Figure Skating: Russian star Yevgeny Plushenko, who is currently competing at the European Championships in Sheffield, said he might miss the World Championships later this year because of injury problems. The three-time world champion said he suffered a back injury on his arrival in Sheffield in addition to an ongoing knee injury. Plus-henko, the 2006 Olympic and six-time European champion, has not competed in an international competition since taking silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Cricket: Australia’s Ricky Ponting became only the third player in history to pass 13,000 Test runs yesterday as he and captain Michael Clarke put India to the sword in the final Test in Adelaide. Ponting posted his 41st Test century while Clarke raised his 19th Test ton. The experienced pair shared in a ground record fourth-wicket partnership as Australia, chasing a 4-0 series whitewash, plundered the Indian attack to finish on 335-3. At the close, Ponting was unbeaten on 137 off 254 balls and Clarke 140 off 188 balls.
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Auto Racing: Danica Patrick (picture) has decided to skip this year’s Indy 500 to drive in the longest race in the stock car season, which also will be staged on May 29. Patrick announced last year she was leaving IndyCar to join NASCAR but held out hope her limited schedule could allow her to continue to compete in the signature Indy 500. Patrick first competed in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 when she finished fourth, the best Indy showing by a woman.
Golf: Jose Maria Olazabal has been granted more time to consider his two wild-cards for this year’s Ryder Cup. Instead of being named straight after the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on August 26, Olazabal is going to watch that night’s action from the United States. His two selections for the Ryder Cup will then be announced the following day.
Athletics: Three-time Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee was among three new members of the United States of America Track and Field board of directors announced on Monday by the national sport governing body. Sports attorney Eve Wright, a vice-president of the NBA’s Miami Heat, and Fox News Channel vice president Mickey Carter were named to spots on the panel as well. Joyner-Kersee, 49, won heptathlon gold at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games after taking silver at the 1984 Games and still holds the world record in the heptathlon.