The ITF has announced the latest results for the 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final between France and Switzerland in Lille on 21-23 November.
Friday’s play set a new record for the number of spectators at an officially-sanctioned tennis match with a crowd of 27,432. The previous record was set at the 2004 Davis Cup Final in Seville, where there was a crowd of 27,200 spectators,
The sixth competition day of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, Korea saw the winners of the quarter-finals achieve at least a guaranteed bronze medal, with two London 2012 Olympic Champions advancing to the last four in the event, as Katie Taylor walked over to the semi-finals, while US teenager Claressa Shields defeated a tough Russian boxer on Day 6.
Bout of the day
China’s Yin Junhuao only began her boxing career in 2009, and she needed only three years to join the national squad shortly after the London 2012 Olympic Games.
She won the gold medal at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, and the 24-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer has returned to Korea to win another medal in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Her third opponent in the event was Bulgaria’s EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships bronze medallist veteran Denitsa Eliseeva, who is one of the few boxers to have defeated Ireland’s Katie Taylor during her storied career.
The Chinese boxer displayed tremendous footwork in the contest, which gave her an amazing elusive ability, and Eliseeva’s punches reached mostly air in their contest.
Yin Junhua showcased a wide range of attributes throughout the four rounds, and she is a definite gold medal contender based on her performance here.
Team of the day
Two of Thailand’s great prospects Sopida Satumrum and AIBA Women’s World Championships bronze medallist Tassamalee Thongjan were eliminated in the preliminaries in Jeju, but two of their younger teammates have advanced to the semi-finals and achieved guaranteed medals in the event.
Their Light Flyweight class (48 kg) number one and Taipei City Cup winner Chuthamat Raksat won Thailand’s first bout on the sixth competition day in Jeju, and she had to be at her very best to beat Chinese Taipei’s new sensation Ping Meng Chieh, who eliminated the current AIBA Women’s World Champion Josie Gabuco of Philippines in the previous stage of the event.
Thailand’s second medal was delivered by Southeast Asian Games winner Sudaporn Seesondee, with the Light Welterweight class (64 kg) boxer reaching her career highlight following a narrow triumph over Czech Republic’s Martina Schmoranzova.
AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Jeju
Surprises of the day
Bulgaria’s London 2012 Olympian Stoyka Petrova won the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships earlier this year where she defeated London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams of England, which gave the 29-year-old Flyweight class (51 kg) boxer a lot of confidence coming into Jeju.
Petrova had to face Italy’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Terry Gordini in the quarter-finals, and though the Bulgaria tried to control the bout, a spirited effort from the veteran Italian, and a warning given to Petrova saw a surprise win for Gordini in Korea.
South American Games silver medallist and Independence Cup winner Atheyna Bylon secured Panama’s first ever triumph in the history of the AIBA Women’s World Championships on Day 2, and after making it two wins, she had to meet with Turkey’s EUBC European Women’s Youth Continental Championships silver medallist Guluzar Kara for a guaranteed bronze medal.
Panama’s pride used her reach very well, and the confidence she had gained during the Championships was evident in her fluid fighting style, and stiff jabs.
A star has been born in Korea, with Bylon becoming a national hero in her native Panama, winning the first medal for her country in an AIBA competition.
India’s Saweety Boora won their National Women’s Championships one month ago, and the young Indian Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) boxer faced Croatia’s EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships Anamarija Marsic in the quarter-finals, who had previously eliminated one of the gold medal contenders Kazakhstan’s Yulduz Mamatkulova.
The Croatian boxer started the bout better, but Saweety Boora improved as the rounds went on, and her lethal punches delivered an unexpected medal for her in Jeju.
Ones to watch
Ireland’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Katie Taylor is looking for her fifth AIBA Women’s World Championship in a row, but was matched in Jeju with Russia’s former two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Sofya Ochigava whom she had previously faced in the final of many tournaments.
Taylor went into the quarter-finals with a 3-1 record over the Russian, but never got the chance to make it 4-1, as Ochigava was forced to pull out before the bout due to an injury.
Ireland’s hero will no doubt be frustrated by the situation, and will want to display her superior skills in her semi-final contest.
