World records set

SYDNEY: Australian Eamon Sullivan has broken the 50-meter freestyle world record again, lowering the mark to 21.41 seconds. Sullivan, competing in the semi-finals of the Australian championships on Thursday, broke the mark of 21.50 seconds set by France’s Alain Bernard at the European championships last weekend in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Bernard had broken Sullivan’s mark of 21.56 set last month. Also, Australian Libby Trickett broke the 100-metre freestyle world record with a new time of 52.88 seconds today. Trickett lowered German Britta Steffen’s old mark of 53.30 by 0.42 secs. — AP

Pires extends contract

VILLARREAL: Robert Pires signed a one-year extension that will keep him at Villarreal through 2009. The French midfielder’s current deal with the Spanish club originally ends on June 30. Pires has scored two goals in 26 games this season after the former France and Arsenal player missed most of last season with a knee injury. Villarreal is third in the Spanish league with 56 points, six behind leader Real Madrid. — AP