- Hockey: For the first time since 1995 Ireland will host a major international hockey tournament following yesterday's announcement by the European Federation that Belfield will stage a men's and women's European Nations Cup qualifier in July next year, writes Mary Hannigan. The other three tournaments were awarded to Lithuania (women), Russia and Poland (both men).
Belfield was also the venue for the 1995 men's European Nations Cup finals, when Ireland finished fifth, and the previous year's women's World Cup.
The women, in their nine-team competition, have been drawn in a pool with France, Poland and Switzerland while the men's group opponents will be Finland, Italy and Malta. The women need a top-four finish while the men require a top-three placing out of eight teams if they are to win through to the finals in Barcelona in September 2003. The news will come as a boost to John Clarke's developing squad after a disappointing trip to Bangladesh.
WOMEN - Pool A: Belarus, Finland, Greece, Italy, Scotland; Pool B: France, Ireland, Poland, Switzerland. MEN - Pool A: Austria, Gibraltar, Greece, Wales; Pool B: Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta.
Cricket: Sachin Tendulkar made his 25th Test century as India moved ahead of Australia on the third day of the deciding third test in Madras yesterday. Tendulkar hit 126, sharing a 169-run, fifth-wicket partnership with Rahul Dravid, who scored 81, to help India reach 480 for nine at the close.
India, replying to Australia's first innings total of 391, lead by 89 runs on a dusty pitch expected to help the spinners more as the match progresses. Australia fought back in the final session by taking five wickets, fast bowler Jason Gillespie removing Dravid and Tendulkar in quick succession.
Athletics: This weekend's World Cross-Country Championships in Ostend, originally forced out of Dublin because of the foot-andmouth crisis, are now being hampered by a rail strike. No trains will run in Belgium on Friday and that is set to disrupt the arrangements of many international teams and supporters, most of whom were due to travel from Brussels airport by train, writes Ian O'Riordan. The IAAF had arranged free rail travel for teams and officials but are now looking for alternative methods of transport.
No replacement has yet been confirmed for Rosemary Ryan in the Irish women's team for the short course race. Maureen Harrington and Valerie Vaughan have both turned down the chance after being snubbed in the original selection.
Cycling: Irish professional Ciaran Power looks set to line out in this year's ParisRoubaix classic. His Quentin-Oktos team have been handed a wild-card entry in the so-called "Hell of the North" after three of the teams initially listed, Banesto.com, Once and Mercantone Uno, had indicated that they do not wish to participate on April 15th.
