A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Haye to fight Klitschko – Wladimir or Vitali
BOXING:David Haye will fight Vitali Klitschko this summer – if his brother Wladimir Klitschko pulls out of their world heavyweight title unification showdown with injury.
Londoner Haye, the WBA heavyweight champion, finally agreed a deal to fight IBF/WBO king Wladimir over the weekend. However, the Klitschkos’ manager Bernd Boente has revealed the contract signed does not specify which of the Ukrainian siblings he will meet.
Should Wladimir fail to recover from an abdominal injury before the end of June, Haye could instead fight his brother Vitali, the WBC champion.
Boente said: “It could also be Vitali. In the talks, David was not rejecting Vitali any more, he was very flexible. That was never negotiated.
Knock on wood, it’s not the case, but should anything happen injury-wise (to Wladimir), as long as it is not three days before the fight or whatever, then Vitali could be the opponent.”
On the ball Sony buy Hawk-Eye
TECHNOLOGY: Hawk-Eye, the British company behind ball-tracking technology, have sold the firm to electronics giant Sony for an undisclosed sum. The Winchester company makes ball-tracking technology that has been used in both tennis and cricket. With Fifa recently deciding to extend its experiments with goal-line technology there may also be future openings in football. Hawk-Eye inventor Paul Hawkins said the takeover by Sony created "immense opportunities for the sports industry". The device is also used in snooker. The purchase includes all intellectual property rights, Hawk-Eye's full-time staff as well as its technology, software and engineering. Despite its high-profile brand name, Hawk-Eye is a relatively small company with profits of €1.2 million last year. Last autumn, it said it expected to make a profit of €2 million this year, reflecting expansion in the tennis world in particular.
Details of new league announced
EQUESTRIAN: The home eventing season starts on Sunday at the new venue of Fort Arthur outside Kinsale, Co Cork, and yesterday Eventing Ireland announced a national champion league for 2011 featuring five categories, writes Margie McLoone.
Points towards the league tables can be achieved in national competitions at home and throughout Europe from novice to advanced level with riders, who must be over 18 years of age and full members of EI, having to finish in the top three to collect points.
A horse will get points if it finishes in the first six and there will also be a league for mares. The input of owners and breeders to the sport is being acknowledged through separate league tables and in all instances the winner will be the person or horse with the most points at the end of the year.
Henderson takes second stage
CYCLING:Greg Henderson gave Team Sky their fifth victory of the season as he claimed the win on stage two of Paris-Nice yesterday.
The New Zealander was led out superbly by team-mate Geraint Thomas and had the finishing power to hold off second-placed Matthew Goss (HTC-Highroad) and Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) at the end of the 199 kilometre run from Monfort l’Amaury to Amilly.
Heinrich Haussler (Garmin-Cervelo), Peter Sagan (Liquigas) and Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) filled the next three positions. Henderson said: “It’s always special to win at such an amazing race. I had a great lead-out from Geraint, he was just fantastic.”
The win moves Henderson to second overall, behind stage one winner Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil).
O'Brien named as Goal patron
GOAL:Kevin O'Brien, Ireland's cricketing hero, has become the latest sporting personality to join Goal's list of international patrons.
The 26-year-old Railway Union batsman, who slammed the fastest century in World Cup ODI history against England in Bangalore, said: “I am honoured to be included as a patron.” It is hoped O’Brien will find time this week to visit some of Goal’s programmes in Kolkata when he arrives in that city with the Irish team for two World Cup ties.
Canada off the mark in World Cup
CRICKET: Canada's batsmen finally managed to complement the good work of their bowlers to secure their first victory in this World Cup – and only their second ever in the event – against Kenya yesterday.
There were early jitters but they were overcome eventually as the North Americans, with seven South Asian-born players in their team, reached their target with five wickets and 27 balls to spare to spare at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
Right-handed batsman Jimmy Hansra (70) and captain Ashish Bagai (64 not out) stitched together a 132-run partnership for the fourth wicket that sealed the match and along with it Canada’s first Cup win since they beat Bangladesh in 2003.
The duo consolidated after Canada were reduced to 48-3 and batted intelligently thereafter to wrest control back in their hands, helped in part by a few dropped catches. “I made sure I made them pay after the dropped catch. It was good to be positive at the start,” a satisfied Hansra said after the match.
