Steven Gerrard was presented with the FA Cup by Prince William - and where else in British public life, other than this 125-year-old competition, were the paths of these two young men likely to cross? One had inherited the expectation of an entire generation of Englishmen who pray that he might just be the man to renew hope in one of our nation's most treasured institutions. The other one was Prince William

Dani Pedrosa won his first MotoGP in only his fourth race while defending champion Valentino Rossi failed to finish because of a tyre problem in China yesterday. The Spaniard, the reigning 250cc world champion, came in 1.5 seconds ahead of his American team-mate at Repsol Honda, Nicky Hayden. But the drama surrounded Rossi, who had battled his way up from 13th on the grid to fifth when he was forced to retire his Camel Yamaha

Martina Hingis announced herself as a contender for the only Grand Slam title she has never won with an impressive revenge victory which carried her to the quarter-finals of the German Open. Hingis' 6-3, 6-2 win over Elena Dementieva, the world number five from Russia, contained a host of beautifully constructed rallies and atoned for the Swiss player's heavy defeat in Tokyo three months ago

Mike Catt confirmed yesterday that he is ready and willing to make a Test comeback in Australia this summer and extend his career until next year's World Cup to provide support and guidance to England's new wave of backline talent. The 34-year-old, last seen in international rugby in the 2003 World Cup final, is set to be included in next Monday's squad after playing a pivotal role in London Irish's fine season and is keen to help breathe fresh life into England's attacking game

The Belfry may be under new ownership but its history cannot be erased and neither, it seems, can the obsession with the tournament that will forever be associated with the course beside the M42. "It's like scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final," said Paul McGinley. "It's between 20 guys and I think all of them would do well," chimed Thomas Bjorn. "It's always nice to return to a place where you have some fantastic memories," mused Colin Montgomerie

Over the years Tim Henman, who began by tripping over molehills, has gradually learned to scale the higher peaks of the clay-court season, culminating in his startling French Open semi-final two years ago. This evening he is in the Himalayas. Waiting for him on the main court of the Foro Italico at just after 8pm BST will be Spain's Rafael Nadal, the reigning French Open champion, who is poised to notch up an incredible 50 consecutive victories on the surface of crushed brick

You could say that it was the night that Steve McClaren's luck ran out. He has come through two implausibly dramatic comebacks in the previous two rounds, so good they alone may have won him the England manager's job, and then, with the succession to Sven Goran Eriksson secured, the spell was shattered by the heaviest defeat yet in a Uefa Cup final. But there was more than a touch of bad luck about a defeat that will be the epitaph to McClaren's five years at Middlesbrough

Women's futsal team of Iranian club of Rah Ahan is scheduled to leave for the Jordanian capital Amman tonight. Rah Ahan represents the country in an international tournament, which is attended by 10 teams. Three teams from the host country and seven from Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Palestine compete in the tourney from May 11-18. Rah Ahan stood top in Iran's seven-strong inter-club league, winning 26 points

Only 31 days before the opening of the 2006 World Cup, a clear majority of Germans remain pessimistic about their country's chances to win the 64-game international football tournament, according to a survey released Tuesday by the German N24 all-news television network

Adrian Boothroyd faces the threat of being banned from the touchline for the play-off final against Leeds United, comfortably the biggest game of his brief managerial career, after being sent to the stands last night following a mass brawl in front of his dugout. The Watford manager sparked mayhem midway through the second half when he flicked the ball away from Fitz Hall with a hand as the Crystal Palace defender sought to take a quick throw-in