Egypt upset their North African neighbours 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-11) in the 2015 Women’s U20 African Nations Championship opening here at Eastern Company Hall in Cairo, Egypt on Friday.
The Egyptian girls didn’t let the Algerians to enter the match at any time as they put a pressure upon their opponents with the spike service specially from Aya Ahmed and Nada Meawad. Egypt also overwhelmed the net action through their dominance in blocking due to the efficiency of Mariam Metwally and Hend Farag.
Egyptwomen’s team in action
After Egypt won the first set 25-17, they started to use the spike service as a weapon to disturb the Algerian reception. They succeeded to win the second set with a wider point deficit 25-13 using the strong attacks from Sarah Hanafy and Mariam. The third set was one side with the after the opposite Aya Ahmed used her spike service to win 25-11 easily and the match 3-0.
The favourites Kenyan team will meet Algeria in the competition day 2 on Saturday seeking a world Championships ticket.
The winner and runner up of these finals book their tickets to the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship in Limassol & Kato Polemidia, Cyprus from June 30 to July 12.
One look at Ronda Rousey in glossy Hollywood magazines and it will be difficult to believe that this lady has the capacity to break a man’s leg in four different places with little fuss.
The 28-year-old UFC star is one of Mix Martial Arts biggest stars and she currently stands undefeated since making her debut. In fact, only one of her fights has gone beyond the first round as she is reputed for disposing her opponents with a few minutes.
UFC Star Ronda Rousey in action
In a recent interview, UFC president, Dana White who had earlier vowed to keep women away from the world of MMA stated that he had initial doubt about Rousey’s abilities but admits that she has shown greater technical qualities than most men.
“The thing that’s scary is, Ronda’s still learning. Every time Ronda comes out, she looks better. She came in here as a judo fighter. Well, now she’s becoming a well-rounded fighter,” White said.
“She’s changing the way we look at women. And she’s changing the way women look at themselves, definitely little girls.
When we were growing up, you were told, ‘You little girls play over here and boys play over here.’ Ronda Rousey smashes that whole thing,” he added.
Ronda Rousey
The fighting beauty has featured in two movies that will be released later this year and she was also the lead female star in the Expendables 3. However, Rousey insists are priority is first to be a fighter.
“I always prioritize fighting first. Everything comes from fighting. The only reason Hollywood is interested in me at all is because I fight and I win. So I have to protect that,” Rousey said.
British Lionhearts lost for the first time at home this season in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) as Mexico Guerreros clinched an impressed 3-2 victory in London.
This result sees Mexico jump above Britain in the Group A table, and the Lionhearts have now lost five of their seven fixtures this season, while the Guerreros claim their first away success of the campaign.
Mexico’s ranked Light welterweight (64 kg) Raúl Curiel García opened the evening at York Hall with an impressive victory over 2-2 Sam Maxwell to claim his third win of the season
The Guerreros quickly went 2-0 up at Light flyweight (49 kg) when 3-1 Joselito Velázquez Altamirano continued his excellent form by widely outpointing British debutant Harvey Horn.
Irish Heavyweight (91 kg) Gary Sweeney then won his first WSB contest, and the match for his Mexican Franchise by outpointing Romania’s 0-3 Ionut-Mirel Jitaru.
WSB, Mexico Guerreros defeat British Lionhearts in London
2-1 Bantamweight (56 kg) Qais Ashfaq claimed a victory back for the Lionhearts with an entertaining victory over Brian González which could prove valuable at the end of the group stages.
Middleweight (75 kg) Anthony Fowler earned his third successive win at Middleweight (75 kg) in the last fight of the night with a split decision win against Mexico’s 1-3 Misael Uriel Rodríguez Oliva.
Next week, British Lionhearts travel to China Dragons, while Mexico Guerreros host Ukraine Otamans.
Following the first meeting of the new FEI Executive Board, chaired by recently elected President Ingmar De Vos, Secretary General Sabrina Zeender has removed the two remaining international Endurance events scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March 2015 from the FEI calendar in an emergency measure to protect horse welfare and to preserve the integrity of the FEI rules and regulations at FEI events.
Ingmar De Vos, FEI President (Liz Gregg/FEI)
The move follows a mandate from the FEI Bureau to the Executive Board to urgently investigate horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI rules and regulations in the UAE. The Executive Board will now finalise its recommendations to the Bureau.
“We have made this our top priority and will make our conclusions as speedily as possible so that the recommendations can be presented to the Bureau for urgent consideration”, the FEI President said after the meeting, which was held at FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI).
