Punosevac to coach Ireland

Sports Digest/ Women's Basketball: Sasa Punosevac has been named the new Irish women's basketball coach, writes Gavin Cummiskey.

The Serbian national is currently in charge of the men's Superleague club Neptune and coached north Dublin team Killester last season.

Punosevac's international experience saw him bring the under-17 Yugoslavia boys to the European championships in 1997. He was also in charge of the Partizan Belgrade club.

"I will spend February visiting every club and talking to players at these clubs who want to play for Ireland. I will have a picture after that and can begin planning for our games in August," he said.

"We cannot now qualify for the European Championships, but I will be aiming to win our two home games against Iceland and Norway. I feel that this will be a good base to build on."

Doherty eases through

Malta Cup Snooker: Defending champion Ken Doherty cruised through to the quarter-finals of the Malta Cup with a comfortable 5-3 victory over Andrew Higginson.

Higginson - a qualifier who beat Steve Davis in the first round - took the first two frames to move in to a 2-0 lead.

But breaks of 89, 87 and 86 helped 1997 World Champion Doherty win the next four frames, before the 37-year-old Dubliner pocketed a superb pink and black to clinch the match.

Earlier, Fergal O'Brien lost out to Welshman Ryan Day 5-4. Day led 4-2, O'Brien rallied to 4-4 with breaks of 65 and 101, but missed a tricky red to a middle pocket early in the decider and world number 17 Day stepped in with a match-clinching contribution of 55.

Rossi to stay with Yamaha

MotoGP: Italian Valentino Rossi has extended his contract with Yamaha to the end of 2008, the MotoGP team have said.

Rossi, dethroned as champion by Honda's American Nicky Hayden last year after five 500cc and MotoGP titles in a row, joined the Japanese manufacturer in 2004.

"Now I can just concentrate on racing this season," the 27-year-old said in a statement. "I think that last year, when we fought back from what seemed an impossible situation to come so close to taking the title, showed what a fantastic team we are and this is why I want to stay.

"I have great faith in Yamaha and I am very excited about my future and the future of the 800cc bike with them."

The season starts in Qatar in March, with the top machines reduced from 990cc to 800.