A look at today's other sports stories
Japanese wary of Obama effect
OLYMPIC GAMES:Japanese Olympic officials fear Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election could hurt Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Games.
Senior Japanese officials expressed concern that Obama's success could give his home city of Chicago a massive boost in the bidding process.
"I wonder how IOC members will react when Mr Obama appears in a presentation for Chicago, Japanese Olympic chief Tsunekazu Takeda said.
Irish studbook tops rankings
EQUESTRIAN SPORT: The Irish Sport Horse Studbook has topped the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) eventing studbook rankings for the 14th year in a row, writes Margie McLoone.
Representatives were presented with the award at the WBFSH general assembly in Lyon on Tuesday. The Irish Sport Horse Studbook finished over 600 points above their nearest rivals, the Selle Francais Studbook. The six Irish sport horses included in the final calculation all finished in the top-30 in the individual rankings. Best placed in second, with 345 points, was the Cavalier Royale gelding Ben Along Time, bred in Co Monaghan by Ann-Marie and James Jamieson.
Alonso extends Renault contract
MOTOR SPORT:Fernando Alonso and Brazilian Nelson Piquet will be still be Renault's drivers next season after the Spaniard extended his contract for another two years, the Formula One team said yesterday.
Double world champion Alonso signed a two-year extension for 2009 and 2010, and Piquet was confirmed for a further season, Renault said in a statement.
Spaniard Alonso had been expected to stay, although his decision to sign for two more years came as a surprise. Piquet, whose father was a triple world champion, made his Formula One debut this season. He had expressed fears he might be replaced by young French driver Romain Grosjean.
"We are happy to confirm both Fernando and Nelson for next season," said team boss Flavio Briatore. "This gives the Renault F1 team one of the most exciting driver pairings with the perfect blend of youth and experience."
Pacific Islanders out to make big impression
RUGBY:Many of the Pacific Islanders players who lit up last year's World Cup will be on show at Twickenham on Saturday after their coaches named a powerful team to face England.
The centre partnership of Samoan Seilala Mapusua and Fiji's Seru Rabeni offer power and pace, while wings Sailosi Tagicakibau and Vilimoni Delasau will take some stopping if they get the ball.
Scrumhalf Mosese Rauluni captains the team while Japan-based lf Pierre Hola is at outhalf.
PACIFIC ISLANDERS: K Ratuvou (Fij); S Tagicakibau (Sam), S Rabeni (Fij), S Mapusua (Sam), V Delasau (Fij); P Hola (Ton), M Rauluni (Fij, capt); F Maka (Ton), N Latu (Ton), S Naevo (Fij), K Leawere (Fij), F Levi (Sam), C Johnston (Sam), A Lutui (Ton), J Vaa (Sam). Replacements: S Koto (Fij), K Pulu, H T-Pole, S Martens (all Ton), G Stowers (Sam), S Bai (Fij), E Taione (Ton)
Wales seek Peel 'clarification'
RUGBY:Welsh rugby officials are "seeking clarification" about scrumhalf Dwayne Peel's availability for the autumn Test series finale against Australia.
Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation for England's 12 Premiership clubs, say neither Peel, his fellow scrumhalf Gareth Cooper nor prop Eifion Roberts will be available to face the Wallabies. This is due to the Wallabies fixture falling outside the International Rugby Board window for autumn Tests.
The possible absence of Gloucester number nine Cooper, who starts against Wales' opening opponents South Africa on Saturday, and Peel would leave national coach Warren Gatland facing a scrumhalf crisis.
Ospreys star Mike Phillips is recovering from a major knee injury, meaning uncapped Scarlets prospect Martin Roberts could be Gatland's only real option.
Federer defends Masters title
TENNIS: Roger Federer will open his bid for a third successive Masters Cup title, and a fifth in all, against Gilles Simon after being grouped with the Frenchman in yesterday's draw for the €4 million tournament in Shanghai.
The Swiss is top seed in the absence of injured world number one Rafael Nadal. Andy Murray and Andy Roddick complete the Red Group, from which the top two players advance to the semi-finals after the round robin stage.
Novak Djokovic heads the Gold Group, which also includes Russian Nikolay Davydenko, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.
