Badminton Tournament

KATHMANDU: On the occasion of the 54th Democracy Day, Himalayan Badminton Club (HBC) is holding the third open badminton competition in the covered hall at the National Sports Council (NSC) from Wednesday, informed joint-secretary of the HBC, Pratap Adhikari. Around 150 players will be participating in five events of men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, junior boys’ singles and veterans’ doubles. NSC, Nepal Police, Armed Police are supporting the competition. Though the competition is an open one, none of the players selected for upcoming SAF Games have registered their names. — HNS

ANFA’s football magazine

KATHMANDU: Member secretary of the Nepal Sports Council (NSC), Kishor Bahadur Singh unveiled the monthly football magazine, published by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) in ANFA Complex today. Addressing the programme, Singh said the NSC was ready to provide support to every sports association to publish magazineS to inform about their activities.” Addressing the programme, ANFA president Ganesh Thapa informed that his organisation had emulated FIFA and AFC. “ Though the publisher is ANFA, the expenses will be generated from advertisements and sales of magazines”, Thapa disclosed. — HNS

Paula Radcliffe beaten

SAN JUAN: World record-holder Paula Radcliffe was beaten in her first race of the year when she was pipped by Kenyan-born Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands in a 10 km road race on Sunday. It was the 30-year-old Briton’s first race of 2004 and marked a return to the scene of a world-record performance 12 months ago. Radcliffe finished four seconds adrift of Kiplagat - who took out Dutch citizenship last year when marrying coach Pieter Langerhorst.

US beat South Korea

TOKYO: Clayton Stanley led the way with 18 points on Monday as the United States cruised to a straight-sets victory over South Korea at the men’s volleyball World Cup. Stanley, who remains top scorer for the US team, put up 14 points on the attack to help the Americans to a 25-20, 25-20, 25-17 win at Marine Messe Fukuoka. With the victory, the US improved to 6-1 in the tournament that serves as a qualifier for next year’s summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Andre Agassi withdraws

SCOTTSDALE: Four-time champion Andre Agassi withdrew from the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic because of a hip injury, the tournament said on Sunday. The 33-year-old Agassi, who was hurt playing at a tournament in San Jose two weeks ago, wants to heal in time for upcoming events. He won the Scottsdale title in 1993-94, ‘98 and 2002.

Police arrest fans

LONDON: Police arrested 80 soccer fans after violence flared at four English games on Sunday. While confident they can stop English soccer hooligans causing mayhem at the European Championships in June, police were given a reminder that fan violence back home is increasing. Police were pelted with bottles outside a pub where fans of division three Hull City had gathered before their game against local rival Lincoln.