Poonia qualifies for Olympics

Discus thrower Krishna Poonia became the fifth athlete to qualify for the Beijing Olympics after finishing fourth in a women’s invitational event in the United States, reports PTI from New Delhi.

Poonia crossed the Olympic qualification mark with a throw of 59.04m in the Mt. SAC Relays at Hilmer Lodger Stadium-Walnut in California, held from April 17 to 20.

Vikas Gowda, who has already qualified for the men’s discus throw event in Beijing, threw a 55.54m to finish sixth in Tennessee Relays, held at Knoxville in Tennessee from April 10-12, according to Athletics Federation of India release.

Ashutosh to meet Rastogi

Ashutosh Singh prevailed over a fighting Vishnu Vardhan 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 6-4 to set up a second-round clash with doubles partner Karan Rastogi at the $15,000 ITF men’s tennis event in Taizhou, China, on Wednesday, reports PTI from New Delhi.

Olympic torch in Australia

The beleaguered Beijing Olympic flame touched down in the Australian capital of Canberra on Wednesday for the latest leg of a troubled global torch relay which has witnessed anti-China protests at several places, reports PTI from Melbourne.

A Chinese plane carrying flame arrived in Canberra after a six-hour flight from Jakarta and was received by Australian and Chinese officials in the presence of a limited audience. The 16-kilometre route of the relay here, shortened from 20 kilometres due to riot fears, has been marked by a steel barricade that covers Australian Parliament House and extends up to the War Memorial.

Kiwis to tour Pak in September

New Zealand have confirmed they would tour Pakistan to play three one-day internationals before the ICC Champions Trophy in September, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Wednesday, reports PTI from Karachi.

“They will come just before to the Champions Trophy and they will also be sending a security delegation to assess the conditions before the tour,” Shafqat Naghmi, the chief operating officer of the PCB, said.

He said the Board had extended invitations to New Zealand and West Indies to tour around the same time so that a tri-series could be played.

“The West Indies Board has sent in its regret because of prior commitments in Canada. But New Zealand have said they will play three-one-dayers, obviously subject to clearance,” he said.

Pollock to play for Durham

Former South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock will play for English County Durham in the Twenty20 Cup this season, the club said on Wednesday, reports Reuters from London.

Santana set to replace Parreira

Brazilian Joel Santana is set to take over from compatriot Carlos Alberto Parreira as South Africa's national coach, the South African Football Association said on Wednesday, reports Reuters from Johannesburg.

Roddick leads glamour field

American tennis star Andy Roddick is skipping the Olympics, but he will be in Beijing the following month to headline the first joint men's and women's China Open, organisers said on Wednesday.

The world number six will be joined by fifth-ranked Spaniard David Ferrer and women's number two Ana Ivanovic for the September 20-28 tournament in Beijing.