Two spectacular closing days of action saw the final champions crowned in the boxing tournament of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games on Friday and Saturday.
The highlight of the boxing tournament finals was Canada’s three-time AMBC American Women’s Continental Champion Mandy Bujold defeating AIBA Women’s World Champion Marlen Esparza in front of her home fans in a packed Oshawa Sports Center to win a gold medal in women’s 51 kg weight category on her birthday.
“I felt great in the ring tonight against Marlen Esparza. I was able to put my game plan to work, and I could see her punches coming. I fought smart and I am proud of that. I am going to celebrate my gold medal and my birthday tonight with everyone who came to Oshawa to cheer me on,” said Canada’s gold medallist Mandy Bujold after her final bout.
The Cuban boxers claimed three gold medals on the first day of the finals, and their strong team doubled that tally on the second day, making Cuba the most successful boxing nation in the history of Pan American Games. With Cuba winning six gold medals, the hosts Canada won three, USA – two, while Mexico and Venezuela won one gold medal each. In total, 11 different countries earned a medal during these games, showcasing the vitality of boxing all over Americas.
Mandy Bujold with her gold medal during the medal ceremony
“These Pan Am Games were an incredible event to promote our sport with astounding performances from men and women boxers in a fully packed Oshawa Sports Center. The diversity of our medalists and the countries awarded sent an utmost signal one year before the Olympic Games in Brazil. Boxing will be one of the most exciting sport to follow with amazing athletes getting ready to reach the ultimate pinnacle of their careers”, said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.
The gold medal winners per weight category are:
Women’s 51 kg: Mandy Bujold, Canada
Women’s 60 kg: Caroline Veyre, Canada
Women’s 75 kg: Claressa Shields, United States of America
Men’s 49 kg: Joselito Velasquez, Mexico
Men’s 52 kg: Antonio Vargas, United States of America
Men’s 56 kg: Andy Cruz Gomez, Cuba
Men’s 60 kg: Lazaro Alvarez, Cuba
Men’s 64 kg: Arthur Biyarslanov, Canada
Men’s 69 kg: Gabriel Maestre, Venezuela
Men’s 75 kg: Arlen Lopez, Cuba
Men’s 81 kg: Julio Cesar La Cruz, Cuba
Men’s 91 kg: Erislandy Savon, Cuba
Men’s +91 kg: Leinier Pero, Cuba
Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) & WU Yue (USA) are the 2015 Pan American Games Champions and have hence secured their position at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The pair both won tight seven game matches in front of the capacity crowd today in Toronto, Canada.
2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist Hugo CALDERANO was able to hold his nerve against his team mate and number one seed Gustavo TSUBOI (BRA) in the final, prevailing 11-6, 6-11, 4-11, 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 11-2 to book his place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the city he has grown up in.
“I just cannot describe how I feel, it’s incredible, there are no words. It was a tight match, it was always going to be a tight match, we know each other so well” said the 19 year old.
“I went two-one down; then I led three-two and 9-6 in the sixth game and lost that game; I cannot explain the seventh game. Now the feeling, it’s just the same as last year when I won the bronze medal at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games; today is the equal.”
WU Yue continued the USA’s dominance of the women’s event, ensuring the USA took home the women’s singles gold for the eighth time in ten attempts.
WU, who works part time at the table tennis bar SPiN New York as a coach, won an extremely tight final against GUI Lin (BRA) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7 to become the Pan American Champion.
Hugo Calderano and Wu Yue bags singles gold at 2015 Pan American Games
“After winning the second game, I started to think too much about winning the gold medal; that’s why I lost the next three”, said 25 year old WU. “It was important that I really concentrated better.”
“At the change of ends in the seventh game when I was losing 5-1, I didn’t really change anything: I just tried to play my game, try to be the first to attack and eventually I won!”
The win means that WU is only the second confirmed member of Team USA for the Rio 2016 Olympics, which is something that WU has always dreamt about: “I feel amazing. I am going to the Olympic Games. This is a dream come true, I can’t believe it.”