Azerbaijan’s Elena Vystropova claimed a silver medal at the last edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao at the Middleweight class (75 kg), and the 26-year-old boxer has since moved down to the Welterweight class (69 kg) where she won the gold medal at the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest.
Following two triumphs in Jeju, she boxed for a guaranteed medal against AMBC American Women’s Continental Champion Danyelle Wolf.
The US boxer tried to control their tactical bout, while Vystropova used counter-attacks to negate her tough opponent.
A cagey and technical affair saw defensive masterclasses from both fighters, and the narrow fight was eventually awarded to Vystropova by split decision.
Netherlands’ Nouchka Fontijn won this year’s continental championships in Bucharest, and arrived to Jeju as a secret favourite of the Middleweight class (75 kg).
The last remaining Dutch hope met with Morocco’s African Women’s Cup winner Khadija Mardi, who was herself the lone African boxer in the quarter-finals.
Fontijn dominated all of the rounds against her opponent and secured her well-deserved place in the semi-finals.
AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Jeju
Stat/Fact of the day
All of the ten competing Russian athletes reached the quarter-finals in Jeju, and five of them managed to reach the semi-final stages.
Only Asian athletes advanced to the semi-finals of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg), which proved their dominance at the lowest category.
The following 21 nations have got at least one boxer left in the semi-finals:
Russia: 5 remaining boxers
China: 4 boxers
Italy, Turkey, United States of America: 3 boxers
Azerbaijan, England, France, India, Kazakhstan, Thailand: 2 boxers
“I am super satisfied with my performance on my third contest here in Jeju. My tactic was to keep the distance and I tried to follow the instruction of my coach. I am feeling great joy to get a medal for my proud country, Panama in a World Championships,” commented Atheyna Bylon who has written history in Jeju.
“I am fine in this prestigious competition, well-relaxed and I concentrate only on the next step in the Championships. I am satisfied with my result in advancing to the semi-finals. My opponent, the Chinese boxer was a very good in technique but I was able to beat her with my lot of movements and perfect timing in the attacks,” said Italy’s defending EUBC European Women’s Continental Champion Marzia Davide who eliminated China’s Gao Jinyan in the quarter-final of the Bantamweight class (54 kg).
“The Japanese team supported me well prior to my semi-final contest, therefore I was able to step into the ring in perfect shape. I am very happy, beating a Russian boxer is always a hard job for everybody in the world. That was only one step, and I want to win my next semi-final bout as well,” explained Japan’s 19-year-old Madoka Wada who defeated Russia’s Zoia Isaeva in the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) in Jeju which was her third triumph in the championships.
“To win a battle, first of all, you have to believe in yourself and secondly you do not have to undervalue your opponent. My today’s tactic was to control the fight from the first seconds,” said Bulgaria’s new hope Stanimira Petrova who advanced to the semi-final following her triumph over France’s Marina Rostan.
Tomorrow’s program
Following a rest day, the semi-finals of the 8th edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships will be held in Jeju on Sunday.
France’s Renaud Lavillenie and New Zealand’s Valerie Adams were named the male and female World Athletes of the Year for 2014.
The pair received their trophies at this evening’s IAAF World Athletics Gala held at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille.
The awards were hosted by International Athletics Foundation (IAF) Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and IAF & IAAF President Lamine Diack, who presented the trophies to the male and female winners.
It was the first time in the history of the awards that field event athletes had won both accolades and was also the first time that a male pole vaulter or a female thrower had won the World Athlete of the Year award.
Renaud Lavillenie at the 2013 IAAF Diamond League in London (Victah Sailer )
Lavillenie, 28, had an almost perfect season which included setting a pole vault world record of 6.16m in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
The Frenchman won 21 of his 22 competitions in 2014, a series which included victories in the Diamond Race as well as at the European Championships and IAAF Continental Cup.
“This season couldn’t have been better. This is really the dream season for me. I can only enjoy this and be very grateful to the whole athletics family,” reflected Lavillenie.
“I think the world record contributed to the award, but I won other competitions too. I wasn’t as good as Valerie, I lost one competition, but 21 out of 22 is not too bad in an event which is quite unpredictable,” he joked.
Valerie Adams, photo credit IAAF.org
Adams, 30, may have thrown farther in previous seasons than she did in 2014, but the Olympic champion added a ninth senior global title to her collection when she successfully defended her world indoor crown in Sopot and triumphed at the Commonwealth Games.
