Ali Expects New Meet Record, World Lead At Okpekpe

Nigeria’s long jump record holder, Yusuf Ali is confident a new competition record and a new world lead will be set come Saturday May 16 at the 3rd Okpekpe 10km road race in Okpepke, Auchi, Edo State.

Ali, a two-time IAAF World Championship long jump finalist is also not closing the door of a possible world record at the event going by the quality of the elite cast registered for the IAAF bronze label road race.

The world record for men stands at 26:44 minutes set by Kenya’s Leonard Patrick Komon in 2010 while Britain’s Paula Radcliffe holds the women’s record of 30:21 minutes set way back in 2003.

The competition record of 29:39 minutes for men is held by Ethiopia’s Teshome Asafan while his country woman, Wuday Ayalew holds the women’s record of 32:41 mins.

“I am confident we are going to see a fast race in Okpekpe next weekend, states Ali, (arguably Nigeria’s greatest long jumper of all time) The quality of athletes that will be on parade is what is giving me this confidence.In the men’s race for example we have two of the four fastest men in the world so far this year. The duo of Amos Kiplimo Mitei of Kenya who has ran 27:58 this year and Dawi Fikadu who also holds a personal and season’s best of 28:04 are capable of running faster and that can only mean a new world lead (27:47) currently held by Kenya’s Japhet Kipyegon Korir and certainly a new competition record,” he said.

Ali believes the $25,000 top prize is also a motivating factor for the athletes to go the extra mile.

“This is one of the highest paying 10km road races in the world and the desire to win the top prize will certainly push these athletes to run well and fast,’he further said and assured that whatever record (s) set will be ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

“All times run and records set will be accepted by the IAAF and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), and association of long-distance running races because the race will be organised in accordance with IAAF rules.’

‘If you must know, the course has been measured by an accredited AIMS/IAAF course measurer, Solomon Abari. In fact all races which have obtained IAAF Road Race Label Events have been subject to AIMS/IAAF course measurement standards,” adds Ali, a former technical director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The Okpekpe 10km course which starts from Apama road and ends in Okpekpe will be closed to vehicular traffic with the exclusion of official vehicles for the duration of the event until the published cut-off time.

“The Start will be traffic free until the last runner has started and the Finish will be traffic free until the last runner finishes or the cut-off time is reached,” he concluded.

Masterful Mexico Guerreros Defeat Azerbaijan Baku Fires 4-1 In The First Leg Of WSB Quarter-Final

An outstanding performance in Guba from Mexico Guerreros resulted in a sensational 4-1 victory for the North American Franchise over Season IV runners up Azerbaijan Baku Fires in the first leg of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) quarter-final.

Mexico dominated the contest from the outset, and took advantage of an inexperienced Azeri team to reign supreme in Guba.

This result means that Azerbaijan need to win at least four legs in tomorrow’s second leg to give themselves any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals, while Mexico know that two victories will take them through to the last four, where they would meet defending Champions Cuba Domadores.

The night began with an outstanding performance at Light flyweight (49 kg) from Mexico’s Joselito Velázquez Altamirano who took his season record to 7-1 after defeating 1-3 Rasul Saliev.

Sergio CHIRINO (Mexico Guerreros) vs Yasar MAGOMEDOV (Azerbaijan Baku Fires)

Altamirano used his speed and skills to tremendous effect throughout the contest, with his elusive nature a hindrance for Saliyev whose forward style proved ineffective.

All three judges awarded the contest to Altamirano 50-44, 49-45, and 49-46.

The Guerreros took a 2-0 lead after Bantamweight (56 kg) Sergio Alfredo Chirino Sánchez achieved his first win of the campaign in a close contest with Baku Fires debutant Yashar Magomedov.

Both boxers worked tremendously hard in the bout, but the WSB experience of Sánchez was the main difference between the two, and he took control of the first four rounds using clever punches and lateral movement.

Magomedov remained composed despite the onslaught, and claimed the last round on all three scorecards to finish the fight with credit.

It was not enough however, and Sánchez secured the contest 49-46 according to one scorer, and 48-47 from the remaining two judges.

Mexico secured the overall advantage in the first leg and took an unassailable 3-0 lead after 7-1 Light welterweight (64 kg) Raúl Curiel García widely outpointed Zaur Abdullayev.

García has been one of the standout competitors in all of WSB this season, and was the better boxer from the very first moments of the contest.

One of the main attributes of the Mexican boxer is his remarkable head movement, which enables him to evade punches while setting up his own attacks.

