Top seed and Serb Novak Djokovic had little or no work to do in the fourth round of the Australian Open as he breezed through unseeded Gilles Muller from Luxembourg in straight sets 6-4,7-5,7-5.
Novak will now meet big serving Canadian Milos Raonic who snuffed out the challenge of 12th seed Felicaino Lopez from Spain in five sets.
Newfanzone.com player to watch for 2015 Kei Nishikori was too smart for David Ferrer as the Japanese seem to be coping well with the pressure on him from his continent with a commanding 6-3,6-3,6-3 win.
Nishikori now sets up a quarter-final meeting with defending Champion and Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka who ensured his passage by winning a thrilling fourth round tie breaker to beat another Spanish player in Guillermo Garcia Lopez 7-6(7-2),6-4,4-6,7-6(10-8).
Serena Williams
In the ladies game it was a good day in the court for the Williams Sister as both Serena and Venus made it to the last eight.
Venus who suffers from an energy sapping condition defeated Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3,2-6,6-1 and will now meet Madison Keys who unsurprisingly won the battle of the Madison’s as she defeated Madison Brengle 6-2,6-4.
Serena Williams battled back from a set down to defeat Spaniard Garbine Muguruza 2-6,6-3,6-2 and still be on course to win her 19th grand slam title.
In the quarter-final for Serena will be Dominika Cibulkova. Cibulkova who was a runner-up in Melbourne last year defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-2,3-6,6-3 in the fourth round.
A win for both William sisters will re-ignite one of the all time battles in tennis- Venus against Serena in the last four.
2015 is set to be a landmark year for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), with a record amount of prize money, exposure, participation levels, as well as development and training programs reaching new heights.
The overall prize money at ITTF events in 2015 hits US$3,570,000, which is the most in the history in a calendar year for the ITTF.
The GAC Group 2015 World Tour, which will see the world’s best players travel to 22 stops around the world, including new events at North Korea and Bulgaria, will reach a record prize money pool of US$3,000,000. The rest of the massive prize pool will come from the World Team Cup held in January this year, Women’s World Cup and the LIEBHERR Men’s World Cup, which will both be held in October.
The QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships, to be held in Suzhou, China on 26 April – 3 May, will be the most watched table tennis event of all time, with a record TV distribution and online streaming presence expected to see the 150 national associations compete.
The ITTF is set to become only the third International Federation to pass 1,000,000 social media fans, with only 20,000 more fans across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Weibo needed to reach the milestone.
Table tennis will be bigger and better than ever in 2015!
ITTF’s Development and Education program, which has gone from strength to strength, is set to go to new heights with the inaugural World Table Tennis Day being launched on 6 April 2015 at Mt Everest.
At the 2015 AGM, the ITTF is lined up to become the number one International Sports Federation in terms of membership reaching 221 with the addition of Sao Tome Principe. This goes a long way achieving one of the ITTF Development Program’s key guiding principles – to have table tennis played in every corner of the world.
The tension amongst the players will be high in 2015, as the road to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games starts! The first event the players can earn their golden ticket to Rio is the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan in June.
All these exciting factors, plus many more surprises to come makes 2015 definitely a year to get excited about!
Baku (Azerbaijan) and Istanbul hosted the first round of the APB Inaugural Title Matches for 91+ kg, 75 kg and 69 kg with the following results.
APB Champion Erik Pfeifer
SUPER HEAVY 91+ KG – FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY (19:30 GMT+4)
Location: Baku – Venue: Sarhadchi Complex
APB Champion: Erik PFEIFER (GER)
Germany’s Erik Pfeifer, a two-time AIBA World Championship bronze medallist, was crowned the first Super Heavyweight (91+ kg) Champion in the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Inaugural Title Match in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Both Pfeifer and Arjaoui had won all three of their preliminary bouts coming into the Inaugural Title Match at Baku’s Sarhadchi Complex. Pfeifer started the contest well, his punches landing more sharply and accurately than his African opponent. Later, Pfeifer’s extra energy and experience saw him outclass his opponent in the final two rounds, as he pulled away on points. After eight rounds, the final scorecards read 78:74 across the board in favour of Pfeifer who became the first APB Inaugural Titleholder.
