Sporting briefs

Fan killed: One fan was killed and 22 people, including 12 policemen, injured in clashes before a Bosnian match yesterday in the town of Siroki Brijeg. The game between Sarajevo and Siroki Brijeg was called off after several hundred Sarajevo fans threw stones at shop and bar windows in the centre of the Croat-dominated town.

Sweden: Sweden coach Lars Lagerback added Panathinaikos defender Mattias Bjarsmyr to complete his 23-man squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Albania. Sweden, in second place in Group One, take on leaders Denmark on Saturday in Copenhagen and face Albania at home four days later.

World Cup bid: Madrid will focus on trying to help Spain’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals after failing to win the vote for the 2016 Summer Olympics, mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said. “The Spanish soccer federation helped us try to get the Olympics and we will now support them so they can get the World Cup,” Ruiz-Gallardon said.

Puyol: Barcelona captain Carles Puyol should decide whether to accept the club’s offer of a contract extension by the end of the year, president Joan Laporta said. “He already knows our decision, that we want him to continue,” Laporta said.

Rugby Union: The Australian Rugby Union said it will make a cash donation and launch a series of fund-raising initiatives to assist tsunami victims in Samoa and Tonga. The ARU said it will donate 10,000 dollars ($8,700 US) along with training and playing equipment and will organise a collection at a Wallabies’ public training session ahead of their tour to Britain and Ireland.

Hopman Cup: Sabine Lisicki will have some unfinished business when she leads Germany’s challenge for a third Hopman Cup title next January. The tennis tournament organisers announced yesterday that Lisiscki and Philipp Kohlschreiber would represent Germany in the mixed teams event. Lisicki made her Hopman Cup debut earlier this year when she and Nicolas Kiefer were in contention for the final until Kiefer suffered a serious ankle injury.

Cricket: Captain Daniel Vettori praised Grant Elliott after he batted with a broken thumb to lead New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Pakistan in Saturday’s Champions Trophy semi-final. The all-rounder needed an injection before anchoring New Zealand’s run-chase with 75 not out off 103 balls. “Grant played an innings of such character,” Vettori said after New Zealand set up a final meeting with Australia in Centurion today.

Golf: Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa fired birdies on the last two holes to win the Tokai Classic by a stroke yesterday. The 18-year-old, already one of Japan’s biggest sporting celebrities, carded a three-under-par 69 to finish 14 under par and capture his fourth title of the year on Japan’s JGTO Tour. It took the Japanese money ranking leader’s earnings for the season to more than $1.3 million. His decision to turn pro in 2008 was estimated to earn him close to $10 million in the first five years.

Tennis: Frenchman Gilles Simon claimed his first title of the year after a 7-5 6-3 win over Serbian Viktor Troicki in the Thailand Open yesterday. The pair were evenly matched throughout the 75-minute encounter but it was the Serbian’s mistakes that ultimately cost him his first career title. The win gave Simon his sixth career title.