The Executive Board meeting was attended by the FEI President, 1st Vice President and Chair of the Jumping Committee John Madden (USA), 2nd Vice President and Chair of FEI Regional Group VII HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa (BRN), Chair of the Dressage Committee Frank Kemperman (NED), Chair of the Athletes’ Committee Maria Gretzer (SWE), and FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender (SUI). Luiz Roberto Giugni (BRA), Chair of FEI Regional Group VI, was unable to attend due to meetings in Brazil on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
FEI Endurance Forum
The Endurance Rules were strengthened last year specifically to protect and promote horse welfare following recommendations from the Endurance Strategic Planning Group. The widely supported measures include additional dope testing, injury surveillance and reporting, athlete penalties for equine injuries, and extended rest periods. Other measures increase the responsibility and accountability of riders, trainers and officials, as well as steps to address any conflicts of interest.
Hosts Egypt will face their North African Neighbours Morocco at the 2015 Men’s U21 African Nations Championship opening match on Friday February 27, 2015.
The competition will show three African teams competing for 2 World Championship slots as Hosts Egypt as well as Morocco and Algeria will play a round robin tournament to determine the African Champions.
Tunisia had the record of winning this completion as they have 8 titles under their built followed by Egypt with three crowns.
The winner and runner up of these finals book their tickets to the FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship in Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico from September 7 -20, 2015.
Egypt To Face Morocco At Men’s U21 African Nations Championship Opening
Match Schedule.
No. Date. Time. Match Court
1. 27 FEB. 20:00. Morocco v Egypt Eastern Company Hall
2. 18 FEB. 18:00. Algeria v Morocco Eastern Company Hall
3. 1 MAR. 19:00. Algeria v Egypt. Eastern Company Hall
Ghana, Togo, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire have confirmed their participation in the maiden Lagos International Junior Open Championship from March 13 to 15, 2015 at Ikeja Golf Club
The tournament is organized by the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) in conjunction with the Lagos State Government.
The 54 – holes competition is open to junior players ages five to 19 and it is a gross event with a cut after 36 – holes of play.
According to the Chairman of the Organising Committee and Vice President, NGF, Kunle Dada, the tournament is aimed at fostering friendship among the participants as well as develops the sport in the West African region.
“This event promises to be a very interesting and unique one because our junior players will not just be competing among themselves, but against players from outside the country. This will also foster friendship amongst them. Our sincere gratitude to the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who has always been a good supporter of sports in the state and the Commissioner of Youths, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Enitan Oshodi for the sponsorship of this great event”.
At the three-day event, there will be free clinic/ training by Golf Tour & Academy that will run concurrently during the days of competition.
Dolphins’ new boy, Christian Pyagbara admits he is under pressure to start scoring goals.
Pyagbara who got fourteen goals at Sharks last season crossed over to city rivals Dolphins as replacement for Emem Eduok who got 25 goals in all competitions.
Pyagbara admits he is under pressure to score for his new side.
“There is pressure but you can’t let that affect you. If I do not score I will provide assists.
“You do not necessarily have to score many goals but as a striker you have to work hard as you can either score or assist,” Pyagbara said.
“My target however, this season is to score twenty goals,” he said.
Pyagbara would have had to take a tough decision dumping Sharks for Dolphins, knowing the rivalry that exists between both sides.
Christian Pyagbara
“It was not easy but I had to take the decision by going for what I wanted.
“I had been at Sharks for two seasons and won nothing so I wanted a change of environments.
“I weighed my odds and Dolphins always go far in tournaments so I chose to join them for the Confederation Cup,” he said.
Pyagbara has already played one game for Dolphins in the 1st leg of the CAF Confederation Cup against Leones Vegetarianos in Malabo two weeks ago.
He is expected to feature in the 2nd leg on Saturday, February 28 at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium.
There is little more than a month to go to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Guiyang 2015 on Sunday 28 March when the spotlight will be shone on the Chinese city.
The oldest of the IAAF World Athletics Series competitions, this year’s event will be the 41st staging of the global cross-country contest. It will also be the third time the championships have been held in Asia, following the 2006 edition in Fukuoka and the 2009 event in Amman.
Preliminary entries suggest this year’s championships will be bigger than the past three editions. An expected 460 athletes from 56 countries are set to compete in Guiyang, surpassing the numbers from 2013 (400 athletes from 41 countries), 2011 (423 athletes from 51 countries) and 2010 (437 athletes from 51 countries).
On Sunday 28 March athletes will compete in four races over the conventional distances for the championships: senior men – 12km, senior women and junior men – 8km, junior women – 4km.
In 2013 Kenya won three of the four individual team titles, but seven nations made it on to the medals table; the last time more countries made it on to the podium was back in 2004.
Kenya has topped the medals table at the past four editions of the World Cross Country Championships, but throughout the years Ethiopia has proved to be their toughest opposition and that trend looks set to continue this year.
Uganda and Eritrea are also expected to pose a formidable threat, but the hunt for medals is not restricted to African countries. In 2013, USA took team silver in the senior men’s race, finishing ahead of Kenya. Meanwhile, Japan and Great Britain traditionally field strong teams in the junior women’s race and could challenge for a podium place.
