TEHRAN, Dec. 23--International Basketball Federation invited Iran to participate in the FIBA Diamond Ball in Beijing.
Six teams will attend the tournament from July 29 -August 1, 2008, ahead of the Olympic Games.
The continental champions will take part in the event, IRNA reported.
China (host), Iran (Asian champion), Russia (European champion), Australia (Oceania champion), USA (America champion) and Angola (African champion) will participate in the FIBA Diamond Ball.

TEHRAN, Dec. 23--Vahid Hashemian says he will not participate in the first round of the 2010 World Cup qualifications.
The Iranian footballer, who also plays for Hannover, said he is very tired because of being involved in tough and consecutive matches over the past four years.
“I suffered serious health problems such as knee and waist injuries after attending the 2006 FIFA qualifications, the 2007 Asian Nations Cup qualifications, Germany’s World Cup, Asian Nations Cup 2007 and the league matches, along with Hannover 96. Of course, I’m honored to be a member of Iran National Football Team and so pleased with that,“ Hashemian said in an interview posted in his website.
“My contract with my club will end in the current season. I want to stay in Bundesliga, so I should participate in all training sessions up to the end of the season for staying at an acceptable level.“
Hashemian stressed that he also needs to be away from football to become more physically and mentally prepared.
“I hope to be the national team’s member in the second round. I have done my best in the past and will evidently do my best in future.“

TEHRAN, Dec. 23--Iran’s two-time Olympic weightlifter, Hossein Rezazadeh, said his real aim is to win the third Olympic gold medal.
In an interview with IRNA on Sunday, Rezazadeh said he would be on course to defend his Olympic title in Beijing in 2008 after winning gold at both Sydney 2000 and in Athens 2004.
Asked whether he would continue his sports activities or say farewell, he said, “I haven’t made up my mind yet. It depends on what happens in future.“
Iran’s Hercules further said that national weightlifters are training for the Beijing games and hoped that the team would be fully prepared by July.

BERLIN, Dec. 23-- Germany coach Joachim Loew believes France and Italy are the favorites to win Euro 2008 while Spain and Portugal are also capable of winning the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
In an interview to appear on Monday in the German newspaper Kicker, Loew said he did not see Germany as favorites despite rising expectations following their strong qualifying campaign. Germany got third place at the 2006 World Cup.
“I don’t see us as the absolute top favorite,“ Loew said. “In view of the last 10 years, I see France and Italy at the absolute top. I see Spain and Portugal as very strong as well.“

TEHRAN, Dec. 23--Iran’s Table Tennis Team is set to attend the World Table Tennis Championship in Slovenia.
Noshad Alamian, Afshin Norouzi, Mohammad Reza Akhlaq-Pasand, Zaman Molla, Aref Ahmadi-Far and Masoud Yaqoubi will participate in the tournament scheduled for January 15- 19, 2008, IRNA reported.
The event will be held in men’s and women’s categories.
Each team will receive a cash prize of $122,000.

LONDON, Dec. 23--A bronze bust stolen from the British Racing Drivers’ Club at Silverstone, Northamptonshire, has been found.
The sculpture of racing legend Graham Hill was recovered from a house on Beverley Road, Little Lever, in Bolton, BBC wrote.
The discovery was made after a search warrant was executed following a joint operation by Greater Manchester Police and Northamptonshire Police.
A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and handling stolen goods and is in custody.
The sculpture is to be returned to the famous race circuit once formal identification checks are carried out.
Stuart Pringle, secretary of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, said: “This is an early Christmas present for us - we are over the moon.
“We actually commissioned another bust a few years ago, but will put that somewhere else on the site once we have returned the original one to its rightful place.“
Supt Andy Durkin, of Bolton Police, added: “This is a very satisfactory end to the operation and I am pleased we can now move forward with returning this important statue back to its home.“

Amir Khan

LONDON, Dec. 23--Amir Khan will return to the ring on 2 February against Denmark’s Martin Kristjansen at London’s ExCel Arena.
Khan, 21, is eager to resume his rise up the world rankings after taking just 72 seconds to beat former British champion Graham Earl on 8 December, BBC wrote.
The fight will be made for the nominal WBO intercontinental lightweight crown.
But promoter Frank Warren said: “I will writing to the WBO with the aim of making this fight as an eliminator for the world title.“
Kristjansen, 30, holds a respectable 19-1-3 pro record, and has won his last eight fights, but has only five victories by way of stoppage.
Warren said: “This is another step up for Amir. Kirstjansen is world ranked and will give him plenty to think about.
“Amir has only just turned 21, but he looked absolutely sensational in demolishing an experienced former champion in Graham Earl.“
Olympic silver medalist Khan is currently ranked sixth by the WBO, ninth by the WBC and 15th by the WBA.

