University students take to soccer

The 2002-2003 Philips Chinese University Football League kicks off on October 19 at the Beijing People's University.

The two-year-old league has become a hot topic on Chinese college and university campuses, further confirming football as the No 1 sport in the world's most populous nation.

The organizers, the Chinese University Sports Association and the Philips Electronics China Group, will also host opening ceremonies in Qingdao, Kunming, Wuhan, Xi'an, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Competitions in other 25 provinces will follow.

Besides Hong Kong and Macao, who can directly enter the second round, other teams in 33 cities, provinces and autonomous regions will have to go through a strenuous first-round competition. Only the first-placed teams can enter the second round.

To add to the intensity of competition, the number of teams for the grand national finals has been increased to 16: three each from the east zone, north zone and west zone, two from the south zone, the top four from last season's finals and the hosting university team.

A series of other activities centering the league will also be held during the season.

Dyer out of England squad

LONDON: A back strain has led England midfielder Kieron Dyer to pull out of the squad for Wednesday's Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia.

The Newcastle player first hurt his back in the 2-1 win in Slovakia on Saturday but, after training with the squad on Monday, he was deemed not fit enough to play in the tie at Southampton's St Mary's stadium.

Dyer has been sent back to Newcastle to receive further treatment.

His withdrawal reduces Sven-Goran Eriksson's left-sided options, with the England coach having to choose whether to keep faith with the midfield quartet that started in Macedonia but had to be reshuffled at half-time.

Dyer was another option for him on the left flank, while he could also opt for a front three of Emile Heskey, Michael Owen and Alan Smith.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Lewis in record books after golden show

WASHINGTON: Michael Lewis, playing in only his second NFL season at the age of 30, put his name in the record books with 356 combined yards in the New Orleans Saints's 43-27 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

It was the third best single-game performance in NFL history. Denver's Glyn Milburn picked up a record 404 combined yards against Seattle on December 10, 1995.

Billy Cannon had 373 for Houston against the New York Titans in the old American Football League in 1961, also on December 10.

Lewis amassed most of his yards on kickoff and punt returns. He returned one kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, then took back a punt 83 yards for another score.

He also caught two passes for 70 yards.

Lewis never went to college and was passed over by NFL teams before his hometown Saints gave him a chance in 2001.

He has Arena League experience and also did a stint in the NFL's European League with Rhein.

Lewis drove a beer truck when times were tough.

(china daily)