Sports Digest

Other sports news in brief

Injured Thomas to miss Cheltenham

HORSE RACING:Sam Thomas has been ruled out of next week's Cheltenham Festival after suffering cracked vertebrae in a fall on the gallops at Paul Nicholls' yard yesterday morning.

The Gold Cup-winning jockey sustained back and neck injuries and was airlifted to hospital in Bath following a schooling accident at first lot.

Trainer Tom George, for whom Thomas is stable jockey, last night reported his injuries to be not as serious as first feared.

“I’ve spoken to his father who is with him and he will not be riding at Cheltenham next week,” said George. “He has suffered a crack to a vertebrae high up in his neck, but it is not as bad as first feared and he is able to walk, talk and move his hands and feet. . . His injuries will heal with time.”

Clijsters bound for Eastbourne

TENNIS:US Open champion Kim Clijsters has confirmed she will take part in this year's International tournament in Eastbourne which starts on June 12th.

Champion Caroline Wozniacki will also be present to defend the title she won last year at the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event.

World number 17 Clijsters said: “To come back last year and win at the US Open has only made me more hungry for success.

“I’m really excited about playing at Eastbourne, it’s one of my favourite events. I won it in 2005 and can’t wait to play there to come back to challenge for the title again.

“It’s a really well-run tournament, in a laid-back atmosphere, providing the perfect preparation ahead of Wimbledon.”

Champion Higgins faces Hawkins

SNOOKER:John Higgins will begin the defence of his World Championship title against Barry Hawkins.

Higgins, who beat Shaun Murphy in last year’s Crucible final, will get the tournament under way on April 17th. Hawkins will be making his fifth consecutive appearance at the World Championship.

The most tantalising ties involve two of the three Chinese players in the draw, with Liang Wenbo starting against three-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan and 18-year-old Crucible debutant Zhang Anda playing seven-time champion Stephen Hendry.

Their fellow Chinese player Ding Junhui plays England’s Stuart Pettman.

Steve Davis, on his 30th appearance in Sheffield, will take on his fellow Romford professional Mark King, while Masters champion Mark Selby will face 1997 world champion, Ireland’s Ken Doherty.

Murphy begins his bid against Northern Ireland’s Gerard Greene.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW– J Higgins (Sco) v B Hawkins (Eng); M King (Eng) v S Davis (Eng); N Robertson (Aus) v F O'Brien (Irl); Marco Fu (HK) v M Gould (Eng); A Carter (Eng) v J Cope (Eng); J Perry (Eng) v M Holt (Eng); D Junhui (Chi) v S Pettman (Eng); S Murphy (Eng) v G Greene (NIre); S Maguire (Sco) v S Lee (Eng); P Ebdon (Eng) v G Dott (Sco); M Allen (NIre) v T Ford (Eng); R Day (Wal) v M Davis (Eng); M Selby (Eng) v K Doherty (Ire); S Hendry (Sco) v Z Anda (Chn); M Williams (Wal) v M Campbell (Sco); R O'Sullivan (Eng) v L Wenbo (Chn).

India to feature in Formula One

FORMULA ONE:India will be on next year's Formula One calendar, commercial head Bernie Ecclestone yesterday told the sports governing body, the FIA. India has a Formula One team with Force India, owned by aviation and liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, and a driver in Karun Chandhok.

Limerick clubs request meeting

GAA:The pressure on Limerick hurling manager Justin McCarthy intensified last night with news that the required number of five clubs have submitted letters requesting a special county board meeting.

Garryspillane were the first club to write to county board secretary Mike O’Riordan, and sources last night indicated at least seven other clubs have followed suit.

O’Riordan has confirmed receipt of the Garryspillane letter and other influential clubs in the county have rowed in behind them.

Only if five clubs contact the county board and request a special county board meeting can another discussion and vote on McCarthy’s future take place.

Last December, delegates voted in favour of retaining McCarthy’s services. But events since and poor results on the field of play have forced a rethink.