PAGE 46
PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014
Sports
Lisicki hits fastest serve in women’s tennis
G
ermany’s Sabine Lisicki hit the fastest recorded serve in the history of women’s tennis at 131mph during a first-round loss in Stanford, USA. The 2013 Wimbledon finalist hit the serve in the 11th game of the first set against Ana Ivanovic, who would go on to win the match 7-6 (7-2) 6-1. Venus Williams had set the previous record of 129mph at the 2007 US Open. “Well at least I broke the world record for fastest serve,” Lisicki said on Twitter after Tuesday’s match. In Washington, British number one Heather Watson suffered a first-round exit at the Citi Open. The 22years old Watson from Guernsey lost 6-3 1-6 7-6 (7-3) to Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, ranked nine places higher at 47 in the world.
Lisicki
Greene fails to reach 400m hurdles final
D
efending champion Dai Greene failed to make the final of the 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games after he could only finish fifth in his heat. The Welshman, 28, has been struggling with injury and faded in the final 100 metres, clocking 50.36 seconds. South African LJ van Zyl, who finished second to Greene four years ago, also failed to advance. But England’s Rick Yates went through after finishing third in his heat in 49.80. The 28-year-old
advanced as a fastest loser, knocking out team-mate Niall Flannery (49.97). “I knew I was playing catch-up and I really didn’t expect to be here four months ago. I wanted to reach the final but I just ran out of steam and the guys made me pay, Greene a former world and European champion stated. Greene, who has managed no better than 49.89 this year, also said he expected to miss next month’s European Championships in Zurich, for which he has yet to secure a qualifying time.
Commonwealth: Okagbare targets treble gold
N
ew Commonwealth Games 100m champion Blessing Okagbare believes she can achieve a hattrick of titles at the on-going Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The Nigerian scorched into a Games-record setting 10.85 seconds to become the second Nigerian to win the 100m title and the 11th woman to emerge champions. Okagbare said she is ready to win three gold medals. “Everything this year has been really based on the
Commonwealth Games. This year for me is like an off year but at the same time I wanted to come here and actually put on a good show. I am happy that my training led to these Games and everything came out well and to break the Commonwealth record is an amazing feeling. Every preparation has been made for the Commonwealth Games. My previous meets were not that fast but I just had to trust that I was going to be ready and everything fell in place.” Okagbare added:
“This is my first Commonwealth Games and I wanted to go out and first of all have fun but at the same time I wanted to win a gold medal. Is it possible that I could be going for a treble gold 100 metres, 200 metres and relay]? I would say yes,” she said at the post race press conference. She has however opted out of the long jump on the advice of her coach, John Smith. Heats for the 4×100 metres relay are on Friday, with the final on Saturday.
Saunders beats Blandamura, wins European title
B
illy Joe Saunders claimed the vacant European middleweight title with a thunderous finish to beat Italian Emanuele Blandamura in Manchester. The British and Commonwealth champion, 24, struggled to dominate a previously unbeaten opponent but produced a superb right hook in the eighth round. The overhand shot sent Blandamura, 34, sprawling against the ropes. Saunders managed to get several more blows away against the dazed Italian before the referee ended the contest. It signaled a 20th consecutive success for the unbeaten Hatfield southpaw, who had suffered a cut to his left eye in the second round and showed signs of rustiness in his first fight for 10 months. “My timing was out a little bit but he is a good fighter, he was unbeaten and rated well, and I finished him well. There were a lot of things I could pick faults with but I am only 24, I am still learning and getting better all the time, “he said. Saunders, who also holds the WBO International middleweight crown, topped the bill at the Manchester Arena after the late cancellation of Tyson Fury’s heavyweight fight with Belarusian Alexander Ustinov.
Saunders
Commonwealth: Nigeria in medal rush
N Greene
igeria’s Maryam Usman yesterday won gold for Nigeria in the +75kg of the women’s weightlifting event of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Usman lifted all her six attempts in the Snatch and Clean and Jerk categories. On Monday Itohan Ebireguesele had equalled the feat of Ndidi Winifred, Obioma Okoli and Yinka Ayenuwa when she won a silver
medal in the women’s weightlifting 69kg category. Ebireguesele finished in second position with a lift of 222kg behind Cameroon’s Marie Fegue who had a lift of 234kg to snatch the event’s gold medal. Bayelsa State-born Amas Daniel also yesterday won bronze in the Men’s 61kg Wrestling event against England’s Sasha Madyarchyk. Odunayo Adekuroye also won gold in the 53kg freestyle women’s wrestling event.