AUG 21, 2004
Sports File

POLICE VOW TO PUNISH RIOTERS

CHINESE police have promised to bring to task those who were responsible for the crowd violence that followed China's 1-3 loss to Japan in football's Asian Cup final in Beijing earlier this month, said a government spokesman yesterday.

After the final whistle, crowds chanting anti-Japanese insults, broke bottles, burned Japanese flags, and exchanged kicks and punches with police outside the stadium.

Public Security Ministry spokesman Hao Chiyong said: 'Mobbing and vandalism are strictly prohibited by law, and police will mete out penalties to those responsible.' -- AP

AGASSI IN FINE FORM AHEAD OF U.S. OPEN

FIVE-TIME champion Andre Agassi beat Kristian Pless 6-4, 6-2 to win his eighth consecutive match and book a place in the quarter-finals of tennis' Washington Open on Thursday.

The American, showing no signs of the hip injury which forced him to miss Wimbledon, improved his record at the event to 43-10 and looks to be hitting form in time for next month's US Open. -- AFP

LURID PICTURES OF MARADONA IN PAPER

A MEXICAN newspaper on Thursday published photos of Argentinian soccer great Diego Maradona allegedly snorting cocaine at a wild party, walking naked among friends, and having sex with his girlfriend - in a drug rehabilitation clinic in Cuba.

The Record newspaper said the footage was recorded in March, shortly before he left for Argentina to treat his drug addiction. It also reported that his girlfriend is expecting a baby in November. -- AP

WOODLANDS BEATEN BY NIIGATA

WOODLANDS Wellington, whose coach Simon Clark resigned earlier this week, conceded two late goals to Albirex Niigata last night in football's S-League and lost 1-2 at the Woodlands Stadium.

Park Kung Guy gave the hosts the lead in the eighth minute. But, after defender Woodlands' Azmi Mahamud was sent off in the 47th minute, Niigata dominated and got the equaliser in the 73rd minute through Ryuji Sueoka.

Kenji Arai secured three points for the visitors with his 89th-minute goal.


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