Match schedule:
19:30: Ahmed SAMIR (EGY) W.O. vs Sergiy VERVEYKO (UKR) (Exhibition Match: Ahmed Samir (EGY) vs Ali Kiydin (GER) W.P. 55:59/ 55:59/ 56:58)
20:00: Tony YOKA (FRA) vs Mihai NISTOR (ROM) W.O.
20:30: Magomedrasul MEDZHIDOV (AZE) vs Magomed OMAROV (RUS) W.P. (57:57/ 57:57/ 58:56)
21:00: Mohammed ARJAOUI (MAR) vs Erik PFEIFER (GER) W.P. (74:78/ 74:78/ 74:78) APB Inaugural Champion
MIDDLE 75 KG – FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY (21:00 GMT+2)
Location: Istanbul – Venue: Caferaga Spor Salonu
APB Champion: Adem KILCCI (TUR)
The Middleweight (75 kg) division has been one of the most entertaining weight classes in AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) so far, and Istanbul, Turkey was the location for the first Inaugural Title Match which took place between hometown star Adem Kilicci and Russia’s number one seed Artem Chebotarev. Kilicci has been virtually unstoppable throughout his career in the competition so far, and won by scores of 80:72, 78:74, and 78:73.
The new Champion won the first six rounds on every scorecard, and though his work dropped off a little towards the end of the fight, his quality was clear throughout, and he was the deserved winner.
APB “Inaugural Title Match” Middle (75 Kg) Weight In (Istanbul)
WELTER 69 KG – SATURDAY, 24 JANUARY (19:30 GMT+4)
Location: Baku – Venue: Sarhadchi Complex
APB Champion: Onur SIPAL (TUR)
Sipal, following in the footsteps of compatriot and fellow titleholder Adem Kilicci, faced Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri in Baku in a rematch of an earlier APB match which was won by the Turkish fighter.
Sipal was performing at a different level to his African opponent though, and the now 4-0 APB superstar reasserted his control of the bout in the fifth and sixth rounds, which meant that Okwiri would need a knockout to win the Title. Kenya’s new hero tried his very best to achieve that in the seventh round, and he gave himself hope by winning the round across the board, and taking the contest into a final frame.
The new Turkish Champion kept his focus in the last round, winning it on two scorecards, and displaying his boxing skills which have enabled him to remain undefeated in the competition.
Match schedule:
19:30: Gyula KATE (HUN) W.O. vs Marcos NADER (AUT) (Exhibition Match: Gyula Kate (HUN) W.P. (60:54/ 60:54/ 60:54) vs Onder SIPAL (TUR))
20:00: Denys LAZAREV (UKR) vs Andrei ZAMKOVOY (RUS) W.P. (54:60/ 55:59/ 56:58)
20:30: Eimantas STANIONIS (LTU) W.P. (59:55/ 59:55/ 59:55) vs Tamerlan ABDULLAYEV (AZE)
21:00: Onur SIPAL (TUR) W.P. (78:74/ 78:74/ 78:74) APB Inaugural Champion vs Rayton OKWIRI (KEN)
The ITF announced today that it has renewed its sponsorship agreement with NEC Corporation as title sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters and as an Official Partner of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour through 2017.
NEC has been a sponsor of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour since its inception in 1992, and recently celebrated 22 years as title sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, the ITF’s year-end wheelchair championship. The 2014 NEC Masters was held in London, 24-30 November. NEC has had a sponsorship relationship with the ITF since 1980 when it became title sponsor of Fed Cup.
