Peter Odemwingie Twitter row with Nigeria over African Cup of Nations exclusion

Posted on December 24, 2012 by adminsports

Baggies bonus as Odemwingie blasts Nigeria chiefs on Twitter (so, he'll definitely miss the African Cup of Nations now…)

UPDATED:

10:03 GMT, 24 December 2012

Peter Odemwingie has used his Twitter account to launch a blistering attack on the Nigeria Football Federation and Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi.

The 31-year-old West Brom striker was controversially left out of the squad for the African Cup of Nations and vented his anger via social media.

Odemwingie, who would have been playing in his fifth African Cup tournament, tweeted: ‘On my non-inclusion to the Eagles list I am not surprised. Not surprised Keshi and NFF couldn’t tell me themselves. No personality!

Unhappy: Peter Odemwingie has blasted Nigeria chiefs for leaving him out of their African Cup of Nations squad

‘We talk through press hahaha how come I am the only stubborn one but no ex-Eagles player was sent off from the team with respect

‘Keshi has no footballing reasons not to invite me but is not saying the truth. He is still in my plans he said haha coach u no dey my plans.’

On Friday Keshi announced a 32-man provisional squad to go to a training camp in Portugal and Odemwingie was not in it.

The player has been at the centre of controversy with his country before and some blamed him for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup.

Keshi has since claimed that Odemwingie was demanding to be made captain, which has also annoyed the player.

Missing man: Odemwingie is angry over his snub from the Nigeria squad

He tweeted: ‘This might sound disrespectful but Eagles had no good captain for many years. Everyone looking only after himself.’

Odemwingie made his Nigeria debut ten years ago. It has often been a fractious relationship with a series of coaches but the player was still desperate to represent his country.

The fall-out from the row will be an unexpected bonus for West Brom head coach Steve Clarke, who now has the services of his converted wide man in January.

Amir Khan v Carlos Molina: Danny Garcia"s racist dad won"t stop me this time

Posted on December 12, 2012 by adminsports

Khan: There's no way Garcia's racist dad will stop me beating Molina

UPDATED:

01:12 GMT, 12 December 2012

Amir Khan is such a changed young man that not even the provocative presence of Danny Garcia’s offensive father in the opposite corner here on Saturday night will ruffle his new-found maturity.

That is just one of the promises that Khan is making – to his new trainer, his fans and himself – as he strives to put his career back on track by ending Carlos Molina’s unbeaten record in ‘what has become the most important fight of my life.’

The Americans are trying to inflame Khan by drafting in Garcia Snr, whose racist insults caused our boy from Bolton to lose his head – almost literally – in the second of the successive defeats which have knocked him off his world championship throne and into resurrection mode.

No chance: Amir Khan is determined to defeat Carlos Molina

It is a mischievous move by Team Molina but Khan says: ‘You will see a different, more mature me in this fight.

'I let Danny’s Dad get to me and I went to punish them with a knock-out too quickly, instead of continuing to break him down, and got caught with a punch from nowhere.

‘That’s why Molina has brought him in but it won’t happen this time. I’ve grown up and nothing will take my focus off my boxing.

'I will be smart and pick my moments to go for the finish. Just as I am insisting on random blood testing for drugs before all my fights, so that I don’t suffer again the way I did in the previous defeat by Lamont Peterson,who we found was on steroids.’

The calming presence of the new trainer – the prodigious Andre Ward’s mentor Virgil Hunter – has played a major part in these rationales. But so has the unexpected fate which befell Khan’s friend and former stable-mate Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Khan was speaking in the aftermath of the PacMan’s seismic knock-out by the suddenly muscular Juan Manuel Marquez.

Focused: Khan is looking to bounce back with victory over the unbeaten fighter

Knockout: Khan is trying to get his career back on track after the devastating knockout

He said: ‘I believe every boxer should submit to Olympic style testing, not only before fights but all year round. Molina agreed for this fight and we both gave blood about five times during our training camps.

‘But it’s not only the drugs testing. Manny and I were both on the wrong end of big knock-outs because we went lunging in for the quick KO ourselves instead of going through the process. We are both great attacking fighters but not so hot defensively.

‘My natural instinct is to fight but I’ve learned from this experience that I must control that impulse.’

Khan, who was widely criticised after falling to Garcia for his presumption in talking up a future mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather, added: ‘I’ve also learned not to look past the fight in front of me. I know that I simply cannot afford another defeat. I have to concentrate on the job in hand.’

