Venus targets titles not retirement
HONG KONG - After years of battling Sjogren's Syndrome and consequent loss of form, many tennis players in their mid-30s would be eyeing retirement -- but a resurgent Venus Williams says she's not ready to hang up her racquet yet. Fresh from winning her biggest title in five years, the seven-time Grand Slam champion will now be fighting for a return to the eight-player WTA Finals when she plays next week's Hong Kong Open. Victory at Wuhan Open was the 47th career title and second of the year for Williams, who picked up her 700th match win along the way and shot up 10 rankings places to 14th. "This season has been great... of course you could ask for more," the 35-year-old told AFP in an interview. "I want to win titles -- I want to maybe take some more home. There's still time this year."–AFP

Korda takes two shots lead in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR - Jessica Korda hit six birdies to take a two shot lead in the third round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Saturday, while Lydia Ko, a South Korea-born New Zealander, remains firmly in the race for the title. Ko trails her American rival Korda by just three shots. Friday's leader Jang Ha-Na of South Korea and American Stacy Lewis trailed Korda by two strokes with world number one Inbee Park four shots back. Ko, who hit three birdies and an eagle to card a 68 and ended the day nine-under par in the tropical heat, is hoping for a good finish on Sunday. "I have been watching a lot of great golf and maybe it led to me to do the same. The other girls are making a lot of birdies and playing really good golf, so for me to win ... I need to play some solid golf," she said.–AFP

Hayatou ‘delighted’ at taking Fifa charge
YAOUNDE - Issa Hayatou says he is "delighted" to step up to become acting Fifa president following Sepp Blatter's suspension. The 69-year-old Cameroonian head of the Confederation of African Football has taken temporary charge of Fifa as it wrestles with mounting sleaze allegations after Blatter's 90-day ban. "I'm really very delighted to have this responsibility," Hayatou told Cameroon television during a visit to Yaounde. "I know what's expected of me because I know Fifa. I will do everything to be able to live up to the confidence that the (Fifa) regulations have given me. It's up to the president to ensure everything runs correctly, but one person isn't able to do this enormous task, we are 209 associations around the world, so I can't say I'm going to do everything."–AFP

PSF marks World Squash Day
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Squash Federation celebrated World Squash Day yesterday. Squash great Jahanghir was present at the celebrations being held in Karachi by Sindh Squash Association in collaboration with Karachi City Squash Association. Similar events were also held at Punjab and KP where junior and senior level matches were held to mark the day. PSF secretary Group Captain Amir Nawaz when asked why no activity was arranged at Mushaf Mir Squash Complex, he said last time WSF gave special instructions to conduct events as they were expecting squash would be included in 2020 Olympics and all the senior players were available too. But due to non-availability of players, the PSF allocated events to associations, who marked the day in befitting manner. –Staff Reporter