Two Iranian women rowers train in a lake in TehranÕs Azadi Stadium (File Photo).

TEHRAN, Feb. 1--Iran’s men’s and women’s rowing teams will leave for the Spanish city of Seville on Sunday to take part in the preparatory camp.
The teams are to participate in the qualifying matches for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Some 11 participants will be present in the camp, according to the Iranian Sailing Federation’s website.
Iran’s rowing teams will be coached by a Romanian and Maryam Heydari will serve as assistant.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games qualifiers are to be held in Japan and Thailand in April.

TEHRAN, Feb. 1--Head of Iran’s Cycling Federation has announced that a women’s cycling team would soon be formed to participate in a tournament in Thailand.
Amir Reza Va’ez Ashtiani told IRNA that Iranian women will participate in the tournaments with full cover and Islamic countries have shown interest in these clothing.
Underlining that Iran’s men cyclists have bagged many medals in prestigious events, including Doha Asian Games and Thailand Championship, he said, “We are honored for these successes and want to expand the sport to include Iranian women.“
Iran has so far won three Olympic slots in track cycling.

Michel Platini

ZAGREB, Croatia, Feb. 1--UEFA chief Michel Platini Thursday repeated his support for the introduction of two additional assistant referees, positions he said could be taken by referees obliged to retire aged 45.
“There will be trials this year, notably in Chile, regarding participation of two additional assistant referees who would be ’penalty area’ referees,“ Platini told AFP.
Platini had already announced in November that the matches with five referees could be tried in 2008 during FIFA matches of U-21 teams.
“I believe that three referees is today obsolete,“ estimated Platini, who spoke after a UEFA meeting in Zagreb.
With five referees “we will always have two or three who will be close to the action to see what is going on and make a good decision,“ Platini said.
“In this way a lot of controversial situations regarding referees could be solved,“ stressed Platini, who opposes the introduction of video replays.
According to Platini, the new referees could comprise those who have “real experience“ and who had to retire at the age of 45 according to FIFA rules.

AL KHOR, Qatar,
Feb. 1--Italy’s Danilo Napolitano, of the Lampre team, won the fifth stage of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday, a 170km ride around Al Khor.
Italian Alberto Loddo finished second and Belgium’s Tom Boonen, who rides for the Quick Step team, third, a result that was enough to keep hold of the leader’s yellow jersey, said AFP.
Napolitano crossed the line in 3hr 49min 14sec in a close-fought sprint for the line which saw Loddo and Boonen at his wheel to the finish.
Boonen now has a lead of 17sec over Steven De Jongh of the Netherlands with Belgian Greg Van Avermaet 13sec further back and Aussie racer Christopher Sutton with 6sec to make up if he wants to haul his way onto the podium.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to beat Tom as he has been so far ahead of the game,“ said Napolitano.
“Two kilometers out from the line I stuck to Boonen’s wheel and then when Steven De Jongh was getting set to spring his leader with 200 meters to go. Then that’s the last they saw of me,“ smiled the Italian.
Friday’s final stage was a 120km ride from Al Wakra to Doha.

PHOENIX, USA, Feb. 1--Tim Duncan banked in a shot with 30.9 seconds remaining, Manu Ginobili hit four late free throws and the undermanned San Antonio Spurs rallied to beat the Phoenix Suns 84-81 on Thursday night and end a three-game losing streak.
According to AP, the Spurs trailed most of the game, but Duncan’s big basket gave them an 80-79 lead. After the Suns turned the ball over, Ginobili hit a pair of free tosses with 15.6 seconds left. Amare Stoudemire then made a lay up with 8.7 seconds to go, pulling the Suns within 82-81, but he missed a free throw--his fifth of the game and fourth in the fourth period.
Ginobili finished with 19 points, including 12-of-12 from the line. Duncan had 16 points aand 17 rebounds, and Jacque Vaughn scored a season-high 17 for San Antonio.
Shawn Marion led the Suns with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Steve Nash had 17 points and eight assists, and Stoudemire finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Suns won the first meeting this season 100-95 Dec. 17 at San Antonio, a game the Spurs played without star guard Tony Parker. Parker, averaging 19.2 points per game, again was absent in the rematch because of inflammation in his left ankle. San Antonio also was without guard Brent Barry (strained left calf), one of their 3-point specialist.
Phoenix led throughout the first half, despite shooting only 36.1 percent (13-for-36) and not hitting a field goal in the final 6:10 of the second period.
Early in the second period, after scoring the first seven points of the quarter, the Suns led 32-18, but the Spurs made the final five points before halftime and chopped the lead to 40-34.

ACCRA, Ghana,
Feb. 1--The 2004 champions Tunisia and Angola sealed the last two quarterfinal places at the African Nations Cup on Thursday.
According to AFP, the pair fought out a goalless draw in Tamale to head Group D which earned Tunisia, table toppers on goal difference, a quarterfinal tie with four time winners Cameroon on Monday.
Angola have an equally tough assignment against defending titleholders Egypt the same day.
Down in Kumasi, South Africa drew 1-1 with Senegal, a result that brought the curtain down on their respective Cup campaigns.
South Africa went in front after 15 minutes through Elrio van Heerden before Senegal equalized in the 38th minute through Henri Camara.
World Cup hosts in 2010 South Africa finished bottom with two points, the same as Senegal who enjoyed a better goal difference.
As their Nations Cup adventure ends, Tunisia and Angola have further business in Ghana.
They added their names to a quarterfinal programme comprising hosts Ghana, Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast, Guinea, Cameroon, five-time champions Egypt, and Nigeria.
While Tunisia are frequent visitors to the knock out stages Angola are entering uncharted waters having fallen at the first hurdle on the three occasions they’ve made it to the finals.