Following the great success of the 2014 edition, the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters will remain in Great Britain for the next two years at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, venue of the London 2012 Paralympic Tennis Event. The tournament will continue to be hosted by the Tennis Foundation.
The ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour originated in 1992 with 11 international tournaments, but has grown to its current total of over 160 tournaments in more than 40 countries offering $2million in prize money. The Tour includes the wheelchair tennis events at all four Grand Slam tournaments. The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters was started in 1994 as the official year-end singles championship for the sport’s leading players, and currently features the top eight men and women, and top four quad athletes.
ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “The ITF has been partnered successfully with NEC for over 35 years and we thank them for their ongoing support as a dedicated and enthusiastic partner of the ITF’s wheelchair tennis activities. NEC was honoured by the ITF with the prestigious Philippe Chatrier Award in 2001 for their great contributions to tennis and, more than a decade later, they continue to give to our sport through their sponsorship of the NEC Wheelchair Masters and as a partner of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.”
Takashi Niino, Senior Executive Vice President, NEC Corporation, said: “NEC is proud and excited to continue its support of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters and the Tour tournaments that enable athletes from all over the world to showcase their skills. NEC will continue making efforts to draw attention to the skill and power of these world-class athletes.”
The Nigerian Men’s national football team were initially nicknamed the Red Devils until Veteran Journalist and Sports administrator Peter Osugo made a case for the name of the team to be changed to the Green Eagles in the early sixties.
A quick look at Nigeria’s “coat of arms” and flag would reveal were the inspiration for the naming of the Mens football team and some other sports teams derived their names from.
The Green in the team’s name was taken from the Nigerian National Flag
While the Eagle in their name was taken from the “coat of arms”. a couple of other Nigerians teams have taken this same route. The Nigerian Rugby national team are called the “Black Stallions”.
The “Green Eagles” eventually became known as the “Super Eagles” after another successful outing by the team.
The advent of Age grade competitions and Women’s football meant that national teams were created and they also had to be named like the existing teams. In Nigeria the Under 20 men’s team was nicknamed the “Flying Eagles” (all eagles fly though). Then came the Eaglets in 1985 who were renamed the “Golden Eaglets” after their inaugural campaign in China saw them winning gold at the FIFA U16 World Championship.
The Nigerian Women Senior national team are known as the Falcons, while their Under 20 counterparts are known as the Falconets, the Under 17 Women’s team are called the Flamingos.
But the main focus of this writer is the Nigerian national under 23 men’s team popularly addressed as the “Dreamteam” the current crop of the young nigerian footballers are now being called “Dreamtean 6” and this is nothing but laughable.
The Nigerian Under 23 team was first called the “Dreamteam” during the build up to the Atlanta 96 Olympic games were an all-star squad was assembled to represent Nigeria at the football event of the Olympic games.
The Original Dream Team
The Dreamteam, photo credit uproot.com
The moniker “Dreamteam” was “borrowed” from the AllStar basketball team that represented the USA at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, and this was truly a “Dreamteam” both on and off the court.
A team that had Charles Barkley of the Phoenix Suns, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, just to name a few, No one could ever argue with the fact that this was truly a “Dreamteam” by all standards.
The Nigerian “Dreamteam”
This team had a blend of Nigeria’s Super Eagles and some extremely talented footballers all assembled together from different teams at home and abroad.
Joseph Dosu (Julius Berger fc) and Emmanuel Babayaro of Plateau United coincidental were the only “homebased” players in the team, all the other outfield players were based in various parts of the world, Sunday Oliseh played for Fc Köln in Germany, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha played for Eintracht Frankfurt also Germany the team Everton of England Striker Daniel Amokachi, Kanu Nwankwo was with Ajax Amsterdam. Emmanuel Amuneke was then with Sporting CP in Portugal. The “Dreamteam” also had Victor Ikpeba of AS Monaco in France.
