Kebede wins race

FUKUOKA: Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia bettered his personal best time to win the Fukuoka international men’s marathon for the second year on Sunday. The 22-year-old left the last challenger and compatriot, Dereje Tesfaye, at around the 33-km mark and made a long solo running to cross the finishing line in two hours five minutes 18 seconds. Kebede’s previous best time was 2:05:20 set at the London marathon this season. It was the ninth fastest time in the world and a new meet record, beating the previous mark of 2:06:10 he set when he won the same event last season. Tekeste Kebede came in second in 2:07:52, followed by 2005 Fukuoka champion Dmytro Baranovskyy of Ukraine third in 2:08:19.

Ribery ruled out

MUNICH: Bayern Munich’s French international star Franck Ribery will miss Tuesday’s trip to Juventus for a crucial Champions League match, the German club confirmed on Sunday. The 26-year-old has been repeatedly plagued by a knee infection since the season began and while he can now run without pain, he admits he is struggling for the match at Turin’s Olympic Stadium. Tendinitis in his knee cap means Ribery has not played since October 3, but he expects to be ready to face Hertha Berlin on December 19 at Munich’s Allianz Arena. Bayern need to win to reach the knock-out stages of the Champions League.