UK-Sport Summary
Beckham suffers from asthma, says spokesman
LONDON - David Beckham has suffered from a mild form of asthma since childhood, the England midfielder's spokesman was quoted as saying in British newspapers on Tuesday. The 34-year-old Beckham was photographed on Sunday using an inhaler during L.A. Galaxy's 5-4 defeat on penalties by Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer's championship game in Seattle.
Soderling haunts Nadal again
LONDON - Swede Robin Soderling returned to haunt Rafael Nadal on Monday with a 6-4 6-4 victory as battle commenced in Group B at the ATP World Tour finals. Nadal's already slim chances of knocking Federer off the top of the world rankings now hang by a thread and defeat against Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in the second of his three round-robin matches on Wednesday would almost certainly mean the Spaniard will not reach the semi-finals.
England bid back on track, economic benefits huge - Gill
KUALA LUMPUR - England's 2018 World Cup bid has addressed the concerns of FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and offers a low risk option, Manchester United chief executive David Gill said on Tuesday. CONCACAF head Warner criticised England organisers last month saying their bid lacked "stardust" and was falling off the pace. But Gill, who holds an advisory role to England's bid committee, said a boardroom reshuffle had quelled those fears.
FIFA to hold extraordinary meeting
LONDON - FIFA will hold an extraordinary meeting before next month's World Cup draw to discuss Thierry Henry's handball in the qualifiers and the discovery of a match-fixing ring by German police. The trouble surrounding the Algeria-Egypt qualifier could also be on the agenda of the world governing body at an executive meeting to be held in Cape Town on December 2, two days before the World Cup draw.
Fisher, Poulter unite in England's World Cup cause
BEIJING - Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter are determined to finish November in the same way they started it by firing England to victory at the 55th World Cup of Golf in southern China this week. Fisher and Poulter, who won the World Matchplay and Singapore Open respectively to kick off the month, will take on 27 other nations in their bid to claim England's third world title, and a first since 2004, at the $5.5 million tournament in Shenzhen.
Sehwag, Gambhir get India off to a flyer in second test
KANPUR, India - Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir both scored unbeaten half-centuries to spur India to 131 without loss at lunch on the first day of the second test against Sri Lanka Tuesday. Sehwag survived a dropped catch to reach 70 not out while the in-form Gambhir made it 59 after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss. Sehwag had just one run to his name when he edged left-arm paceman Chanaka Welegedara behind but Mahela Jayawardene dropped the low chance after being blinded by diving wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Wigan players to refund fans after Spurs thrashing
LONDON on Monday.
South Africa call up Gibbs to replace injured Kallis
JOHANNESBURG - Herschelle Gibbs has been recalled to the South Africa squad for the remainder of the one-day series against England. The top-order batsman will replace all-rounder Jacques Kallis who has been ruled out due to a fractured rib, Cricket South Africa said in a statement on Monday.
Portsmouth keeper James hopeful over injury
LONDON - Portsmouth's England goalkeeper David James has played down the latest injury he suffered in the warm-up for Sunday's Premier League game at Stoke City. "I had a scan this morning and it's just a minor tear, so in some respects I'm happy. We thought it could be worse," the 39-year-old told Talksport radio on Monday.
Eton game spreads to inner cities
LONDON - A casual reference to Eton Fives among members of the British public prompts general bemusement. At best, some sports enthusiasts recognise a form of handball with almost incomprehensible rules played in Britain's most exclusive fee-paying school, an institution associated in the popular imagination with snobbery and privilege.