History in Paris as Alfred storms to 100m crown, Biles bags Olympic triple

Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia in action during the Women's 100 meters finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on August 03, 2024. (REUTERS)
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Updated 04 August 2024
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History in Paris as Alfred storms to 100m crown, Biles bags Olympic triple

  • Alfred conjured up a superb race in the Parisian rain to shock favorite Sha’Carri Richardson into silver with a time of 10.72sec in front of a raucous crowd at the Stade de France
  • China leads Olympic medals tally at the close of Day 8 of the Games

PARIS: Julien Alfred from St. Lucia powered to a historic 100m Olympic gold Saturday, the first Games medal ever won by the Caribbean island, just hours after US gymnastics legend Simone Biles had also vaulted into the history books.
With firsts being made all over Paris on an action-packed day, a row over gender eligibility in boxing rumbled on as the Algerian in the spotlight boxed her way to a guaranteed medal.
Alfred conjured up a superb race in the Parisian rain to shock favorite Sha’Carri Richardson into silver with a time of 10.72sec in front of a raucous crowd at the Stade de France.

The 23-year-old was in tears of celebration after sealing a sensational win — she had never finished on the podium at a major outdoor championships prior to Saturday’s final.
“It feels amazing... it still hasn’t sunk in,” Alfred said.
There was also heartbreak for two-time 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica, who pulled out just before the semifinal, apparently injured.
The flamboyant Richardson was bidding for redemption three years since a positive marijuana test after her victory at the US trials wrecked her Olympic dreams in Tokyo.

From one redemption campaign to another
US gymnastics great Simone Biles clinched her third gold in Paris after famously imploding in Tokyo with the debilitating mental block known as the “twisties.”

Her demons well and truly conquered, the 27-year-old Biles landed a stunning vault so difficult no other woman even attempts it.
“I kind of nailed that one,” grinned Biles, who admitted she was tempted by her home Olympics in Los Angeles in four years but was not getting any younger.
More history was made at the gymnastics as Carlos Yulo from the Philippines snatched his country’s second-ever gold, triumphing in the men’s floor exercise.
Then Rhys McClenaghan captured Ireland’s first-ever Olympic gymnastics medal with gold on the pommel horse.

Ledecky twins 9th gold

More history was made in the pool on the penultimate night of swimming as US legend Katie Ledecky powered to a fourth straight 800m freestyle title.
Her ninth career Olympic gold at the age of 27 equalled former Soviet-era artistic gymnast Larisa Latynina as the most decorated woman Olympian in any sport.
The greatest distance swimmer the sport has seen, she had already won the 1500m and earned silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay and bronze in the 400m freestyle in Paris.
Meanwhile, teen sensation Summer McIntosh enhanced her status as one of the Paris rising stars, taking her third gold in the 200m individual medley with an astonishing late surge.
Then the United States notched the second world record of the Olympic swimming competition, blasting to gold in the 4x100m mixed medley relay.

Algeria's Imane Khelif gets a medal

Off the field of play, a simmering scrap over gender in boxing was back in the spotlight as Imane Khelif overcame Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori on points to ensure at least a bronze medal.
The Algerian broke down in tears after the bout, which also saw the two boxers share an embrace.
“It’s a battle, it’s for my dignity,” said Khelif, who brought “honor to Algeria, Algerian women and Algerian boxing,” according to the country’s president.
Khelif’s 46-second victory over Italy’s Angela Carini sparked a row that spilled beyond the ring, with politicians and celebrities weighing into the controversy.
The International Boxing Association disqualified Khelif at last year’s world championship, saying she had failed an unspecified gender eligibility test.
There is no suggestion Khelif identifies as anything other than a woman and IOC President Thomas Bach called for an end to the scrap, that has also impacted Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting.

Earlier on the track, US sprint king Noah Lyles launched his campaign for men’s 100m glory, recovering from a slow start to come through his heat.
The 27-year-old was one of the last out of the blocks in his heat but powered through the field, finishing second to Britain’s Louie Hinchliffe in a time of 10.04sec.
Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson looked in ominous form, running 10 flat but easing down significantly in the final stages.
Italy’s Marcell Jacobs, who won a surprise gold in Tokyo, also labored through his heat and just scraped through in a time of 10.05 sec.
The second full day of athletics in Paris also saw Ryan Crouser from the United States win a third consecutive men’s Olympic shot put gold.
And on the clay courts of Roland Garros, Zheng Qinwen became the first Chinese player to win Olympic tennis singles gold as she defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the final.
A total of 29 golds were up for grabs on Saturday, with France, Australia, Britain and the United States chasing current medal table leader China.
 