That focus excludes any forward notion of going up a division – to full welterweight – to answer the public challenge from fellow Englishman Kell Brook. Khan is not interested in adding poundage ‘until I’ve come back to clean up at 14O lbs ….even if Brook does win a world title when he fights Devon Alexander her in LA next month. It will be well into next year before I even think of moving up again.’

In conversation: Khan chats to Sportsmail's Jeff Powell earlier this year

That purging process at light-welter will required him to avenge the Garcia KO and that re-match is likely to be the one he seeks next assuming he overcomes Molina ‘even though I don’t think Danny will take it because I was beating him up until he landed that one big shot.’

He adds: ‘Of course I want to mix it again with the best in the world in due course….but not until I’ve re-established myself.’

In truth, Khan has never been as arrogant as he has been perceived in some quarters and it has been more important to acquire this maturity he now sees in himself. Not humility.

Carlos Molina is not alone in wondering and waiting to see the new Amir Khan enter the Los Angeles Arena.

Mario Balotelli kicks bottle in training ahead of Manchester derby

Posted on December 8, 2012 by adminsports

Temper, temper, Mario… New Dad Balotelli throws his toys out of the pram in training ahead of Manchester derby

UPDATED:

12:38 GMT, 8 December 2012

Mario Balotelli was said to be ‘delighted’ at the news that on-off girlfriend Raffaella Fico had given birth to his daughter.

But the 22-year-old looked a little worn out as he arrived at Carrington training ground yesterday – and lashed out at a bottle on the eve of Sunday's Manchester derby.

Perhaps he was upset at having missed the unexpected birth due to his Manchester City commitments.

Mario Balotelli kicks water bottle during training

The new Dad looked weary during training with Manchester City

The eccentric striker appeared
strained in this set of images, at one point launching his water bottle across the ground, as
well as giving a teammate a good kicking.

The Italian’s apparent frustration is
understandable, as he hasn’t been able to hold his daughter yet. She and
her mother are currently residing at a private clinic in Naples.

Little Pia’s arrival, which was
expected on Christmas Day, has awkwardly clashed with Manchester City’s
fixture against Premier League rivals Manchester United. Balotelli will
have to wait until after tomorrow’s derby before he can fly to meet his
baby girl.

Mario Balotelli gives Javi Garcia a kicking during training

The Italian took out his frustration on teammate Javi Garcia

Mario Balotelli looks upset during training

Pregnant Raffaella Fico poses on the catwalk

The young father was not able to be with his on-off girlfriend Raffaella Fico for Pia's birth, and the status of their relationship remains unclear

The status of the young striker’s
relationship with his new-born’s mother is unclear. After an acrimonious
split, prompted by Balotelli’s wandering eye, the pair recently
reunited in Naples.

However, it is thought to have been two months since the ex-model and TV star last saw the father of her child.

It remains to be seen whether the
arrival of his first child will tame the Italian and put an end to his
playful antics off the pitch.

It will certainly be hard for him to get away with setting off fireworks from his bathroom window once he has an infant in the house.

Manchester City 1 Everton 1: Roberto Mancini"s men frustrated as Marouane Fellaini hits the target again

Posted on December 1, 2012 by adminsports

Manchester City 1 Everton 1: Mancini's men frustrated by sticky Toffees as Fellaini hits the target again

UPDATED:

17:34 GMT, 1 December 2012

Marouane Fellaini made significant contributions at both ends as Everton frustrated champions Manchester City yet again in the Barclays Premier League.

Fellaini headed the Toffees, victors in eight of their previous 10 clashes with City, into a first-half lead but then conceded a controversial penalty to allow Carlos Tevez to level.

Everton felt Edin Dzeko had gone to ground too easily to win the award but Tevez made no mistake and City went on to dominate the second half.

Back on terms: Carols Tevez celebrates the equaliser

Match facts

Man City: Hart, Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov (Zabaleta 7), Toure, Barry, Silva,Tevez (Aguero 68), Nasri, Dzeko (Balotelli 80). Subs Not Used: Pantilimon, Javi Garcia, Sinclair, Toure.

Yellow cards: Lescott, Zabaleta.

