Beijing Olympics 2008 news, information and results
Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Latest Beijing Olympics 2008 news, information and results
Australia’s Molik Announces Retirement
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 2:38 pm
SYDNEY:Australia’s Alicia Molik, winner of five WTA singles titles and an Olympic bronze medallist, has announced her retirement from tennis.
Molik, one of the biggest servers in women’s tennis, said she was quitting at the age of 27, after injuries and a debilitating inner ear infection that forced her off the court for almost a year.
Although Molik recovered from the infection, she was never able to regain the peak form that saw her ranked number eight in the world in 2005, after a quarter final appearance at the Australian Open.
Fairfax Newspapers reported Friday that recent leg and arm injuries convinced the tall right-hander that it was time to retire.
“It’s tiring and it’s very draining but I guess it’s a number of things culminating,” said Molik from the state of South Australia.
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking. “I did have a huge setback three years ago, with my middle ear problem. “It took a while to get back and since then I’ve just struggled with a few more things that I never imagined would come along the way. “But that isn’t the only thing. “I think I’m still young enough to focus my energies on something that I feel is again challenging.” Molik’s last outing was a first-round exit at the Beijing Olympics in August, having won bronze in the singles four years ago in Athens.
She had bowed out in the first round at her last five tournaments, since reaching the fourth round in Prague in May.
McLaren Stronger Than Ferrari: Hamilton
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 2:36 pm
BELGIUM:Championship leader Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday his McLaren team had the upper hand on rivals Ferrari, but that he would not be taking his foot off the gas in the title race.
The 23-year-old Briton, leading the title race with 70 points, ahead of Felipe Massa of Ferrari on 64, made his views clear on the eve of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
“On the tracks with long straights, they have a slight advantage, but I think it will balance out for us. Here they will be strong like they were last year,” he said.
“But we have made a step forward with our car and we should be able to challenge them. Last year, we weren’t in a position to do so. “In Monza, I think they will probably be a lot quicker than they were last year, but I still feel we will have the upper hand.
“For Singapore, they will be very quick like they were in Valencia, so maybe they will have the upper hand there. We will wait and see. While in Fuji and Shanghai, we were very strong there.”
He added: “I honestly feel we’ve the better package for the remaining races. They are going to be able to challenge us, but I feel we have the upper hand.”
Hamilton, winner of four races so far this season, was outpaced by Massa in the last two outings, but believes he can bounce back to winning form.
Ferrari was untouchable in last year’s race at Spa, where Finn Kimi Raikkonen led Massa to a Ferrari one-two finish.
This year Massa appears to be in better form than his team-mate, who has been struggling to match the Brazilian’s pace in recent races.
Raikkonen is 13 points behind Hamilton in the standings, but Hamilton warned that he is still a threat.
“There are six races remaining and still a lot of points available, so I don’t think it’s over for Kimi. For sure he has his work cut out to catch us up, and for sure Felipe is the closest target for me at the moment.”
But Hamilton has vowed not to relax, despite his advantage in the drivers’ championship and is aware that he has to continue pushing if he is to beat his rivals.
“I wouldn’t say I’m in a comfortable position. You should never feel that because if you do then it’s over,” Hamilton said.
“I’m still attacking and I’m still driving for the last race and the end result, not focusing on just winning this race. I’m focusing on making sure I have more points than anyone else at the end of the season.
“I hope they both compete with each other and take points from each other. That would be great. I hope we as a team, with Heikki, continue to score good points. It would be great for our team.
He added: “I hope we are able to challenge them, not only in the drivers’ championship, but also the constructors’. We do have a package to be able to do that.”
President PHF Apologizes Nation For Team’s Olympic Debacle
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 2:31 pm
ISLAMABAD: The President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has apologized to the nation for the team’s worst ever performance at the Olympic Games last month.
Jamali, who appeared before the Sub committee of the Senate Standing Committee for Sports in Islamabad, said he will take the necessary steps to revive the national sport.
Senator Enver Baig who said the government would consider the points put forward by the sports federations of the country chaired the meeting.
