Extra cover for Liu’s legs
Olympic champion Liu Xiang (pictured) has set a new record for a Chinese athlete. The 110m hurdler has insured his leg for $13.3 million (Dhs 48.8m) in the run up to next year’s Beijing Olympics. The 24-year-old signed the deal to cover personal accident and injury insurance.
Each of the 100 other athletes in China’s track and field team also has a coverage of $135,107 (Dhs 496,207) in a collective policy provided by the state. “Now I have no worries,” Liu was quoted as saying. “I can prepare for the Games with all my efforts.”
Legal appeals await refs
The umpires’ knowledge of the laws of the game will come under scrutiny at the Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup, to be held in Hyderabad from December 30. Teams from West Indies, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England, South Africa, Kenya and Australia will participate in the 10-day event.
However, the match referee will be putting the players under the microscope as they are known for their strong ‘appeals’.
MLB plans Tokyo start
The Japanese will get a fitting reward for their love of baseball when the new US professional baseball league season kicks-off in Japan. The opening game pits the World Series champions Boston Red Sox against Oakland A’s at the Tokyo Dome on March 25 and 26.
The opening game will see Japanese heroes, starter Daisuke Matsuzaka and reliever Hideki Okajima, who guided Red Sox to triumph, in action. For both the teams, the match-up will be their first regular season outside North America.
Skating into new territory
It’s a different ball game for John McDonough. The 54-year-old ended his 24-year association with the Major League Baseball team Chicago Cubs to take over as president of the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League.
However, McDonough’s new assignment is not likely to be all smooth skating as he plans to assemble a group focused on bringing the Stanley Cup to Chicago.
Offsprings in the fast lane
Nigel Mansell’s sons are following in the footsteps of their illustrious father. Greg (20) and Leo (17) will drive in the feeder series for Champ Cars.
“What a tremendous challenge and adventure we will all have in 2008,” said the former Formula One world champion (pictured), who followed up his 1992 title by landing the Champ Car series in America the next year.
“It will be a fantastic series and bring back such fond memories of when I raced in Champ Cars.”
