A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Hatton has licence revoked
BOXING: Former world light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton's boxing licence was revoked by a British panel after media reports about the fighter's behavior. "Hatton is not an active boxer and his current physical condition is such that the board decided to withdraw his boxer's licence," the Cardiff, Wales-based board of control said yesterday in a statement. The 32-year-old, who lost his title to Manny Pacquiao in 2009, put out a statement on September 13th saying he was going into hospital for treatment after being pictured using drugs in the previous days News of the World newspaper.
He was fined €23,000 and lost his manager’s and second’s licences, which brought him in close contact with boxers, the board said. He will retain his promoter’s licence.
O'Sullivan beats White to reach last 16 in Glasgow
SNOOKER: Ronnie O'Sullivan won the battle of snooker's great entertainers as he knocked out veteran Jimmy White to reach the 12bet.com World Open last 16.
The three-time former world champion was too strong for the man who lost six finals at the Crucible, running out a 3-1 winner at Glasgow’s SECC venue.
O’Sullivan opened up a 2-0 lead, but 88 from White in the next was a reminder of his ability before O’Sullivan closed out the win with a break of 80 in the fourth frame.
O’Sullivan’s victory sets up another appetising clash, with Scotland’s Stephen Hendry awaiting him in the next round today.
England’s Andrew Higginson caused an upset by eliminating Hong Kong’s Marco Fu 3-1 to set up a meeting with Neil Robertson.
China’s Ding Junhui became the first player to reach the quarter-finals, making a 110 break on his way to posting a 3-0 win over Marcus Campbell. Mark Williams joined Ding in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 win over Barry Hawkins.
Ecclestone's plan rejected
FORMULA ONE: Bernie Ecclestone has had his plans to introduce a gold-medal system to Formula One shot down by the past two world champions, the British pair of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.
Despite the fact that the sport faces its most exciting finish for almost 30 years, with five drivers battling it out over the final five races under the revamped points system, Ecclestone, Formula One’s commercial-rights holder, would like to see the championship won by the driver with most victories.
However, Hamilton sounded incredulous yesterday when he said: “Out of the many ideas that have come out, this is potentially one of the worst. I would say it’s not his greatest idea.
His McLaren team-mate Button said: “Last year I would have said: ‘Yes, it’s a fantastic idea,’ but this year not so much. I could have just sat out the last few races, gone on a big holiday for three months [and still been champion].
Williams eyes Fed Cup match
TENNIS:Tournament organisers say top-ranked Serena Williams has pulled out of this month's Pan Pacific Open as she continues her recovery from surgery on her right foot.
Williams, who cut her foot on broken glass at a restaurant after winning Wimbledon this year, returned to practice earlier this month. Williams said she has yet to decide when she’ll return to competition, but plans to play for the US in the Fed Cup final against Italy in November.
Indian Grand Prix gets the all clear
FORMULA ONE: There are no concerns about next year's inaugural Indian Grand Prix despite New Delhi's problems with the Commonwealth Games, Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said yesterday.
“No. Different organisation altogether, completely different. I have no worries at all,” the 79-year-old Briton said at a reception ahead of this weekends Singapore Grand Prix. “The people who are making a shambles (of the games) are not the people who we are dealing with for the race.”
India is due to host a Formula One race for the first time next October at a new 5.14 kms circuit being built some 35 kms from Delhi. The Commonwealth Games, intended to showcase India’s growing financial clout, are fast becoming a national embarrassment with countries delaying their arrivals because of concerns over security and the state of the athletes’ village.
Cyclists decide not to go to games
COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Four British cyclists yesterday became the latest athletes to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games in India amid concerns over facilities and safety. England's Ian Stannard and Ben Swift, Wales's Geraint Thomas and the Isle of Man's Peter Kennaugh confirmed at the British track cycling championships in Manchester that they have opted to pull out, with Kennaugh citing his concerns over "health and security".
“I was keen to go, but with the situation there I’ve decided not to,” said Kennaugh, who won the national scratch race title on Wednesday. “I’ve got a long career in front of me, and you’ve got to weigh it up and ask is it really worth it.”
Thomas, the British national road champion, is understood to have reservations about the outbreak of dengue fever this month and reports of unsanitary conditions in the village.
