Otto holds his nerve

Golf Hennie Otto, of South Africa, finally secured his first European Tour title yesterday, but only after he had lost a five-shot lead for the second time in four tournaments. The 31-year-old, beaten in a play-off by Alastair Forsyth, the Scot, in Madeira in March, was caught at the Italian Open, in Milan, by Oliver Wilson, from Mansfield.

But, this time, Otto responded by sinking a 20-foot birdie putt on the 433-yard 13th and then narrowly avoided a bunker with his final drive. Needing a par four to win, he had to play his second shot with one foot in the sand and conjured up an excellent shot to six feet. He two-putted for a 69 and 25-under-par aggregate of 263.

For Wilson, the 27-year-old former Walker Cup player, a superb 64 meant a third runners-up finish of the season and a sixth in all.

Smyth breaks world record to claim gold

Paralympic sport Jason Smyth, from Derry, set a world record in the 100 metres at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester yesterday. The 21-year-old shaved a hundredth of a second off his T13 lifetime best to cross the line in 10.85sec.

David Weir, from Wallington, Surrey, claimed double gold, winning the T54 1,500 metres and 400 metres. The 28-year-old world record-holder set a championship record in the 1,500 metres with a time of 3min 14.87sec.

Shelly Woods, the 21-year-old from Blackpool, who has been called the new Tanni Grey-Thompson, won bronze in the T54 800 metres. Woods started the meeting with a disappointing fifth place in the 1,500 metres, but the 2007 Flora London Marathon wheelchair winner claimed a podium spot in the 800 metres in 3min 46.67sec.

Safina recovers

Tennis Dinara Safina, of Russia, came from behind to win the Qatar Telecom German Open yesterday with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Elena Dementieva, her compatriot and the No7 seed. Safina, who beat Justine Henin, the world No1, and Serena Williams, the eight-times grand-slam winner, en route to the final, was erratic in the first set, but came back strongly in the second and sealed it with an ace down the middle. The 22-year-old broke twice in the deciding set and captured her sixth WTA title when Dementieva netted a backhand on the first match point.

Germany prevail

Hockey Great Britain lost 2-1 in the final international match against Germany in Düsseldorf to lose their three-match series 1-0. Richard Mantell, who scored a hat-trick in the second match, was again on target, but it was not enough as Sebastian Draguhn and Jan Marco Montag struck for the home side. All three goals came from penalty corners, with Draguhn opening the scoring. Mantell replied but parity was brief as Montag bagged the winner. The first two internationals ended in draws.

Two chances for title

Squash England have finalists in both events of the Dunlop British Open for only the second time in 44 years after James Willstrop, from Yorkshire, beat Thierry Lincou, the former world champion from France, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 to earn a meeting with David Palmer, of Australia. Earlier, Jenny Duncalf, another Yorkshire player, beat Isabelle Stoehr, of France, 4-9, 9-3, 9-6, 9-6 to reach the women’s final.

Walsh storms to gold

Canoeing Campbell Walsh, who was in sixth place after the semi-finals, ripped through the field to win gold at the Slalom European Championships after a tense men's K1 (kayak single) final in Krakow, Poland.

Walsh, 30, the Olympic silver medal-winner in Athens in 2004, finished ahead of Daniele Molmenti, of Italy, and Fabian Dorfler, of Germany, to win his first leading championship title.

Mascarenhas bow

Cricket Dimitri Mascarenhas, the Hampshire captain, made his debut in the Indian Premier League yesterday and helped Rajasthan Royals to a three-wicket victory over Delhi Daredevils. The all-rounder is the only England-qualified player in the Twenty20 tournament, but was not selected for the first three games. Mascarenhas took two for 39, but was bowled for nine by Virender Sehweg.