She was the only athlete in the world to win at all seven IAAF Diamond League fixtures in any discipline and was a clear winner of the women’s shot put Diamond Race.
“This is the icing on the cake for 2014. It’s been a year that’s been physically challenging but I’m proud to be here for New Zealand and Oceania,” commented Adams.
“There’s been a lot of pain but I love what I do, I love competing. I’m mentally strong and I’ve a high pain threshold so that makes it easier,” she added, with her delight evident for all to see.
Other awards
IAAF DISTINGUISHED CAREER AWARD
Virgilijus Alekna (LTU)
Alekna, now 42, has had a stellar career and his major achievements include gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, 2003 and 2005 IAAF World Championships.
He was also the 2006 European champion and has another five medals from major international championships. His international championship career stretched over 21 seasons, starting at the 1994 European Championships and, 20 years later, he competed in the 2014 European Championships this summer.
He threw a national record of 73.88m in 2000 and currently lies second on the world all-time list for his discipline.
IAAF RISING STAR AWARD
Wilhem Belocian (FRA) & Morgan Lake (GBR)
Belocian, 19, won the 110m hurdles at the IAAF World Junior Championships this summer in a world junior record time of 12.99, making his own mark as the first junior to run under 13 seconds over the barriers. His global victory added to his win at the 2013 European Junior Championships.
Lake, 17, achieved a unique double at the IAAF World Junior Championships in the US city of Eugene, winning both the heptathlon and the high jump and while still a youth as well. Her winning heptathlon total of 6148 points was a world youth best.
IAAF COACHING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Tom Tellez (USA)
Tellez is best known for guiding Carl Lewis to nine Olympic titles. Between 1984 and 1996, all but one of the US athletes who won gold medals in sprinting events at the Olympic Games were coached by Tellez.
His group included the likes of 1988 Olympic 200m champion Joe DeLoach, former 100m world record-holder Leroy Burrell, 1992 Olympic 200m champion Mike Marsh, 1984 Olympic 200m silver medallist Kirk Baptiste and 1996 Olympic bronze medallist Frank Rutherford.
IAAF WOMEN IN ATHLETICS AWARD
Evie Garrett Dennis (USA)
Dennis was instrumental in convening the first ever convention of The Athletics Congress (now USA Track & Field). Eight years later, in 1988, she became the first woman to act as the chef de mission for the US Olympic team.
She went on to serve as the vice president of the US Olympic Committee, again becoming the first woman to do so, and chaired the USOC’s women’s committee and diversity committee. She has been a staunch advocate and spokesperson for Title IX, which ensures equal access to sports for young women.
IAAF WORLD JOURNALIST AWARD
Marc Ventouillac (FRA)
Ventouillac is head of athletics at renowned French sports newspaper l’Equipe and since 2003 he has been a member of the IAAF Press Commission. He is a recipient of the Prix Robert-Parenté, awarded by a group of international French athletics journalists, and in 2014 he became a distinguished member of the AIPS Executive Committee, Europe and president of the AIPS Athletics Commission.
MASTERS’ MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Guido Muller (GER)
Having started out in athletics at the age of 11, Muller is still going strong 64 years later. Since turning 45 in 1983, Muller has gained 126 national masters titles, 82 at the European level and 36 at the World Masters Championships. He also holds 17 world masters records across various age groups from M45 to M75, four of which were set this year.
MASTERS’ FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Lavinia Petrie (AUS)
Since turning 70, Petrie has been on a record-breaking run, setting multiple world records in her age group across middle and long distances. At the start of 2014, Petrie set world W70 records over 3000m and 10,000m in the same day. During the same competition, she broke the W70 world best in the half marathon. Two months later, she took a 46-second chunk off her own W70 10,000m world best.
IAAF HALL OF FAME – 2014 INDUCTEES
A dozen athletics legends, the ‘class of 2014’, were inducted into the IAAF Hall of Fame.
Valeriy Brumel
Glenn Davis
Heike Drechsler
Hicham El Guerrouj
Marita Koch
Robert Korzeniowski
Janis Lusis
Bob Mathias
Wilma Rudolph
Shirley Strickland de la Hunty
Lasse Viren
Cornelius Warmerdam
Rower Franz Gravenhorst, a PhD student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) wins the second annual Parmigiani Spirit Award.
