Tasmania's top athletes have been announced at a glittering awards night in Hobart.

World and Olympic champion Steve Hooker needed only one jump to cruise into the pole vault final at the world indoor athletic championships in Qatar.

Australia coach Ric Charlesworth has told the Kookaburras to throw caution to the wind if they are to avenge history and beat Germany in the final of the men's hockey World Cup.

Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis is urging all Australians to get behind our athletes ahead of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics.

Alpine skier Toby Kane has been chosen to carry the Australian flag into the BC Place Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games.

The V8 Supercars bosses have upped the stakes by introducing a grand slam incentive.

Australia's Chef De Mission for the Winter Paralympic Games says there has been excellent snowfall ahead of tomorrow's opening ceremony in Vancouver.

Formula One title favourite Fernando Alonso did his best overnight to play down his prospects of landing his third world championship.

Spain's Alberto Contador secured a Paris-Nice double whammy this morning (AEDT) by winning the race's fourth stage in Mende, becoming the overall leader in the process.

Australia defeated the Netherlands 2-1 overnight to qualify for a third successive final against defending champion Germany in the men's field hockey World Cup.

Four-time champion Pakistan has slumped to an embarrassing 3-2 defeat by Canada to finish last for the first time in the men's field hockey World Cup in New Delhi.

American sprinter Ivory Williams has withdrawn from this weekend's IAAF world indoor championships in Doha because of a positive test for marijuana.

Michael Schumacher is raring to go racing again, and the rest of Formula One is just as keen to have him back.

Australian surf queen Stephanie Gilmore has become the first Australian to win a Laureus Award since 2004, taking out the action sportsperson of the year title at a gala function in Abu Dhabi.

Trainer Grahame Begg has reported it is full steam ahead for beaten Newmarket Handicap favourite All Silent, who will leave for Dubai next Wednesday.

Racing Victoria will delay the start of the jumps season by 11 days because of problems with the construction of its new barriers.

Australia will take on the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the hockey World Cup despite the Dutch losing 2-1 to South Korea overnight.

Australia's men's hockey team has topped its group in New Delhi, but already stressed the importance not to squander a golden chance to win the World Cup.

A 15-year-old Japanese schoolboy tipping the scales at 145 kilograms is set to make his professional sumo debut and is already being tipped as a future 'yokozuna'.

Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher warned he is ready to fight for success when he returns to Formula One with Mercedes GP this weekend.

Favourites Australia sweated to a 2-1 win over Pakistan overnight to join England in the semi-finals from group B in the hockey World Cup.

Former champion jockey Patrick Payne has celebrated his biggest day as a trainer with Capecover winning the Group Two Adelaide Cup at Morphettville from stable-mate Kerdem on Monday.

Defending champions Germany played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with the Netherlands overnight to throw open the semi-final race in the hockey World Cup.

Queensland champion Blacks A Fake was at his scintillating best to confirm his place as the greatest Inter Dominion performer in history with a demoralising victory in the $1 million series final at Menangle Park on Sunday.