Considering it was his WSB debut, Abdullayev was not overawed but he couldn’t keep up with García’s endless stamina and punch output, and the Guerrero dropped just one round on all three scorecards.

After losing the first three fights in Guba, Azerbaijan Baku Fires claimed a priceless win at Middleweight (75 kg) when 3-2 Jaba Khositashvili outfought 2-5 Misael Uriel Rodríguez Oliva.

This was a ferocious battle, fought mostly in the middle of the ring, and neither man took a backwards step despite the high tempo.

Khositashvili started well, and negotiated his way through Oliva’s rough tactics to take the first three rounds on all of the scorecards.

His left hand was a sharp weapon early on, while the Mexican fighter tended to rely on uppercuts and hooks.

After a fast opening three rounds, the Baku Fires man appeared to slow dramatically in the fourth, and Oliva took advantage to consistently pressure his opponent and take the round in convincing fashion.

Backed by an amazing home crowd, Khositashvili found a second wind in the last three minutes, and though he again lost the round, his rugged defence enabled him to remain on his feet, and to ultimately claim the contest via unanimous decision.

Mexico Guerreros sealed the 4-1 first leg victory after a tremendously enthralling Heavyweight (91 kg) battle where Ecuador’s 4-0 Julio Cesar Castillo Torres defeated 0-1 Leonid Charnabayeu.

Every round in this fight was dramatic and intriguing, with Charnabayeu consistently moving forward and applying pressure, while Torres utilised a defensive style which served him well.

The Ecuadorian was the faster fighter and his hand speed proved problematic for Charnabayeu, and though the Baku Fires boxer won the first round, he could not maintain the momentum.

Heading into the last round, everything was still to play for, with Torres leading by a round on two scorecards, with the other two cards even.

Again Charnabayeu pushed forward, and battled constantly to accurately hit his South American opponent, but the footwork of Torres was too much to handle, and he was eventually awarded the decision unanimously.

Table Tennis Comes Together to Support Nepal

Following the terrible earthquake in Nepal last week, a ceremony was staged during the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships, to show table tennis’s support to the Nepal Table Tennis Team.

Support was provided from various sources including the ITTF Athletes’ Commission, Continental Federation Presidents, National Associations as well as the United Nations Sport for Development and Peace, and the International Table Tennis Federation.

The main theme of the ceremony was players supporting players.

“We can only imagine how difficult it is, of course, to the team and also to their country”  , said Vladimir SAMSONOV, Chair of the ITTF Athletes’ Commission. He organized signed shirts from the world’s leading players to be donated to Nepal and received an offer from Belgium’s Jean-Michel SAIVE to conduct a coaching session.

“We are with them in their grief”, added Vladimir SAMSONOV. “You can still feel the sadness in here.

The table tennis world coming together to help Nepal.

Thomas WEIKERT, ITTF President, having already sought out the Nepalese earlier in the week, again expressed the condolences of the entire ITTF family, and stated his commitment to personally join them for the opening of the UNOSDP Project in November this year.

Additionally, the Presidents of all six Continental Federations – CAI Zhenhua (Asia), Khaled EL-SALHY (Africa), Ronald KRAMER (Europe), Juan VILA (Latin America), Tony KIESENHOFER (North America), and James MORRIS (Oceania) – agreed to donate a combined sum of US$ 10,000 to help with relief of Nepalese players and their families.

The International Table Tennis Federation and UNOSDP are to launch in the November a three year project worth over US$ 100,000 for the development of para table tennis in Nepal.

Young Sam MA, Co-chair of the UN International Working Group on People with Disabilities, himself an International Umpire, umpiring here in Suzhou was there to announce the support.

“We feel deeply sorry for the tragedy in Nepal; I was in Kathmandu last December to prepare a the project,” said Leandro OLVECH, the ITTF Development Director. “What we do today is just a small gesture to show that we’re with them; not only today, but also in the next three years by running a long term project.”

“The heart of the table tennis family is with the Nepalese inhabitants”, added Leandro OLVECH. “We give a small gesture and we will see what happens; we pray there are not so many deaths and everything will be fine; I’ve spoke to the coach and some table tennis players, thankfully, no one in their family was hurt.

“I would like to thank everyone from my heart, it’s almost like a dream to get some gifts and support from former champions and ITTF members”, said Shrestha NABITA, aged 23, a Nepalese female player. “It’s great that we can meet like this; you are taking care of our country, there is humanity in the International Table Tennis Federation.”

