Former NBA player YAO MING arrived in Manila Saturday evening "for friendship games at the invitation of the Philippine Sports Commssion." During the visit, Yao "will lead a basketball clinic for poor children" in Pasig in Metro Manila, the country's capital region (XINHUA, 5/4). ... Cyclist JI CHENG became the first Chinese rider to compete in the Giro d' Italia, which began on Saturday (XINHUA, 5/3). ... Hockey India "has recommended" Indian field hockey team captain SARDAR SINGH for this year’s Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (THE HINDU, 5/4).
FOOTBALL NAMES: Former Iranian midfielder ALI PARVIN "was conferred prestigious Gold Award" on Friday in recognition of his services in Asian football for 30 years. The former player and coach of Persepolis club and Iran's national football team received his award from FIFA President SEPP BLATTER in a ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur (XINHUA, 5/5). ... League Championship Doncaster Manager BRIAN FLYNN "will step down as manager" following the club's promotion to the Championship, but "he will return to his development role at the South Yorkshire club" (GUARDIAN, 5/3). ... Three women were appointed to the Asian Football Confederation exec committee. Former Vice Captain of Australia's national team, MOYA DODD, was "re-elected unopposed" as the AFC's Female VP while North Korea's HAN UN-GYONG and Palestine's SUSAN SHALABI "also earned seats" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 5/3). ... ManU Manager ALEX FERGUSON "will have hip surgery this summer and may miss the start of next season" (ESPN, 5/4). ... Former EPL Aston Villa and League Championship Leeds United Manager DAVID O'LEARY "has won" $5.2M in compensation from Al Ahli FC following his sacking by the Dubai-based club. The "long-running dispute" was settled by FIFA's players' status committee "in favour of the Irishman," who was dismissed in April '11 after only eight months in charge (GUARDIAN, 5/3).
