TOKYO: Japan coach Zico left hospital yesterday after spending the night under observation because of severe stomach pains, the Japan Football Association (JFA) said.

It was initially feared Zico would need surgery, but the 53-year-old Brazilian was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and would take a week off work, according to JFA officials.

"They thought yesterday it might be a blockage of his intestines and he would need an operation," JFA chairman Saburo Kawabuchi told reporters.

"But after a day's rest it looks as if it has improved. It was probably a build-up of fatigue. There will be no changes to the national team's schedule."

Zico took over as Japan coach after the 2002 World Cup and led the Asian champions to this year's finals in Germany.

Japan are drawn alongside Australia, Croatia and holders Brazil in Group F.

Zico became a legend after marking 67 goals for the Brazilian national team - the highest after Brazilian soccer king Pele. He took the chief post of Japan's national team in July 2002.

Nine-man Boca beat Banfield, River thrashed

BUENOS AIRES: Boca Juniors had two players sent off for the second weekend in a row but still managed to beat Banfield 2-1 in the Argentina championship on Sunday.

Lanus hammered River Plate 4-1 while Newell's Old Boys held arch-rivals Rosario Central 0-0. River, Boca and Newell's are now level at the top of the Clausura championship with 25 points from 13 games.

Boca went ahead in the 15th minute when Banfield defender Marcos Galarza deflected Martin Palermo's shot into his own net.

The game seemed to turn Banfield's way in the 50th minute when Daniel Diaz handled Jose Sand's goal-bound shot on the line and was sent off. Jose Datolo fired home the penalty to equalise.

In the 72nd minute, Boca midfielder Federico Insua was given a second yellow card for diving, leaving his team with nine men.

But Banfield failed to capitalise and Boca snatched a last-minute winner when Hugo Ibarra's long-range shot caught goalkeeper Cristian Lucchetti out of position.

Sina ups World Cup blitz

Sina corporation has stepped up efforts to have more fans join in the World Cup extravaganza.

One month after the nation's leading online media company launched its World Cup website 2006.sina.com.cn, it set up a World Cup Saloon at the weekend for a simulated fight between Argentina and Brazil, in a bid to cater to fans who are crazy about the two powerhouses in soccer field.

Co-operation with overseas agencies such as Reuters, the Associate Press, AFP and ESPN assures football fans of timely information on the World Cup.

The company has also launched its Selection for Sina World Cup Baby, involving hundreds of thousands of fans. A series of online and offline exchange campaigns between fans over the next two months are also on the cards.

According to Cao Guowei, CEO of Sina, the company will invest 50 million yuan (US$ 6. 25million) into its World Cup promotional activities.

Tennis

Instant replays a success, players and organizers say

SINGAPORE: Instant-replay technology used at last week's Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami to settle disputed line-calls was a success, organisers and tennis players said.

A total of 161 calls were challenged during the March 22-April 2 combined men's and women's event. Of those, 53 were successful.

"If (Miami) is any indication, fans are in for an even more entertaining experience as we continue to roll out electronic line calling at ... WTA Tour events," said the tour's Angie Cunningham.

"Our players have really been impressed with the system, and they are finding out just how hard it can be to call a ball travelling at the speeds that our players hit it these days," she added in a statement.

The men's tour was equally impressed.

"We could not be more pleased with how the video review system worked in its first use, but I also feel this first tournament showed a lot about the professionalism and skill of our line judges," said Gayle Bradshaw, the ATP Administrator of Rules Competition.

"We look forward to evaluating the entire process, and we will work in the coming months to improve the challenge system in order to make the experience even better for players, spectators and the television viewers."

Federer overcomes Ljubicic to retain Miami title

MIAMI: Top seed Roger Federer maintained his stranglehold over Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic with a 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 win to lift his second straight Nasdaq-100 Open title on Sunday.

Victory in two hours, 56 minutes for the Swiss world No 1 earned him an American tournament double for the second year in a row after back-to-back wins in Indian Wells and Miami.

"It was a very lucky match point (net cord)," Federer told reporters. "I'm extremely happy. To win back-to-back like this is unbelievable. I never thought I'd do it again. It really feels great."

The Swiss, who has now beaten Ljubicic in their last seven ATP meetings, took his 2006 win-loss record to 28-1 - a run that includes four titles.

Four of Federer's meetings with Ljubicic have come in finals with the Swiss now 10-3 against Croatia's Davis Cup captain.

The Swiss, who had never won three tie breaks in a match, was playing his 11th straight final since June, 2005. He won eight of the previous 10, losing only to David Nalbandian in Shanghai at the Masters Cup and Rafael Nadal in Dubai last month.

Federer, who has now won 28 of his last 30 finals, is unbeaten in Masters Series tournaments since he lost to Richard Gasquet in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals last April.

Cycling

International cycling competition to be held in Chongming

The 2006 Tour de Chongming will be held in Chongming, an island near China's financial hub Shanghai, from April 15 to 19, said the Chinese Cycling Association (CCA) yesterday.

This is the third time the island will play host to a cycling competition with two national championships being held in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

The US$30,000 tournament features five stages around the island, attracting more than 100 cyclists from 15 countries and regions.

Eleven international teams have confirmed their participation and four Chinese teams, led by national champion Li Fuyu, are set to join the fray.

Organized by CCA and the Shanghai Sports Bureau, the event is the counrty's second largest cycling competition after Tour de Qinghai Lake.

Despite being home to the largest number of bicycles in the world, China is way behind in cycling competitions. Also, the country's sole cycling gold hope at the Beijing Olympics - the women's 500 Time Trial - was cut from the Games by the International Cycling Union last year.

This embarrassing situation could see a reversal with Feng Yong winning a gold medal at the World Cup Series in Australia earlier this year. This win was accompanied by the building up of the country's first women's professional team and a series of sponsorships.

(China Daily 04/04/2006 page16)