The women’s losing semi finalists Lily ZHANG (USA) and Caroline KUMAHARA (BRA) both take home the bronze medals as does Thiago MONTEIRO (BRA) and home town favourite Eugene WANG (CAN).
Earlier in the week Brazil claimed the men’s team gold led by singles champion CALDERANO and USA bagged the women’s, which means WU heads back to New York with two gold medals.
The table tennis world’s attention now turns to North Korea where the GAC Group 2015 World Tour Pyongyang Open will take place on 29 July to 2 August 2015.
Brazil and the USA are the respective men’s and women’s 2015 Pan American Team Champions after a ruthless display today in Toronto, Canada.
A sell out crowd were on hand to witness Brazil beating Paraguay 3-0 in the men’s and the USA defeating Brazil 3-0 in the women’s finals to show that they are the best teams in the Americas.
Brazil continued their dominance of the men’s team event, by beating the number 10th seeds, and the surprise packets of the competition, Paraguay to win their seventh Pan American title.
19 year old Hugo CALDERANO, who is playing in his first Pan American Games set the tone for the Brazilians, thrashing Alejandro TORANZOS 11-6, 11-4, 11-6 in the opening match in just 18 minutes.
“It is amazing that I have won gold at my first ever Pan Am Games. It was a lot of pressure playing in the first match today, but I am very pleased to have given the team the best possible start” stated the 2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist.
Teammate Thiago MONTEIRO did not waste any time, putting Brazil 2-0 up, after he defeated Marcelo AGUIRRE 12-10, 11-7, 11-4. With his 3rd teams gold medal in a row around his neck, he stated: “I feel I played well today because it was the final, for us there was a lot of pressure as we were expected to win and Paraguay could just play relaxed and freely. This result has given me confidence for the singles.”
CALDERANO partnered Gustavo TSUBOI to close out the seventh Pan American title for Brazil. The Brazilian duo outpowered the Paraguayan pair of Axel GAVILAN and Marcelo AGUIRRE 13-11, 12-10, 11-4 to seal a memorable gold medal.
The silver medal for Paraguay was their first ever medal in the table tennis events at a Pan American Games; furthermore, it ranks alongside their best in any sport in the quadrennial gathering.
Team USA won their sixth Pan American Women’s title by defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final.
Brazil, who were the number one seeds heading into the event, were looking for their first Women’s team title, but were no match for the Americans.
Jiaqi ZHENG gave the USA team a perfect start, defeating Lin GUI 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 in the opening fixture.
Celebratory selfie by the Women’s Team medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games!
ZHENG, who is a traditional penholder stated: “Before the match I was very nervous, as this means the world to me. It was the first told I played GUI, so I just tried to attack her as much as possible. I was very happy I could give the team a winning start.”
2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist Lily ZHANG kept up the momentum by saving one match point to defeat Caroline KUMUHARA in the second game 11-3, 7-11, 11-4, 5-11, 12-10. A delighted 19 year old stated after the match: “We know each other so well, we have played many times. In the fifth game I tried not to think of the score, just about playing my style and keeping a clear head. It is an amazing feeling to be the champion. Words can’t describe how happy I am”
To clinch the gold, Jiaqi ZHENG partnered with Yue WU to beat Gui LIN & Silva LIGIA in the doubles 12-10, 11-6, 11-8.
Puerto Rico created history in both the men’s and women’s teams event by claiming bronze, which is their first ever table tennis Pan American Games medal. They were joined on the bronze medal podium by the hosts Canada, who also won bronze in the men’s and women’s team events.
The 2015 Pan American table tennis event continues tomorrow with the commencement of the singles event, which runs until Saturday 25 July 2015.
America scooped both the team and individual titles as Eventing came to a close today at the Pan-American Games 2015 in Caledon Park, Toronto, Canada. Always with their eyes on the target of that single qualifying spot on offer for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Philip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Marilyn Little and Boyd Martin forged a marginal lead over the host country in Dressage on Friday. And, once out in front, they held on tight to triumph ahead of Brazil this afternoon, while Canada had to settle for bronze in the final analysis.