LIV golfers get green light for US Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship

Updated 9 sec ago
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LIV golfers get green light for US Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship

  • The PGA of America decision solidifies spots in events although several LIV players had been granted special invitations to certain majors in past seasons and Koepka was welcomed into the Ryder Cup squad
  • The move shows tensions could be easing in golf’s civil war even as talks continue between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV’s backers, and the PGA Tour about a merger agreement

WASHINGTON: LIV Golf players will be eligible for the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship, the PGA of America announced Thursday in a move made to ensure access to top talent.

Since the early days of the Saudi-backed series, the US PGA Tour has banned LIV players from competing in its events, making it hard for LIV players to earn world ranking points and qualify for majors.

But PGA and LIV players have faced each other at major tournaments in recent years, with LIV’s Brooks Koepka winning last year’s PGA Championship for his fifth major crown and receiving a captain’s pick place on last year’s US Ryder Cup team.

“To ensure the PGA Championship will continue to deliver the strongest field in golf and that the US Ryder Cup team will continue to have access to the best American players, the PGA of America board has determined that LIV Golf players will be eligible for both,” the PGA of America statement said.

“Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the US team as a captain’s pick is eligible to compete.”

The PGA of America decision solidifies spots in events although several LIV players had been granted special invitations to certain majors in past seasons and Koepka was welcomed into the Ryder Cup squad.

Some LIV players have been able to compete in majors thanks largely to wins before LIV began, many competing as past winners of specific majors.

The move shows tensions could be easing in golf’s civil war even as talks continue between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV’s backers, and the PGA Tour about a merger agreement, negotiations that have stretched well beyond their original deadline of the end of last year.

Talks were conducted last week in New York but among the sticking points remains how to punish former PGA players who defected to LIV should they return and what LIV’s future might become.


South Africa’s Buhai grabs LPGA Queen City Championship lead

Updated 20 September 2024
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South Africa’s Buhai grabs LPGA Queen City Championship lead

  • Buhai said her form had been solid, and after two weeks off she was ready to attack the Arnold Palmer-designed TPC River’s Bend course
  • With her two-putt birdie at 18 she had a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and China’s Liu Yan

LOS ANGELES: Ashleigh Buhai carded eight birdies in a 7-under par 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the LPGA Queen City Championship as she vies to finish strong in an injury-disrupted year.

“There has been a few things happened to me this year — back injuries, broken toe,” said the South African, who played the Paris Olympics with a piece of one shoe cut away because of her toe injury.

But Buhai, whose two LPGA victories include a major title at the 2022 Women’s British Open, said her form had been solid, and after two weeks off she was ready to attack the Arnold Palmer-designed TPC River’s Bend course, which is hosting the tournament for the first time.

“I think I was smart with when I could attack,” said Buhai, who had four birdies on the front nine and four on the back.

With her two-putt birdie at 18 she had a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and China’s Liu Yan.

Eight players shared fourth on 67, a group that included world No. 1 Nelly Korda and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, the Paris Olympics champion.

“There were a few pins out there where you had to still try to be aggressive, and the greens got a little firm and ran through, but I then made some good up and downs to keep me in it,” Buhai said.

“I hit it great, putted well — that tends to add up to what it did.”

Liu, who has missed the cut in her last seven starts and is searching for a first top-10 of the year, started on the 10th and had two eagles — at the 18th and at the eighth — in her 66.

“Today my driver was very good,” said Liu, who played her last two holes in 3-under.


Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season

Updated 20 September 2024
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Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season

  • Ohtani officially established MLB’s 50-50 club with a seventh-inning homer in the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami
  • To cap a monster offensive performance, Ohtani added a third home run in the ninth inning, finishing the game with 51 homers and 51 steals so far this season

MIAMI: Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made Major League Baseball history on Thursday, becoming the first player ever to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

Ohtani officially established MLB’s 50-50 club with a seventh-inning homer in the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami.

