Sporting briefs

Inter: Inter have defended their lack of activity in this transfer market. Last season’s treble winning-team brought in youngsters Felipe Coutinho and Jonathan Biabiany but did not make any significant additions to the squad. Inter club administrator Ernesto Paolillo said: “We have already a team of great champions. We decided to keep our attention on (balancing) our books and decided not to spend uselessly.”

Riise: Norway left-back John Arne Riise has been ruled out of his side’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Portugal due to concussion sustained in training yesterday. The Roma defender was hurt during a training session behind closed doors at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo and was taken to hospital for routine exminations. Riise, who is 29 and has 89 caps.

O’Dea: Ireland defender Darren O’Dea has returned to his club after being ruled out of tonight’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Andorra through injury. The 23-year-old Ipswich player last week underwent a scan on a knee injury, which revealed a slight sprain, and although he was included in the party which flew out to Yerevan last Wednesday, he did not make the 18 for the 1-0 victory over Armenia.

FFA Aid: Football Federation Australia (FFA) said it would provide financial assistance to help struggling A-League club Newcastle Jets after just five games of the new season. The FFA’s move averted a threatened boycott by Jets players, who have not been paid for two weeks.

Whittaker: Scotland manager Craig Levein is sweating over the fitness of Steven Whittaker ahead of tomorrow’s European Championship qualifier against Liechtenstein. The Rangers full-back is struggling with a calf injury.

Scharner: New West Brom signing Paul Scharner will today try to convince Roberto Di Matteo he is fit enough to be considered for the weekend clash with Tottenham. Scharner will turn out for the reserves against Bolton at Albion’s training ground – his first match since appearing for Wigan against Chelsea on May 9.

Venglos: Gerard Houllier has been backed to be a success at Aston Villa by former manager Jozef Venglos. “I am sure that Aston Villa and Gerard Houllier are right for each other. It is a very good, well-run football club and Gerard is an excellent coach,” he said.

Div. II/III KO: San Ġwann vs Fgura 2-0; Mġarr vs Marsa 2-0.

Sailing: Australia’s Tom Slingsby won the Laser Standard sailing world title on Sunday off Hayling Island in England, his third championship in the last four years. Slingsby confidently saw off Britain’s Nick Thompson and Andrew Murdoch, of New Zealand.

Cycling: Spanish cyclist Luis Leon Sanchez said he has agreed a two-year contract with Dutch team Rabobank. The 26-year-old time trial specialist, who is currently taking part in the Tour of Spain with French team Caisse d’Epargne, said he will begin his contract with Rabobank in January 2011.

Basketball: The United States cruised past Angola 121-66 yesterday to move into the quarter finals of the world basketball championships. The game began according to script as the USA broke out to an early lead that would never be threatened for the remainder of the game. Angola’s Joaquim Gomes finished as the game’s top-scorer with 21 points. Billups finished up with 19 points, assisted by Kevin Durant, Memphis Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay and Los Angeles Clippers’ Eric Gordon who grabbed 17 points.

Tennis: Lleyton Hewitt will spearhead Australia’s bid against Belgium in the Davis Cup World Group play-off in Cairns later this month. Hewitt heads the Australian team which also includes Carsten Ball, Peter Luczak and Paul Hanley. The winner of the World Group play-off on September 17-19 will be in the competition’s elite for next year.

Golf: Three blind golfers will test their skills this week against Asian Tour professionals during the inaugural Handa Singapore Classic in a drive to encourage more people with disabilities to tee-off. Australian David Blyth, England’s Neil Baxter and Yam Ting Woo, of Malaysia, will play a three-hole challenge, each paired with a professional who will be blind-folded.