And Little took the individual title in fine style. Lying second, and less than a fence behind Brazil’s Ruy Fonseca who led from the outset with Tom Bombadill Too, the 33-year-old former Jumping rider kept a cool head to stay clear with her relatively inexperienced mare RF Scandalous today, while 2011 Pan-American Eventing individual champions Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti from Canada claimed silver this time around when Fonseca’s single error dropped him to bronze medal spot.
A total of 11 nations lined out in the team competition, and Ecuador, Chile and Mexico were lying fourth, fifth and sixth after the Dressage phase. The USA had only a slender 0.7 point lead over Canada going into cross-country day, and Brazil was chasing hard when only three marks further adrift at this stage.
Cross-Country track
Canadian chances took a sharp knock however when Kathryn Robinson was eliminated for a fall with Let It Bee at the Hayracks, the second fence on yesterday’s cross-country track. Her team-mates Waylon Roberts (Bill Owen), Colleen Loach (Qorry Blue D’Argouges) and Jessica Phoenix (Pavarotti) all completed the course without incident. But Canada dropped behind Brazil when Fonseca, Carlos Parro (Caulcourt Landline), Henrique Plombon (Land Quenotte) and Jorge Marcio Carvalho (Lissy Mac Wayer) all likewise kept a clean sheet, Robinson’s brilliant 39.80 in Dressage, which placed her individually second on the opening day, no longer being taken into account. All four American team-members cruised home, maintaining their advantage with nothing to add.
From a starting field of 43, a total of 16 returned within the time-allowed of 8 minutes 39 seconds, including all three members of the team from Ecuador who eventually finished fourth. A total of 10 horse-and-rider combinations were eliminated over the 26-fence track created by Australia’s Wayne Copping.
Jumping phase
As the final Jumping phase got underway today, Team USA had less than a fence in hand over the Brazilians, while the Canadians were more than 20 penalties further adrift. America’s Martin (Pancho Villa) and Kieffer (Meadowbrooks Scarlett) kept a clean sheet once again, but when Philip Dutton’s Fernhill Fugitive collected four faults then Little’s result might prove pivotal for the team rankings.
The individual medals were also still very much up for grabs, and for Little there was no room for error as Canada’s Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti, who were lying just 3.20 points behind, had piled on the pressure with a brilliant clear when third-last into the ring. The American didn’t falter however, leaving all the poles in place with her 10-year-old Oldenburg mare, and placing all the weight on Fonseca’s shoulders. Even a time fault would cost the Brazilian dearly, but when his 15-year-old gelding had a fence down he dropped all the way to bronze medal position individually and his team remained in silver medal spot.
USA’s Marilyn Little, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton and Lauren Kieffer celebrate team Jumping gold at the Pan-American Games in Caledon Park, Toronto, Canada today. Little also claimed the individual title. (FEI/StockImageServices.com)
New to the sport
“My mare is new to the sport, I have her for only a year now and she’s only just moved up to 2-Star level with the goal of these Games in mind!” said newly-crowned individual gold medallist Little this evening. She explained that she was a regular on the US Jumping team between 1999 and 2011, and competed in several Nations Cups, but then suddenly decided to change her allegiance. “I became interested in Eventing when watching the World Equestrian Games in 2010 on TV. I thought “I’d like to do that, it looks like a lot of fun!”, so when I came back from Spruce Meadows that year I pulled one out of the barn and it has gone from there! I did my first 4-Star in 2012”, she explained.
She has really enjoyed the Pan-American Games experience at Caledon Park this week. “The event has been beautifully organised and it has been an incredible experience from the standpoint of horsemanship, the thought and care they’ve put into everything for the horses has been amazing. The cross-country course was fair but challenging, it has to be difficult for the course designer catering for the developing riders as well as very seasoned competitors. It needed to be challenging for both, but safe enough too, and he really succeeded in that” she said.
In the moment
Talking about the cross-country track she said, “riding the course you had to be “in the moment”…you had to stay aware of all the plans. Cross-country is designed to force you to look at all the options and to stay ready to take them if necessary. Making it easy to quickly change your plan is the mark of a good cross-country course. Fitness played a part too yesterday, the terrain took its toll in terms of technicality and some horses got tired, but it was safe and jumpable and it was really a pleasure to ride the track.”
