GRENOBLE, France (AFP) — Formula One legend Michael Schumacher is to turn 45 today while lying comatose in a French hospital after suffering critical head injuries in a ski accident.

Doctors and family members were tight-lipped yesterday about the condition of the German racing great, who has been hospitalised since Sunday, when he slammed his head against a rock while skiing in the French Alps.

There have been conflicting statements about the speed the seven-time world racing champion was going when the tragedy befell him in the Meribel ski resort, where he has a property. The rock impact split the helmet Schumacher was wearing in two, according to a source close to the investigation.

The Ferrari F1 team where Schumacher spent many years announced it would today hold a “silent gathering” in front of the Grenoble hospital to mark the birthday of the retired sportsman, who is being kept in an induced coma.

But Schumacher’s fan club in his childhood town of Kerpen said any celebration of the birthday would be in bad taste.

Mark Hughes fined for improper conduct

LONDON, England — Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has been fined 8,000 pounds ($13,100, 9,600 euros) after admitting a charge of improper conduct, the Football Association announced yesterday.

The charge related to his dismissal from the touchline during Stoke’s 5-1 Premier League drubbing at Newcastle United last week.

Hughes was sent to the stands after reacting angrily when Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan was sent off for two bookable offences during the first half of the game at St James’ Park, when the visitors were 1-0 up.

Stoke defender Marc Wilson was also sent off during the game.

The Welshman has, however, avoided a touchline ban, meaning he will be able to take to the dug-out for his side’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Leicester City tomorrow.

Andy Murray concerned about unhealthy attitude

DOHA, Dafar (AFP) — Andy Murray wants to put a stop to the habit of putting “extreme pressure” on players, as part of a legacy for his history-making achievement in winning Wimbledon.

The Scot ended a 77-year wait for a British male winner of the legendary Grand Slam event and is keen that the ensuing opportunity to learn lessons should not be missed during 2014.

Murray has been concerned about unhealthy attitudes in trying to produce winners for some time, and elaborated on it at the Qatar Open where he has been preparing for the Australian Open, the new year’s first Grand Slam tournament.

“I just think it got to a stage where it was desperation,” he said. “It was hoping, rather than (thinking) what are you trying to do to develop the next Wimbledon champion.

“You know you could have the best system and structure in place and never get someone that wins Wimbledon.

Li Na scores fighting win In Shenzhen Open

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese superstar Li Na battled her way to yet another victory yesterday, downing Romania’s Monica Niculescu after three action-filled sets in the women’s singles quarter-final of the Shenzhen Open.

Li, Asia’s highest-ranking player in tennis history, opened strongly, besting Niculescu 7-5 in the first set.

The 26-year-old Romanian fought back with a 6-4 win in the second set, before Li toppled her with a third-set, 6-4 victory.

Li, 31, is the defending Shenzhen Open champion and is also the world number three player.

Her success has sparked a new Chinese interest in tennis as well as a swell of national pride. China’s state broadcaster CCTV this week named her rise its number two sports story of 2013.

China notched another victory on yesterday as fifth-seed Peng Shuai soared to victory over Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova 6-3 6-2.

Another Serena Williams, Sharapova clash

BRISBANE, Australia, (AFP) — Serena Williams yesterday served a perfect first set on her way to setting up a blockbuster semi-final against bitter rival Maria Sharapova at the Brisbane International.

The top-seeded Williams did not lose a point on serve during the opening set of her comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 win over Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.

In stark contrast to Williams, Sharapova was forced to recover from an error-strewn start before eventually downing 2012 champion Kaia Kanepi in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The second semi-final will be between second seed Victoria Azarenka, who survived a second-set meltdown when she blew eight match points to beat Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, and fourth seed Jelena Jankovic.

Jankovic was a 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 6-1 winner over Germany’s Angelique Kerber.

Friday’s semi-final between Williams and Sharapova will be the 17th meeting between the two superstars of the women’s game, who make no secret of their frosty personal relationship.