The President of Pakistan Olympic Association, Let General retired Arif Hasan commended the Senate Standing Committee for their efforts for the revival of sports in the country.
Recommendations will be submitted to the Senate Standing Committee for Sports by the end of this month.
Sports Ministry Resolves To Probe Into Pak Hockey’s Beijing Debacle
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 2:27 pm
ISLAMABAD: The sports ministry has decided to probe into the disastrous performance of Pakistan hockey team in Beijing Olympics. Pakistan was placed at poor eighth in the mega event.
According to sources, an inquiry committee would be set up in few days, which would determine the causes of the poor performance as the names of many former Olympians and former heads of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) are being pondered to head the inquiry committee.
Also, sports journalists are likely to be placed in committee. The committee will prepare a report for sports ministry to decide future course of action, sources added.
Pak Junior Table Tennis Team To Leave For India Tomorrow
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 2:24 pm
PUNA: Eight- member of Pakistan junior table tennis team would leave for India to partake World Junior Table Tennis Championship on Saturday.
Junior and cadet players of Pakistan tennis team would be competing in the championship to be held Indian Puna.
Team would go by train from Karachi as the event would be held from September 11 to 14.
Shoaib Acquires Work Visa To Represent Surrey County
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 2:20 pm
LONDON: With all the ups and downs in his life Pakistan’s dashing fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, the world’s fastest bowler has managed to scrap through the latest controversy by applying for and receiving his Work Visa to represent Surrey in English county circuit.
Talking to Geo News, Shoaib’s brother Shahid Akhtar confirmed the pacer has received Work Visa late Thursday, the same day he was denied entry by immigration officials at the Heathrow Airport due to lack of Work Visa.
Shoaib, who left to play for Surrey on Wednesday, had a Visit Visa and since English Law requires a person to have a work permit before he is eligible to work he was sent back from transit.
A few months ago, senior batsmen Mohammed Yousuf also had to come back to Pakistan for not carrying a valid working visa and apply again.
Federer, Djokovic Reach Semis In US Open Tennis
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 2:16 pm
NEW YORK: World number two Roger Federer and Serbian third seed Djokovic, advanced to semi-final in the US Open Tennis tournament with impressive quarter-final triumphs Thursday.
For Roger Federer to win his fifth US Open title in a row, the Swiss second seed must prove he still has what it takes to beat the reigning Australian Open champion,Novak Djokovic, this time in a semi-final rematch of last year’s final. Their Saturday semi-final will be a replay of their 2007 title showdown
Twelve-time Grand Slam winner Federer advanced to his 18th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final and stretched his US Open win streak to 32 matches by defeating 130th-ranked qualifier Gilles Muller 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) to end the Luxembourg left-hander’s dream run.
Federer, who last missed a Slam semi-final at the 2004 French Open, has a 6-2 career record against Djokovic, including a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 victory in last year’s final.
Djokovic eliminated US eighth seed Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in
Thursday’s other Arthur Ashe Stadium quarter-final, the Serbian spurred on by
Roddick’s jokes to the crowd two nights earlier about Djokovic claiming several
injuries.
It will be the first healthy meeting of Federer and Djokovic since last year at Flushing Meadows.
Serena Shocks Venus To Reach Semis Of US Open
Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 1:25 pm
NEW YORK:Eight-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday, coming-from-behind in a pair of tie-breakers to defeat sister Venus 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (9/7).
Venus and Serena have met twice in the US Open final with the older Venus winning in 2001 before losing to Serena the following year.
This was another classic Williams sister summit, featuring long rallies and precision shot-making but also a number of uncharactistic errors from Venus, who went zero-for-10 on set points.
“It felt like the final of US Open. I can’t believe I won. Wow,” Serena said. “It was difficult because she is such a great player.”
Serena booked a semi-final berth against Russian Dinara Safina, who defeated Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-3 in the other quarter final on Wednesday.
Safina is trying to follow in the footsteps of her big brother, Marat Safin, and win her first Grand Slam title at a US Open.
The other semi-final features Russian Elena Dementieva facing Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in a super Friday of women’s matches at Flushing Meadows.
Serena, who lost to her sister earlier this year in the Wimbledon final, has now won nine of their 17 career matches.
