Tue, 10 May 1994

From: AFP

Putting It Briefly

Canada wins world ice hockey

MILAN (Reuter): Canada, beaten on penalties in this year's Olympic final, won its first world championship for 33 years on Sunday through a sudden death penalty shot from captain Luc Robitaille.

Canada missed its last three regular penalty shots but was rescued by Robitaille who beat Finn goalminder Jarmo Myllys from close range.

Mika Nieminen then had to score to keep his side in the hunt but his shot was smothered by Canadian 'keeper Bill Ranford, who was immediately buried by jubilant teammates.

The victory was sweet relief for Canada's Paul Kariya, the only survivor of the Olympic team in the side. It was his missed shot which gave Sweden the Olympic title and he fluffed his penalty here as well.

Seve returns with a win

ST MELLION, England (AFP): Seve Ballesteros is back where the whole of European golf wants to see him - in the winner's enclosure.

After 26 barren, depressing months the game's most charismatic figure lifted the Benson and Hedges International at St Mellion by three strokes from Nick Faldo on Sunday and immediately went to the top of Europe's Order of Merit.

There were those who doubted if they would ever watch Ballesteros lift a trophy again, but after collecting the 69th title of his professional career - and a cheque for 108,330 pounds he said: "All the champions have bad times, but I have worked very hard and it has proved worth it.

Rominger takes 5th stage

ALTO CRUZ DE LA DEMANDA, Spain (Reuter): Toni Rominger tightened his grip on the Tour of Spain on Sunday, forging away on the punishing final climb to win his fifth stage.

The Swiss rider stretched his overall lead to nearly five minutes after clocking four hours 23 minutes 42 seconds in the 174-km 14th stage which ended with a tough eight-km ascent to Alto Cruz de la Demanda.

Colombian Oliverio Rincon finished 37 seconds behind, followed by Switzerland's Alex Zuelle and Spain's Mikel Zarrabeitia, both 45 seconds off the pace.

Deportivo gets 2-0 win

MADRID (Reuter): Deportivo Coruna beat Logrones 2-0 away in the Spanish first division on Sunday to regain their slim lead over Barcelona and ensure a nail-biting finish to the season.

Deportivo now lead champions Barcelona, who won 1-0 at arch- rivals Real Madrid on Saturday, by just one point with 55 points to the Catalans 54.

Fighting to avoid relegation to the second division, Logrones proved a tough nut to crack and it was not until the second half that Deportivo found a way through thanks to strikes from Brazilian Donato and Javier Manjarin.

China collects other titles

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (Reuter): China won the men's platform and women's three-meter springboard titles on Sunday at the Alamo International diving competition.

Sun Shuwei, 18, the 1992 Olympic platform gold medalist, won the men's platform title with 676.26 points for 10 rounds.

Sun scored three 10s, a perfect score, to clinch the victory in the ninth round on a back 3 1/2 dive.

Palmer wins 1st career title

PINEHURST, North Carolina (Reuter): Jared Palmer of the U.S., ranked 97 and playing relentlessly attacking tennis, won the first title of his career at the US$275,000 USTA Clay Court Classic on Sunday.

Palmer, unseeded and playing in his first final, upset top seeded American, Todd Martin, ranked 9 in the world, 6-4, 7-6 (7- 5) to collect the trophy and a $42,000 winner's cheque.

Martin who served well but made unforced errors on his forehand and volley, took $21,200 as runner-up.

Yuran suspended, Benfica drop point

LISBON (Reuter): League leader Benfica suspended striker Sergei Yuran for flouting the orders of his coach and then dropped an important point in the Portuguese first division on Sunday.

Ukrainian-born Yuran, set to play for Russia in the World Cup finals next month, was suspended minutes before the home game against Estrela Amadora for disobeying coach Antonio Oliveira and refusing to take his place on the substitutes' bench.

Benfica director Gaspar Ramos said Yuran lacked discipline and would remain suspended from all club activities pending an inquiry.