Notably, leading players from China, Germany, Korea, Japan, Sweden, Austria, Nigeria and Peru attended the ceremony as did ITTF Executive Committee members, SHI Zhihao, Masahiro MAEHARA and Petra SORLING,

China’s WANG Liqin, three times Men’s Singles World champion, and the Chinese Table Tennis Association were all on hand to present signed national team shirts from many past and present world champions, while representing Korea, Yang HAEUN, recently crowned World Mixed Doubles Champion was personally present to provide a signed training shirt to the Nepalese team.

Many other players also showed solidarity with the Nepalese including the Slovak Republic’s Para player Alena KANOVA, and Germany’s Petrissa SOLJA.

Check out the photos of the handover here: http://bit.ly/1zA8iDv.

Hosts Botswana And Mozambique Off To A Flying Start At AAG Qualifier

Botswana and Mozambique Men and Women teams started victorious in All Africa Games Zone 6 qualifiers that started at the legendary Ditshupo Hall in Botswana on Tuesday.

In the first game of the opening day, Mozambican men beat Zimbabwe 3-1. The second game Mozambique women beat Zimbabwe 3-0 while Botswana women beat Zambia 3-0 as well. The final game of the night saw Botswana men dispose of Zambia in a thrilling match the hosts conquered 3-1.

Mozambique attack Zimbabwe

Four countries, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are eyeing a place in the All Africa Games set for September in Congo Brazzaville later this year. The teams will continue playing in a round robin format until Thursday where the top two teams for both men and women will earn a ticket to represent Zone VI at the games in Congo.

The last time the hall hosted a volleyball competition was in 1996 when local teams gathered for the defunct Schweppes Volleyball Grand Prix that was sponsored for a long time by Kgalagadi Beverages. Hitherto, the hall had been regularly used for other several local tournaments among them the Barclays Cup, the Debswana Cup as well as the Blue Train Marathon that was sponsored by Botswana Railways.

Zimbabwe Women team

On Tuesday, the hall once again buzzed with nostalgic excitement for those who played in the 1990s, remembering the camaraderie that used to permeate the expanse of the facility at the time. After the official opening set for 5pm, hosts Botswana will take on Zambia at 18:00 in the women’s competition while the same countries will meet again at 20:00 for the men’s category.

On Wednesday, the games start at 12 noon with Mozambique women taking on Zambia. The next game at 14:00 will see Botswana women play Zimbabwe. At 16:00 Zambia men play Mozambique while the last match of the day at 18:00 features hosts Botswana and Zimbabwe men.

Mozambique Men

On Thursday, Zimbabwe women take on their Zambian counterparts at 12noon, followed by the same countries’ men’s teams squaring up at 14:00. Botswana women will conclude their tournament against Mozambique at 16:00 while the same teams meet at 18:00 on the men’s side.

The top 2 teams in each category will play at the All Africa Games. Malawi and Lesotho withdrew at the eleventh hour, forcing the schedule to be changed. South Africa, Angola, Namibia and Swaziland are other countries that are not participating.

Botswana men team

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WOLVES STORM PORTHARCOURT WITH CRACK SQUAD FOR DOLPHINS

Warri Wolves FC fresh from their away victory in the CAF Confederation Cup in Congo stormed PortHarcourt on Wednesday morning with a crack squad for a re-scheduled league match with Dolphin fc which is billed for Thursday at the Liberation Stadium.

Coach Paul Aigbogun dropped two players from the Congo team and added three with a promise to put the Club where they belong in the league which has Giwa FC on top now.

Defender Semiu Liadi who is having a teeth problem was left out while Sikiru Alimi took the place of Onyekachi Okafor with Micheal Okoyoh coming in as the 18th player.

Warri Wolves team before their match against Racing De Bobo FC photo credit Moses Etu

The big news is that Solomon Kwambe who has not kicked a ball for the team will make his debut against Dolphin having been certified fit by the team Doctor, and Goodluck Onamado may have to keep a place on the bench.

The 18 man crack squad include goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi who has successfully wrestled the No 1 position, Tejiri Rhiogbere, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Oke Ogagatewho, Solomon Kwambe, Goodluck Onamado, Ojo Mine and Ichul Lordson.
Others are Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Micheal Egbeta, Micheal Okoyoh, Bright Akpojuvwewo, Oghenekaro Etebo, Gbolahan Salami, Abu Azeez, Stanley Dimgba, Omoforman Freedom and Sikiru Alimi.

Speaking before the team left Warri, Paul Aigbogun said they will use the match against Dolphin and the home game on Sunday against Nasarawa United as a re-hearsal towards their crucial last match before the group stage against AC Leopards.