A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Kü rten leads Irish challenge in Oslo
EQUESTRIAN: Jessica Kürten, currently ranked number 10 in the world, leads the Irish challenge at this weekend’s five-star show in Oslo, Norway, where the western European league of the 2010-’11 Rolex FEI Wold Cup series gets under way tomorrow, writes Margie Mcloone.
Also competing in Norway are Shane Breen and Dave Quigley, while Irish show jumpers are in action at three-star level in St Lo in France, San Giovanni in Italy, Kiel in Germany and Odense in Denmark.
Anna Merveldt is the country’s sole representative at the three-star dressage show at La Mandria in Italy, while the Irish challenge for the Dutch three-day event in Boekelo has been reduced to just Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello) and Fergal Nesbitt (Flamenco Star) following the withdrawal of the luckless Elizabeth Power’s mount September Bliss.
Fourie the latest Springbok to be ruled out of tour
RUGBY: Jaque Fourie has become the latest South Africa player to be ruled out of the year-end tour of Europe after undergoing surgery.
The Western Province centre hurt his foot during the final league phase match of the Currie Cup against the Sharks in Cape Town, which was his first game after the contracted Springboks were not allowed to feature earlier in the competition due to a conditioning phase.
It was initially thought he would only miss this week’s semi-final, but after further examination, he was put under the knife, which has subsequently ruled him out for eight weeks.
“I feel sorry for Jaque,” said Province coach Allister Coetzee. “Last week’s game was his first for WP and he was really looking forward to help us win the Currie Cup.”
The news will come as a big blow for the world champions, who have lost regulars in captain John Smit and prop Gurthro Steenkamp due to injury in recent weeks.
Star scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, Andries Bekker and Heinrich Brussow are also out of the trip that will see Peter de Villiers’s side play all four home nations.
They start against Ireland in Dublin on November 6th, followed by Tests against Wales, Scotland and England on each of the remaining weekends of next month, before ending the tour with a clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham on December 4th.
Rain doesn't hamper Lorenzo
MOTOR CYCLING: Heavy downpours that flooded part of the Phillip Island circuit and delayed practice sessions yesterday cleared for long enough to allow Jorge Lorenzo to set the quickest lap in the first free practice at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The rain earlier delayed practice sessions for two hours as staff were deployed to clear puddles and sand from the track.
The newly-crowned Spanish world champion edged out local hope and title-holder Casey Stoner with a time of One minute 41.146 seconds.
American Nicky Hayden was third fastest while seven-times premier class champion Valentino Rossi was seventh as riders eased off in the slippery conditions.
The race will be held on Sunday.
Federer leaves Soderling standing
TENNIS: Swiss maestro Roger Federer sliced through fifth seed Robin Soderling with a 6-1, 6-1 victory to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals yesterday.
Third seed Federer broke serve three times to wrap up the first set in 29 blistering minutes as the woeful Soderling played little more than a meek cameo role.
The second set was four minutes shorter as quick-firing Federer smashed four aces to call time in 54 blurred minutes.
Federer now faces a last four showdown with Serb Novak Djokovic who trounced unseeded Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-3.
“Today was a quick match but tomorrow’s against Novak will not be based on fitness, it will be in the details,” said Federer. “It will be a bit more tactical, with more rallies, and more interesting,” added the Swiss, who will be seeking revenge for the epic five-set defeat by the Serb in the US Open semi-finals last month.
Britain’s Andy Murray brushed aside burly Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 6-2.
Bangladesh go 3-0 up to win series
CRICKET: Shakib Al Hasan produced a brilliant all-round performance in the fourth one-day international against New Zealand yesterday to help
Bangladesh to a maiden series victory over top-flight opposition in Dhaka.
Bangladesh won by nine runs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Shakib smashed 106 runs off 113 balls under pressure to guide Bangladesh to 241 before taking 3-54, as New Zealand were dismissed for 232 with three balls to spare.
Unheralded New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson had threatened to spoil the party and at least delay the celebrations with 108 off 132 balls, but the local crowd erupted in joy when Roqibul Hassan held on to the catch at square leg off the opposition’s paceman Shafiul Islam to end the visitors’ challenge in one swoop.
Nigeria's Abugan tests positive
COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Nigerian sprinter Folashade Abugan has been stripped of two silver medals after testing positive for a banned stimulant.
Abugan won silver in the womens 400 metres and was a member of the second-placed 4x400 metres relay team.
The silver medal for the women’s 400 metres will now go to Guyana’s Aliann Tabitha Pompey and the bronze will be awarded to Christine Amertil of the Bahamas.
