Suguri Wins Japan’s Figure Skating Title

Fumie Suguri won her fifth national figure skating title Sunday in Tokyo, gaining one of three spots for Japanese women at the Turin Olympics.

She will be joined at the Winter Games by former world champion Shizuka Arakawa and Miki Ando.

“This is a good result for me,” said Suguri, who was second at the NHK Trophy this month. “I’m relieved that I was picked, but at the same time I’ll need to do a lot more to improve on my performance.”

Suguri, a two-time world bronze medalist, has struggled recently because of injuries. She was second after the short program and was virtually flawless in the free skate at Yoyogi Arena, finishing with 194.16 points.

Teenager Mao Asada was second with 188.10 points after a free skate featuring two triple axels. Arakawa, who led after the short program, was third with 187.36.

Asada, who became the first female skater to do two triple axels in a free program, is ineligible for the Olympics. She turned 15 in September, less than three months after the July 1 deadline the International Skating Union set for eligibility for the Winter Olympics. The ISU made the rule change in 1996 on medical advice.

“I’m very happy to have done two triple axels. I wasn’t thinking about the championship but was just focusing on the two triple axels,” Asada said. “I’d give myself 95 out of 100 for today’s skate.”

The Japanese federation has said they will not make any special requests to the ISU to alter the rule to get Asada to the Olympics.

The ISU has made it clear it will not change the rule for an individual case so close to the Olympics.

Asada won the Grand Prix final at the same arena last week, beating world champion Irina Slutskaya.

Suguri was fifth at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Arakawa will be making her first Olympic appearance since Nagano in 1998. Ando, who finished sixth, will be making her Olympic debut.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson Player Suffers

Injuries in Auto Accident

Clemson reserve offensive lineman Christopher Capote will not play against Colorado in Tuesday’s Champs Sports Bowl after being injured in an automobile accident Thursday night in Orlando, Fla.

According to the State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., Capote’s right ear had to be essentially reattached after the vehicle he was driving was hit by an 18-wheeler. Capote has been released from an Orlando hospital.

Boise State senior safety Cam Hall has been ruled academically ineligible and will not play against Boston College in Wednesday’s MPC Computers Bowl.

SOCCER

Former Real Madrid Standout Is Hospitalized

Former Real Madrid standout Alfredo di Stefano was transferred to another hospital for treatment by a specialist, one day after his heart attack.

The 79-year-old Di Stefano, Real Madrid’s honorary president, was moved to a hospital in Valencia, Spain, from one in Sagunto, about 11 miles away. Di Stefano was in intensive care and in stable condition. He may have bypass surgery.