Chief executive insists midfielder will fulfil remainder of contract

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon insists Internazionale target Frank Lampard will see out the remainder of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Reuters, London- Nottinghamshire have recruited Indian batsman VVS Laxman as their replacement for outgoing overseas player Adam Voges, the English county cricket club confirmed on their Web site (www.nottsccc.co.uk).

REUTERS, LONDON- South Africa will target England's vulnerable middle order in the opening match of the four-test series starting at Lord's on Thursday.

Reuters, Colombo- Sri Lanka's unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis has been promoted to the rank of second lieutenant in the army after his match-winning exploits in the six-nation Asia Cup.

AFP, BEIJING  - Beijing's environment bureau insisted on Tuesday that pollution would not be a problem for the Olympics despite heavy smog enveloping the city exactly one month before the Games start.

New Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari insists Frank Lampard has told him he wants to remain at Stamford Bridge, reports BBC.

The Blues have rejected an official approach from Inter Milan to discuss the transfer of the England midfielder.

The United Arab Emirates is keen to host the 2010 edition the Asia Cup after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said the next tournament would be held in a non test-playing country, reports Reuters.

REUTERS, LONDON- A bitter-sweet legacy from the brutalities of the apartheid years lingers in South African sport.

SW, PALMA - Spanish Primera Division side Real Mallorca have signed Guinean striker Alhassane Keita. The forward will replace Daniel Güiza.

REUTERS, RIO DE JANEIRO- Out of form Ronaldinho has been included in Brazil's squad for the Olympic Games as an overage player.

REUTERS, LONDON- Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo successfully underwent surgery on his right ankle in Amsterdam on Monday, the Premier League champions said on their Web site (www.manutd.com).

AFP, PARIS - Rafael Nadal's epic final victory over Roger Federer at Wimbledon has seen him close the gap on the world number one to 545 points in the ATP rankings released on Monday.

The Spaniard could end the Swiss' stay at the top of the rankings, a position he has held for a record number of weeks

Peter Crouch is poised to complete his switch from Liverpool to Portsmouth in a deal that could be worth up to £11m, reports BBC.

AFP, BERLIN  - Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has said he is in no rush to sign a new contract with Chelsea, but insists that he is keen to stay at Stamford Bridge.

SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea's football governing body Monday named a former national coach to oversee the World Cup squad as it battles to gain superiority over regional rivals.

WCup warm-ups

AFP, SYDNEY - Australia will play South Africa and the Netherlands in warm-up games in August and September ahead of their Asian World Cup qualifying campaign, Football Federation Australia said Monday.

REUTERS, LONDON- Venus and Serena Williams returned to Centre Court three hours after doing battle in the singles final to secure the Wimbledon doubles title with a 6-2 6-2 thumping of American Lisa Raymond and Australian Samantha Stosur on Saturday.

REUTERS, TOYAKO, Japan- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said on Sunday that he would attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics which he saw as a sporting, and not a political, event.

AFP, LONDON - Heavy rain frustrated Rafael Nadal on Sunday when the Spaniard was within touching distance of dethroning five-time champion Roger Federer as Wimbledon champion.

When the players were sent scurrying off Centre Court, Nadal was 6-4, 6-4, 4-5 ahead in his attempt to win a first All England Club title to add to his four French Opens.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon says the club's bid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo has reached an impasse, reports BBC.