Japan has decided its squad for the Asian Games in Qatar in December, with FC Tokyo striker Sota Hirayama and full international Hiroki Mizumoto both included in the Under-21 squad, Kyodo News said Friday.

Chinese ace Liu Xiang, the men's 110-meter hurdles world record holder, leads an internet poll for the World Athlete of the Year award.

FINA, swimming's world governing body, has renewed its call for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to stage evening swimming finals at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.

Multiple table tennis Olympic and world champion Kong Linghui has decided to hang up his bat and will take up a coaching role in the Chinese national team.

France star Zinedine Zidane, sent off in the World Cup final in Berlin, and Brazilian playmaker Rondalinho were named on a 30-man shortlist on Thursday for FIFA's World Player of the Year award.

Third seed Andy Roddick labored past Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-7, 6-1, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the Vienna Open.

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the Beijing Municipal Government, and the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee (BOCOG) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on inspection and quarantine for the Beijing 2008 Games.

A small plane carrying New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor slammed into a 40-story apartment building on Manhattan's Posh Upper East Side on Wednesday, the famed baseball team said.

Indiana Pacers Stephen Jackson was charged on Thursday with criminal recklessness, and booked into jail but was released after posting 10,000 US dollars for a fight at an Indianapolis strip club.

England manager Steve McClaren may recall David Beckham to represent England, his adviser Max Clifford disclosed on Thursday.