Despite all her experience as a Jumping rider, Little said she was still feeling the heat going into the arena this afternoon with so much hanging in the balance. “I knew I was under pressure, but I also knew my horse is a clear-rounder and very careful. She’s very sensitive though, and the atmosphere was electric, especially since I was following a Canadian rider (Jessica Phoenix) into the ring! I knew I had to remain calm and focused, and take it just one jump at a time and not get caught up with the magnitude of the moment!”
SILVER – Brazil 140.70: Tom Bombadill Too (Ruy Fonseca) 42.90, Caulcourt Landline (Carlos Parro) 45.60, Lissy Mac Wayer (Jorge Marcio Carvalho) 52.20, Land Quenotte (Henrique Plombon) 55.40;
BRONZE – Canada 163.00: Let it Bee (Kathryn Robinson) 1,000, Pavarotti (Jessica phoenix) 42.10, Qorry Blue D’Argouges (Colleen Loach) 51.80, Bill Owen (Waylon Roberts) 69.10.
Individual: GOLD – RF Scandalous (Marilyn Little) USA 40.30; SILVER – Pavarotti (Jessica Phoenix) CAN 42.10; BRONZE – Tom Bombadill Too (Ruy Fonseca) BRA 42.90.
The much anticipated table tennis event at the 2015 Pan American Games has begun today in Toronto, Canada in front of a sell out crowd.
80 players representing 16 countries from North and Latin America have converged at the Atos Markham Pan Am Centre for the 17th Pan American Games and the ninth for table tennis.
The event kicks off with the team’s event, where each country is represented by their top three players on their quest for gold.
The Pan American Games teams event follows the Olympic format, with two singles matches followed by doubles and then two reverse singles matches. The match goes on until one team reaches three victories.
The Brazilian men will be looking to continue their recent dominance of the event, which has seen them win six out of the eight times the event has taken place.
Brazil is headed by 18-year-old, Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist Hugo CALDERANO, who will be using the team event to get himself familiar to the conditions for an assault on the men’s singles later this week.
Table Tennis is Served at the 2015 Pan American Games
Prior to CALDERANO’s first match he stated: ” am very happy to be here at such a big event. I am excited to be playing in my first Pan American Games and I am very eager to get started. I hope this will be a good spring board to more success at my home Olympic Games next year.”
USA, who boasts the youngest and oldest players in the competition in Kanak JHA – 15 years old and Jimmy BUTLER – 44 years year old will be stern competitors for the Brazilian team, as will be the strong Cubans.
Despite never winning a Pan American Games women’s team gold medal, the Brazilian team are the number one seeds and the team to beat.
Puerto Rico, who are seeded four are seen as the dark horse for the event, and if they can get off to a good start, they could be standing on the podium for a historic first medal.
The medals for the men’s and women’s teams events will be handed on 21 July, before the singles competition starts on 22 July and concluding on 25 July.
The boxing tournament of the iconic Toronto 2015 Pan American Games begins on Saturday, July 18, as 120 of the best men’s and women’s boxers from the Central, North and South America regions compete for gold medal glory.
10 men’s weight categories from Light Flyweight (49 kg) to Super Heavyweight (91+ kg) will feature across three 3 minute rounds, while the trio of Olympic women’s weight classes will respectively fight over four rounds of 2 minutes.
“Boxing has always been one of the most popular sports in the Pan American Games. I think one of the most anticipated matches in Toronto for all fans will be women’s Middleweight clash between the unbeatable American Claressa Shields and home favourite Ariane Fortin-Brochu. The men competition should also showcase amazing bouts as the line-up features such talented and experienced athletes”, said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.
Ariane Fortin-Brochu and Claressa Shields at AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships Jeju 2014
The first edition of the Pan American Games was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1951, and since then the continent’s biggest multi-sport event has been held every four years. In 2011, women joined the boxing tournament for the very first time as the Cuban athletes dominated the men’s section of the competition with eight gold medals.
