Los Angeles  - Trying to guard Chinese superstar Yao Ming, Dwight Howard thought he was in a fairy tale.

The 7-6 Yao racked up 22 points and 13 rebounds while Howard was saddled with foul trouble Saturday night as the Houston Rockets held on for a 100-95 victory over the host Orlando Magic, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.

"It's like a big beanstalk," Howard said. "You've got to chop ... just kidding."

Madrid  - Real Madrid stumbled out of their crisis with a streaky 1-0 home win Saturday over spirited but naive Recreativo Huelva.

Real won with a 39th-minute goal from Wesley Sneijder, whose powerful left-footed drive took a wicked deflection off Huelva defender Beto and spun over hapless keeper Asier Riesgo.

The whites did not play well but could have widened their lead in the second half. Huelva showed some neat approach play but lacked power and decision in attack.

Gallivare, Sweden - Charlotte Kalla delighted a Swedish home crowd on Saturday when she won the cross-country skiing World Cup season-opener.

Kalla, 21, dominated the 10 kilometres freestyle race in 24 minutes 7.8 seconds from former World Cup and world champion Marit Bjoergen of Norway (24:32.2) and Aino Kaisa Saarinen of Finland (24:39.8).

It was the fourth career World Cup win for the 2008 Tour de Ski champion Kalla, who used to train for several years on the slopes of Gallivare just north of the Arctic Circle.

Jalandhar (Punjab), Nov 22 : Sports industry of Jalandhar in Punjab, which has a turnover of around 20 billion rupees, is reeling under the intense heat of global recession.

The industry, which is into manufacturing sports accessories of games like cricket, hockey, football and volleyball, started in late 40''s of the 20th century and has nearly
1000 units with almost 50,000 workers involved directly or indirectly.

Forty per cent of the produce is exported while the rest is sold in the domestic markets.

Karachi, Nov 22 : Temperamental Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who is looking for a successful Test return, has received a shot in the arm in the form new chief selector Abdul Qadir.

Given Shoaib’s past track record — his habit of flirting with controversy and a knack for picking up injuries — Qadir still says Shoaib is a big asset for Pakistan cricket.

“Shoaib Akhtar is an asset. He is a wicket-taking bowler, who still has a lot to offer to Pakistan cricket,” The News quoted Qadir, as saying.