Sports News: General

London, Nov.22 (ANI): Coach Rafa Benitez believes France's battered reputation could help Liverpool complete another Euro miracle.

Karachi, Nov 22 (PTI) Pakistani players' participation in the next Indian Premier League remains doubtful as IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has told the PCB that the league cannot obtain Indian Foreign Office's NOC for them.

London, Nov.22 (ANI): Two hoods have stolen England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's 30,000 pound sporty black C220 Mercedes.

London, Nov. 22 (ANI): French defender Patrice Evra has come out in defence of his team-mate Thierry Henry saying that a statue should be erected in honour of the handball cheat.

London, Nov.22 (ANI): Manchester United chiefs will offer Wayne Rooney an astonishing 170,000-pound-a-week contract when negotiations open next February.

London, Nov.22 (ANI): The England team will be allowed to score with their WAGs during next year's World Cup, but only for one night after they've played each game, News of The World reports.

London, Nov.22 (ANI): The beach ball that bounced Liverpool out of the Premier League title race has been put on display at the National Football Museum after being won by a Sunderland fan in a News of the World charity auction on eBay.

London, Nov.22 (ANI): Chelsea midfielder Deco will return to former club Porto this week still haunted by a drugs slur which threatened to destroy his career.

London, Nov.22 (ANI): British tennis star Andy Murray has vowed to stick to his game plan, as he begins his quest for glory at London's O2.

Karachi, Nov 22 (PTI) Out-of-form Younus Khan has got the much-needed backing from PCB Chairman Ezaj Butt, who expressed his desire to see the regular captain's comeback in next month's Australia tour.

From Our Chess Correspondent Khanty Mansiysk (Russia), Nov 22 (PTI) World's second youngest Grandmaster ever Parimarjan Negi scored a hard fought victory over higher rated Vadim Milov of Switzerland to raise his hopes of a place in the second round of the World Chess Cup here.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Australia's Anna Meares claimed three gold medals at the Melbourne round of the cycling World Cup, adding the women's 500 meter time trial and keiran to her sprint gold of the first day.

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) Melbourne went to the top of the Australian A-League table with a 1-0 win over Brisbane on Sunday.

MIYAZAKI, Japan (AP) Italy's Edoardo Molinari has won the $2.2 million Dunlop Phoenix, beating Sweden's Robert Karlsson in a playoff.

Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh has been ruled out of the Champions Challenge I hockey tournament next month due to a back injury and will be replaced by Diwakar Ram in the 21-member squad, a Hockey India media release said on Saturday.

Chances of India escaping a ban slimmed further on Saturday with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) saying it will take a "strong action" against the Indian body after six of its lifters tested positive for banned substances recently.

Iraq to appeal FIFA ban Iraqi authorities said their lawyers are working on appeal after FIFA banned the team from international participation.

When sailor Nitin Mongia takes his yacht out to the sea, it's not always with an Olympic or Asian Games medal in mind.

ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ijaz Butt has urged Younis Khan to quickly end his hiatus from the national team and play against Australia in the three-test series next month.

Chandigarh, Nov 21 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced the setting up of a State Sports Fund to promote sports and sportspersons and enhance the amount of cash awards being given to the medal winners of National Games.