The Real Nigerian Dreamteam, Atlanta 96 Olympic Games
The Presence of the Above listed players and others not listed earned the team the Moniker “Dreamteam” we have decided to had the full team list below for emphasis:
1 GK Emmanuel Babayaro Plateau United
2 DF Celestine Babayaro Anderlecht
3 DF Taribo West Auxerre
4 FW Nwankwo Kanu Ajax
5 DF Uche Okechukwu Fenerbahçe
6 MF Emmanuel Amuneke Sporting CP
7 MF Tijani Babangida Roda
8 MF Wilson Oruma Lens
9 MF Teslim Fatusi Ferencváros
10 MF Jay-Jay Okocha Eintracht Frankfurt
11 FW Victor Ikpeba AS Monaco
12 DF Abiodun Obafemi Toulouse
13 FW Garba Lawal Espérance
14 FW Daniel Amokachi Everton
15 MF Sunday Oliseh Köln
16 DF Kingsley Obiekwu Go Ahead Eagles
17 DF Mobi Oparaku Anderlecht
18 GK Dosu Joseph Julius Berger
This team indeed lived up to all the hype surrounding it and went on to win the elusive football gold medal for Nigeria at the Atlanta Olympic games in 1996, claiming the scalps of major football powerhouses Argentina and Brazil.
This writer believes that without a doubt this was the true “Dreamteam” and the team’s achievements justified this, But truly this is where the Football federation should have created a proper identity for this team, but eighteen years down the line Football commentators, analyst, and even the fans are stuck with the dilemma of renaming the Nigeria U23 team “Dreamteam 6” (which means that there’s been six different “Dreamteams”).
Its time for the NFF to name the Nigerian Under 23 properly, enough of this Dreamteam business, Most of the players in the current Under23 team and even the teams that came after the Atlanta 96 team have been made up of virtually unknown players so what makes it a “Dreamteam” ?
Are we going to continue adding numbers to the so called “Dreamteam” every time a new team is put together?
DreamTeam? No, Its Time For The NFF To Rename This Team
Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya and Carlo returned to top form today to win the tenth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League series at Zurich in Switzerland. The grey gelding had not been showing his usual sparkle over the winter months, but this afternoon, with his 30-year-old rider in determined mood, he out-galloped the Irish partnership of Bertram Allen and Molly Malone by one-tenth of a second for a convincing victory.
Just seven qualified for the jump-off, and it was the Irish pair who were the ones to beat despite clears from both Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Casall ASK who had to settle for third and Penelope Leprevost and Flora de Mariposa who lined up fourth. Host nation representatives, Martin Fuchs (PSG Future) and Romain Duguet (Quorida de Treho) filled fifth and sixth places, while team world champion, Maikel van der Vleuten from The Netherlands, finished seventh with VDL Groep Verdi.
Big and difficult
The first-round course presented by Swiss designer, Gerard Lachat, was big and difficult, requiring a lot of lengthening and shortening of strides and with tall verticals all the way. Duguet was first to leave all the timber intact, and Fuchs was next, despite a massive stand-off at the final oxer with PSG Future.
Ridden off an awkward bending line, and immediately following the testing triple combination (vertical, oxer, vertical) at fence 12 which took a huge toll, the last fence proved a bogey for many of the 40 starters who arrived on a bad distance only to make their sole error there. Among its victims were The Netherlands’ Gerco Schroder with Glock’s London and World No 2, Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum riding Chaman. Allen, however, ensured he was well within the 64-second time-frame so he could provide his brilliant little 11-year-old mare with a more generous approach, while Leprevost’s lively mare also bounced home cleanly.
Bengtsson and Casall ASK made it all long quite elementary, but Moya’s first run was considerably less smooth as he admitted himself afterwards. Having successfully negotiated the two big oxers down the long side of the arena at fences seven and eight, Carlo arrived really deep to the 1.60m Longines vertical at fence eight. But he wriggled his way up and over, showing just how positive he was feeling about things today. “He tried so hard for me!” his delighted rider later said.
