Pokhara Marathon

KATHMANDU: Nepal Former Players’ Forum of Pokhara is organising the fifth International Pokhara Marathon on February 18, said Nepal Athletics Association (NAA) in a release. Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal Police, Gyanendra Armed Police Force Officers’ Club as well as participant from various districts and foreign invitees are expected to take oart in the marathon. The top three winners will receive Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Meanwhile, the NAA, under the auspices of Nepal German Athletics Development Project, is organising the National Open Under Distance Competition on February 19 as a built up event for the 35th National Athletics Championships slated for March 3-5 in Kathmandu. — HNS

McGrath in doubt

MELBOURNE: Australian paceman Glenn McGrath is in doubt for the upcoming tour of South Africa after his English-born wife was confirmed on Friday as having a recurrence of cancer. Cricket Australia issued a statement on behalf of the family which said Jane McGrath would begin radiotherapy next week. She has previously been treated successfully for breast and bone cancer. — AFP

Jones sets world mark

MELBOURNE: Leisel Jones set a world record in the women’s 100-metres breaststroke on Friday at Australia’s swimming trials for the Commonwealth Games. Jones clocked 1 minute, 5.71 seconds in the final, wiping 0.49 seconds off American Jessica Hardy’s record set at the 2005 world championships in Montreal. It was Jones’ second world record of the week after she beat her own 200m breaststroke mark on Wednesday. — AP

Murali reprimanded

MELBOURNE: Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will face an “unofficial reprimand” after responding to crowd taunts in Perth with a single-finger gesture, officials said. A statement released by Cricket Australia, the sport’s governing body, on behalf of International Cricket Council match referee Jeff Crowe, said the matter would be discussed with Muralitharan in Hobart next week. Muralitharan was photographed making the gesture towards a man in the crowd at Sri Lanka’s match in Perth last Tuesday. The man had painted his face black and had the words “no-ball” painted across his chest. — AFP