Sports News

BEIJING (Reuters) - Having deployed surface-to-air missiles, readied a 100,000-strong anti-terrorism force and instituted a series of security checkpoints, Beijing is adding Chinese residents as another layer in its shield to protect Olympics venues against possible attack.

By Matthew Cronin
STANFORD, Calif. (Reuters) - Australian Samantha Stosur upset third seed Vera Zvonareva 6-3 6-2 in the second round of the Stanford Classic on Thursday.

By Ian Ransom
BEIJING (Reuters) - While feats of athletic brilliance may be the main focus of cameras during the Beijing Olympics, the telegenic venues set to host the athletes will draw their own share of gasps from admiring spectators.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Top seed James Blake overcame a patchy service game to defeat South Korean qualifier Woong-Sun Jun 6-3 7-5 and reach the quarter-finals of the Indianapolis Championships on Thursday.

By Brian Homewood
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine football is to use a quickly-vanishing spray in an attempt to stop defensive walls from creeping forward at free kicks.

By Mark Meadows
MILAN (Reuters) - Brazil forward Ronaldinho said he was mostly looking forward to teaming up again with compatriot Kaka as he was unveiled as an AC Milan player on Thursday.

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City's new manager Mark Hughes began his tenure with a 2-0 victory away to Faroe Islanders EB/Streymur in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie on Thursday.

By Larry Fine
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exceeding the five Olympic medals she won in 2004 and lowering her 100 metres backstroke world record are what American Natalie Coughlin hopes to achieve at next month's Beijing Olympics.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Brian McBride, the 36-year-old former United States striker who is without a club, was handed a surprise place in their Beijing Olympics squad on Thursday.

Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds will face no action after he knocked over a streaker in his side's nine-run one-day international loss to India in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Opening batsman Jamie How fell agonisingly short of his first century while New Zealand threw away a golden opportunity to seize control of the first test against England after the first day on Wednesday.

India ended their troubled tour of Australia on a high note when they beat the hosts by nine runs on Tuesday to win their best-of-three finals series 2-0.

Scoreboard after Tuesday's second tri-series final match between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Bangladesh have named four uncapped players in a 14-man one-day squad for the upcoming series against South Africa.

Sachin Tendulkar fell agonisingly short of back-to-back centuries after helping India post a healthy total of 258 for nine in the second tri-series final against Australia on Tuesday.

India made 258 for nine from their 50 overs in Tuesday's second tri-series final against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane.

England batsman Andrew Strauss has been recalled to the side for their first test against New Zealand starting on Wednesday.

England wicketkeeper batsman Phil Mustard has been taken to hospital after being struck in the face during batting practice before the first test against New Zealand.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first in the second tri-series final against Australia in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Australian Norman O'Neill, a powerful attacking batsman who suffered unfairly from being dubbed "the new Bradman", has died at the age of 71, Cricket Australia said on Monday.