Second in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Zurich 2015 was Bertram Allen for Ireland riding “Molly Malone” Pic Karl-Heinz Frieler
Monumental effort
Duguet’s stallion was another tryer, and in the jump-off he put in a monumental effort to clear the new oxer at fence 15 from a long way off when first to go. But despite negotiating the following double successfully, the pair finished on four faults when the penultimate oxer, formerly fence six, hit the floor. And when Fuchs‘ gelding hit the first element of the double then the door was still wide open for the remaining five.
Allen and Molly set off with their usual gusto, making a supremely tight turn to the double and galloping home to record the first clear in 39.48 seconds, and that was always going to take some beating. Leprevost opted for caution, leaving all the fences in place but over five seconds slower, and Bengtsson gave it his best shot, falling short of the young Irishman’s target-time by more than a second however.
Then Moya set off, and from the outset he looked like he meant business as did Carlo who seemed to relish the challenge with an attitude he has not shown all season. Jumping and turning seamlessly, the pair cleared the penultimate oxer and, where Allen had taken nine strides to the last, the Spanish rider urged his horse forward on eight to land fractionally ahead and seal the deal by less than a tenth of a second.
Third for Sweden was Rolf-Göran Bengtsson with “Casall Ask”in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Zurich 2015 Pic Karl-Heinz Frieler
Reflective
A reflective Sergio Moya said this evening “our poor results were not his (Carlo’s) fault for the last few months. My head was not focused on the sport as much as it should have been, but that’s changed now and we are riding together again with great confidence. When you don’t have good results you try to change things, and that isn’t always the right thing to do, so we went back to our olds ways and now we are jumping really well together again!”
Allen said, “I thought someone might beat me in the jump-off, and Sergio did one stride less to the last, but I’m happy with my result. Molly’s such a fantastic mare! I’ll give her another break, and then we’ll start getting ready for Las Vegas – it’s great to have picked up the points for the Final and I’m looking forward to it now!”
He has rocketed right up to third place on the Western European League leaderboard, shadowing only Olympic champion Steve Guerdat from Switzerland and French star Kevin Staut, while reigning Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping champion, Germany’s Daniel Deusser, lies behind the 19-year-old Irishman in fourth. Moya has moved into 18th position, but on 31 points, and with just two remaining qualifiers left to run, he knows he has more to do if he is to make it to the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Final in three months time.
“I’ve always said that going to the Final is not one of my goals, but if I get qualified I will go” the Spanish rider pointed out this evening. “I am still young, and the last time we went to a Final (2013) Carlo jumped really well. So we will compete in Bordeaux, and if we are close to winning and close to qualifying for Las Vegas then we will see. If not, then we will make a different plan”.
For further information on the tenth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League series in Zurich, Switzerland check out website http://www.mercedes-csi.ch
The next leg will take place at Bordeaux, France on Saturday 7 February 2015. For details of the French fixture visit http://www.jumping-bordeaux.com
Winner Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Zurich 2015 Sergio Alvarez Moya Riding “Carlo” for Spain Pic Karl-Heinz Frieler
Result:
1, Carlo (Sergio Moya) ESP 0/0 39.39;
2, Molly Malone (Bertram Allen) IRL 0/0 39.48;
3, Casall ASK (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE 0/0 40.91;
4, Flora de Mariposa (Penelope Leprevost) FRA 0/0 44.51;
5, PSG Future (Martin Fuchs) SUI 0/4 39.68;
6, Quorida de Treho (Romain Duguet) SUI 0/4 40.44;
7, VDL Groep Verdi (Maikel van der Vleuten) NED 0/8 41.06;
8, Catwalk lV (Robert Whitaker) GBR 1/64.74;
9, Cool and Easy (Hans-Dieter Dreher) GER 1/65.19;
10, Espyrante (Daniel Deusser) GER 4/59.04.
Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014:2015
Facts and Figures:
Zurich, Switzerland presented the tenth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League series.
40 starters, and 7 jumped clear in the first round.
Winner was 30-year-old Sergio Alvarez Moya from Spain riding Carlo, the horse with which he finished fourth at the FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2013.
Runner-up was 19-year-old Bertram Allen from Ireland whose result today has ensured qualification for the Final in Las Vegas, USA in April.
Course designer was Gerard Lachat assisted by fellow-Swiss, Rolf Ludi.
10 competitors from the host nation of Switzerland.
2 horse-and-rider combinations completed the first round with just a single time penalty – last weekend’s winner in Leipzig, Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher with Cool and Easy and Great Britain’s Robert Whitaker with Catwalk lV.
4 double-clear rounds.
Zurich Organising Committee made a special presentation to Irish rider, Jessica Kuerten, who competed in the final international competition of her career when taking part in the Longines FEI World Cup™ qualifier at the Swiss venue today.
Just two qualifying rounds of the Western European League are left to run – at Bordeaux, France on Saturday 7 February and at Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday 1 March.
Quotes:
Sergio Alvarez Moya: “I’ve been having a bad time for a while now, not so lucky here and there with four faults all the time, but it just paid off today and I can’t be happier!”
Bertram Allen: “Today’s course was big but fair. There were a lot of faults, but no disasters”.
Irish Chef d’Equipe, Robert Splaine: “Today was a remarkable achievement for young Bertram Allen. He not only came second against the very best in the world, but also achieved enough points to ensure his qualification for the World Cup Final at Las Vegas. He is an outstanding talent, and an outstanding ambassador for both his country and for the sport.”
Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya and Carlo pictured with (left) Chief Steward Matheus Locher and (right) Mr Charles Villoz, Longines’ Vice-President and Head of International Sales, after winning today’s tenth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League at Zurich, Switzerland. (FEI/Karl-Heinz Freiler)
Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League – Standings after Round 10 at Zurich (SUI):
1. Steve Guerdat SUI – 57
2. Kevin Staut FRA – 57
3. Bertram Allen IRL – 51
4. Daniel Deusser GER – 50
5. Harrie Smolders NED – 47
6. Marco Kutscher GER – 44
7. Hans-Dieter Dreher GER – 44
8. Edwina Tops-Alexander AUS – 44
9. Lucy Davis USA – 42
10. Douglas Lindelow SWE – 41
11. Martin Fuchs SUI – 40
12. Geir Gulliksen NOR – 38
13. Marcus Ehning GER – 38
14. Simon Delestre FRA – 37
15. Maikel van der Vleuten NED – 37
16. Jur Vrieling NED – 33
17. Reed Kessler USA – 32
18. Sergio Alvarez Moya ESP – 31
19. Jos Verlooy BEL – 30
20. Roger Yves Bost FRA – 29
21. Luca Moneta ITA – 29
CAVB Continental Cup- Sub-Zonal Phase – Zone 2 Pool 2
Host, Senegal, went to a flying start after a terrible scare by their neighbours, Gambia in the CAVB Beach VB Zone 2, Pool 2 Sub-Zonal Phase of the Continental Cup in the Beaches of Damalai in the Senegal capital Dakar.
The host Men’s team overcame the new comers Gambia 3-1 in the opening day of the tournament, to revenge their women counterparts who lost against the same country at the direct face off in the women’s category 4-0.
The Zone 2, Pool 2 Sub-Zonal Phase featured three of the four countries billed to participate in the Men’s tournament namely, Cape Verde, Gambia and host, Senegal. The fourth member of the group, Mauritania, could not take part due to unexplained reasons.
Neutral Referee Aida Hilla
In the Women category, Cape Verde didn’t present a team and this automatically qualified Gambia and Senegal to the next phase. The two sides met, in a ranking match where the two Gambian pairs represented by Sawaneh/ Kujabi and Cessay/ Tambedou surprised the hosts Senegal to win in the 4 matches of the combat.
