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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013
Sports
Drayton set for knee surgery Perri Shakes-Drayton is to have surgery after injuring her knee during the 400m hurdles final at the World Championships in Moscow. The 2010 European bronze medallist, 24, said she felt her
Shakes Drayton
knee “wobble” during the race. After hitting two hurdles, she eventually finished seventh. Tests have revealed she has cartilage damage and a torn cruciate ligament. Shakes-Drayton withdrew from the women’s 4x400m squad after the hurdles final and flew home. “She has had an incredible season, and it was a major disappointment for her that she suffered this injury in her first global final. The London athlete, who won European Indoor 400m hurdles gold in Gothenburg this year, was one of the favourites for a medal in Moscow having clocked the second fastest qualifying time in the semi-finals. Her agent Jonathan Marks said: “Perri is bitterly upset to have come away from Moscow without a medal and instead with a season-ending injury which she will have to undergo surgery on. “She was clearly in shock postrace and given the seriousness of the injury it was incredible she actually got round the track.”
Samantha Murray
Murray, Evans progress in US Open
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amantha Murray and Dan Evans progressed into the second round of US Open qualifying with comfortable wins but fellow Briton Tara Moore is out. Murray, 25, beat Australian Arina Rodionova 6-4 6-1, while Evans, 23, overcame Peter Polansky 6-2 6-3. Moore, 21, lost 6-4 1-6 6-4 to Colombian Catalina Castano.
Murray and Evans are two more victories away from securing a place in the main draw of the final Grand Slam of the year in New York. Stockport-born Murray joins Elena Baltacha in round two of women’s qualifying after the Scot beat Melanie Oudin. Murray, ranked 190 in the world, took just 65 minutes to see off Rodionova and
now faces American Taylor Townsend. In the men’s draw, Evans will face either Italy’s Flavio Cipolla or American Bobby Reynolds in the second round after his win over Canadian Polansky. James Ward is also through to round two, after beating Frenchman Jonathan Eysseric 6-3 6-1.
Sharapova out of US Open with shoulder injury
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aria Sharapova has pulled out of next week’s US Open with a shoulder injury. The 2006 champion, who was seeded third for the tournament, is suffering from inflammation in her right shoulder. The four-time Grand Slam champion
added: “It’s certainly not an easy decision to make ahead of one of my favourite tournaments, but I know it’s the right one that will get me back on the courts soon. The Russian has suffered with shoulder injuries in the past, missing nine months after surgery in 2008.
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska moves up to number three in the seedings and Russia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova becomes the number 32 seed. Sharapova’s withdrawal comes a week after her split from Coach Jimmy Connors following just one game together - a defeat
by American Sloane Stephens in her opening game at the Cincinnati Open. Sharapova completed a career Grand Slam when she added the 2012 French Open title to her 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open victories.
Ashes 2013: Watson puts Australia in fifth Test
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hane Watson dismantled a new-look England attack to blast his first Ashes century and put Australia in a commanding position in the final Test at The Oval. Watson scored a superb 176 - his highest Test score - and Steve Smith made an unbeaten 66 as the tourists reached 3074 at the close of a disappointing day for the home side, who are targeting a first 4-0 series victory over their oldest rivals. Watson was particularly
disdainful towards Chris Woakes and Simon Kerrigan, who were both surprisingly handed their Test debuts as part of a five-man England attack. The duo, who replaced Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan, both went wicketless, with leftarm spinner Kerrigan allowing nerves to get the better of him as he conceded 53 runs in eight overs. The 32-year-old gave one chance, when Alastair Cook put down a straightforward
opportunity to catch him for 104 at first slip off the bowling of James Anderson, before finally falling three overs before the close when he holed out to Kevin Pietersen at deep backward square leg. After Australia captain Michael Clarke had won the toss and chosen to bat, David Warner was drawn into driving at a delivery shaping away from him and nicked the ball through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior for six.
Players in good mood
Afrobasket: Nigeria beats Mali 74-59
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i g e r i a ’ s Basketball team, D’Tigers began their campaign in the 2013 African Basketball Championship (Afrobasket) on a good note by beating Mali 74-59 in the opening match.
Reports had it that the match which had a tie at some points later had the Nigerian team dominating the last 30 minutes of play. D’Tigers grouped in D would continue its campaign in the tournament playing
Congo today and another match against Cameroon on Sunday. Coach Ayo Bakare told newsmen after the match that the team’s performance was not bad, adding: ``It was a good performance; we finished well at the end.
EuroHockey 2013: Ireland draws England to reach semi-finals
E Shane Watson and Chris Woakes in action
ngland’s men survived a fightback from Ireland to book a place in the EuroHockey semi-finals with a 2-2 draw. Ireland needed a win to deprive England
of the semi-final place but came up short despite two second-half penalty strokes from Shane O’Donoghue. England, ranked fourth in the world, will face hosts Belgium in Friday’s semi-final
after they drew 2-2 with Spain. Carson deflected David Condon’s shot home then lifted a closerange finish past Ireland keeper David Harte as England cruised to a two-goal lead.