TEHRAN, May 16--Persepolis, a leading sports club, will be privatized soon in what is seen as the country’s first attempt to privatize a popular sports club, said the head of State Privatization Organization here on Sunday.
Mir Ali Ashraf Abdollah-Pouri Hosseini told ISNA that the club’s shares will be ceded to public through a tender in the first phase, adding that it is not yet possible to offer the Persepolis shares on stock market.
“Persepolis owes billions of rials in debts and shareholders would be responsible for legal complaints filed against the club,“ he said, noting that the club’s privatization would not close its legal dossiers.
He said the Justice Department experts will announce the base price for Persepolis shares within a month, stressing that the club is counting on its fans in the privatization scheme.
Abdollah-Pouri Hosseini expressed hope that the State Privatization Organization and the Physical Education Organization, which currently holds the rights to the club, would manage to translate the objective into reality as soon as possible.

Czech Republic's goaltender Tomas Vokoun (l) makes a save off Canada's Rick Nash (r) during the first period of the IIHF World Championship ice hockey final in Vienna, Sunday. (Reuters Photo)

VIENNA, Austria,
May 16--The Czech Republic won the world ice hockey championship on Sunday as Martin Rucinsky and Jaromir Jagr led them to a 3-0 shutout of Canada, breaking the Canadians stranglehold on the gold medal, Reuters said.
The win handed the Czechs their fifth title in 10 years and broke Canada’s bid to win a third consecutive championship and 24th overall, which would have tied them with the former Soviet Union/Russia for the most golds.
Earlier on Sunday, Russia beat Sweden 6-3 to win the bronze medal.
The Czechs, who were cheered on by a strong contingent of fans including their president, Vaclav Klaus, and Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, now have 11 titles, counting those from the former Czechoslovakia.
The Canadians had hoped to keep a close eye on Jagr, but got caught on a line change early in the first period and gave him some open ice.
The New York Ranger forward, playing with a broken finger, made them pay dearly, taking the puck deep into Canadian territory before firing a cross-ice pass to Rucinsky.
His shot hit the post, but Vaclav Prospal banged home the rebound at 4:13.
Czech coach Vladimir Ruzicka double shifted Jagr most of the night to keep him away from Canada’s checking line of Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Shane Doan.
But Canada made the mistake again in the third period, and Jagr fed Rucinsky who blasted a low shot that Martin Brodeur should have stopped.
Josef Vasicek added an empty net goal at 19:07 of the third period.
The Czech defense gave the Canadian offense little room to maneuver. Canada out shot the Czechs 29-27 but most of those were from far out, while the line of Joe Thornton, Simon Gagne and Rick Nash, who had 18 goals in eight games, was not a factor and rarely tested Czech goalie Tomas Vokoun.

MIAMI, USA, May 16--Russia’s Maria Sharapova trimmed the lead of world number one Lindsay Davenport from 269 points to 155 points in the WTA rankings released here Monday after missing a chance to overtake the American veteran, AFP reported.
Sharapova, bidding to reach the top of the list for the first time, improved while Davenport’s total remained unchanged.
France’s Amelie Mauresmo remained third although fell 32 points further behind Davenport despite winning the Rome Masters title Sunday over Patty Schnyder, a Swiss veteran who rose to 10th from 13th.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, May 16--Boeta Dippenaar struck a 41-ball half-century to lead South Africa to a seven-wicket victory over West Indies and a 5-0 series whitewash in Sunday’s final game, Reuters reported.
Dippenaar scored 61 not out, with five sweetly-struck fours and a superb six over long-off, as South Africa chased down a target of 139 in 20 overs with five balls to spare in a match reduced to its bare minimum by persistent morning rain.
While South Africa have had two seasons of domestic 20-over cricket, the shortest version of the game was a new experience for West Indian cricket.
South Africa were not extended by a mediocre West Indian score after opening batsman AB de Villiers got their innings off to a flying start with 30 off 25 balls.
After his uppercut off left-arm seamer Ian Bradshaw was caught by Brian Lara at third man, there was more punishment for the West Indies’ bowlers from Dippenaar.
South Africa’s big guns, Jacques Kallis (18) and Justin Kemp (8) were dismissed relatively cheaply but Dippenaar’s controlled innings ensured they never strayed from the road to victory.
A mad scramble of runs left West Indies with a modest total of 138 for seven wickets after South Africa won the toss and asked them to bat first.
Chris Gayle posed his usual threat during a dynamic burst of 28 from just 20 balls at the start of the innings but, like most of the batsmen, he made the mistake of trying to hit a boundary off every ball and paid the price.
Gayle smashed 14 runs off paceman Andre Nel’s first three deliveries but then skied the fourth ball to third man.
The talismanic Lara made a hash of a full toss from part-time spinner Justin Ontong and was caught at short third man for just 12, while Ramnaresh Sarwan (15) was also caught playing a poor slog shot.
All-rounder Dwayne Bravo gave the home side a chance with an unbeaten 41 from 40 deliveries, with three boundaries, but the home side’s total always looked below par against South African batsmen who face an average of 170 in their domestic game.

