A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Khan rules out Maidana rematch and targets Morales
BOXING: Amir Khan has ruled out the possibility of a rematch with Marcos Maidana, instead favouring Erik Morales as his final opponent at light-welterweight.
Argentinian puncher Maidana has attempted to goad Khan into accepting a repeat of their thriller last December by claiming the 24-year-old “begged the WBA in writing” to avoid him.
The first encounter was a classic with Khan prevailing on points after surviving a ferocious battering in the 10th round. But the WBA and IBF champion, who has December 10th pencilled in for his next appearance, sees no value in facing Maidana for a second time.
“Maidana’s been saying I’m avoiding him and don’t want to fight him, but he was my mandatory a year ago and I beat him fair and square,” said Khan.
“I’ll fight anyone, but I really want to fight the winner of Morales and (Lucas) Matthysse. That would be another title in the bank,” he added.
Ireland too strong for Netherlands
CRICKET: The Ireland women's team fought back from a morning defeat to Scotland to beat the Netherlands by seven wickets on the opening day of the European Championships in Utrecht, writes Emmet Riordan.
In yesterday’s round-robin Twenty20 format, a young Irish side went down to a last-ball defeat to the Scots, who lost eight wickets in chasing down a target of 73.
But Ireland then beat the Dutch after the home side had hammered Scotland by 55 runs in the second game of the day.
Ireland restricted the Dutch to 89 for eight off their 20 overs, with 13-year-old Elena Tice from the Merrion club taking three wickets for 22. An opening stand of 52 between Isobel Joyce (33) and Kim Garth (22) gave Ireland the perfect start, with Leinster duo Laura Delany (17no) and Amy Kenealy (11no) sealing the win with two balls to spare.
Schumacher denies quit rumours
FORMULA ONE: Michael Schumacher has dismissed rumours he is poised to quit Formula One for a second time.
An apparently erroneous report in an Italian newspaper last week quoted Schumacher as saying he no longer felt he had the right mind-set for Mercedes, and he would soon be evaluating whether he would continue or stop.
That is despite the fact the seven-times world champion made clear last month he would at least see out his three-year contract with Mercedes that expires at the end of next season.
Yesterday, Schumacher said: “Despite some funny rumours and stupid, untruthful stories, I keep repeating myself, that you will see me in 2012.
“I will be here and the good thing is I have a lot of support from all around, in particular from the company and the team.
“They all wish for me to be here, and I wish to be here.”
Aintree to tweak National fences
RACING:Aintree will make changes to three of the Grand National fences following a substantial review into the iconic race.
The deaths of two horses in this year’s renewal led to huge criticism of the National, and the Aintree executive, along with the British Horseracing Authority, examined every race run over the fences at the spring meeting since 1990 – when Becher’s and Valentine’s Brook were last remodelled.
The landing side of Becher’s Brook is again to be readjusted, reducing the drop (the difference in height between the level of the ground on takeoff and landing) from the take-off side of the obstacle from between four and five inches.
The first fence will be levelled to remove several minor contours on the landing side and the fourth fence is to be rebuilt and reduced in size by two inches to 4ft 10 inches.
Rankin gets Lions call-up
CRICKET:Warwickshire pace bowler Boyd Rankin has been called in to the England Lions squad ahead of the final one-day match against Sri Lanka A at Northampton today.
His call-up follows Steven Finn’s inclusion in the England team to the fourth Test squad.
Irish international Rankin (27), has spent the last two winters on the ECB’s fast bowling programme and has taken 43 wickets for Warwickshire this season.