The 29 year old from Karlsruhe, Germany is currently completing a PhD in electrical engineering at ETH in Zurich, Switzerland. Gravenhorst has been a rower since he was 15 years old and has competed at every level from club, to university, to the German national team.
The 2014 Parmigiani Spirit Award was open to university rowers worldwide who demonstrate the core values of rowing in his/her social, academic and sporting life and, through those values, also enabled or inspired exceptional success in other people’s lives – for example in education, business, sports or charity. Rowing’s core values are: Teamwork, Fairness, Natural, Inclusive and Enduring.
Through university rowing Gravenhorst has taken an active part in the organisational side of rowing. He is responsible for weekly rowing courses and instructs at the Zurich Universities Sports Association as well as organising an annual rowing camp which is open to all students in Zurich.
In addition to his dedication and determination in the sport, Gravenhorst is working diligently toward a PhD in two projects. One project has the goal to improve the healthcare situation for people with mental illness by developing monitoring technology. The other project addresses the development of measurement tools for rowing technique, using wireless sensors, to track the angles of the rowing oar in combination with the movement of the rower.
Known for making friends world-wide and his ingrained sense of fairness, Gravenhorst says that some of his deepest friendships have evolved out of the sport.
“Franz Gravenhorst is an inspirational university athlete who has dedicated his time to a field of study that will benefit both society and sport. His success as an athlete, a friend and a mentor are indications of his incredible determination and focus. He is a role model in our sport and a very worthy winner of the second Parmigiani Spirit Award,” says FISA President Jean-Christophe Rolland.
Rowing friend David Albrect describes Gravenhorst, “For Franz, having skills or knowledge always comes with an obligation to share this knowledge with others and let them benefit from it. Also, he regularly supports rowing beginners to improve their rowing experience by coaching them and also sometimes rowing with them.”
Gravenhorst will receive a hand-crafted Parmigiani Fleurier watch at the presentation ceremony in Zurich on 4 December. His club will be presented with a custom-built top-of-the-range Filippi eight racing shell to be named “Parmigiani Spirit 2014”. This is the second year of the Parmigiani Spirit Award, which was presented to James Cook (GBR) in 2013.
Parmigiani Fleurier is a Swiss watchmaker of unique, hand-crafted timepieces. A common philosophy lies at the basis of the partnership between World Rowing and Parmigiani Fleurier which was forged in 2012. Precision, coordination and elegance are similar qualities that are needed both in the sport of rowing and in the craftsmanship of each unique Parmigiani timepiece.
IAAF President Lamine Diack, on behalf of the IAAF, signed a new convention with the Principality of Monaco, represented by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, on Friday.
The principal elements of the convention concern the continued residence of the IAAF in the Principality and the move of the IAAF offices to a new location within the Principality early next year.
“It is with the greatest of pleasure and pride that in the final year of my last mandate as president of the International Association of Athletics Federations that I have the honour to sign a new convention with the Principality of Monaco,” said President Diack.
Lamine Diack, IAAF President, credit IAAF
“The IAAF is delighted that the new convention will witness the opening of new offices next year. This transfer will allow us to bring together all the various departments and divisions of the IAAF under the same roof,” he added.
“I would like to say how thrilled I am that the relationship between the Principality and the IAAF is ongoing, especially with these new premises,” commented His Serene Highness Prince Albert II.
Equestrian heroes will soon be ditching their breeches and boots to don tuxedos, ball gowns and high heels for a glittering competition of another kind. They will fly to Baku (AZE) to be whisked onto the red carpet of the FEI Awards on 14 December. The “Oscars of the equestrian world” have been organised by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body of equestrian sport, since 2009.
Eighteen candidates have been shortlisted for this year’s awards, and one from each of five categories will be selected as the winners by a jury of international experts chaired by FEI President HRH Princess Haya.
The winners – individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the growth of equestrian sport in 2014 – will be announced at a gala evening in Baku’s stunning But a Palace, where 350 guests representing the FEI’s 132 National Federations, enthusiasts and stakeholders will celebrate their achievements.
