Sports News

By Balazs Koranyi
BUDAORS, Hungary (Reuters) - Diana Igaly's determination to defend her Olympic skeet shooting title nearly landed her in police custody.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The San Antonio Spurs crushed the New Orleans Hornets 99-80 on Thursday to force a deciding Game Seven in their Western Conference semi-final.

By Greg Stutchbury
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Driving along the tree-lined streets of the small New Zealand town of Cambridge and past multi-million-dollar stud farms, it is hard to imagine a less likely setting for a revolution in sports administration.

By Brian Homewood
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Adriano was recalled by Brazil for next month's World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, only the second time he has been picked by his country since the 2006 World Cup.

LONDON (Reuters) - Winger Cristiano Ronaldo hinted he could leave Manchester United after next week's Champions League final, British media reported on Friday.

By Bernie McGuire
ADARE, Ireland (Reuters) - India's Jeev Milka Singh and Australian Richard Green shared the lead after the opening day of the Irish Open at Adare Manor on Thursday.

By Paul Virgo
ROME (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova battled past Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki to move into the Italian Open quarter-finals with a 6-4 7-6 win on Thursday.

(Reuters) - Scoreboard at the close on the first day of the first test between England and New Zealand at Lords,

By John Mehaffey
LONDON (Reuters) - New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum perished in the nineties for the second Lord's test in a row on Thursday after reviving his team's fortunes on the opening day of the first test against England.

LONDON (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova will take over as world number one next week after Justine Henin asked to be removed from the rankings following her retirement, the governing body of women's tennis (WTA) said on Thursday.

BERLIN (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama would find it hard to go to the Beijing Olympics, German television quoted him as saying on Thursday, after a Tibet government-in-exile legislator reported a Chinese inquiry whether he might do so.

By Paul Virgo
ROME (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova battled past Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki to move into the Italian Open quarter-finals with a 6-4 7-6 win on Thursday.

By Pete Oliver
LONDON (Reuters) - England international Rio Ferdinand has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester United, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.

By Mike Collett
LONDON (Reuters) - The Russian government urged English fans on Thursday to "show respect" to their hosts when they go to Moscow in their thousands next week for the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea.

By Darren Ennis
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg are unlikely to face any punishment over the events that led to the stabbing of a Russian fan at Wednesday's UEFA Cup final in Manchester, a top UEFA official said.

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea deender Ashley Cole is determined not to endure a second Champions League final disappointment next Wednesday in Moscow having been reminded of his first every time he arrives at training.

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona midfielder Deco has been given the go-ahead to talk to other clubs after being told he can leave the Primera Liga side at the end of the season.

PARIS (Reuters) - Former world number one Gustavo Kuerten has been given a wildcard for the French Open, organisers said on Thursday.

By Denis Pinchuk
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Russia) - Fans swarmed the streets of St Petersburg on Thursday after Zenit won the UEFA Cup final but not everyone in this Venice of the North is in love with the team.