Sports Digest

A round-up of other sports news in brief

Watson to compete in Dubai classic

GOLF: Veteran American Tom Watson, who went agonisingly close to winning last year’s British Open, will compete in the Dubai Desert Classic next month.

“I am anxious to visit Dubai since I have heard so many good things about it,” the 60-year-old said.

“I am looking forward to playing in a city that seems to be making good progress as a golfing destination.

“The tournament has attracted some of the best golfers in the world and the winners list is quite impressive. I would be very proud and pleased to be able to add my name to that list.”

Watson almost claimed his sixth British Open victory in July when he was beaten in a play-off by compatriot Stewart Cink at Turnberry.

The Dubai Desert Classic, won last year by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, starts on February 4th.

Wiggins believes new team can back him to Tour glory

CYCLING: Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins believes he can win the Tour de France thanks to the backing of Britain’s new multi-million-euro team which was launched yesterday.

Wiggins, who equalled the best Tour finish by a Briton when he finished fourth last year, joined Sky from Garmin after protracted negotiations.

The triple Olympic track cycling gold medallist had not been seen as a major Grand Tour challenger until last season’s impressive display but, with new team-mates and his confidence buoyed, he has a different mindset.

“People would have laughed at me a year ago if I’d said I would finish fourth in the Tour,” Wiggins said.

“But I always knew I was capable and now I know what I can do. With this team and the way things are looking already I’ll have the best chance of winning the Tour that I’ll ever have.

“The Tour is the biggest race, bigger than everything else.”

Dilshan inspires Sri Lanka victory

CRICKET: Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed his sixth one-day century to inspire Sri Lanka to a comfortable seven-wicket win over hosts Bangladesh in the first match of the Tri-Series yesterday.

Chasing Bangladesh’s modest total of 260 for seven, Dilshan made 104 off 122 balls, including 12 boundaries as Sri Lanka reached their target with more than five overs to spare.

Dilshan, dropped on 61 by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, added 148 runs with his captain Kumar Sangakkara for the second wicket to put his team on course for victory.

Sangakkara struck 74 off 73 balls, his 52nd one-day international fifty, before providing debutant Bangladesh seamer Shafiul Islam with his first international wicket.

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful struck 75 off 94 balls, his 20th one-day half-century, to lift the hosts to a respectable total.

Sri Lanka play India in the second match of the tournament today.

Despres takes commanding lead

RALLYING: The third stage of the Dakar Rally, marked by mechanical problems for Marc Coma and David Frétigné, as well as the withdrawal of Jordi Viladoms, was won by Cyril Despres, new leader in the bike general standings. He now boasts a lead of 10 minutes three seconds over David Casteu. In the car category, Stéphane Peterhansel picked up his 52nd special stage victory on the Dakar and his 19th on four wheels. In the truck race, Vladimir Chagin won his third consecutive stage, the 50th triumph of his career.

In the car race Peterhansel gobbled up the sand dunes on his path. Starting in sixth place, the three-times winner overtook all rivals with minimum fuss, including the speedy VWs of Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al Attiyah.

Kubica to stay with Renault  

MOTOR SPORT: Robert Kubica is set to remain with the Renault Formula One team, his manager said yesterday.

The highly-rated Pole only joined the team in October but Renault’s decision to sell a significant stake to Luxembourg investment group Genii Capital raised doubts about his future with the team.

Kubica had an escape clause in his contract which covered a change of team ownership, Daniel Morelli indicated.

Foreign quota up for Super new boys 

RUGBY: Australia’s new Super rugby team will be allowed to recruit up to 10 foreign players when they join the expanded competition in 2011, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said yesterday.

The ARU currently has a limit of two foreign players for each of their four existing Super teams but has agreed to bend the rules for the new Melbourne-based franchise.

“It is important to ensure Melbourne can recruit a team that is competitive from day one,” said the chief executive of the ARU, John O’Neill.

“The concessions we have put in place provide Melbourne with every opportunity for immediate success, while also ensuring there is ongoing sustainability moving forward.”

O’Neill indicated, however, that Melbourne, who will join the expanded Super 15 from 2011, would only have access to the extra foreign players for their first four seasons and would have to revert back to a maximum of two by 2015.