Taiwan's Huang Chun Hsiung slam dunks in the basketball match against Japan in the East Asian Games in Pusan. Taiwan won 79-47.

Muster's feats on clay face challenge

ROME: Michael Chang, the most successful tennis player this year, world No 1 Pete Sampras and `King of Clay' Thomas Muster are set for a star-studded Italian Open here this week.

Chang, who has already won four tournaments this year, including one on clay at Orlando, is on a winning roll which has taken the Chinese-American to second in the world rankings.

Muster, the defending champion, is looking to make a slice of tennis history by becoming the first man to win this tournament four times. He lost in the 2nd round at Monte Carlo.

Graf eager

HAMBURG: Women's tennis world No 2 Steffi Graf of Germany told the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper yesterday that she is healthy and looking forward to playing again after a three-month injury layoff. ``My knee can take the pressure again and even my back is playing along at the moment,'' Graf, 27, told the paper.

An injury-plagued Graf was forced to pull out of the final in Tokyo about three months ago, but will return to action this week at the German Open in Berlin.

Deep Blue on Net?

NEW YORK: IBM was reportedly considering the possibility on Saturday of making its chess-playing supercomputer Deep Blue available to Internet users brave enough to challenge the programme currently giving World champion Garry Kasparov the fits.

Deep Blue team leader CJ Tan said in New York yesterday an Internet connection is technically possible, and the company would very much like to put Deep Blue on the Web.

Tyson fighting fit

LAS VEGAS: Mike Tyson is ready to fight Evander Holyfield next month, Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Marc Ratner said, squelching rumours Tyson was out of shape and seeking a delay.

Holyfield is scheduled to defend his World Boxing Association title here on June 28 in a rematch with Tyson.

The fight had been set for one week ago but Tyson was cut above his left eye in sparring workouts last month and the bout was delayed.

Tiger miffed

LOS ANGELES: Masters champion Tiger Woods is miffed over an unauthorised use of his image on a commemorative medal and might sue.

The Franklin Mint has advertised a sterling silver medallion for 37 dollars, claiming the right to produce it was protected under rights to cover a news event.

``That was a total surprise to tiger,'' said John Oney, a lawyer for the agency that represents Woods, International Management Group.

``It's not endorsed by Tiger or any of his advisers. We are looking into what to do next, including legal action.''

Klinsmann's sorry

MUNICH: Bayern Munich striker Juergen Klinsmann has apologised for yelling at coach Giovanni Trapattoni and kicking a hole in an advertisement sign after being substituted in the 0-0 draw with Freiburg yesterday.

``A lot of things were boiling up inside me...And I had to swallow a lot,'' Klinsmann said. ``It was an over-reaction, something that should not happen to an experienced player.''

Trapattoni replaced German captain Klinsmann with Carsten Lakies. It was the 12th time this season that Klinsmann had been substituted during a match.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.