RI to host Germany in Fed Cup

RI to host Germany in Fed Cup

JAKARTA: Indonesia is drawn against Germany in the Fed Cup
World Group play-offs. The tie will be staged in Jakarta on July
19 through July 20, a report said on Friday.

The Indonesian team, comprising Angelique Widjaja, Wynne
Adiati Prakusya, Sandy Gumulya and Suzanna Anggarkusuma, secured
its berth in the play-offs after their winning run at the Tokyo
qualifying stage last week.

Germany, with team members Anca Barna, Marlene Weingartner,
Martina Muller and Barbara Rittner, was relegated to the play-
offs after losing to the Slovak Republic in the World Group
matches.

Other pairings are (host first): Japan-Sweden, Argentina-
Hungary, Australia-Colombia, Austria-Canada, Croatia-Brazil,
South Africa-Czech Republic and Switzerland-Israel.

The winning eight nations will proceed to the first round of
the World Group in 2004, while the losers will return to
Qualifying Group I matches.--JP

;REUTERS;
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Putbriefs-Soccer-Henry
Henry named Football Writers' Player of the Year
JP/9/Brief

Henry named 'Player of the Year'

LONDON: Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry has been voted
the Football Writers' Association (FWA) player of the year, it
was announced on Friday.

The award comes less than a week after he was voted English
Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) player of the year.

Henry, who joined Arsenal for 10.5 million pounds (US$16.89
million) in 1999, has enjoyed a prolific season, banging in 36
goals for club and country, including two in France's 5-0
thrashing of Egypt on Wednesday.--Reuters

;AFP;
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Putbriefs-Auto-Prix-Ferrari
New Ferrari makes slow start
JP/9/Brief

New Ferrari makes slow start

BARCELONA, Spain: Ferrari's new F2003-GA made a slow start on
its debut in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix here on Friday
as world champion Michael Schumacher ended in an unfamiliar 15th
position.

Schumacher's team-mate Rubens Barrichello could only post the
10th best time during the hour-long practice session at the
Catalunya circuit as the new car made a long-awaited
introduction.

The latest Ferrari, dubbed the 'Red Shark' by the Italian
media, missed its scheduled debut in the San Marino Grand Prix
two weeks ago because of problems with reliability. --AFP

;AFP;
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Putbriefs-Olympics-Press
Olympic press center handed over to Games organizers
JP/9/Brief

Olympic press center handed over

ATHENS: Greek prime minister Costa Simitis will hand over
responsibility for the Athens Olympics press center to the Games'
organizers at an official ceremony on Monday.

The media headquarters, built at a cost of 71 million euros,
is situated in the Olympic complex in the northern suburb of
Maroussis.

"This delivery, 15 months before the Games, underlines our
attachment to the calendar," Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek
culture minister responsible for the Games' preparations,
emphasized on Friday. --AFP

;AFP;
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Putbriefs-Golf-Nicklaus
Nicklaus clan form fab five
JP/9/Brief

Nicklaus clan form fab five

TRAVELERS REST, South Carolina: Jack Nicklaus played a
competitive round alongside all four of his sons for the first
time here Thursday in the opening round of the Nationwide Tour's
Charity Pro-Am.

Rain suspended play here at the US developmental tour event,
but not before 63-year-old Nicklaus fired an even-par 71 at the
Keowee Vineyards Course, one stroke atop Gary, Michael and Jack
II in the 575,000-dollar celebrity event.

"I think 71 is better than an 85, which is the last first
round I shot," said Nicklaus, referring to his opening-round
score at The Masters this year. --AFP

;REUTERS;
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Putbriefs-Soccer-Sukur
Sukur to leave Blackburn at end of season
JP/9/Brief

Sukur to leave Blackburn

LONDON: Turkish striker Hakan Sukur is expected to leave
Blackburn Rovers at the end of the season, the English premier
league club said on Friday.

"The club is not in a position to make him an attractive
offer," a Blackburn spokesman said.

The 31-year-old, who scored twice in the side's 4-0 win at
Fulham last month, his only goals for the club, arrived at
Blackburn on a short-term deal from Italian club Parma in
December. --Reuters