Scorer: Tevez 43 pen.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Gibson,Osman, Naismith (Oviedo 73), Fellaini, Pienaar,Jelavic (Heitinga 90). Subs Not Used: Mucha, Hitzlsperger, Gueye, Barkley, Vellios.

Yellow card: Fellaini.

Scorer: Fellaini 33.

Att: 47,386

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

The latest Premier League table, fixtures and results

The result preserved City's unbeaten start to the season in the Premier League and prolonged their run of home games without defeat to 37, a sequence stretching back to a loss to Everton two years ago.

It was also Everton's seventh draw in their last nine games.

The match took some while to warm up and City suffered an early blow as Aleksandar Kolarov limped off after just six minutes.

Manager Roberto Mancini had opted to rest the hard-working Pablo Zabaleta but the in-form Argentinian was summoned from the bench straight away.

Joleon Lescott made an unexpected return to the side, to face his former club, in place of impressive youngster Matija Nastasic.

The England defender looked composed as he resumed his partnership with Vincent Kompany after more than a month out of the starting line-up.

Everton playmaker Leon Osman gave the City defence plenty to think about in the early stages without creating a clear-cut opening.

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard had to pick himself up from a collision with Dzeko after coming to claim a cross from Maicon, who looked dangerous in attack but vulnerable in defence.

Calm customer: Carlos Tevez slots the penalty

City threatened the Everton goal in the 20th minute when David Silva crossed and Dzeko headed wide.

Tevez controlled well in the area but was unable to shoot and Dzeko inadvertently took the full force of a Samir Nasri shot in the back of his head.

Everton's 33rd-minute opener came in familiar fashion as the ever-dangerous Leighton Baines, who passed a fitness test to feature, crossed and Fellaini eventually headed in.

Main man: Marouane Fellaini scores for Everton

Kompany did well to divert the cross away from Nikica Jelavic but it dropped for Fellaini, who headed home at the second attempt at the far post after Joe Hart saved his initial effort.

It was the Belgian's eighth goal of an impressive season.

Out in front: Marouane Fellaini celebrates yet another goal

That brought the game to life and City almost found an immediate equaliser as Tevez met a Nasri cross with a deft header that Howard did well to save.

Gareth Barry then chested down another Nasri cross for Dzeko to turn and shoot but again Howard was alert.

Controversy followed the resulting corner as Dzeko tangled with Fellaini and went to ground. Referee Lee Probert sparked immediate protest from Everton by pointing to the spot and Toffees manager David Moyes clearly thought the award was harsh.

Having words: Everton players protest against the penalty award

Tevez made no mistake as he stepped up to tuck home his eighth of the campaign.

Whether or not Fellaini was unfairly penalised, he almost produced the perfect response in the final moments of the first half with a glancing header from a Steven Pienaar cross, but Hart saved.

That proved the final on-field action before the players left the field but Moyes continued to voice his frustration, presumably about the penalty decision, to the fourth official.

Rough and tumble: Steven Pienaar goes down under a challenge from Manchester City's Joleon Lescott

City upped the tempo at the start of the second half but again it took time before the chances came, aside from a Tevez shot which was blocked by Phil Jagielka.

Tevez almost broke away after a miskick by Distin but the defender recovered quickly to nick the ball away from the striker. Tevez also headed over but it was not until just after the hour that City seriously threatened again as Maicon burst down the field and forced Howard to parry a powerful 18-yard drive.

No joy: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini reacts

City decided to freshen up their attack by sending on Sergio Aguero, but the crowd were not happy that it was Tevez he replaced and boos rang around the ground.

The game became scrappy as Everton's hard-working defence did their best to repel City's threat.

Mario Balotelli also entered the action for the last 10 minutes in place of Dzeko and did inject a bit of energy into the side.

Eight up: Marouane Fellaini scores

His first chance to aim at goal, however, was probably best forgotten as he screwed a shot well wide. Nasri then combined well with Silva in the area but could only win a corner.

Everton went close in injury time from a Jelavic free-kick but Hart saved and the ball squirmed wide.

Mark Hughes position causes civil war at QPR

Posted on November 19, 2012 by adminsports

EXCLUSIVE: Hughes fights on as civil war rages at QPR over his future

UPDATED:

22:45 GMT, 18 November 2012

Mark Hughes is clinging on to his job against the backdrop of civil war at Queens Park Rangers.

The 49-year-old is facing a fight after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by Southampton left them rooted at the foot of the Premier League table, without a win in 12 games.

