Japan Starts Strong in University Games

Host Japan made the splashiest start in the World University Games at Fukuoka, Japan, taking five gold medals in swimming, judo and gymnastics Thursday, while China rebounded from a doping scandal with one swimming gold.

Japan won the women’s 800-meter freestyle and 400-meter individual medley, along with two judo golds and victory in the men’s gymnastics team event.

Tamako Kihara took the lead from Australia’s Chloe Flutter after 500 meters and won the 800 in 8 minutes 40.68 seconds. American Julie Millis was second.

Fumie Kurotori led all the way in a 1-2 Japanese sweep in the individual medley, winning in 4:45.66. American Kerri Hale of Michigan was third in 4:54.45.

Russia opened with gold medals in swimming and judo. The United States had at least one medal in each of the six swimming races, but only one gold, in the women’s 800-meter freestyle relay.

In basketball, the U.S. men’s team trounced Russia, 115-48, led by Connecticut guard Ray Allen’s 17 points. UCLA’s Charles O’Bannon scored nine. The American women started with a 93-54 victory over Ukraine.

France, in swimming, and Cuba, in judo, won the other gold medals on the first full day of competition in the games among more than 4,000 athletes from 163 nations and territories.

The Chinese, under fire after seven swimmers were banned for doping after last year’s Asian Games, were barred from the Pan Pacific meet earlier this month in Atlanta.

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Franzi van Almsick of Germany won two more gold medals in the European Swimming Championships at Vienna, giving her four in three days.

One of the victories, in the 400-meter freestyle, was a breakthrough for her since it was her first in a major distance race.

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Michael Johnson and Gwen Torrence, winners of five gold medals between them at track’s World Championships, line up for gold in a different form at today’s Van Damme Memorial at Brussels.

The Grand Prix event is the third of the Golden Four meets, offering 44 pounds of gold, or a split of it, to any athlete who can win his or her specialty at Oslo, Zurich, Brussels and Berlin.

Britain’s Linford Christie, German javelin thrower Raymond Hecht, 5,000 meter world champion Sonia O’Sullivan of Ireland and javelin world champion Natalja Schikolenko of Belarus also have shots at sweeps.

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Billy Payne, president of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, assured state legislators that he will not need state tax dollars to help finance the $1.6 billion Olympics in Atlanta next summer.

Tennis

Top-seeded defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov routed fellow Russian Alexander Volkov, 6-1, 6-2, at Commack, N.Y., and advanced to the quarterfinals of the $328,000 Hamlet Cup.

Also advancing with second-round victories were Renzo Furlan of Italy, a 6-4, 6-0 winner over No. 4 Andrei Medvedev of Ukraine, and Shuzo Matsuoka of Japan, 6-2, 6-3, over Andrei Chesnokov of Russia.

Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden upset fourth-seeded Gilbert Schaller of Austria, 6-4, 6-0, in the second round at the $375,000 Croatia Open at Umag, Croatia.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals was fifth-seeded Francisco Clavet of Spain, defeating compatriot Alex Lopez-Moron, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

No. 7 Carlos Costa of Spain defeated Franco Davin of Argentina, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-3.

Soccer

Major League Soccer signed forwards Roy Lassiter, Brian McBride and Richard Sharpe, bringing to 28 the number of players under contract to the 10-team league, which is scheduled to begin play in April.

Los Angeles Salsa owner William De La Pena has become a part owner of Club Atletico de Celaya in the Mexican first division, assuming the title of vice president and director of international affairs. Celaya recently signed former Spanish national team striker Emilio Butragueno from Real Madrid in Spain.

Names in the News

The Detroit Red Wings have matched the New York Rangers’ offer to left wing Stu Grimson, the team said. . . . The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals turned down an appeal by former Kansas City Royal first baseman Willie Aikens to overturn his 1994 conviction for selling crack cocaine, which means Aikens must continue serving his 20-year federal prison sentence. . . . The Mighty Ducks have named Paddy Jarit as the team’s trainer and physical therapist, replacing Blynn DeNiro. . . . The pro beach volleyball team of Karch Kiraly and Scott Ayakatubby is seeded No. 1 in the Miller Lite Championships in Hermosa Beach beginning today and running through Sunday.