Taufel says new review system works better

ABU DHABI, UAE (AFP) — Simon Taufel, five-time umpire of the year, yesterday said a new trialled system will help attain more accuracy and save time on refered decisions during international cricket matches.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is trialling a new review system, called Officiating Replay System (ORS), in which a non-match umpire is provided with direct replays during a match.

ICC introduced the Decision Review System (DRS) in 2008 on a trial basis. The system allows both teams to challenge decisions made by on-field umpires and have them referred to the TV official.

The new system, aimed at further improving the prevalent DRS, was first trialled earlier this year in the Old Trafford Test in the Ashes between Australia and England, and then in the fifth one-day international between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi last week.

The trial continues during the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi as well as the remaining two Tests in that series.

Toronto Raptors snap Pacers’ winning streak

TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and sparked a fourth-quarter run Wednesday that lifted the Toronto Raptors to a 95-82 victory over Indiana, snapping the Pacers’ six-game winning streak.

The Pacers fell to 25-6, leaving them level with Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA with San Antonio and Portland on 25-7 and defending NBA champion Miami at 24-7.

The Raptors improved to 15-15 on the season, boosting their lead atop the Atlantic division with their fourth win in a row and eighth in 10 games.

Toronto ended the first quarter on a 13-6 run for a 26-18 edge, but the Pacers outscored the Raptors 26-14 in the second quarter for a 44-40 half-time advantage.

Toronto battled back and took a 66-63 lead into the fourth quarter thanks to a John Salmons 3-pointer.

With the game knotted at 74-74, the Raptors went on a 14-3 run to seize command, DeRozan scoring eight points in the spurt for an 88-77 edge with 2:54 remaining and the Pacers never came close again.

Terrence Ross scored 18 points for the Raptors while Kyle Lowry added 13 points and 14 assists and Lithuanian centre Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and nine rebounds. DeRozan also grabbed nine rebounds.

Oscar dived, says Mourinho

SOUTHAMPTON, (AFP) — Jose Mourinho revealed Oscar admitted diving in a failed attempt to win a penalty and get Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis sent off in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at St Mary’s.

Brazil midfielder Oscar had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds after replacing Juan Mata when he went into the book for his theatrics and Blues manager Mourinho made it clear he thought referee Martin Atkinson had made the right decision.

Oscar then went on to set up Fernando Torres for Chelsea’s first goal and scored the third himself after fellow Brazilian Willian had made it 2-0.

Asked about Oscar’s dive, Mourinho added: “It was a fair yellow card. I don’t like it but his explanation to me I also accept.

“He said to me; ‘When I saw the goalkeeper coming I was thinking ‘penalty, red card, goodbye’ and the goalkeeper – he is a 35 or 36-year-old man (Davis is 37) with lots of experience — thought ‘I am going to stop’.

“Oscar found himself in a moment of contradiction — and we are speaking about fractions of a second — where he thinks ‘contact, penalty, red card’ and there was certainly no contact.

“Oscar is a clean player who was waiting for the goalkeeper to come and smash him because that’s what normally happens in those situations.”

Arsenal is strong—  Wenger

LONDON, England (AFP) — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that his side have now provided evidence of the strength and spirit required to end their long wait for a Premier League title.

It is nine years since Arsenal last won a trophy and 10 years since they won the league, but the last-gasp 2-0 New Year’s Day win over Cardiff City confirmed their credentials as championship contenders.

While Manchester City and Chelsea remain on their coattails, Arsenal continue to defy those expecting them to fall away.

With time almost up and the game against Cardiff looking beyond them, goals from substitute Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott secured a win that kept them at the top of the table.

It was a game that Arsenal might have lost or drawn in recent campaigns, but this is a different side.

“We have a good togetherness in the side,” said Wenger.

“The players come on with the right attitude and that makes the difference. You know that if you do not have that in the championship, then you have no chance to do it.

“We have that in the squad. We have to take care of that spirit and show it in every game.”