Parmar out in Beijing anti-climax
Tennis: Arvind Parmar, the British No 3, lost 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the China Open to Israel’s Noam Okun yesterday. The 26-year-old from Hitchin, who had to win three matches in order to qualify, has now won just one of seven matches on the ATP circuit this year, although he has been more successful on the Challenger Tour.
His ranking in the ATP’s entry system was 185th when he arrived in China, with his most notable success this year being the Challenger event he won in Vietnam in late February.
Safe changes
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Motor racing: Formula One’s world governing body, the FIA, will introduce new safety regulations in 2005 after unanimous agreement from teams. There will be new wheel tethers to reduce the risk of tyres flying off, and new headrests for better protection.
Morris confirmed
Athletics: Tracey Morris, the surprise selection for Great Britain at the Olympics, will compete in this year’s BUPA Great South Run on October 10. Berhane Adere, the former world half-marathon champion, will challenge for the BUPA Great North Run title on September 26.
Bailey’s back
Squash: England’s unseeded Tania Bailey showed signs that her injury problems are behind her, crushing compatriot Linda Elriani for the loss of just four points — 9-2 9-0 9-2 — in 30 minutes in the second round of the WISPA Classic in Bahrain.
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Bircher triumphs
Swimming: Alan Bircher, the British open water swimmer, has won the Fina Marathon World Cup title in Atlantic City. The University of Bath swimmer, 22, finished the ten-kilometre race in 1hr 52min 12sec to collect the $4,000 (£2,221) first prize.Wheels in motion for Villeneuve
Motor racing: Jacques Villeneuve, the former world champion, is on the verge of a return to Formula One with Renault. He will test for Renault at Silverstone today and tomorrow as the French team evaluate whether to dismiss Jarno Trulli and install Villeneuve for the rest of the season. Trulli has been in poor form since announcing that he will leave Renault at the end of the season. Now he looks likely to miss the last three races, in China, Japan and Brazil, if Villeneuve proves that he still has the speed that saw him win the 1997 world title.
Parmar stunned
Tennis: Arvind Parmar, the British No 3, lost 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the China Open to Noam Okun, of Israel. The 26-year-old from Hitchin, who had to win three matches to qualify, has now won just one of seven matches on the ATP circuit this year.