TORONTO, May 16--Chauncey Billups scored 29 points and Rasheed Wallace added 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons beat the Indiana Pacers 89-76 in game four of their NBA semifinal playoff on Sunday in Indianapolis, Reuters reported.
The series is tied 2-2 after the champions dominated the latest game in the Eastern Conference series, leading by as many as 20 points at one stage, to bounce back from losing the last two games. Game five is in Auburn Hills on Tuesday night.
Detroit went on a 19-1 run in the first quarter and although the Pacers got back to within six points in the third quarter, the Pistons were never really pressed at any point as the Pacers shot just 37 percent, going 3-for-19 from 3-point range.
Richard Hamilton chipped in with 13 points for the Pistons, while Antonio McDyess had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince each hauled down 10 rebounds for the Pistons, with Prince scoring seven points and Wallace adding six.
Stephen Jackson led Indiana with 23 points, while Jamaal Tinsley added 17 points but had a game-high seven turnovers.
Jermaine O’Neal was held to 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Reggie Miller scored just seven points in 36 minutes.
Jeff Foster, who helped the Pacers to wins in games two and three with 20 and 12 rebounds respectively, played just 12 minutes and had one rebound.
The winner of the series will face the Miami heat in the Eastern Conference final. Miami swept Washington four straight in the second round and now have at least a week to rest.

Olympique Lyon's Mickael Essien (r) challenges Antonio Mavuba of Bordeaux during their French Ligue 1 soccer match at the Gerland Stadium in Lyon, Sunday. (Reuters Photo)

PARIS, May 16--Olympique Lyon, crowned champions for the fourth time in succession last weekend, celebrated the title in style with their biggest Ligue 1 win this season as they crushed 10-man Girondins Bordeaux 5-1 on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Two goals by defender Cris and one from France midfielder Florent Malouda put the match beyond doubt before the interval and another French international, Sidney Govou, completed the rout with two more strikes in the second half.
The win kept Lyon 11 points clear of second-placed Lille, who moved closer to securing a spot in the Champions League group stage after they tamed Nantes 3-1 away on Saturday.
Bordeaux, surprisingly languishing in 13th place, are only four points above the relegation zone with two matches left.
The visitors took a shock lead through midfielder Albert Riera’s fine curled left-foot shot in the 10th minute.
But Malouda equalized for Lyon after defender Anthony Reveillere tricked goalkeeper Ulrich Rame in the 24th.
The turning point came just after the half-hour mark when Bordeaux defender Cyril Rool was shown a red card.
Rool, angry at being booked for a foul on Malouda, verbally abused the referee who decided to send him off.
Bordeaux were soon overwhelmed by the champions, eager to break St Etienne’s record of 79 points in a season.
Defender Cris found the net after connecting with a corner by Malouda (34) and a free kick from playmaker Juninho on the stroke of halftime.
Govou sealed the victory with a right-foot shot in the 67th and a close-range strike six minutes from time.