BERLIN, Germany, Dec. 23--Germany captain Michael Ballack insisted that out-of-favour Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will be the right man for the national team at June’s Euro 2008 tournament.
According to AFP, the 38-year-old lost his place in Arsenal’s first-team in August and has been left on the bench ever since with Gunner’s coach Arsene Wenger preferring Spaniard Manuel Almunia.
But as far as Chelsea midfielder Ballack, 31, is concerned, Lehmann has to be German coach Joachim Loew’s first choice at next June’s tournament.
“For me, there is simply no discussion about who should be Germany’s goalkeeper,“ Ballack told German tabloid Bild.
“Jens is the best we have by some distance.
“I am convinced of his mental strength and his physical fitness. I don’t believe it is a problem for the team, even if he doesn’t play regularly with Arsenal.
“Jens is a 38-year-old, he has collected enough playing time in his career.

LONDON, Dec. 23--Brazil’s World Cup-winning left-back Roberto Carlos gives an intriguing insight into the character of the new England coach, Fabio Capello.
“With Fabio Capello, there is no friendship. I have known him for more than 10 years but we have never talked on the phone about personal matters. Above all, though, he is a fair man. He treats everybody the same way in the dressing room.
“For him, it is a simple job. When you are working, you are working - there is no room for anything else,“ Carlos told the Guardian.
“When I joined Real Madrid in 1996, it was at Capello’s request. He had seen me playing for Inter and wanted me with him in Spain. I was very young, having just arrived in Europe. He told me I had to work really hard, because he was building a competitive team and wanted the title. The training sessions were incredibly serious, everybody had to be focused all the time.
“Early in that season there was the problem with David Beckham but it was not Capello who threw him out of the team.
“Whatever it might have looked like, that was a decision that came from the board and Capello was forced to accept it. It really surprised me the way he was left alone to take the blame for that story. It seemed it was his fault, but it wasn’t.
“David, meanwhile, was relaxed and tranquil - he knew he would be needed sooner rather than later. After a few games Capello analyzed the situation and realized there was only one option: to go against his bosses and bring Beckham back.
“He called David, said he was sorry and told him he was back in the team.
“There were no bad feelings because he knew it wasn’t Capello’s fault. Now, I am sure that Capello will select Beckham for England- 100 percent sure. He will call David and I think he will make him his captain.“

NEW YORK, Dec. 23--The Dallas Cowboys moved closer to ensuring home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a 20-13 road victory over the Carolina Panthers on Saturday but lost wide receiver Terrell Owens with an ankle sprain.
According to Reuters, Owens caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo in the first quarter but was injured in the second and did not return. The Cowboys took a 14-0 lead the play after Owens left the game but were held without another touchdown the rest of the way.
X-rays on Owens were negative but he was scheduled for an MRI on Sunday. He was reported to have sustained a high ankle sprain.
Owens, who left the stadium on crutches and wearing a walking boot, is expected to miss at least next week’s regular season finale. The Cowboys have a first-round bye in the playoffs.
“The X-rays don’t look bad,“ Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters. “We know he’s a quick healer and he’s in great spirits.“
With Owens out, Dallas relied more on the running game.
Marion Barber ran for 110 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
Romo showed no effects of the sprained right thumb that hampered him in a loss to Philadelphia last week and threw for 257 yards in the victory.

Detroit Red Wings Dominik Hasek makes a save at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan December 9.

NEW YORK, Dec. 23--The red-hot Detroit Red Wings scored a 4-1 road victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, peppering the Wild net with 51 shots in an offensive blitz.
Detroit is 11-1-1 in its last 13 games and 26-7-3 on the season, Reuters wrote.
Goalie Dominik Hasek improved to 9-0-2 with a 1.00 goals against average against the Wild, a team the Red Wings dominate.
“They play with so much confidence against us,“ said Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire. “That’s the bottom line.“
The 51 shots were a record against the Wild at home. Despite missing offensive standouts Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holstrom, the Red Wings rained down shots on Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom.
Marian Gaborik, who on Thursday became the first NHL player in a decade to score five goals in a game, was smothered by the Wings, held to two shots. He did have an assist and has eight goals and four assists during a seven-game point-scoring streak.
*The sizzling Buffalo Sabres pulled out a dramatic 6-5 road win over the Philadelphia Flyers when Thomas Vanek scored with 7.2 seconds left in regulation and Ales Kotalik had the only goal of a shootout.
*Alexander Ovechkin forced overtime with his 25th goal of the season with 54.8 seconds left in regulation, but Richard Park scored 3:43 into the OT to give the New York Islanders a 3-2 win over the visiting Washington Capitals.
*Patrick Sharp forced overtime with a third-period goal and then set up Jonathan Toews for the game winner 2:08 into overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 road victory over the Ottawa Senators.