The young Beach Volleyball players emerged from a re-energised Gambian NF that has recently changed leadership. The win was therefore a glorious one especially against the backdrop of huge opposition from her towering neighbours.
The Men’s matches showed again ambitious Gambian double pair of Jammeh/Jarra, Barry/Njie drew first blood in the first sets. Injury to Jammeh nearly caused them a forfeit. Their resilience coupled with a strong winning mentality raised their ratios. Senegal finally won 3-1 in the 4 matches.
Gambia then overcame Cape Verde 3-1 in their 4 matches after a thrilling performance. The Island neighbours lost to the exuberance of the up-coming talents of the Gambia.
Now Senegal meet Cape Verde in the final match of the Pool to determine the two qualifiers from Pool to for the second phase (Regional).
The top 2 teams from each of the sub-zonal pools will proceed to the second phase.
The competition is Supervised by FIVB Beach Volleyball Commission Member and General Secretary of Sierra Leone, Ahmed Khanou, with Algerian FIVB Beach Volleyball Referee, Djamal Berghueul, as Referee Delegate and Aida Hilla, from Tunisia as Neutral Referee.
Gambia and Cape Verde men’s team
Men Results
Senegal v Gambia
Match 1. Sen. 1 Vs Gam. 2 –2:0 (21-14, 21-17)
Match 2. Sen. 2 Vs Gam. 1 – 1:2 (17-21, 21-17, 10-15)
Match 3. Sen. 1 Vs Gam. 1 – 2:1 (19-21, 21-19, 15-13)
Match 4. Sen. 2 Vs Gam. 2 – 2:1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-11)
Gambia v Cape Verde
Match 5. Gam. 1 Vs CPV. 2 – 2:1 (21-19, 21-23, 15-10)
Match 6. Gam. 2 Vs CPV. 1 –1:2 (21-18, 17-21, 05-15)
Match 7. Gam. 1 Vs CPV. 1 – 2:0 (21-16, 21-12)
Match 8. Gam. 2 Vs CPV. 2 –2:1 (21-23, 21-17, 15-09)
Gambia and Senegal women’s team
Women Results
Senegal v Gambia
Match 1. Sen. 1 Vs Gam. 2 – 0:2 (17-21, 23-25)
Match 2. Sen. 2 Vs Gam. 1 – 0:2 (07-21, 06-21)
Match 3. Sen. 1 Vs Gam. 1 – 1:2 (18-21, 21-11, 09-15)
Match 4. Sen. 2 Vs Gam. 2 – 0:2 (20-22, 10-21)
Bigger than ever in 2015, with an atmosphere crackling with adrenaline, the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, was ground zero on Sunday as competitors from 63 countries made their final preparations.
US Sailing’s premiere event brings together a who’s who of Olympic and Paralympic talent. Six days of racing will test them and leave them judged. Australia’s silver-medallist 470 skipper of last year, Mat Belcher, summed up that experience by saying simply that being on that racecourse, with that fleet, “was essential.” Essential, that is, to anyone who hopes to be standing on a podium in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Olympic Games.
With as many as 800 sailors entered, the 26th year of this event sets a record for participation. The ISAF Sailing World Cup, presented by Sunbrella, is the only U.S. stop on the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup series. Melbourne, Australia kicked off the first of six events, with successful sailors earning qualification spots and ranking points toward a World Cup finale in Abu Dhabi late in 2015.
ISAF SAILING WORLD CUP MIAMI 2015-Sunday prerace boat prep. US SAILING Center Miami
All 10 Olympic and three Paralympic classes named to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games are racing here. The 10 Olympic classes are: Laser Radial (women), Laser (men), Finn (men), Men’s RS:X, Women’s RS:X, 49er (men), 49er FX (women), Men’s 470, Women’s 470, and Nacra 17 catamaran (mixed). Paralympic classes included are: 2.4mR, SKUD-18 and Sonar.