TORONTO, May 16--American Ted Purdy fired a flawless final round five-under 65 to claim a one stroke win over Sean O’Hair and his first US PGA Tour title at the Byron Nelson Championship on Sunday in Irving, Texas, Reuters
reported.
Twice a runner-up in PGA Tour events, Purdy took the final step into the winner’s circle with a polished last day at the TPC at Four Seasons Resort for a winning total of 15-under 265.
O’Hair, a 22-year-old Tour rookie whose only notoriety had been an overbearing father who made him turn professional before completing high school, began the day with a one shot lead.
He refused to wilt in the spotlight but settled for a career best second place after carding a final round two-under 68.
Vijay Singh used an ace on the 17th and birdie on the last with Bob Tway and Doug Barron at 11-under 269, missing a chance to reclaim top spot in the world rankings from Tiger Woods.

HAMBURG, Germany, May 16--Roger Federer enjoyed a second slice of revenge at the Hamburg Masters on Sunday with his victory over French teenager Richard Gasquet in the final of the pre-French Open event, Reuters reported.
Gasquet had inflicted one of only two defeats on the world number one this year at the Monte Carlo Masters last month, making Federer’s 6-3 7-5 7-6 victory in Sunday’s final all the more satisfying.
Earlier in the tournament the Swiss beat Czech Tomas Berdych, who upset him in the Athens Olympic tournament last year.
“For me it was a tough, tough match,“ said Federer on Sunday. “It was a hard break that loss in Monte Carlo against him. He gave me a sniff and still I ended up losing so that was disappointing.
“I’m happy I got the chance within a few weeks to get him back.
“Today I played more angled shots and I used my kick-serve more. That’s maybe what I have to do more of on clay.
“A match like this always helps looking ahead and I have a feeling after today’s match that I have more options on clay.
I’m using the drop shot more than I used to. All these little things are coming together. It’s a good feeling.“
Gasquet admitted the occasion had got to him a bit. He had reached only one ATP final previously --in the French town of Metz last year--and Sunday’s game was the biggest of his career.
The teenager had to qualify for the event and he said: “I was a little tired and it was a final, a little bit different.
“I was nervous at the beginning but after that it was okay.
I can see my future now. It’s incredible. I won seven matches (here) and I only lost to Federer, that’s very good.“
Gasquet received a generous reception from the Rothenbaum crowd after his defeat and he can look forward to even more support at the French Open in a week’s time, where he will be a
dangerous floater in the draw.
“I have gained a lot of experience for my next tournament. I have a lot of confidence for Roland Garros,“ he said.
“But I don’t have any specific targets. I have a lot of time on my side. I just want to give people some pleasure and I will do my best.“

LONDON, May 16--Sporting coach Jose Peseiro believes home advantage will not be a significant factor in the UEFA Cup final against Russia’s CSKA Moscow on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Three years after Feyenoord won the UEFA Cup in their own De Kuip stadium, Sporting will bid to match the feat at their Jose Alvalade ground in Lisbon.
“Portugal were favorites to beat Greece (on home soil) in Euro 2004 and look what happened,“ said Peseiro. “You can’t take anything for granted.“
Other than Feyenoord, three clubs have achieved the feat in European club competition history--Real Madrid in the 1957 European Cup, Inter Milan in the same competition eight years later and Barcelona, who lifted the 1982 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Sporting’s only European trophy was the 1963-1964 Cup Winners’ Cup when they beat Hungary’s MTK Budapest.
Their performances in this season’s competition, in which they are averaging more than two goals a game, make them favorites for the trophy and they boast a matchwinner in Liedson. The Brazilian striker, the Portuguese league’s top
scorer, has hit nine UEFA Cup goals.
CSKA are only the second Russian team, and the first for 33 years, to reach the final of a major European competition.
The army side expect to have only 2,000 fans in the Alvalade Stadium but coach Valery Gazzayev feels his team can handle the pressure.
The final will be CSKA’s 19th European match this season, equaling the most ever played in a season.
Having exited the Champions League after the group stage, CSKA offloaded Sergei Semak to France’s PSG and Czech midfielder Jiri Jarosik to English Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Brazilian striker Vagner Love’s move back home to Corinthians fell through, however, and his goals, along with those of fellow Brazilian Daniel Carvalho, helped CSKA to overcome Benfica, Partizan Belgrade, AJ Auxerre and Parma en route to the final.