The championship course, which is located in a mountainous area approximately 30km away from the city and is set in and around a horse racing circuit, is a well-known facility which since 2000 has hosted Asian and national cross-country championships.
The start and finish areas are situated in the flat centre of the horse racing circuit and benefit from permanent spectator tribunes. However, the vast majority of the course is undulating, set on and around the sides of a large hill which dominates one side of the track. With the addition of man-made obstacles, the course will be true test of endurance over a traditional cross-country running terrain.
The table tennis table that the world’s eyes will be on come April.
The table tennis table, where history will be made on at the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships, has been unveiled by Double Happiness (DHS) ahead of the world’s premier table tennis event starting on 26 April in Suzhou, China.
The specially designed table retains the DHS’s classic ‘Rainbow Arch’ design, which represents the connection of the five continents at the world’s biggest table tennis event, as well as the graceful arcs of the table tennis ball whilst playing.
Upon the unveiling of the table, ITTF Marketing Director Steve Dainton stated: “Double Happiness has been one of our biggest supporters over recent years and has always been working with the ITTF for the development and innovation of the sport. It’s great to see a table which takes their traditional “rainbow” design slightly modernized and incorporated with the branding of Suzhou”
The polygonal surface of undercarriage makes it different from other rainbow tables, while newly designed lighting effects make the table have a unique 3D effect.
Each surface of polygon reflecting beautiful but not harsh light, greatly improving visual effect without hampering the games, an excellent balance between beauty and practicality.
The gold undercarriage and the purple table top, which were used at the 2013 World Table Tennis Championships in Paris, has began to create a brand legacy linked with the World Championships.
ITTF World Championships, Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships Table
DHS General Manager Mr Lou commented at the unveiling: “This is the fifth time China has hosted the World Table Tennis Championships. It’s a great honor for an equipment manufacturer to continue providing equipment to World Table Tennis Championships in the homeland of our company. DHS has put a lot of manpower, and material resources in developing new tables, integrating modern technology with traditional Chineseaesthetics. DHS believes the new tables for World Table Tennis Championships will be the best showcase for top players to display their talent to the world.”
The Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships will be held at the Suzhou Exhibition Hall in Suzhou, China from 26 April to 3 May 2015. There will be five gold medals on offer at the world premier table tennis event:
Men’s Singles (holder: ZHANG Jike – China)
Women’s Singles (holder: LI Xiaoxia – China)
Men’s Doubles (holders: CHUANG Chih-Yuan & Chen Chien-An – Chinese Taipei)
Women’s Doubles (holders: GUO Yue & LI Xiaoxia – China)
Mixed Doubles (holders: KIM Hyok-Bong & KIM Jong – North Korea).
The Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships is expected to be the most viewed table tennis event of all time, with record TV audience, online viewing, social media presence and media accreditations expected in Suzhou.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos Chapter, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to take a clear stand on the engagement and status of Coach Stephen Keshi and save the Nigerian public the agony of having frequently to discuss him as the main issue of the nation’s football rather than the development and progress of the game.
Lagos SWAN made the call in reaction to a statement by the NFF accusing a section of the media of having lied in a report in which Keshi was quoted to have expressed some displeasure with the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, and the Football House.
Reacting in a statement titled “Enough is enough,” Lagos SWAN advised the NFF not to, in any way, drag the sports media into whatever difficulties it may be having with Keshi but to boldly express the authority of its mandate as the governing body of Nigerian football to steer the ship of the federation in line with its vision, programmes and the expectations of the public on Nigerian football.
The statement said: “First of all, we take exception to the statement of the NFF accusing a section of the sporting press of having lied or exaggerated the statement credited to Keshi. For the avoidance of doubt, Keshi spoke in a live interview which recordings are available and he was reported correctly. We therefore stand by the veracity and integrity of that particular report.
NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.
“However, as responsible partners, we will make no further issues of this unfair attack on the sporting media. We will rather encourage the NFF to take full possession of its mandate as the governor of our football to be decisive on issues to enable it discharge its duties in line with its vision and programmes to meet the expectations of Nigerian football lovers.
“We wish to point out that the controversies and complexities surrounding Keshi’s engagement have lingered for too long. We cannot continue to remain in one spot and keep dancing around. After the agony of not being at the AFCON 2015, the NFF and Keshi should save us the further agony of having to be discussing him daily as the substance of our football rather than the team. We wish also to appeal to any powers closely or remotely constraining the freedom and workings of the NFF to please consider the greater interest of Nigerian football so that we can make progress. Enough is enough
“Lastly, while we are becoming used to institutions unduly passing the blame of systems failure on the press, we wish to restate that we will continue to do our job as the sports media, to promote sports, the athletes and institutions, and challenge excesses and inadequacies, without fear or favour, for the good of the game and progress of our nation.”
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