American Boxing Confederation President Mr Osvaldo Bisbal said: “Some of the best men and women boxers will be competing in Toronto and I am expecting truly great boxing performances from Latin American countries with strong boxing heritage. I’m sure Canadian and International fans will passionately support past and future Olympic and World boxing champions in truly legendary clashes”.
Cuba has enjoyed the most success in the history of the event with 116 boxing medals, while USA has earned 101 medals. Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela have also traditionally performed well, while host nation Canada has only won three boxing medals since 1951.
America’s Steffen Peters and Laura Graves today added individual gold and silver to the team title secured on Sunday at the Pan-American Games 2015 in Toronto, Canada where the host nation’s Chris von Martels scooped individual bronze this afternoon.
The result is a sensational fifth consecutive Pan-American team victory for the Americans, bringing their tally to eight team and nine individual Dressage titles in the 64-year history of the event, and earning a team berth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
And it was a back-to-back double of individual gold for Peters who, although he didn’t surpass the Pan-American Games record score of 80.132 which he set at Guadalajara in Mexico four years ago with Weltino’s Magic, came close when posting 80.075 for today’s individual win with Legolas.
Team competition
The Americans took the lead from the outset of the team competition and held on for gold, but the host Canadians chased them all the way to the line to claim silver, while Brazil just pipped Mexico for the bronze. Results were combined from two days of mixed Small and Big Tour competition that began with Prix St George and Grand Prix last Saturday (11 July), and only teams with Grand Prix combinations were eligible for the single Olympic berth on offer so only USA, Canada, Mexico and Brazil were in that race.
US stalwart, Steffen Peters, posted the biggest Grand Prix score of the day with Legolas at 77.240, and when added to Laura Graves’ 75.080 with Verdades, and Kimberly Herslow’s 75.184 in the Prix St George the first-day US tally was 230.504. Three scores from each team were taken into account, so Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo’s 71.790 in the the Prix St George was the team discard.
However the Canadians were hot on their heels when Brittany Fraser and All In scored 76.105 and Chris Von Martels and Zilverstar posted 75.026. Of the Canadian Big Tour pairs it was Belinda Trussell and Anton who scored highest with 74.949, Megan Lane and Caravella awarded 72.400 for the discard. And going into Sunday’s decider Canada trailed the USA by just 4.433 points while the three-member Mexican side of Jesus Palacios (Wizard Banamex), Jose Padilla (Donnersberg) and Bernadette Pujals (Heslegaards Rolex) lay only 0.203 points ahead of Brazil’s Joao Paulo Dos Santos (Veleiro do Top), Sarah Waddell (Donelly 3), Joao Victor Marcari Oliva (Xama dos Pinhais) and Leandro Aparecido da Silva (D Caprio).
Plenty of pressure
There was plenty of pressure as the action got underway on Sunday in the Intermediare 1 and FEI Grand Prix Special, but the Americans stood firm, bolstered by personal-best scores from both Graves in the Special and Herslow in the Intermediare 1, and backed up by Peters‘ 72.667 while Schut-Kery posted 73.533. Their final tally of 460.506 moved them just over 5.5 points ahead of the Canadians to secure the gold at the end of the day, while the Brazilians leap-frogged the Mexicans for the bronze.
US Chef d’Equipe, Robert Dover, said his team’s great result “showed that our Small Tour horses are beautifully trained and our Big Tour combinations showed why they are ranked seventh and eighth in the world right now. What could be better for a Chef d’Equipe than to bring a a team and have them earn personal bests at a very important moment. Having earned qualification for the Olympic Games, it allows us to now focus and put our energy into preparing for Rio (2016 Olympic Games).”
Graves, whose meteoric rise to prominence only began in the lead-up to last summer’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy where she sensationally finished tenth individually with Verdades, was delighted with her personal-best 77.177 in the Grand Prix Special. “He was amazing out there, really on again today!” she said of her horse. “He loves Toronto!” Graves and Verdades and Peters and Legolas were key players in the US team that lined up fourth in Normandy behind the three European powerhouses of Germany, Great Britain and The Netherlands who earned the three Olympic berths on offer there.
