Other sports stories in brief

Ireland hang on in Tallinn

TENNIS:Ireland went down in their two opening Federation Cup singles matches to Lithuania yesterday in Tallinn, Estonia, but won their doubles to keep hopes alive of staying away from relegation into a lower Euro/African group, writes Johnny Watterson.

Ann Mall, the US-based Irish player who travelled to Tallinn a day late because of flu, went down 6-2, 7-5, while the Spain-based Kelly Liggan also lost in her first singles match 6-4, 6-2. Yvonne Doyle and Liggan, however, teamed up to earn Ireland their win in the doubles (6-4, 7-6), a result that may be important in the final shake-up in the seven-team, two-pool event.

Amy Bowtell, who will become the youngest player to take part in the Federation Cup for Ireland, if she gets court time in this tournament, did not play yesterday, although, with Ireland to face Greece today and Estonia on Friday, the Greystones 14-year-old could soon achieve the record mark.

Murray misses Davis Cup

TENNIS:Britain's hopes of beating Argentina in their Davis Cup World Group first-round tie next week have been dealt a huge blow by the withdrawal of Andy Murray. The British number one and world number 12 is suffering with a right-knee injury and is unwilling to risk aggravating it by playing in Buenos Aires.

Britain are in the World Group after a four-year absence but their chances now seem remote as the next-highest-ranked player in their team is Alex Bogdanovic, a lowly 187th.

"Following the intensive off-season training, my right knee, which has a bipartite patella, started to act up again when I returned from Australia," Murray said. "We had a scan done this week and following discussions with my team we have decided that it is better not to play in the Davis Cup tie against Argentina." Murray, who was beaten in the first round of the Australian Open, had started the year well by winning his fourth career title in Doha.

Harrington to defend title

GOLF:Pádraig Harrington has confirmed he will defend his Irish PGA Championship title at the same European Club venue where he won last year.

It was Harrington's fourth winning of the title and his third victory in four years and set him up for his historic 2007 British Open Championship victory the following week. With this year's Irish PGA Championship due to once again be played over the Co Wicklow links, from July 9th to 12th, Harrington is following the same build-up as in 2007.

This year's British Open starts the following week at Royal Birkdale.

The Irish PGA Championship is the oldest professional championship in Ireland, having first been played in 1907.

Harrington said, "I am looking forward to defending my title . . . the fantastic challenge provided by the European Club was the ideal links golf preparation for The Open Championship last year and I hope it proves to be the same in 2008."