Indian trio in knock-out stage

New Delhi: World amateur snooker champion Pankaj Advani, national champion Alok Kumar and Yasin Merchant registered their third straight wins to ensure a place in the knock-out phase of the Asian snooker championship being played at Aqaba, Jordan. Advani defeated Imram Shahzad of Pakistan 4-2 while Alok Kumar defeated Chih-Wei Ku of Chinese Taipei to book a place in the pre-quarter finals, according to information received here on Tuesday.

Former Asian champion Merchant had no problems blanking Sadr Idin Hussein of Iraq 4-0.

Arsenal set to sign Almunia

Madrid: English champions Arsenal are poised to sign Celta Vigo goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, a spokesman for the Spanish club said on Tuesday.

Celta spokesman Sabino Lopez told sports daily Marca that the 27-year-old, who played on loan at Albacete in the Primera Liga last season, would join Arsenal, subject to a brief trial at the club.

“I’m really proud that a side like Arsenal have picked me out,” Almunia told Marca. “I knew that there had been some contact between the clubs, but I never expected this because I was convinced I would be playing with Celta in the second division next season.”

Fourth try at Olympic gold

San Jose: Jimmy Pedro retired from judo after a fifth-place showing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but the 33-year-old American made a comeback that has resulted in a fourth try at Olympic gold.

Pedro qualified for the Athens Games here Saturday, claiming a berth at 73kg just 15 months after ending his two-and-a-half year retirement. The 1996 Olympic bronze medalist and 1999 world champion has gone 70-4 in his return to the mat.

“I’m on a mission. I have a purpose,” Pedro said. “If Athens plays out the way I hope, I will be utterly fulfilled.”

Dane appeal thrown out

London: An appeal by Danes against disqualification and relegation from the Davis Cup after security fears caused them to boycott a match in Algeria has been thrown out, tennis chiefs said on Monday.

The International Tennis Federation’s board of directors said it had considered the appeal by the Danish Tennis Federation of the sanctions imposed by the ITF Davis Cup Committee following Denmark’s “unjustified failure to compete in their second round tie against Algeria” in April.

The Danes pulled out of their Davis Cup first round tie in Algiers due to what they considered poor security in the north African country and an increased risk towards Danes after the Iraq war, the Danish Tennis Association said at the time.

However the ITF ruled that the Danes be relegated to Group III in 2005. They also barred Denmark from the men’s team competition for the rest of the 2004 season and that Denmark compensate Algeria for the costs incurred to stage the tie.

Wildcard for Rusedski

London: Greg Rusedski has been given a wildcard into the Wimbledon championships later this month, organisers said on Monday.

Rusedski, who was cleared of any doping offence in March despite having tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, was one of four Britons given a place in the men’s draw. Lee Childs, Jonathan Marray and Alex Bogdanovic were the other British men to have gained berths in the main draw.

In women’s field, Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder was handed an invite for the tournament which begins on June 21.

Sport on Screen

Soccer: The Road to Euro 2004 from 8.30 am on STAR Sports
Soccer: World Cup qualifier, Japan vs India from 4 pm on TEN Sports
ATP Tennis: Episode 31 from 6 pm on TEN Sports