On Sunday night, the QPR chief had not been given any assurances from co-owner Tony Fernandes, who had been unwavering in his public support of Hughes.

Come in, Harry: Mark Hughes is clinging onto his job at QPR after another match without a win

Come in, Harry: Mark Hughes has vowed to fight on at QPR despite the fans turning on him

Fernandes is not due in the UK ahead of the weekend clash against Manchester United, but Sportsmail understands Rangers staff have been put on red alert in case the tycoon makes an unscheduled arrival.

Fernandes was upset at the manner of
the loss to Southampton but is leaning towards giving Hughes more time,
unless other directors can persuade him otherwise.

It is believed key shareholder Ruben
Gnanalingam will be in the country before the match against Sir Alex
Ferguson’s side, while Hughes and Fernandes are expected to have talks
this week.

An unexpected arrival of Fernandes
would surely spell the end for Hughes as a growing resignation descends
on Loftus Road that the manager will be sacked before the visit to Old
Trafford.

The former Manchester City boss is
dividing opinion at the club. Most shareholders and board members are
said to have lost faith in his management.

The same group wanted Hughes out
after the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on October 27 and are seriously
questioning Fernandes’s decision to stand by his manager. Many believe
the key reason behind his decision not to sack Hughes is a probable
hefty pay-off.

Sportsmail has
also learned players have lost faith in Hughes, unimpressed with how he
has addressed his side’s sorry form. The potential appointment of Harry
Redknapp is openly discussed.

Representatives of the former Tottenham boss, as well as ex-Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez, have indicated their interest to QPR.

Out of ideas: QPR's abject performance against Southampton shocked Tony Fernandes

Out of ideas: QPR's abject performance against Southampton shocked Tony Fernandes (who was not at the game but in America)

Speaking on Match of the Day,
Redknapp refused to rule out becoming QPR boss: ‘Mark’s still in the
position, he’s a top bloke and an excellent manager.

‘He knows what he’s about and until there’s a change, if there is one, then it would not be fair for me to discuss it.’

But even supporters slated Hughes and some of his summer signings on Saturday, chanting: ‘You’re only here for the money!’

Hughes defiantly insists Fernandes
and fellow co-owner Amit Bhatia would be wrong to sack him, but has
sympathised with fans who criticised his players.

‘I can understand totally the
frustration of the fans and they’re well within their rights to say that
but I can assure them that’s not the case,’ said Hughes.

‘Everyone is working really hard to
turn this around. When you have a performance like Southampton, the fans
are absolutely right to criticise, given where we are.

‘In fairness, I was of the same view.
But stability is absolutely what this club needs long-term, making
wholesale changes again at this club would be the wrong decision. You
would expect me to say that, but I honestly believe it.’

To compound Hughes’s problems,
striker Djibril Cisse was caught up in a Twitter row with a QPR fan who
criticised the Frenchman.

Cisse replied with the club address and postcode, tweeting: ‘Come to the training ground, we’ll have a chat big man.’

Manchester City taught a lesson by Ajax academy stars – Neil Ashton

Posted on October 25, 2012 by adminsports

Neil Ashton: City stars taught a harsh lesson from the Amsterdam academy

UPDATED:

23:31 GMT, 24 October 2012

The iconic red and white shirts are instantly recognisable and so is the specific playing style.

With seven homespun players twisting and turning on the field, it is a firm nod in the direction of Ajax’s glorious past.

They still rely on graduates from their fabled Toekomst training academy on the outskirts of Amsterdam to push for places in Frank de Boer’s first team.

Conductor: Frank De Boer's largely home-grown team helped dismantle City

Ajax

There is much to be admired about the policy of promoting young players, but Manchester City are in a hurry to make their move on the rest of Europe.

It is a clash of cultures and cash, a collision of philosophies that could ultimately still end in elimination from Group D for both of these teams.

Micah Richards was the sole academy graduate in City’s team, making the initial run that led to Samir Nasri’s first goal in the Champions League since he quit Arsenal. There will be more like Richards in the future when City’s new academy beds in, although the appearance of Cheadle-born George Evans on the substitutes’ bench is progress of sorts.

The 17-year-old midfielder, son of former City player and physio Ron Evans, was an unexpected selection by Roberto Mancini.

At Ajax this is normal, nothing out of the ordinary for a team that has appointed 12 successive managers born in Holland.

What’s new is old at Ajax and the angled balls played by Ricardo van Rhijn, Daley Blind and goalscorers Siem de Jong, Christian Eriksen and Niklas Moisander are a throwback to the Champions League winning team of 1995.

Back then they fielded nine players from the Ajax academy for the final against Milan in Vienna, but reaching the latter stages is now a far-and-away dream for City.

Last season Mancini’s team equalled a record when they failed to qualify for the second round of the Champions League after collecting 10 points.

After three games, that is now the maximum return for a team that has been in rude health in the Barclays Premier League.

In Europe, it is time for a radical rethink.

Throwback: Cristian Eriksen is reminiscent of Ajax players of old

London 2012 Olympics: Jessica Ennis on brink of heptathlon gold after long jump and javelin

Posted on August 4, 2012 by adminsports

Ennis homes in on heptathlon gold after brilliant long jump and personal best in javelin

UPDATED:

13:53 GMT, 4 August 2012

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Jessica Ennis stands just 800 metres away from Olympic heptathlon gold after she continued to dominate the competition at London 2012.

Great Britain's golden girl of the Olympics followed an excellent 6.48m in the long jump with a personal best in the javelin – her third in the competition – of 47.49m.

Ennis will take a massive 188-point lead into the final event this evening and only an unexpected injury setback realistically could prevent her following in the footsteps of fellow Briton Denise Lewis, who won the title in Sydney in 2000.

If Ennis runs a time of around two minutes 10 seconds in the 800m, nearest challenger Austra Skujyte of Lithuania would need to clock close to 1min 57secs to win, a time which would be good enough to get in the Olympic individual final.

Thumbs up: Jessica Ennis is all set to win Great Britain's first track gold of the Games

Skujyte's
personal best of 2:15.92 was set in the Athens Olympics in 2004, while
Ennis set hers of 2:07.81 on the way to silver at the World
Championships in Daegu last year.

Ennis could even become only the
fourth woman in history to score 7,000 points with a run of 2:05.69
tonight, while equalling her personal best would give her 6,968 and
fifth place on the all-time standings.

However, such achievements will be
secondary to simply making sure of victory, four years after the
26-year-old was forced to watch the Beijing Games on television after
suffering a career-threatening foot injury.

'Obviously I was anxious coming in
today, the long jump has been up and down all year so I was quite
worried about that,' Ennis said. 'I've done a lot of no jumps this year
which I don't normally do.

On song: Ennis threw a personal best 47.49m in the javelin to lead the standing with one event to go

'I just kept thinking “Oh God am I
going to throw it away doing three no jumps” because it's so easy to
do. It was a massive, massive relief to have got that right.

'To have got a solid jump in and a PB
in the javelin is more than I could have asked for. It's a great way to
go into the 800 so I just want to go back and rest a bit and see what
I've got left in my legs.”

As for reaching 7,000 points, Ennis added: 'I think I've got to run 2.05
which is a tough time. I will just see what's left in my legs. I'll go
for it, I'll give it everything.'

On target: Ennis looks set to add an Olympic gold medal to her trophy cabinet

Ennis began day two with a lead of 184 points after personal bests in
the 100m hurdles and 200m, and extended her advantage over Skujyte to
258 points with a leap of 6.48m in the final round of the long jump.

That was just three centimetres down on her personal best, with world
champion Tatyana Chernova the only athlete to jump further than Ennis. A
leap of 6.54m moved the Russian up from ninth to third, but reigning
Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska's challenge ended after two fouls
and a last aborted attempt of 3.70m dropped her to 33rd.

Better was to come in the javelin as Ennis more than made up for the
terrible performance in Daegu which cost her the world title, throwing
46.61m, 45.99m and then a PB of 47.49m in the final round.

Skujyte managed 51.13m to close the gap by 70 points, but Ennis looks
destined to deliver Britain's first athletics gold around 25 minutes
before Mo Farah contests the 10,000m final.

Golden girl: Ennis looks set to continue GB's astonishing medal haul

Ennis has struggled with her run-up in the long jump
this season, committing seven fouls in 12 attempts during two
competitions earlier this summer, and managed just 5.95m with her first
attempt.

However, the 26-year-old then hit the
board perfectly on her second to soar out to 6.40m, just 11cm down on
her personal best, and there was better still to come in the final round
as another capacity 80,000 crowd roared the former world champion down
the runway and out to 6.48m for 1,001 points.

World
champion Tatyana Chernova was the only athlete to jump further than
Ennis, a leap of 6.54m moving her up from ninth to third and 290 points
behind Ennis, but reigning Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska's
challenge is over after two fouls and a last aborted attempt of 3.70m
dropped her to 33rd.

Go Jess: Ennis is closing in on the heptathlon gold medal after a superb performance in the long jump

Ennis began her quest for Olympic gold on a tidal wave of love.

She was swept along by the British
support among the 80,000 who had filled the Olympic Stadium before
breakfast on Friday for one reason only: our Jess, the nation’s darling
and golden girl. And by the day’s end they had lifted her to the
overnight lead and the largest first-day score of her life.

‘Full
on the first morning! I do not remember the last time that’s
happened,’ said IAAF president Lamine Diack, who at 79 has been around
to see more Olympic Games than most.

Giant leap: Ennis competes in the women's heptathlon long jump event at the Olympic Stadium

Ennis’s first name had only to be mentioned for the roar to bounce around the bowl and drown out the announcer. The lady herself smiled broadly. Pressure, what pressure She was determined to enjoy her first Olympics, and the crowd with her.

And how she rewarded them! From the
moment she began the first of seven events that would keep her occupied
for two days, she returned their passion and emotion in spades.

She
was not even expected to win her heat of the opening 100 metres hurdles
because next to her was Jessica Zelinka, the Canadian 100m hurdles
champion. So the result was astonishing.

Out in front: Ennis extended her advantage over Lithuania's Austra Skujyte to 258 points

The music booming out was from the film Kick-Ass and this was a performance beyond even Ennis’s dreams, an improvement of a quarter of a second on what she had run before. The scoring tables were entering unknown realms; no hurdler has ever run as fast as 12.54sec in a heptathlon.

Multi-event athletes are supposed to
be the jack of all trades and masters, or mistresses, of none. Steve
Ovett, the great miler, dismissed decathlon in the days of Daley
Thompson as ‘nine Mickey Mouse events and the 1500 metres’.

The
ancient Greeks saw the winner as Victor Ludorum, the champion of
champions. Modern Americans are of the same attitude, most probably
because their people win multi-events so often and presently own the
world record in decathlon and heptathlon. The contrary view — that
multi-events are for the sport’s jetsam from real events — is more
widespread in the athletic fraternity
Now
Ennis is good enough to match any sprint hurdler. Her time of 12.54sec
would have won every Olympic gold in the event. Zelinka, the specialist
hurdler, ran the fastest of her career and was still 0.11sec behind
her.

Flying: The Sheffield girl battled back from a poor start to record an excellent 6.48m jump

Ennis’s time returned to a British-born athlete the British record for the event annexed briefly by the American cuckoo in the nest, Tiffany Porter. It earned Ennis 1,195 points, so immediately she was up on the score she recorded in Gotzis, Austria, 10 weeks ago, when she went on to set a new British record.

Indeed she was way ahead of what she
required to join the exalted ranks of the three women who have exceeded
7,000 points and quicker than American Jackie Joyner-Kersee when she set
the world record — which still stands — at 7,291 points while winning
Olympic gold in 1988.

More
significantly, in the contest for gold here she was 142 points ahead of
world champion Tatyana Chernova and 155 ahead of defending Olympic
champion Nataliya Dobrynska. ‘Nice start,’ tweeted Ennis’s coach Toni
Minichiello, the master of understatement.

Roar of delight: Ennis celebrates her brilliant recovery in the long jump

Ennis could not believe it. ‘I’m still in shock from the hurdles, to be honest,’ she said when she left the arena for lunch in the Athletes’ Village and a quick nap before Friday evening’s continuation.
‘I can’t believe I ran that time. What a great start! I knew I was in shape to run 12.7 or 8 but not 12.5.’

But Skujyte does not run as well as
she throws, and Ennis sprints a lot better. Skujyte managed 25.43 in the
200m; in the final heat Ennis flashed over the track in 22.83, the
fastest of her career.

Her
overnight score was 4,158, a lead over Skujyte, the nearest challenger,
of 184 points. More significantly Chernova was back in ninth and
Dobrynska 10th, neither within 300 points of Ennis. They are out of
contention for gold.

Best of British: Ennis thanks the crowd in the Olympic Stadium for their raucous support

Ennis is not so far ahead of others that we can hang a gold round her neck. Others will be better than her in javelin, and she may be reduced to what she fears most — a burn-up for gold over 800m on Saturday evening.

But she has something on her side the others cannot command — the best part of 80,000 fans, who lifted her to new heights and are back today to do their bit to bring home the gold medal.

Murray and Robson into mixed doubles semi after dispatching Aussie duo

Posted on August 4, 2012 by adminsports

Murray and Robson into mixed doubles semi after dispatching Aussie duo

UPDATED:

13:16 GMT, 4 August 2012

LIVE RESULTS |
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Andy Murray and Laura Robson thrilled the Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon by reaching the Olympic mixed doubles semi-finals.

The British pair managed an unexpected victory over Australian opponents, holding their nerve to beat Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.

The pair looked confident in the opening set but Hewitt and Stosur, both grand slam singles champions, showed their class to level the match.

All smiles: Andy Murray and Laura Robson salute the partisan Centre Court crowd

In tandem: Murray puts away a volley at the net as Robson patrols the baseline

The first point of the match tie-break
had to be replayed as a ball girl mistakenly ran across the court when
she wrongly thought the point had finished.

It looked as though victory might slip
away from the British pair, with men's singles finalist Murray letting
out a howl of frustration as he and Robson slipped 7-5 down in the
tie-break.

On a roll: Laura Robson and Andy Murray saw off the challenge of Sam Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt

Down and out: Lleyton Hewit and Sam Stosur react after defeat

But they pulled it back to secure a
place in a semi-final against Germany's Sabine Lisicki and Christopher
Kas, scheduled to take place later this afternoon.

London 2012: Training is a real stretch for Usain Bolt as fitness questions grow over sprint king

Posted on July 26, 2012 by adminsports

Loosening a tight Bolt… training is a real stretch as fitness questions grow over sprint king

UPDATED:

23:20 GMT, 25 July 2012

Olympics 2012

Not everything is as it appears in the well-manicured image presented by Usain Bolt Ltd.

Sure, the main man is a joker who loves to party into the small hours – and beyond – of the Jamaican morning. He is a chilled dude with a toothy smile and an appetite for chicken nuggets.

All that is real, but still aspects of Bolt's character jar. It is not his start-line nonchalance, exaggerated for showboating effect, that rankles – no, that is part of the fun. What rankles is that his minders build a high wall around him, keeping the world away and the cash registers ringing.

Enlarge

Pushing the limit: Bolt grimaces as his physio goes to work but coach Mills looks relaxed

The secrecy invites questions. The absence of answers begets suspicion. That was the case when he failed to show for an open training session on Tuesday.

Was he injured

Was his participation in the Olympics in doubt

On Wednesday, as these exclusive pictures show, he was flat on his back. But before his rivals get carried away, he was smiling, too.

Pull the other one: Mills and Bolt succumb to a fit of the giggles

At the Jamaican's base in Birmingham
he was able to train – his programme included some starts – before
having a long stretching session. Bolt's coach, Glen Mills, shared a
joke with him and laughed loudly while the physio pushed and pulled the fastest legs in history.

The scene told us that Bolt looks likely to be on the start line for the 100 metres final a week on Sunday.

However, we do not know in exactly what condition. After his recent
defeat by training partner Yohan Blake at the Jamaican trials, and a
second unexpected trip to the German doctor Hans Muller-Wohlfahrt
earlier this month, some doubts must linger.

Down in London's Olympic Park the
question was not so much about Bolt's fitness as about the legality of
Jamaican sprinting. Innuendo suggested, one questioner said, that
testing there was not the most stringent on the planet.

Pull the other one: Mills and Bolt succumb to a fit of the giggles

David Howman, the World Anti-Doping
Agency boss, responded by saying he had visited the island last year.
'Satisfactory,' was his overall verdict. Well, it sounded an
unsatisfactory answer, given how dominant Jamaican sprinters – men and
woman – are.

Nor has every
one of their samples proved clean. No less than Bolt's chief rival and
the fastest man this year, Blake, tested positive for the stimulant
methyl-xanthine in 2009. It was a drug not yet on WADA's banned list
but, perhaps unreasonably, he was still suspended for three months.

So I
raised the subject of drugs with Mills, the influential guru to a
generation of Jamaican sprinters, including Bolt and Blake, and a devout
Christian.

'People will
say anything,' he said. 'Track and field may have contributed to that
kind of scepticism as unfortunately a number of outstanding athletes
have tested positive, even in the recent past.

'That casts doubt on everybody who runs fast. But drugs are not the
only thing that can make people run fast. Hard work and ability get the
job done.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the men's 200m final

Challenge: Bolt wants to win a gold medal in London

'If you are
saying that Jamaicans, because they run fast, are on drugs then I see
that as a witch-hunt. Jamaicans would say those allegations are down to
a bad mind or some kind of envy.

'The thing about drugs is that I have a
distinct line between a person who inadvertently finds something in
their system, a stimulant or something, that is widespread in cough
syrup, supplements or whatever, as against somebody who is on a
deliberate drug programme, knowingly, willingly planned.

'That is a clear indication of a
person who is corrupt and I have no tolerance for that. I don't think
anybody should be banned for life, though. My Christian values speak of
forgiveness. They should be punished, yes; banned for life, no.' Bolt
is on record as saying he must win at least an Olympic title here in
London to be considered a legend, seeing multiple successes at major
championships as the true yardstick of such status.

In that attempt, he will face the American Justin Gatlin, who was
banned for four years after testing positive for testosterone, and whose
presence in the 100m final would serve as an emblem of the doping
menace. So how many in those eight lanes will be fuelled illegally

Mills said: 'I don't know. You can't ask me that. It is impossible to
guess. I would hope it is nought. Even WADA could not tell you. If they
knew, the athletes wouldn't be there.

'But I would love to see a clean sport. I could never feel good
winning anything having knowingly set out to cheat to win. No.'

London 2012 Olympics: Piggy French out of Games

Posted on July 3, 2012 by adminsports

French's Olympic dream crushed after Brit's horse is injured

UPDATED:

18:36 GMT, 2 July 2012

Piggy French has been ruled out of Great Britain’s Olympic eventing team following an injury to her horse DHI Topper W.

She will be replaced by Nicola Wilson, riding Opposition Buzz.

French’s other top horse, Jakata, is also injured, and the news is a crushing setback for last year’s Badminton runner-up.

Bitter blow: Piggy French will miss the Olympics after an injury to DHI Topper W

Wilson, though, now has an unexpected opportunity to compete in the biggest event of her life.

Considered by many as a surprise omission from the original team, 35-year-old Wilson and Opposition Buzz are an established international combination.

They were members of Britain’s 2009 European gold medal-winning team and the quartet that won World Equestrian Games gold in Kentucky a year later.

Opposition Buzz is widely regarded as among the world’s top cross-country exponents, which he underlined again at Barbury over the weekend with a brilliant clear three-star round inside the time.

Wilson said: 'It’s horrific and fabulous at the same time. I just don’t know what to say.

Lucky break: Nicola Wilson will ride Opposition Buzz at the Olympic Games

'I am devastated for Piggy and I wouldn’t wish this on anybody. She has become a very close friend, and I feel for her so much.

'What an emotional rollercoaster. Obviously, I am so excited for Rosemary Search (the horse’s owner), myself and my support team, but so saddened at the same time for it to be at the expense of such a good friend.

'To be thinking about London now, is amazing though – having very much told myself it wouldn’t happen. We will definitely be ready.'

French, who revealed just two days ago that her Olympic dream had been five years in the making, is now coming to terms with it being shattered.

'I am devastated,' she said.

'My dreams are shattered, but most of all I feel so sorry for my support team that have been such a vital part of my success, and also for my family and joint owners, the Underwoods.

Broken dreams: Piggy French has seen her Olympic hopes dashed

'I wish the team all the best for the Games, and I look forward to being back on the team in the future.'

British equestrian team leader Will Connell added: 'Piggy will be completely devastated, and all of us feel so very sorry for her, her support team and her owners.

'Piggy is a truly outstanding athlete, a wonderful team member and one of life’s good human beings. However, horses have a habit of giving great highs but also terrible lows.'

And British eventing performance manager Yogi Breisner said: 'I feel extremely sorry for Piggy, and it is a real shame not to be able to have her on the team.

'I am sure a rider of Piggy’s talent, and with the backing she has, she will be back on future teams.

'It is great to have a reserve of the calibre of Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz to bring on to the team, and preparations will continue as planned.'

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