Tiger Woods from the US drops his club after playing his second shot into the water on the 13th hole during the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai, UAE, January 31.

DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 1-- Blustery conditions and cool temperatures hampered the pack chasing Tiger Woods in the second round of the 2.5-million-dollar Dubai Desert Classic on Friday.
The weather was in stark contrast to Thursday’s placid, blue skies and warm sunshine when over 50 players finished their first rounds under par on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club, AFP wrote.
Instead, just matching par became a tough assignment and conditions were forecast to worsen during the course of the day.
Woods started the second round two strokes clear of the field after a commanding seven-under par 65 on Thursday and a repeat of his second round performance in his season-opener at the Buick Invitational in California last week could see him sprint away from the field.
On that occasion he shot a 65 to move from two strokes off the lead to four ahead at the halfway stage. He went on to win by a comfortable seven strokes - his fourth straight win dating back to the tail-end of last year.
Woods said that his opening round could have been even better.
“I definitely missed a few today. I had a couple of good opportunities to make some putts and just kind of ran them over the edge. But overall I couldn’t have asked for a better start.“
Woods gave immediate hope to Stenson and the rest of the chasing pack by bogeying his first hole - his first dropped shot of the tournament. But he hit back two holes later with a birdie to maintain his outright lead.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, Feb. 1--UK indoor hurdles champion Sara McGreavy scored a double victory to inspire a young England team at the Elan indoor meeting in Bratislava on Thursday.
According to BBC, the Sale Harrier, 25, won her two 60m hurdles races in 8.39secs and 8.30secs.
She was joined on the winner’s podium Barnet’s Julian Adeniran, 19, who won his first international senior 60m hurdles in a personal best 7.94secs.
Tamworth’s Meghan Beesley, 18, was victorious in the 200m, with a winning time of 24.92secs.

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Feb. 1-- Edinburgh fighter Alex Arthur has been given a world title shot after securing a clash with WBO super-featherweight champion Joan Guzman on home turf.
The 29-year-old’s promoter, Frank Warren won the purse bids held at the WBO’s Puerto Rico headquarters, BBC said.
A date and venue have yet to be announced for the bout against the champion from the Dominican Republic.
Arthur already holds the interim title due to Guzman’s delays about whether to move up a weight division.
The Scot is delighted to have a chance to win the belt outright against the reigning champion.
“Frank has done a fantastic job winning the purse bids and securing home advantage for me in this mega-fight against Guzman,“ he said
“I’m really, really, excited by the challenge in front of me. It’s a chance to prove what I have always believed - that I belong in world-class company and will be world champion.
Warren added: “This year is looking to be one of the best ever for British boxing in terms of big fights.
“With (Enzo) Maccarinelli v (David) Haye and (Joe) Calzaghe v (Bernard) Hopkins in the coming months and now Arthur v Guzman, it is a boxing fan’s dream.
“I have done the job of getting Alex the fight on home turf, now it is down to him to do the business in the ring - which I’m sure he will do.

David Beckham

LONDON, Feb. 1--David Beckham will have to wait for his 100th international appearance.
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder was omitted Wednesday when Fabio Capello picked his first roster as England’s coach, wrote AP.
While bypassing the former captain for Wednesday’s exhibition game against Switzerland, Capello said he will consider picking Beckham in the future if the 32-year-old shows good form after the Major League Soccer season opens March 29.
“I know there has been a lot of discussion about David Beckham,“ Capello said. “When I spoke with David on the phone yesterday, I advised him that he is still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America, we will look closely at him again.“
Beckham would be England’s fifth player with 100 appearances, following Peter Shilton (125), Bobby Moore (108), Bobby Charlton (106) and Billy Wright (105). Beckham has been training with Arsenal to stay fit during the MLS offseason.
Capello instead chose Chelsea’s Shaun Wright-Phillips and Blackburn’s David Bentley as contenders for Beckham’s role on the right of midfield, although one could miss out when the coach trims the roster from 30 to a final 23 on Saturday.
Beckham was dropped from the national team when Steve McClaren took over after the 2006 World Cup, then returned last spring.
Beckham said: “I will carry on working hard and trying to get back in. I won’t get bitter and twisted because I am old enough and I have got enough respect for the manager to realize that if it does not happen, life goes on. I have been lucky enough in my career to come back from tough times and disappointments. If it doesn’t happen (winning a 100th cap), I will come back from it again, in my way. If it does, then great.“

The roster:
Goalkeepers: David James, Scott Carson, Chris Kirkland

Defenders: Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, Curtis Davies, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King Nicky Shorey, Wes Brown, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Matthew Upson, Jonathan Woodgate
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, David Bentley, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Stuart Downing, Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves, Jermaine Jenas, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Young

Forwards: Gabriel Agbonlahor, Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney