Hamilton says racist remarks were not a joke

SPORTS DIGEST:MOTOR SPORT: Lewis Hamilton yesterday insisted he does not share the views of Bernie Ecclestone that the racist abuse he received this year should be dismissed as a "joke".

Formula One supremo Ecclestone made the claim when asked about the insults directed at Hamilton during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, near Barcelona, in February.

Some spectators were pictured mocking Hamilton by wearing wigs, dark make-up and T-shirts with the slogan 'Hamilton's Family'.

In an attempt to defuse the row, Ecclestone declared it had been blown out of proportion and stated he did not understand why the scenes were insulting.

But Hamilton refused to trivialise what happened and revealed it was the support of his fans that enabled him to overcome his anguish. "I didn't see it as a joke. It's something that happened but it is in the past," he said. Hamilton was also targeted during the build-up to last weekend's decisive Brazilian Grand Prix.

Lindberg gets off to good start

BOXING: Irish bantamweight Ryan Lindberg got Ireland's European senior championships campaign up and running with a well earned 9-4 win over Turkish opponent Abdullah Dursion at the Greenbank Academy in Liverpool yesterday. The Irish Amateur Boxing Association have a nine-man squad on Merseyside for the biennial continental deciders which are featuring 40 nations.

Ireland head coach Billy Walsh said he was reasonably happy with yesterday's draw. But the former Irish Olympian admitted David Oliver Joyce would have his work cut out to get among the medals. Joyce meets English 2008 Olympian Joe Murray in the last 16 and the winner could face current Olympic champion Vasyl Lomachenko of the Ukraine in the quarter-finals.

Walsh said: "It is a tough draw for David, but he is the type of boxer who relishes challenges like this. We got off to a good start with Ryan against the Turkish fighter and the lads will be trying to build on that over the coming days."

Tendulkar has another century 

CRICKET: A stunning 40th Test century by Sachin Tendulkar enabled India to take early control of the final Test against Australia yesterday.

Tendulkar, the highest run scorer in Test cricket, compiled 109 and put on 146 for the fourth wicket with Vangipurappu Laxman (64), playing in his 100th Test, to help India close day one at 311 for five. At the close, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (4) was at the crease with former captain Saurav Ganguly (27), who is playing in his final Test.

Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson dismissed Tendulkar lbw with the second new ball after debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza took his third wicket when he pegged back the hosts by dismissing Laxman caught behind by Brad Haddin.

India lead 1-0 in the four-match series after winning the second Test at Mohali by a record 320 runs. The other Tests were drawn.