SPORTS DIGEST:BOXING: Irish lightweight Ray Moylett claimed an historic ninth medal for Ireland at the World Youth Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico last night following a stunning quarter-final win over Cuban Juan Garcia at the Lopez Mateo's Gymnasium.
Garcia, the reigning Cuban youth champion, had been favourite to advance to the semi-finals from last night's 60kg last-eight clash.
But Moylett, from the St Anne's club in Westport, maintained his excellent form to claim all four rounds and at least a bronze medal with an emphatic 10-2 win.
The 18-year-old, who beat 2007 European Cadet champion, Fred Evans from Wales in the last 16, will now meet Aliaksei Haletsich from Belarus in tomorrow's semi-final.
Irish Squad and Management(for Women's World Championships in Ningbo City, China, November 22/29th)
60kg: Katie Taylor (Bray Boxing club); Coach: Peter Taylor; Team Manager: Anna Moore; Physiotherapist: Yvonne Ryan; RJ: Fionna Hennigan.
Gambhir puts India in control
CRICKET: Opener Gautam Gambhir struck a career-best unbeaten 149 and his second consecutive century to hand India control against Australia on the first day of the third Test yesterday. India were 296 for three at stumps after Gambhir led a superb recovery following two early wickets, the hosts having elected to bat. Gambhir added 130 runs for the third wicket with Sachin Tendulkar, who hit a fluent 68, and 139 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket with Vangipurappu Laxman.
Simon in hunt for Masters Cup spot
TENNIS: France's Gilles Simon closed in on a place at the season-ending Masters Cup by beating Russian Igor Andreev 6-3, 7-5 in the Paris Masters second round yesterday.
Simon, eighth in the ATP Race after reaching this month's Madrid Masters final, will secure one of the three remaining tickets to Shanghai if his closest rivals do not reach the final at the Paris indoor event.
Spain's world number one Rafael Nadal, Swiss second seed Roger Federer and sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, three of the five already in the Masters Cup, also reached the third round.
Top seed Nadal beat France's Florent Serra 6-2, 6-4, while Federer subdued Swede Robin Soderling 6-4, 7-6. Davydenko was made to sweat before he overcame big-serving Ljubicic 7-6, 7-5.
World Rally opener set for Ireland
MOTOR SPORT: Seven counties in the north-west will host the start of the prestigious 2009 World Rally Championship (WRC).
For the first time in almost 30 years, the beginning of the international sporting event will be held outside its traditional home in Monaco's Monte Carlo.
Around 250,000 spectators visited the region for Rally Ireland 2007, generating €48 million for the region.
"Across the region festivals are been organised and this event will once again provide fans with the opportunity to see the world's top rally drivers battling the testing stages in the north-west and all for free," said Rally Ireland's John Naylor.
The WRC will hold 12 rounds across the world in 2009, reaching a global TV audience of over 800 million people.
Enniskillen will host the opening ceremony on January 29th, with the first stage taking place the following morning in Cavan.
Competitors will drive through Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Sligo, and Roscommon before the final stage, in Donegal on February 1st, is broadcast live worldwide.
Argentina too strong for Ireland
HOCKEY: A ring-rusty Irish side were put to the sword in the second half at Belfield last night by world number seven side, Argentina, losing 4-1.
A solid first-half performance saw Ireland take the lead through Timmy Cockram's fizzing reverse in the 23rd minute.
However, a series of gift-wrapped goals saw the tide turn after the break as Lucas Vila, Mattias Vila, Augustin Corradini and Pedro Ibarra scored.
John Jermyn had Ireland's only chance of the second half, flashing wide after Mikey Watt's good spade work on a disappointing return for the Ireland team in their first outing since July.
Women's play-off likely to go ahead in Iceland
SOCCER: Extensive efforts to remove snow from the pitch at Laugardalsvöllur Stadium appear to have cleared the way for this evening's Uefa Women's Championship play-off between Ireland and Iceland to proceed in Reykjavik (6.10pm).
Serious doubts had been raised by Uefa on Tuesday as to the condition of the surface but those fears have been allayed and Ireland manager Noel King held his final training at a nearby indoor arena last night fully expecting the game to go ahead.
A final pitch inspection will be carried out by German referee Christine Beck today but there were positive indications emanating from the both the referee and the Uefa delegate that the fixture will be contested as scheduled.
Twenty staff worked on the pitch yesterday, illustrating the eagerness to avoid a postponement or, potentially, the switching of the game to Copenhagen in Denmark.
Ireland manager Noel King said last night: "I walked the pitch and it had improved considerably from the condition it was in on Tuesday. I would like for the game to be held here this evening but not to the detriment of any player getting injured."
Ireland and Iceland drew 1-1 in the first leg at Richmond Park, leaving Iceland requiring just a scoreless draw to qualify for next summer's European Championships in Finland. King said: "We know what we have to do, which is to score at least once because of the away goal, and I'm fully confident we will do that."
