Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    DAMASCUS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Syrian swimmer Saleh Mohammad on Sunday won Asia's first position in the 10-kilometer open water race in Spain, qualifying for the incoming Beijing Olympic Games this summer, the official SANA news agency reported.

    Mohammad won his place in the world championship of long-distance swimming contests held in the Spanish city of Seville, the report said.

    Mohammad's victory in these tournaments were in fact an important victory for the Syrian sports in general, head of the Syrian General Federation of Sports Faissal al-Bassri was quoted as saying.

    Bassri also urged for double efforts to hit similar scores in the 25-km championship scheduled for the end of the week, it added.