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; ANPAs..r.. 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; ANPAs..r.. 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; ANPAs..r.. 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; ANPAs..r.. 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; ANPAs..r.. 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