Paid tribute
Steffen Peters paid tribute to the silver medallists. “The Canadians did a wonderful job. They rode extremely well and gave us quite the run – it wasn’t easy!” he said.
Canada’s Belinda Trussell, an Olympian and three-time competitor at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ who was lining out in her first Pan American Games said, after scoring 76.578 in the Grand Prix Special, “I think, for Canada, that this Games has pushed us to a new level. To be coming away (from the team event) with nothing below 70 per cent, and highlights of 76 per cent, has never been done. It’s really exciting for Canada. We are so pumped as a nation, and pumped to go forward to the next Games. We are international contenders – there is huge excitement!” she added.
On the podium after today’s individual Dressage final at the Pan-American Games 2015 in Toronto, Canada: (L to R) Laura Graves (USA) silver, Steffen Peters (USA) gold, and Chris von Martels (CAN) bronze. (FEI/StockImageServices.com)
Individual medals
And the excitement continued today when a total of 21 horse-and-rider combinations lined out to contest the individual medals. Of these, 17 performed Intermediare 1, while the final four Big Tour partnerships performed the Freestyle.
With just six left to go, von Martels and Zilverstar rocketed to the top of the leaderboard with a percentage score of 79.500 for his Intermediare test. Judge at M, Great Britain’s Stephen Clarke, awarded 81.500 and at judge at H, America’s Lilo Fore, awarded 80.750, and all five Ground Jury members put the Canadian temporarily into first place.
The 32-year-old rider from Ontario held on to the advantage until overtaken by Peters and Legolas who posted the first, and only, over-80 per cent score when third-last into the arena. Fore, Clarke and Ground Jury President Elizabeth McMullan chose this pair for the no. 1 spot this time around, setting the new target at 80.075. And when, last to go, 27-year-old Graves and Verdades collected 79.825 they scooped silver and pinned von Martels and Zilverstar back to bronze. It was an extremely close-fought affair, with only 0.575 separating the three medal-winners.
After Sunday’s Grand Prix Special, Peters admitted to having some issues in the execution of his test, but today he put all that behind him and came out once again with all guns blazing. “I’m still on cloud nine!” he said, shortly after the prizegiving.
A good job
“On Sunday Legolas did a good job but I didn’t do my best riding job, so I wanted to prove today that Legolas deserves to be one of top horses in the world. I gave it every bit of my strength and he produced a wonderful clean test. And on top of that he allowed me to be within a tenth of a second to the music so we had high artistic scores” he explained.
“This season we have had a few ups and downs, so to finish so strong in the last test of the season – I can hardly describe how I feel right now!” he added. Asked about team-mate Laura Graves’ close silver-medal finish, Peters continued, “I knew before the competition today that it would be awfully close. I saw her doing a beautiful clean test, so the tension to last second today was quite something. I have to admit I got very emotional when Legolas was called out the winner!”
And the 50-year-old rider was quick to refer back to his US team-mates and the success they have achieved over the last few days. “Let’s not forget that every single rider, including the fourth horse contributed to the team gold medal. There was a combination of drop scores, so everyone did their job, and it is a fantastic group of people – all good-hearted athletes. It’s quite something to win with wonderful friends you almost have to call family!” he said.
BRONZE – Brazil 414.895: Di Caprio (Leandro da Silva) 69.474/69.026, Sarah Waddell) 65.632/67.184, Xama dos Pinhais (Joao Victor Marcari Oliva) 69.184/69.211, Veleiro do Top (Joao Paolo dos Sanctos) 67.842/70.158.
Individual: GOLD – Legolas 92 (Steffen Peters) USA 80.075; SILVER – Verdades (Laura Graves) USA 79.825; BRONZE – Zilverstar (Chris von Martels) CAN 79.500.
Facts and Figures:
Victory in the team competition has secured a qualifying spot for the USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This was another record-breaking performance from the Americans who already held the record for four consecutive team victories, and have now increased that to five.
16 nations were represented in Dressage at the 17th Pan-American Games while 10 countries fielded teams.
