Rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena is returning to run New York City Marathon.

Pena completed the marathon last year, less than a month after he and 32 other miners were rescued after being trapped underground for 69 days.

Swimming legend Ian Thorpe admitted Thursday that his ambitious comeback from retirement was probably doomed to failure as he prepares for his first race in five years.

The five-time Olympic gold-medalist also played down his rivalry with American star Michael Phelps, which could be one of the highlights of next year's London Games.

Roger Federer needed ten aces and a fighting finish in a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen which secured his place in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors on Wednesday.

Out of action for six weeks, the Swiss third seed was tested for the first time by his longtime rival in a series which began in 2002. Since they began in Moscow nine years ago, Federer had won all 11 matches in straight sets.

Jose Mourinho admitted his Real Madrid side at last ending their winless record against French side Lyon at the Stade de Gerland with a 2-0 victory in their Champions League group match was an important moment.

However, the Portuguese - known as the 'Special One' after huge success at Porto and then Chelsea - added he wanted such occasions to become normal for a side he claimed has a greater history than any other side including bitter rivals Barcelona.

English star midfielder David Beckham is set for the final bow in his five-year Major League Soccer adventure, and he hopes to go out a winner by making the Los Angeles Galaxy a championship side.

The 36-year-old playmaker has not decided where he might play next year, with Paris Saint-Germain and English Premier sides Tottenham and Queens park Rangers among those interested in him as his contract enters its last matches.

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes admitted Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger's broken collarbone was a bitter blow, despite the 3-2 win over Napoli which keeps his side top of Group A in the Champions League.

After Manchester City's win over Villarreal in Spain, Bayern are now three points clear at the top of Group A with two games remaining, but Munich will be without their vice-captain for several weeks.

Tiger Woods believes he's ready to return to top form after shaking off injuries that have undermined his performance for the last two years.

The former world No. 1 says that he has been practicing frequently and getting his playing instincts back.

Italy striker Antonio Cassano will have "minor" heart surgery that will likely enable him to play again in a few months, AC Milan said Wednesday.

Cassano has been at the Policlinico facility since Saturday, when he was taken for tests after suffering what the club described as a brain problem on the team plane following the team's 3-2 victory over Roma.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who was admitted to hospital late Tuesday for tests, requires minor heart surgery, the Press Association reported on Wednesday.

The north London club has confirmed their 64-year-old coach was set to undergo a "medical procedure" that would rule him out of the Europa League trip to Rubin Kazan.

Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid will only have victory in mind when they visit Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday, despite having never previously won at Stade Gerland.

Madrid lost on their first three visits to the stadium without scoring a goal, until a strike from OL old boy Karim Benzema in the last 16 last season set the Spanish giants on the way to a 4-1 aggregate victory.