Sports

ROME,  (Reuters) – Briton Andy Murray suffered a setback in his French Open preparations as he was ousted 6-7 6-3 6-2 by Richard Gasquet in the third round of the Rome Masters yesterday.

SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – Jamaican sprint queen Veronica Campbell-Brown was leaving no hostages to fortune on Thursday as she looked forward to her first 200 metres race of a season she hopes will climax in a third successive Olympic gold in the event.

(Reuters) – Pastor Maldonado spoke yesterday of how he had feared a tragic ending to his astonishing Spanish Grand Prix success in Barcelona last weekend.

UBAI, (Reuters) – Newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City will strengthen their squad in the close season as the club target European glory next year, manager Roberto Mancini said yesterday.

YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Cameroon’s soccer federation has dismissed former striker Roger Milla from his post as honorary president of the organisation after his calls for a clean-up of the leadership.

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Two rival coaches came to blows and had to be separated by riot police after both were sent off in a Brazilian regional final.

Middle distance track star Marian Burnett is ready to compete intensely at the President’s/Jefford Track and Field Classic Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.

LORD’S, England,  CMC – Embattled West Indies enter the opening Test against World number one England at Lord’s here  today, facing an avalanche of criticism over a novice top order, patchy preparation and a recent record than has seen them win just one series over top-ranked opposition in three years.

Three time Caribbean girls champions Mary Fung-A-Fat shook off the rust of inactivity on her first night back and dominated her understudy Akeila Wiltshire in straight games on night two of the Guyana Squash Association’s (GSA) Woodpecker National Junior Squash Championships.

Newly selected president of the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) Ramesh Seebarran, says he has received assurances from the Ministry of Sports and Director of Sports of their support for lawn tennis and its development.

DAEGU, South Korea,  CMC – Grenadian teenager Kirani James returned to the arena where he was crowned World champion last year to post a season-best time en route to winning the 400 metres at the Colorful Daegu Championship here  yesterday.

John Lewis was elected president of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) when that body held its annual general meeting  and  election of office bearers on Monday, a press release from the GRFU yesterday stated.

LONDON, England,  CMC – Batting legend Brian Lara has predicted a tough England series for West Indies and says veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul needs to bat higher in the team in order to strengthen an otherwise inexperienced line-up.

LEICESTER, England, CMC – Even as West Indies prepare to field a novice top order in the first Test against England, Ramnaresh Sarwan, a seasoned former member of their line up was busy stroking his second century of the County Championship here yesterday.

MUMBAI, India, CMC – Mystery West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine proved too much for fellow Windies teammate Kieron Pollard’s Mumbai Indians, producing a devastating spell to fire Kolkata Knight Riders to a key 32-run victory in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

LONDON, England,  CMC – West Indies captain Darren Sammy is hoping his side can reverse the worrying trend of squandering winning positions in Test matches and says playing at the historic Lord’s will provide added inspiration for the Caribbean side.

Speedy left-winger Dwain Jacobs is relishing the challenge of putting in quality  performances in the Golden Jaguars upcoming engagements to secure a place in the squad for the opening two World Cup Qualifiers versus Mexico and Costa Rica next month.

MIAMI,  (Reuters) – Without Chris Bosh, championship favourites Miami suddenly looked vulnerable as they suffered an upset defeat to the Indiana Pacers, while the West’s top seeds San Antonio look to have hit peak form with a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in their second-round opener on Tuesday.

The current Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) is headed by former West Indies captain and coach, Roger Harper.

John Phang and Sarah Lewis were among the under 13 winners on night one of the Guyana Squash Association’s (GSA) Woodpecker Junior National Squash Championships which began last night at the Georgetown Club’s squash courts.