Fourth seed Serena dug deep in both tie-breakers in front of a crowd of 23,700 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Seventh seed Venus jumped out to identical 4-2 leads in each tie-breaker before allowing Serena to claw her way back into it and eventually take the match in their first quarter-final meeting in a Grand Slam.
Serena survived four set points and won the final three points of the match in the second tie-breaker.
The first set was similar, as Serena took back two set points and won the final four points of the tie-breaker.
“I tried not to look at her. If I did I might start feeling sorry for her. I caught myself looking at her once and I had to say to myself, ‘Serena keep your head down,’” Serena said.
Serena, who hasn’t dropped a set at this year’s US Open through the first five rounds, clinched it when Venus sent a shot long.
Venus challenged the ruling but was unable to get the linesman’s call overturned and then walked to the net to congratulate her sister.
“She played well and kept lot of balls in play,” Venus said. “I was just praying on some shots tonight. I would get up and feel confident but for whatever reason didn’t get the point. Nothing I planned.
“That’s tennis. It is never over until it is over.”
Russian sixth seed Safina, who reached her first Grand Slam final earlier this year at the French Open, says winning the US Open would put a fitting exclamation point on her season.
“It’s great,” Safina said. “I’m getting closer to reaching the same thing as my brother. I just hope that one day I can have the same title.”
Big brother Safin won the US Open men’s title in 2000.
Safina, 22, continued her domination of Pennetta, raising her career record over the Italian to 5-0. Wednesday’s win was also a repeat of this season’s Los Angeles final, which Safina won 6-4, 6-2.
The six-foot-one Safina needed just 71 minutes to reach her first US Open semi-final in seven tries as she closed out the match on her second match point when Pennetta hit a backhand long.
On Monday, an exhausted Safina had to be coaxed onto the court by her coach, Zeljko Krajan, to play her fourth-round match against Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
She was in a much better frame of mind on Wednesday.
“Finally I am happy with myself because I did what I had to do,” Safina said. “I was aggressive on the court. I was following balls every time. Today I finally played my game.”
Pietersen Warns England Over Complacency
Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 1:24 pm
CARDIFF:Kevin Pietersen warned his England team that he won’t tolerate them sliding into a comfort zone after wrapping up the one-day series against South Africa.
Despite seeing his hopes of a 5-0 whitewash shattered by the Cardiff rain, with only three overs bowled on Wednesday before the fifth and final match was abandoned, Pietersen said he was satisfied with the progress made.
The England captain won his one Test match in charge in August before leading his team to third place in the ICC world one-day rankings with a 4-0 series win over the country of his birth.
Despite his early success, Pietersen insisted he will continue to push his players to their limits as they prepare for the Stanford Twenty20 clash in November followed by a gruelling tour of India.
“I would say it has gone better than I could have imagined,” said Pietersen.
“Playing a against a quality side like South Africa who have won nine or 10 of their last series means you are an underdog. “But the way the guys have trained and played has been absolutely exceptional. I can’t fault anybody for anything. They have delivered.
“All the guys are just hungry for success at the moment. A few of our guys in the past may have settled for some sort of comfort zone.
But I won’t settle for a comfort zone, I won’t settle for mediocrity. I want people to chuck their talent around and be the best people they can possibly be.
“There is no point living if you can’t be the best person you can be. Fair play to the guys, they have been amazing.”
The return to form and fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been key to England’s success and coincided with Pietersen’s leadership infancy. The Lancashire player finished on top of both the batting and bowling series averages and deservedly claimed the man of the series award. Steve Harmison’s decision to come out of international retirement and Matt Prior’s improved form behind the stumps were also factors, and Pieterseon paid tribute to all his players’ contributions. He said: “To have ‘Fred’ performing at those levels is incredible and all of the rest of the team have delivered which has been magnificent. “At times all I have had to do is make a few judgement calls. “It’s easier to settle in when you’re winning but I know of course there are going to be tough times. We’re gong to enjoy the good times though. “The way the guys are training and playing at the moment I don’t think much can go wrong at the moment. We know it will do but we’ll be ready for it.”
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