MOTOR SPORT: French motorsport legend Alain Prost is set to wind up his Formula One racing team and file for bankruptcy. The four-time world champion's team had a terrible season this year, winning just four points, and are saddled with $27million of debts.
Prost's team had also been hit by the loss of several sponsors and the 46-year-old had been alerted by his lawyers in mid-September about the mounting financial crisis.
Prost, winner of 51 Grand Prix, had held talks with Saudi prince Al Waleed bin Tahal but nothing materialised and refused a bid by former Formula One driver Pedro Diniz to buy the outfit.
BASKETBALL: Despite an inspired performance, Ireland lost out 85-77 to Germany in their first game of the European Championship semi-finals in Gottingen last night.
The Irish got off to a good start, thanks mainly to a fiery display by Mike Mitchell, but then lost some concentration and were behind 27-15 by the end of the first quarter. The home side extended their advantage to 44-24 by the end of the first half, as their big star Pat Femerling took control.
Yet, far from being overwhelmed, the Irish fought back to 53-42 by the end of the third quarter, with Mitchell and Marty Conlon both scoring. The game was there for the taking at 73-68 going into the last five minutes. Germany, however, regained their composure to hold out.
CRICKET: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday it was powerless to overrule match referee Mike Denness's decision to impose a suspended ban on Sachin Tendulkar for ball-tampering in the stormy second Test between India and South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
