Hantuchova defends title
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Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova won her second consecutive Pattaya Open title Sunday in Thailand, defeating Russia's Maria Kirilenko, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3. This was Hantuchova's fifth career title and her first since winning in Thailand a year ago.
Angelique Kerber won her first WTA title by overpowering second-seeded Marion Bartoli, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, in the Open GDF Suez final in Paris. Kerber became the first German to win the Paris tournament since Steffi Graf in 1995.
Zambia won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast, 8-7, on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie in Libreville, Gabon. Stophira Sunzu scored the deciding sudden-death penalty after Gervinho missed his kick for Ivory Coast. Zambia earned its first African title in the same city where 18 Zambian internationals died in a plane crash in 1993 in the country's worst sporting disaster.
Americans swept the 60-meter hurdles at the Karlsruhe indoor meet in Germany with victories by Yvette Lewis and Jeff Porter. Lewis won in 7.98 seconds after Carolin Nytra of Germany was disqualified for a false start. Russia's Tatyana Dektyareva second in 8.02 and another American, Loreal Smith, was third in 8.06. Porter had a personal best of 7.54 and was followed by Russia's Konstantin Shabanov and Italy's Emanuele Abate.
Bid officials from Qatar are heading to the International Olympic Committee to submit their candidacy for the 2020 Games. The Doha bid committee said officials plan to deliver the file today at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. The delegation includes two female athletes representing the country. Qatar has never sent a woman to the games but is hoping to include women in the London team this year.
Highlands boys basketball coach Shawn Bennis will resign at the end of the season to spend more time with his family. Bennis, who this year took over as principal at Highlands, is 37-32 in three seasons with the Golden Rams. Highlands, at 8-14 this season, qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs from Section 1.
First Published February 13, 2012 12:00 am