The win clinched the Dodgers’ post-season berth — a first for Ohtani, who never made the playoffs even as he earned two American League Most Valuable Player awards while with the Los Angles Angels.

The Dodgers had runners on the corners when Ohtani came to the plate with two outs in the seventh. He launched a curveball from Mike Baumann over the left centerfield wall.

His second home run of the contest gave him 50 for the season, after two stolen bases earlier in the game pushed his tally of steals to 51.

The Japanese standout had smashed his 49th home run of 2024 in the sixth, a 438-foot blast that tied Shawn Green’s record for most by a Dodger in a single season, set in 2001.

And to cap a monster offensive performance, Ohtani added a third home run in the ninth inning, finishing the game with 51 homers and 51 steals so far this season.

He had six hits in six at-bats, including two doubles for a total of five extra-base hits.

He drove in 10 runs and scored four and could only laugh as he returned to the dugout after his final blast, the cheers of fans at LoanDepot Park ringing in his ears.

“To be honest, I’m the one probably most surprised,” Ohtani said through a translator of the spectacular show. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad I performed well today.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, addressing his players in the clubhouse as they celebrated the victory, noted the achievement.

“This is a game that has been played for over 200 years,” Roberts said. “And this is something that has never been done.”

But Ohtani himself tried to keep the focus on the team.

“I’m glad that the team won,” he said, admitting that with so much attention focused on his 50-50 pursuit, it “was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible.

“It’s something that I’m going to cherish for a very long time.”

Already the fastest player to reach 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season, Ohtani had nabbed his 50th steal in the first inning when he belted a leadoff double and stole third, his well-timed slide allowing him to evade a tag by Marlins third baseman Connor Norby.

Ohtani scored on a sacrifice fly and one inning later he notched his 51st steal, swiping second after a single.

With his 50th stolen base, Ohtani surpassed Roberts for the second most by a Japanese-born player in MLB history, a list led by Ichiro Suzuki, who stole 56 in 2001.

Ohtani had earlier this season become MLB’s all-time leader in home runs among Japanese-born players when he surpassed the 175 of Hideki Matsui.

The 30-year-old, who signed a record $700 million free agent deal with the Dodgers in the off-season, now has 222 career home runs.

Meanwhile, Ohtani is ramping up his rehabilitation from surgery on his throwing elbow. Unable to showcase his pitching prowess this year, he has been throwing bullpen sessions and could face hitters soon.


Head’s hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI

Updated 20 September 2024
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Head’s hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI

  • Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 317-3 with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series
  • Australia captain Mitchell Marsh hailed an “exceptional” team performance: The way we were able to pull it back (in the field) was great.

NOTTINGHAM: Travis Head’s superb career-best 154 not out saw depleted world champions Australia to a seven-wicket win over England in the first one-day international at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 317-3 with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series to make it 13 ODI wins in a row against all opponents.

Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne was the unlikely hero with the ball as Australia fought back after losing the toss.

England, on 201-2 off 30 overs, were set for a colossal total as Ben Duckett eyed a hundred on his home ground.

But left-hander Duckett departed for 95 when caught and bowled by part-time leg-spinner Labuschagne, who also removed Harry Brook — out for 39 in his first innings as England captain — in similar fashion soon afterwards.

Labuschagne returned ODI-best figures of 3-39 as England, succumbing to spin, lost their last six wickets for 59 runs.

First-choice leg-spinner Adam Zampa marked his 100th ODI with 3-49 from his full 10 overs.

Labuschagne then completed a fine all-round display by making 77 not out off 61 balls in an unbroken partnership of 148 with fellow 30-year-old Head.

But the outcome might have been different had Head been caught early in his innings, with the player of-the-match telling Sky Sports: “I got lucky and Jofra (Archer) bowled a hell of a spell at the start. Glad I can continue.”

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh hailed an “exceptional” team performance by saying: “The way we were able to pull it back (in the field) was great.

“I think the calmness in the group has been great. There’s illness flying around, it builds resilience in the team.”

Brook, leading England in just his 16th match at the relatively youthful age of 25, accepted the hosts had posted a “below-par score.”

Australia lost Marsh early in their chase when he holed out off Matthew Potts.

Three balls later Head, the hundred hero of Australia’s World Cup final win over India last year, almost fell in single figures.

His slashing square-cut off Potts flew to deep point only for Brydon Carse, in too far off the boundary rope at Brook’s request, just failing to hold what would have been a spectacular leaping catch.

