Sports News in Brief
Hall of Fame
NEW YORK - Five-time grand slam singles champion Martina Hingis heads the 2013 class for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The other new members of the Hall announced yesterday are Cliff Drysdale, Charlie Pasarell and Ion Tiriac. Australian player Thelma Coyne Long's election was announced earlier. Hingis won a total of 15 major titles, including nine in women's doubles and one in mixed. The first came at Wimbledon in women's doubles in 1996, aged 15 years, 9 months, making her the youngest grand slam champion in tennis history. The Swiss player also was the youngest woman to reach world No.1 in March 1997 at 16, spending 209 weeks in the top spot. Hingis spent 35 weeks at No.1 in doubles.
Croft back
LONDON - Leicester flanker Tom Croft was added to England's training squad yesterdayy ahead of this weekend's Six Nations rugby fixture against Italy, while Owen Farrell is set to miss the Twickenham clash. Croft has recovered from a serious neck injury which initially looked set to keep him out for the entire Six Nations campaign and, after playing in last weekend's win over Sale, England coach Stuart Lancaster has opted to call up the 27-year-old. "Tom has been seen by a specialist, played back-to-back games and played 80 minutes at the weekend and did extremely well," said Lancaster, whose side are chasing a first grand slam since 2003.
Nadal to play
ACAPULCO, Mexico - Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has confirmed he plans to play in the Indian Wells hardcourt Masters tournament that begins yesterday in southern California. The world No.5, coming back from a seven-month injury layoff, said the event in the California desert was one of his favourites. "I love it and I look forward to competing," Nadal said. The March 4-17 Indian Wells tournament is one of nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events, which rank only below the four grand slams and the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in terms of ranking points and prestige.
Ban upheld
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Sport's highest appeals court has upheld the lifetime doping ban for Jamaican sprinter and former world relay champion Steve Mullings. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) says it dismissed the 30-year-old runner's appeal of the ban imposed by the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission in November 2011 after his second drug offence. Mullings tested positive for furosemide, a banned diuretic and masking agent, at the national trials ahead of the 2011 world championships. Mullings won gold in the 4x100-metre relay alongside Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell at the 2009 worlds.
Big win
TAIPEI - Kim Hyun-soo batted in two runs and starting pitcher Seung Song allowed just two hits over four innings yesterday as South Korea blanked Australia 6-0 in Group B of the World Baseball Classic. Australia fall to 0-2 in the group and must beat the Netherlands (1-1) today to have any hope of advancing. The South Koreans lift to 1-1 ahead of a crucial game today against hosts Taiwan. With a 2-0 record, Taiwan remain in a commanding position through to the next round in Tokyo