Sports

World number one Rafael Nadal stretched his unbeaten run on clay to 32 matches yesterday as he beat Gael Monfils to reach the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open.

The cream of junior athletics in the Caribbean region will roll into the spotlight this morning at 9:30, when the 40th edition of the three-day LIME-sponsored Carifta Games sprints into action, in what should be an exciting day one at the Montego Bay Sports Complex at Catherine Hall, St James.

Wolmer's Boys sixth former, Miguel Asher took the 2011 National Junior Chess Champion title, after defeating Glenmuir's Andrew Ellis 2.5-1.5 in a four-game tie-break match at the end of regulation play in the Burger King National Junior Chess Championship, which took place at the Half-Way Tree Entertainment Complex between April 2 and 10.

Former national senior team netball captain Simone Forbes is due to face a hearing with the Jamaica Anti-Doping Committee (JADCO) on Tuesday. Forbes, a very skilful and high-percentage shooter who mostly plays the goal attack role, returned an adverse analytical finding during an out-of-competition drug test last month.

Sue Hawkins, head coach of the England netball team, said despite the unavailability of two of their most experienced defenders - Sonia McKloma and Geva Mentor - for their three-Test Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series against Jamaica, she is quite confident that her team can win the series.

Davendra Bishoo bowled memorably on his debut to follow-up a purposeful 65 from Lendl Simmons and propel West Indies to a seven-run victory in their first-ever Twenty20 international against Pakistan on Thursday.

Jamaica's athletes have dominated the Carifta Games for a long time and local athletes are again expected to win many medals at this weekend's renewal at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James.

The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has come out in support of the views expressed by Chris Gayle in a recent KLAS FM radio interview, in which he openly criticised the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for its treatment of him, prior to his recent decision to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Jamaica Rifle Association (JRA) has set its sights on the country, once again gracing the Olympic Games stage in the sport of shooting. Jamaica has not been represented in shooting on such a grand stage since 2004 when Canada-based Dawn Kobayashi participated at the Athens Olympics.

A new-look West Indies team and Pakistan will face off this afternoon as the Digicel Home Series bowls off with the lone 20/20 International at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP):Sri Lanka cricket officials cast doubt on Lasith Malinga's injury claims by saying it is "awkward" that he plays in the lucrative India Premier League (IPL) while saying he is unfit for the upcoming Test series in England.