TENNIS: Tim Henman suffered a spectacular collapse to lose to Paradorn Srichaphan in the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open.
Henman edged the first set via a tie-break and although eighth-seed Srichaphan took the second, the Briton was far superior for most of the decider.
However, from 5-2 up and apparently in control, Henman lost four of the next five games, failing to serve out for victory at 5-3 and eventually losing 7-6 4-6 6-7 on a tie-break in the decisive set.
Henman, 32, was the only unseeded player remaining in the quarter-finals but it is Srichaphan who will meet Robby Ginepri or top seed Ivan Ljubicic in the semi-finals.IOC president Jacques Rogge and Fifa head Sepp Blatter have written a joint letter to the European Commission protesting about proposed changes to the way sport will be run in the European Union.
A reliable source said the letter was also sent to each of the union's 25 sports ministers.
A European Sports Review completed in April recommends closer control of sport in the EU, including salary caps on soccer players and the monitoring of agents.
"To say the letter is strongly worded is putting it mildly," the source said. "It basically is telling the commission and the ministers to mind their own business."
David O'Loughlin yesterday moved a step closer to his goal of riding the Olympic track pursuit in Beijing when he smashed the Irish record for the 4,000-metre pursuit in the Newport Velodrome, Wales, writes Shane Stokes.
The Navigators Insurance professional set a time of 4:29.9, going significantly faster than the previous record of 4:35.0, set by former international Phil Collins at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Despite having little track racing experience, the former double Irish road race champion achieved a time which would have qualified him 11th of the 21 entrants in this year's world championships in France.
Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan will lead his country in next month's Champions Trophy in India after regular skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was banned for four one-day internationals on Thursday.
"I have been told today that I have to captain the side," Younis said yesterday.
A Pakistan Cricket Board official said Younis would be formally confirmed as captain in the next few days. Inzamam was cleared of ball tampering but banned for bringing the game into disrepute after Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England last month.