The Ground Jury consisted of: Hans Matthiesen DEN, Stephen Clarke GBR, Maribel Alonso MEX, Elizabeth McMullan CAN (President) and Lilo Fore USA.
A total of 21 horse-and-rider combinations competed for the individual medals.
The list of teams so far qualified in Dressage for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games now includes, Brazil (automatic qualification), Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands (placings at Alltech FEI World Equestiran Games™ 2014 in Normandy), Australia (best ranked team from Olympic Group F or G at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy), and USA (single qualifier from Pan-American Games 2015 in Toronto, Canada).
Masai Ujiri and Giants of Africa (GOA) announced today they will be holding camps in four countries across Africa this summer for the first time. Celebrating its 12th year of supporting the growth of basketball in Africa, Giants of Africa will be expanding its camps from Nigeria and Kenya to include Ghana and Rwanda this summer. Camps will be held in Nigeria from August 3-5, Ghana from August 7-9, Kenya from August 10-12 and Rwanda from August 13-15.
Giants of Africa camps bring together top coaches from across the country to help run the sessions and are designed to help young basketball players develop athletically, achieve life goals and become better players. In addition to on-court basketball skills development, Giants of Africa strives to help foster participants via life skills support and local community outreach initiatives.
“Running the Giants of Africa camps every year has become very important to us,” said Ujiri.
“ We have to give back and encourage the youth. While we all want to do well in our daily jobs, we must never forget what got us here. Using basketball to educate and develop African youth is just the beginning of what needs to be accomplished. Coaching the coaches and building infrastructure is key for the growth of the game on the continent. These kids are motivated, aspire to learn and continue to work hard. It is a responsibility for us to inspire them to keep aiming high by providing them opportunities to grow.”
MASAI UJIRI’S GIANTS OF AFRICA TO HOST KIDS BASKETBALL CAMPS THIS SUMMER IN NIGERIA, GHANA, KENYA AND RWANDA. photo credit http://giantsofafrica.org
Since the Giants of Africa camps began more than 100 camp attendees have moved on to high school or university in the United States, with around 20 now playing professionally in Europe.
Modeled after the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders outreach program, Giants of Africa holds two types of annual camps – Top 50 Camp and Big Man Camp. Its approach is to use the game of basketball as a means to teach and nurture important life skills.
The Top 50 Camp focuses on the top 50 kids from across the country and provides campers with three intense days of instruction.
The Big Man Camp teaches young athletes at six-foot-eight and above the basic fundamentals of the game with a focus on running, catching, footwork and shooting.
The goal for both camps is to begin to develop each of these athletes’ skills at a young, developmental age.
This approach provides an opportunity for ongoing improvement as each child continues to develop, learn and grow.
This summer’s camps are made possible through the support of partners from across the globe with special thanks to the NBA, Nike, Nestlé Milo, Ecobank, MLSE Foundation and Sportscorp Travel
With definite entries now confirmed, a total of 44 horse-and-rider combinations from 16 nations will line out in Dressage when the equestrian action gets underway at the Pan-American Games 2015 in OLG Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park in Toronto, Canada next Saturday, 11 July.
The Pan-American Games are the world’s largest multi-sport event apart from the summer Olympic Games, and take place on a four-year cycle leading up to each summer Olympics. The Pan-Ams provide Olympic qualification opportunities for athletes in FEI geographical regions D and E – North America and Central/South America.
Approximately 6,135 athletes from 41 nations will compete in 36 sports at this 17th edition of the event which runs from 10 to 26 July. And a record 45% of competitors are expected to be female, the most ever for any multi-sport event. The Games will also be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Canada, with double the number of athletes that competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The equestrian programme also includes Jumping and Eventing. The deadline for definite entries for these two disciplines is Monday 13 July.
Single qualifying spot
A total of 10 nations – Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, USA and Venezuela – will line out in the Dressage Team competition, but only four will be eligible for the single qualifying spot on offer for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. With teams made up of a combination of Big Tour and Small Tour pairs, only Argentina, Canada, Mexico and the USA can make the cut directly, as they are armed with the required Grand Prix-level partnerships.
