Sports Digest

A round-up of other sports news in brief

Injured Powell to miss London

ATHLETICS: The former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell yesterday withdrew from this week’s London Diamond League meeting with a back and hamstring strain.

The Jamaican, whose 100 metres duel with Tyson Gay was to be one of the highlights of the Crystal Palace event, is suffering with the same injury that forced him out of the Stockholm meeting last week.

“I am disappointed that I will not be able to run at the London Grand Prix as I love running in front of the Jamaican fans here,” Powell said.

“I visited the doctor yesterday and he has advised me not to run in order to help the recovery of my injury. I had hoped it would be better but unfortunately this is not so.”

The withdrawal of Powell, who held the 100 metres world record for three years until it was lowered by Usain Bolt in 2008, is a blow to organisers who had hoped to stage a showdown between Powell and Gay. Gay’s main rival in London will now be fellow American Walter Dix, the Olympic bronze medallist.

Rossi to decide fate on Sunday

MOTOR CYCLING: MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is poised to announce where he will race in 2011 after the Czech Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 31-year-old Italian is in the last year of his contract with Yamaha, and Ducati now state that they want to sign him.

“On Sunday after the race you will know what Ill do in 2011,” said Rossi.

A move to Ducati has been widely expected in motorsport circles.

Four Irish in third round at Barassie

GOLF: Chris Selfridge and Dermot McElroy, two of the stars of Ireland’s home international success last week surged into the third round and last 32 of the British Boys’ Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie) yesterday.

Selfridge, from Moyola Park, dominated his match with England’s Oscar Sharpe.

But the Irish teenager was much too good for him, racing into a four-hole advantage and going onto complete a 6 and 4 triumph.

Ballymena’s McElroy had a somewhat trickier clash with Germany’s Sebastian Van Den Hoff but pulled off a 2 and 1 success.

He now faces another Irish player in Alex Gleeson from Castle who overcame Oliver Baker of Wales on the final green. Jeff Hopkins completed a memorable day for the Irish when he defeated Frederik Hammer of Denmark 2 and 1 to reach the last 32.

Ireland rally to defeat Wales to keep slim title hopes alive 

GOLF: Ireland bounced back from their heavy opening day defeat by England to defeat hosts Wales at Ashburnham yesterday and keep alive their outside chances of a second Home International title in three years.

They take on Scotland today knowing a substantial victory would give them a chance of the Raymond Trophy should Wales shock England- it could then come down to a countback of individual points.

England, after beating the Scots yesterday, are in pole position to retain their crown.

A splendid foursomes performance put Ireland in the driving seat – they won three and halved one of the five morning matches, only losers being Alan Dunbar and Luke Lennox who went down 2 and 1 to new Welsh caps Jonathan Bale and Nick James.

It was soon evident Ireland would get sufficient points from the singles to claim victory as Dara Lernihan, Conor Doran and Lennox all swept into early four-hole advantages – and none of them looked like being caught.

Lernihan, the Irish close champion playing at the top of the order, overwhelmed Rhys Enoch going five up with six to play and eventually winning 4 and 3.

Portstewart’s Paul Cutler, the Lytham Trophy winner, was made to work hard by Joe Vickery but got home on the final green after a tense battle and Eddie McCormick had to pull out all the stops to get past Nick James also on the home hole.

Maguire seals place in semi-finals

GOLF: Lisa Maguire, the leading amateur in the Irish Open at Killeen Castle last weekend continued her fairytale run by reaching the semi-finals of the British Girls’ Championship at Royal Belfast yesterday.

The 15-year-old Curtis Cup starlet from Slieve Russell edged to a last green quarter-final victory over Antonia Scherer – and in doing so gained revenge for the defeat inflicted by Scherer earlier in the day on the other Maguire, Leona.

“I could not say that playing the player who beat my sister motivated me but it’s nice to have one Maguire in the semi-finals of the British Girls”, said Lisa afterwards.

Earlier Scherer had beaten Leona on the home green and Lisa had disposed of Camilla Hedberg from Spain.

Lisa will now meet French champion Alexandra Bonetti, while in the other dual, the Italian, Laura Sedda faces Spaniard Andrea Vilarasau.

Top two seeds defeated in Cincinnati

TENNIS: Top-seed Jelena Jankovic and second seed Caroline Wozniacki suffered surprise third-round exits in the Cincinnati Open on Thursday.

In fierce heat, Serbian Jankovic lost to Akgul Amanmuradova, 7-6, 6-4, and the Uzbeki qualifier now goes on to face another Serb, Ana Ivanovic who defeated Russias Elena Vesnina 6-0 6-3.

A lesser shock, but a surprise nonetheless, was Dane Wozniacki falling to Frances Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-1.

Completing a trio of upsets, Russian sixth-seed Vera Zvonareva went out in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 to Italian Flavia Pennetta.

Eighth-seeded Na Li of China also suffered a premature departure, losing to Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 2-6 6-2 7-6 in an exciting three-set encounter.