Fast bowler Archer topped speeds of 90 mph (145 kmh) in his first ODI after over a year out with injury.

But opener Head came through to completing a sixth century in 66 ODIs.

He went to exactly 150 by launching Liam Livingstone for a spectacular six over long-on, with the spinner’s nine overs costing an expensive 75 runs.

Head then surpassed his previous highest ODI score of 152, against England at Melbourne two years ago, with the left-hander facing 129 balls, including 20 fours and five sixes, in total.

After Brook won the toss, both Duckett and Will Jacks completed brisk fifties.

But Zampa struck when Jacks (62) holed out to cover to end a partnership of 120 with Duckett.

Test opener Duckett pressed on before chipping Labuschagne’s fourth delivery back to the bowler as a 91-ball innings, including 11 fours, ended tamely.

And when Brook fell the same way, England were 232-4 off 35 overs.

Australia have several players sidelined by illness and injury, including experienced fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

The series continues at Headingley on Saturday.


Daniel Dubois ready to do ‘whatever it takes’ to beat Anthony Joshua on ‘historic’ night for British boxing

Updated 20 September 2024
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Daniel Dubois ready to do ‘whatever it takes’ to beat Anthony Joshua on ‘historic’ night for British boxing

  • Two fighters faced off for second time this week at press conference at Guildhall in London

LONDON: Reigning International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois said on Thursday he was ready to do “whatever it takes” to win his fight against Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

The two fighters, who will headline the Riyadh Season Card Wembley Edition event in London, faced off for a second time this week at a press conference at Guildhall in the British capital.

Dubois, who has been guarded and careful with his words during the build-up week, did not mince his words when asked how he felt 48 hours from the bout.

“I’ve been preparing for this moment for months. This fight has been anticipated since the start of my professional career, and I’m here to solidify my place by winning,” he said. 

“I’m feeling in peak condition, physically and mentally, and I’m prepared for battle.

“Whether by knockout or decision, I’ll do whatever it takes to win. The method doesn’t matter — what matters is that I’m ready for any scenario,” he added.

 Anthony Joshua (L) and Daniel Dubois (R) during the press conference at Guildhall in London. (Action Images via Reuters)

Joshua, who could join an elite group of fighters to be crowned a three-time world champion, emphasized the respect between him and Dubois, adding that boxing was “at its core, a gentleman’s sport.”

However, he acknowledged the tension that often accompanies face-offs, recalling a recent encounter with Dubois: “During the face-off about a month ago, tensions flared, but it remained respectful. Dubois said, ‘Let’s go now,’ and for a moment, I wasn’t sure what he meant. But this is boxing, and these things happen. We’re ready for Saturday.”

He continued: “In this sport, you can’t give anyone an inch because they’ll take a mile. I’m going all out, and I want to thank my team for their efforts in preparing me for this battle.”

 Anthony Joshua (L) and Daniel Dubois (R) during the press conference at Guildhall in London. (Action Images via Reuters)

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, said the event on Saturday had the potential to be an “historic night for British boxing,” and not just for his fighter.

“I never imagined that Riyadh Season would reach this level, but here we are, hosting an extraordinary event at Wembley,” he said. 

“Joshua has always been an inspiration to a new generation of fighters, and ever since he won Olympic gold, he has set the standard for British boxing. Saturday offers him the chance to prove himself once again as a three-time heavyweight world champion, joining the ranks of legends like Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis.

“Anthony is fully prepared. I’ve never seen him this calm and confident. Saturday will be a night to remember, and it will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest in British sporting history,” he added.

 Anthony Joshua (L) and Daniel Dubois (R) during the press conference at Guildhall in London. (Action Images via Reuters)

Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren, who manages Dubois, agreed.

“This isn’t just any fight— we have two of Britain’s strongest heavyweight contenders going head-to-head. Both have faced challenges, but Dubois has shown throughout his career that he’s a fighter not to be underestimated,” he said.

“He’s surmounted numerous obstacles, and now he’s here to show the world what he’s capable of. Dubois packs a powerful punch, with speed and agility that make him a dangerous opponent.

“I advise everyone not to blink during this fight because it’s going to be extraordinary from start to finish. I truly believe this will be one of the greatest bouts in British boxing history.”