Longines Rising Star – Dedicated to equestrians aged 14 to 21 who demonstrate outstanding sporting talent:
Irma Karlsson (SWE)
Lambert Leclezio (MRI)
David Ziegler (CAN)
Reem Acra Best Athlete – Athletes who have demonstrated exceptional equestrian skills and have taken the sport to a new level over the last 12 months:
Boyd Exell (AUS)
Daniel Deusser (GER)
Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED)
Joanne Eccles (GBR)
Best Groom – This award is reserved for those all-important, behind-the-scenes team members who work around the clock to ensure that horses get the best possible care and attention:
Alan Davies (GBR)
Jackie Potts (GBR)
Jessica Benbow (GBR)
Against All Odds – People who have pursued their equestrian ambitions despite physical handicap or extremely difficult personal circumstances:
Roxanne Trunnell (USA)
Sofie Lexner (SWE)
Sudipti Hajela (IND)
Sydney Collier (USA)
FEI Solidarity – An equestrian development project, or an individual or organisation that has demonstrated skill and energy in expanding equestrian sport:
Andrjey Malcievsky (RUS)
Equal Ark (SIN)
Southern Hills Eventing Inc (AUS)
Yuriy Chertkov (UKR)
“Supporting the up-and-coming athletes in the sports Longines is involved in has been a high priority for the brand for the past few years”, said Juan-Carlos Capelli, Longines Vice-President and Head of International Marketing. “These young talents are the future of their discipline and will be part of the development and influence of the sport across the globe.
“To encourage these promising sportsmen and women to reach their full potential and fulfill their dreams is one of the most rewarding efforts a brand can make and we are very proud of that. Along with the Longines Rising Star prize, which rewards the most promising athlete between 14 and 21 years in any FEI discipline, Longines organises a tennis tournament for children in the frame of the French Open at Roland-Garros and a race of young jockeys during the Prix de Diane Longines. In alpine skiing, we support young talents with the prize Longines Rising Ski Stars, as well as the Longines Future Ski Champions, a race held in the exact same conditions as the World Cup.”
“After another season of top level sport I am thrilled to announce the shortlist for the Reem Acra Best Athlete Award for 2014: Jeroen Dubbeldam (Jumping), Daniel Deusser (Jumping), Boyd Exell (Driving) and Joanne Eccles (Vaulting). The competition was intense but these riders have all risen above their peers. I cannot wait to see who will make the final jump to the number one position this year”, said international fashion designer Reem Acra, title sponsor of the Western European League and Final of the prestigious FEI World Cup™ Dressage series.
The FEI Awards were launched in 2009 to reward excellence, commitment, dedication and courage. The shortlist for the FEI Awards 2014 has been made following nominations from the public. For full information on the FEI Awards 2014 and past winners visit: http://www.feiawards.org
The man who won Nigeria an Olympic silver medal in football six years ago is on the march again, as preparations for the building of a new strong squad has already commenced.
Former Super Eagles’ Captain and Coach, Samson Siasia has called up 39 players to open a screening camp in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Sunday, with another set of 39 and a final set of 38 to follow in batches.
Siasia has the assignment to raise a squad that will qualify Nigeria for the Men’s Football Tournament of the 11th All –Africa Games (taking place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo in July 2015) as well as qualify for the CAF U-23 Championship (taking place in DR Congo, also next year), and also qualify for the Men’s Football Tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games through the CAF U-23 Championship.
The first hurdle is an All –Africa Games qualifying fixture against Gabon, with the first leg away in Libreville towards the end of February, and the return leg in Nigeria early March. The winner of that fixture squares up against the winner of the fixture between Zambia and Madagascar in late March.
The Dream Team, as Nigeria’s Olympic squad is known, will then take on the winner among Ghana, Liberia and Congo in the qualifying race for the CAF U-23 Championship in July.
Olympic gold medallists in Atlanta, USA in 1996, the Dream Team faltered at the 2000 Games in Australia, failed to qualify for the Athens 2004 Games, won silver medal in Beijing in 2008 and failed to qualify for the London Games in 2012.
Siasia has explained that each batch will spend only three days in camp before the other, with the selected ones among the lot to convene a proper camp late December. All the players are to report at FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja.
Siasia Samson fifa.com
FIRST BATCH (23 – 25 November)
Goalkeepers: Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Kasim Yekini (Bayelsa United)
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