Sainz (VW) won the car category stage by 26 seconds from overall leader Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi).

Ding keeps his concentration

Snooker: Ding Junhui kept his concentration to eliminate Stephen Lee in a marathon quarter-final battle at The Masters yesterday. The talented Chinese teenager was pegged back by Lee as their clash lasted nearly three hours. But having started slowly and slipped 2-1 behind, the 19-year-old found his flowing form and was eventually a comfortable 6-2 winner.

Ding has already won three ranking event titles and two more wins would secure his fourth major crown - although the Masters does not having ranking status, it is snooker's richest invitational event.

Class win for Barrington

Sailing:After a close contest over five days, Colm Barrington marked his debut in the United States with an emphatic class win on Magic Glove at the annual Key West Week in Florida, writes David Branigan.

With his mix of professional and amateur crew, the Royal Irish Yacht Club skipper scored all top-three places including four wins in the eight-strong IRC Division Two that included the latest all-out racing yachts of around 50-feet in length.

Limerick's Ger O'Rourke on Chieftain held steady all-week to end fourth overall on his Cookson 50-footer.