‘Awakened’ Djokovic seeks 8th Wimbledon, 24th Slam crown

Rising stars stacked for Sunrise Sprint

A MIX of bidders, including those wanting to get a feel of multi-racing and those targeting to jump on the triathlon bandwagon in the future, gird for a highly-charged chase for top podium finishes in the Go for Gold’s Sunrise Sprint rolling out Sunday (July 9) in Panglao, Bohol.

Renz Corbin banners the cast in the men’s side of the short-distance event, featuring 750m open-water swim, 20km bike ride and a 5km run, with the 21-year-old bet from Cebu Province seeking to improve on his third place finish in the overall championship last year.

But a slew of others are also all primed for the sub-category of the centerpiece Sun Life 5150 Triathlon, also dubbed as S2, also staged to provide a platform for those making a comeback in the popular multi-sport.

The event, held for the second straight year as part of the Sandugo Festival celebrations, a project of the Province of Bohol under Gov. Aris Aumentado, also provides quality triathlon experience given its Olympic-style course setup.

Aside from the overall championship, various age-group titles are also up for grabs with 17 vying in the men’s 15-19 class and 11 in the 20-24 category with more entries expected to join the event.

Thirty one bets make up the roster in the women’s side of the event sponsored by Go for Gold.

Also on tap are relay competitions featuring the men’s, women’s and mixed divisions. For listup and details, log on to www.goforgold.sunrisesprint.com/

“Sunrise Sprint has played a key role in creating a talent pipeline, sustaining the continued growth of the sport,” said Princess Galura, president and general manager of the organizing The IRONMAN Group and Sunrise Events, Inc.

Go for Gold is a sports CSR (corporate social responsibility) arm of Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corp., the licensee of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which aims to promote nation-building through sports development and create ways to encourage young individuals to pursue excellence through physical literacy.

Meanwhile, triathletes from 11 countries reinforce the cast in the Sun Life 5150 Triathlon but the locals, led by last year’s overall second placer Jonathan Pagaura along with celebrities Piolo Pascual and Matteo Guidecelli, are ready to defend the men’s and women’s crowns won by Lanao del Norte’s Satar Salem and Bea Quiambao, respectively.

Arcilla eyes sweep of Lanao titles

JOHNNY Arcilla is focusing on his strengths as he tries to get to grips with practically the same field he had toppled last week in chase of a second straight crown in the Lanao del Sur National Open which got going Sunday at the MSU courts in Marawi City.

Arcilla fashioned out a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Eric Jed Olivarez in the Lanao del Norte Open finals to herald his return to the top Open ladder after getting axed in the semis of the Malita Open in Davao Occidental last month that halted his dominant run in the country’s premier championships.

But while he’s confident of his chances for a sweep of the Lanao swing of the circuit under the PPS-PEPP program, the many-time PCA Open champion and veteran Davis Cupper remains cautious of his fellow seasoned campaigners and a pack of young rivals ready to pounce on every opportunity.

LONDON—Novak Djokovic has Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles as well as a 24th major in his sights as he closes in on a first calendar Grand Slam in 54 years.

Fresh from breaking out of a tie with Rafael Nadal for 23 Slams at the French Open, the 36-year-old Djokovic will comfortably be the overwhelming favorite at the All England Club when he starts his title defence on Monday.

With a 10th Australian Open and third Roland Garros already wrapped up this season, an eighth Wimbledon triumph would leave Djokovic needing just the US Open in September to emulate Rod Laver’s sweep of all four majors in 1969.

“He takes your legs, then he takes your soul, then he digs your grave and you have a funeral and you’re dead. Byebye. Thank you for coming,” said coach Goran Ivanisevic when asked to caption the Serb’s Grand Slam mindset.

Djokovic has won the title on his last four visits to Wimbledon and has not lost on Centre Court since the 2013 final.

“When I enter Centre Court, it just awakens something in me and I’m able to perform at a very high level,” said Djokovic who opens his campaign on Monday against 67th-ranked clay-court lover Pedro Cachin.

“Grass courts are the rarest surface we have in the sport, which is contrary