ISAF medals, gold, silver and bronze, will be awarded to the top three boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class on Saturday, January 31. Competitors in the Paralympic classes will have five days of fleet racing (Monday-Friday) with no Medal Race.
Antonio González de la Madrid, ISAF Technical Delegate, is pleased, he said, “To see so many sailors from South America and the Caribbean. These are countries that are not represented so much in racing in Europe. Looking ahead, the forecast for breeze is good; much better than the extreme light air we had last year; so we face fewer challenges there. We do have challenges on the Laser course because we have a wealth of entries, and we have to split the fleet. But we have the best race officials in the world working on behalf of the best sailors in the world and we’ll be fine.”
Reflecting upon the decision some years ago to locate an Olympic Training Site here, Josh Adams, Managing Director of US Olympic Sailing, observed, “A turnout this large and this competitive confirms that Miami is a preferred venue for Olympic and Paralympic competition. The heat is rising as we come closer to the 2016 Games in Rio, and we’ll see the evidence on the water this week.”
The 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami is presented by Sunbrella, with gold sponsors Beneteau, Jenneau and Lagoon Catamarans. Silver sponsors are Sperry, Chubb Personal Insurance and the City of Miami. Supplier sponsors are Harken, McLube, CRSA, the University of Miami Health Sports Medicine, Vetus Maxwell and Adventure Sports.
Egypt retained the Men’s and Women’s Team titles by emerging successful on the evening of Sunday 25th January at the 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
The top seeds in both the Men’s and Women’s teams event, Egypt accounted for Nigeria, the second seeds, to claim the titles. However, they were stretched to the very limit, winning both matches by the slightest margins, three games to two.
In the Women’s Team event, it was a memorable recovery that secured the victory.
Nigeria made the ideal start with Offiong EDEM beating Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY and Olufunke OSHONAIKE accounting for Dina MESHREF. 19 year old Yousra HELMY came to rescue, as she beat Cecilia OFFIONG to spark the fight-back.
A ray of hope for the host nation, Dina MESHREF returned to form to impart the one and only defeat in the whole event over Offiong EDEM, before Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY accounted for Olunfunke OSHONAIKE to complete the recovery and secure the team’s 11thChampionships title.
Nadeen Dawlatly of Egypt, 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships
After the victory, Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY stated: “The win was special because I have never beaten Funke OSHONIAKE before. In the first match against Offiong EDEM, I was a bit nervous and I knew we might likely meet again, so I just played my game. I can believe that we could come back and this victory was indeed very special for us as a team.”
Meanwhile, in the Men’s Team final, the hero of the hour for Egypt was El-Sayed LASHIN.
Having suffered defeat against the ITTF Male Table Tennis Star Quadri ARUNA in the opening match of the fixture, he beat Ojo ONAOLAPO to seal the victory.
Earlier, Omar ASSAR had leveled matters for Egypt by beating Ojo ONAOLAPO before Ahmed ALI SALEH had given Egypt a two matches to one lead when proving too secure and too experienced for Jide OGIDIOLU.
Nigerian Women’s Team, at the 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships
Quadri ARUNA returned to the table, he overcame Omar ASSAR to level the match and thus set the stage for the decisive duel between El-Sayed LASHIN and Ojo ONAOLAPO, which made history for the 2013 World Team Cup bronze medalists Egypt.
The victory was Ahmed ALI SALEH’s 17th African gold medal, which is a record. After the match, the African legend stated: “I felt very happy winning my 17th gold medals in African tournament and excited that we won the title again in Cairo after the triumph in 2012. It was fantastic for the team, and for me winning 17 medals is great.”
The ITTF-African Championships continues on Tuesday 27 January, with the Mixed Doubles, Women’s and Men’s Doubles and the Women’s and Men’s Singles titles up for grabs over the next four days in Cairo, Egypt.
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