HANDBALL:The men's open singles at the World Handball Championships starts at City West at 2pm today. The meeting of reigning champion Paul Brady and New Yorker Cesar Sala will be the star attraction at the 3,000-seater arena.

The Cavanman, winner in 2003, ’06 and ’09, is favourite to retain his title in a field which includes 30 of the world’s top 32 players. He got the ball rolling with a 21-5 demolition of Pittsburgh’s David Fink on Thursday night in a special Ireland v USA team exhibition, which the Americans won.

“The show court is nice and the ball is fast so I’m happy enough,” said Brady. “I had a little bit of trouble seeing the ball in the glass on the left sidewall but it’s a matter of getting used to it.”

Former Irish senior champion and two-time World Open finalist Tony Healy takes on rising New York star Tyree Bastidas, a one-wall specialist who will need to be at his explosive best to see off the Cork man.