South-East Asia

Poor ticket sales for the Malaysian Formula Grand Prix has been blamed on hotel owners hiking up room prices, according to the circuit?s owner.

Ticket sales for next month's Formula One race in Sepang, Malaysia, have been slow, with some industry sources blaming an "overload" of Formula One.

The opening leg of the UIM Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, will be used as a benchmark for other venues of the 14-round UIM world championship

The International Cricket Council has approved South Africa?s proposals for the format of the 2003 World Cup.

Despite crackdowns and steep penalties, illegal betting on horse racing in Singapore is still a bustling S$10 million (US$5.72 million) a month business.

Manchester United wants to increase sales from its merchandising operation abroad by transferring responsibility for its overseas stores to regional partners with local expertise.

Fox Sports have bid for Australian pay-TV rights to Formula One racing but have yet to receive an answer from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the sport's governing body the FIA.

Indian hockey authorities have sacked chief coach Vasudevan Baskaran and dropped three senior players after their disappointing seventh-place finish at the Sydney Olympics.

Manchester United will play three games on a summer tour of Asia next year to consolidate their popularity there.

Cricket chiefs of three Asian nations have sought a meeting with the Indian government to request reversing its decision to cancel a tour of Pakistan.

Malaysian sports officials were dumbfounded after the country lost its bid to host the 2006 Asian Games to Qatar.

Delegations from four cities bidding for the 2006 Asian Games will gather in the South Korean city of Pusan this weekend for last-minute lobbying ahead of Sunday's vote to decide the host city for the event.

The first Grand Prix of next season, which takes place in Melbourne, Australia, will utilise ticketing services from Synchro Systems? sister company Ticketmaster 7 of Australia.

Mugen-Honda, the Formula One engine suppliers, may stay in the sport next season contrary to widespread speculation that they were pulling out, team boss Hirotoshi Honda has said.

Beijing is eyeing the 2008 Olympics as a cure for problems ranging from choking smog to taxi-clogged streets, and as an image boost for the Communist capital.

India has made a bid to stage the 15th Asian Games in 2006.