KAZAN, Russia: Russia’s Natalya Ishchenko won a record 18th career synchronized swimming gold medal at the world championships on Wednesday with victory in the solo free routine.
Ishchenko’s program scored 97.2333 points to beat China’s Huang Xuechen by 1.5333 points.
The bronze went to Ona Carbonell of Spain on 94.9 points.
Ishchenko’s win moves her one ahead of her longtime duet partner Svetlana Romashina, who has 17 world championship gold medals.
“I actually try not to count how many medals I have,” Ishchenko said. “Each final is a big responsibility and I approach them with real seriousness and today I was really worried.”
A potential 19th career world gold awaits Ishchenko on Thursday when she and Romashina compete in the duet free routine.
Ishchenko took a break after the 2012 Olympics to raise a family and the world championships were her first major competition since her comeback.
“I knew everyone was going to be looking at me, that there’d be focused attention on how I do after two years away,” she said. Ishchenko is aiming to add to her three Olympic gold medals at next year’s games in Rio de Janeiro.
Russia has won four of the five synchronized swimming gold medals so far at the world championships in Kazan, with the host nation’s only defeat coming in the mixed duet technical routine, won by Christina Jones and Bill May of the United States.
Russia’s Ishchenko wins solo synchro gold at worlds
Russia’s Ishchenko wins solo synchro gold at worlds
Dubai Basketball edge Milan to secure EuroLeague victory
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball strengthened their home-court reputation with a 99-92 win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Round 18 of the EuroLeague at Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday, cheered on by more than 5,000 fans.
The hosts made a fast start and immediately imposed themselves at both ends of the floor. Canadian center Mfiondu Kabengele and Serbian big man Filip Petrusev controlled the paint early, creating close-range scoring opportunities and forcing Milan into defensive adjustments. With McKinley Wright IV and Dwayne Bacon adding pace and penetration, Dubai surged into a double-digit lead and dictated the tempo of the opening quarter.
Milan struggled to settle and spent much of the first period on the back foot, as Dubai’s advantage stretched to 15 points. Although the visitors steadied themselves as the quarter progressed, the early deficit proved costly.
Dubai head coach Jurica Golemac praised the impact of the home crowd after the game, saying: “Congratulations to the fans. We were missing them for sure in the last home game, and they helped us a lot. In the first quarter, we played one of our best quarters this season. The next game is at home in three days, so there is no time to rest too much. We need to prepare for that game first. We are not thinking three games ahead — we prepare for every game and try to win every game.”
Milan showed improved rhythm in the second quarter, but Dubai responded before the break. Bacon punished defensive lapses from beyond the arc, while Kabengele finished strongly inside to help the hosts take a seven-point lead into halftime.
The final period was defined by composure rather than flair. Milan threatened to draw level on several occasions, but missed free throws and execution errors halted their momentum. Bacon sealed the outcome from the free-throw line in the final two minutes, pushing Dubai back into a double-digit advantage and closing out the contest.
Bacon led all scorers with 25 points, while Wright recorded 19 points and nine assists. Kabengele added 17 points, and Petrusev contributed 13 points and seven rebounds. For Milan, Guduric topped the scoring with 11 points, alongside seven rebounds and seven assists.
Dubai Basketball now turn their attention to the ABA League, where they remain unbeaten. The team return to Coca-Cola Arena to face Slovenia’s KRKA in Round 12 of the competition.