However, apart from the single team spot up for grabs, countries can also qualify if three strong individual performances provide them with the option of creating a “composite” team.
The American record at the Pan-Americans has long been outstanding, and at the last edition staged in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011 they returned a record-breaking fourth consecutive team victory and filled all three steps of the individual Dressage medal podium as well.
Cruised confidently
They cruised confidently into pole position in the team event ahead of the silver medallists from Canada, while Colombia claimed the bronze. And Steffen Peters set a new Pan-American Games record when posting a mark of 80.132 with Weltino’s Magic in the team competition before claiming individual gold ahead of Heather Blitz with Paragon in silver and Marisa Festerling and Big Tyme in bronze. It was a thoroughly convincing performance at all levels, and anchorman Peters was the linchpin of the US side.
He will fill that role once again this time around, partnering Legolas, the horse that gave the home fans so much to cheer about when the pair finished third in the Grand Prix at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final in Las Vegas, USA in April.
American riders claimed team gold and all the individual medals in Dressage at the 2011 Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Pictured at the individual medal prize-giving (L to R) Heather Blitz (silver), Steffen Peters (gold) and Marisa Festerling (bronze). (FEI/Stockimageservices.com)
Ones to beat
The 2011 result brought the US tally to seven team and eight individual Dressage Pan-American titles, and there is little doubt that they are the ones to beat. Peters will be joined by Laura Graves (Verdades), Kimberly Herslow (Rosmarin) and Sabine Schut-Kery (Sanceo) in the bid to further improve the already-impressive US strike-rate.
Canada sends out Brittany Fraser (All In), Megan Lane (Caravella), Beldina Trussell (Anton) and Chris Von Martels (Zilverstar), while Argentina will be represented by Cesar Lopardo Grana (Tyara), Micaela Mabragana (Granada), Maria Florencia Manfredi (Bandurria Kacero) and Maria Juliana Ugalde (Caquel Cautivo). The Mexican side consists of Jose Luis Padilla Moreno (Donnersberg), Jesus Enrique Palacios (Wizard Banamex), Bernadette Pujals (Heslegaards Rolex) and Mariana Quintana Rivero (Guapo).
Meanwhile the Brazilian team includes Joao Victor Marcari Oliva whose mother, Hortencia Marcari, is a sporting icon in her home country and Vice-President of the Brazilian Olympic Athletes Commission. The Basketball legend was a member of Brazil’s winning team at the 1994 FIBA World Championship before going on to clinch Olympic silver two years later in Atlanta, USA, so her son is following in a strong sporting tradition.
Taking to the stage
Individuals from Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Puerto Rico and Uruguay will also be taking to the stage as Dressage gets the 2015 equestrian events underway at 09.00 local time next Saturday morning.
“We are thrilled with the development of Dressage in the Americas”, FEI Director Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage Trond Asmyr said. “For the first time at the Pan-American Games some of the riders will compete at the same level as in the Olympic Games. This also makes the qualifications for the Olympics more in line with the rest of the world.”
The U-20 Women National Team, also known as Falconets, flew out of the country on Monday for a 24 –day final camping programme in Canada ahead of this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals taking place in the same country.
A delegation of 24 players and 11 officials, led by NFF Chief Technical Officer, Siji Lagunju, flew aboard a Lufthansa Airline airplane from Abuja to Frankfurt, from where it would connect another flight to Moncton, Canada.
Head Coach Peter Dedevbo said on Monday that his girls are focused on a mission of doing the country and the continent proud in North America.
“We have a squad of able, courageous and confident players and I believe we have the capacity to go all the way in Canada,” Dedevbo said.
It would be recalled that Nigeria has featured in all previous FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals since the event was launched in the same country (Canada) 12 years ago, reaching the final in Germany four years ago before losing to hosts Germany.
The Falconets made it to the semi finals of the 2012 finals in Japan.
In Canada, Dedevbo who led the U-17 girls to the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 and Azerbaijan in 2012, will pump up the Falconets’ spirit for the Group C campaign against Mexico and Korea Republic in Moncton (August 6 and 9 respectively) and; against England in Toronto on August 13.
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