Sports News in Brief
Bryant injured
ATLANTA, Georgia - Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant severely sprained his left ankle in the last minute of Thursday's 96-92 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and is out indefinitely. Bryant tried to tie the game on a baseline jumper when he came down on Dahntay Jones' foot. The 15-time NBA all-star Bryant missed the shot and dropped to the court in pain. He eventually stood up and walked off under his own power.
Celebration
MOHALI, India - Australia vice-captain Shane Watson and wife Lee were on Thursday night celebrating the birth of their first child, Will. The timely nature of the birth means Watson would be free to return to the side for Australia's fourth cricket Test against India in Delhi on February 22, although the batsman has threatened to quit the game following his shock suspension earlier this week.
Race stopped
LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland - World Cup organisers yesterday were forced to call off the closing men's and women's super-Gs of the season due to poor visibility and gusts of wind. The men's race was firstly delayed for three and a half hours in the hope that the weather would improve and it did finally get underway in the early afternoon. But 2012 World Cup downhill champion Klaus Kroll of Austria then had a spectacular fall which resulted in him being evacuated off the piste by helicopter. Shortly afterwards organisers announced that there would be no more skiing and that the race had been called off without any results being recorded.
Must win game
IPOH, Malaysia - World champions Australia face a must-win match against New Zealand to book a place in the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup after drawing 3-3 with South Korea. Australia sit at the top of the table but with hosts Malaysia only behind on goal difference after their 2-2 draw with Pakistan. The Kookaburras have to next play New Zealand, who revived their hopes of getting into the final with a 2-0 win over India. The Kookaburras could have sealed their final place with a win on Thursday but will now need a result against defending champions New Zealand on Saturday.
Barba returns
SYDNEY - Bulldogs star Ben Barba is on track to make his NRL return with coach Des Hasler confirming he's back training with the side. Hasler said the 2012 Dally M player of the year wouldn't be back for next Thursday's grand final rematch against the Storm in Melbourne due to the short turnaround. "He trained this morning, but we'll just wait and see," Hasler said. "It's round two and it's such a long season."
New club
SYDNEY - St George Illawarra are looming as the most likely Australian NRL club to secure the services of sacked Raiders star Josh Dugan with his father's strong support for the club believed to be a motivating factor. The Dragons are reportedly still interested in Dugan after failing to secure his signature in 2012 when he opted to re-sign with Canberra for a contract worth $1.3 million over two years. It is understood that Dugan's father is a stout Dragons supporter, which could influence the 22-year-old's chances of heading to the club.