India's fledgling Olympic campaign today received a sensational boost with unheralded grappler Sushil Kumar clinching a bronze medal and boxer Vijender Kumar ensuring at least a bronze to give the country a record three medals for the first time ever.
After Abhinav Bindra’s gold-winning feat during the first week of the sporting extravaganza, the 25-year-old Sushil Kumar shot into fame by winning a bronze medal in the wrestling arena, while Vijender has put himself on course for a silver or gold medal on a historic day for Indian sports.
Sushil and Vijender’s heroics not only provided the late sparks to an otherwise dismal campaign but has also created a record of sorts as India had never returned with three medals from the Olympics.
India had won two Olympic medals in the 1952 Helsinki Games when the hockey team had won a gold medal and wrestler K D Jadhav had won a bronze, a record which stood for 56 long years.
While Sushil and Vijender made the country proud, there was some heartbreak for the Indians with another medal contender pugilist Jitender Kumar losing his quarter-final bout, despite a valiant effort in the ring.
After days of disappointments, it turned out to be a day to cherish for the Indians as Sushil found his way to the record books after becoming only the second wrestler in India’s Olympics history to win a medal in the men’s 66 kg freestyle category.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
U.S. Leads Overall, China Leads Gold Medal Count on Wednesday
The United States and China lead the medal count thus far in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, according to reports on Monday.
The U.S. is second to China with 26 gold medals. The U.S. has also earned 28 silver medals and 28 bronze medals to bring their medal count to 82 overall, the highest of all nations.
Michael Phelps set the all-time Olympic record for eight gold medals in a single Olympics, breaking Mark Spitz's record from the 1972 Olympics. Phelps extended his all-time record for most Olympic gold medals to 14.
Phelps set Olympic records in each event, but set seven, not eight, world records. Phelps missed the world record in the 100-meter freestyle (50.58), but set an Olympic record in the event.
Phelps set a world and Olympic record in the 200-meter individual medley (1:54.23), the 200-meter freestyle (1:42.96), 200-meter butterfly (1:52.03), 4x200 freestyle relay (6:58.56), the 4x100 medley relay (3:29.34), the 400m individual medley (4:03.84) and 4x100 freestyle relay (3:08.24).
Phelps won the exhilarating 4x100 freestyle relay, along with Cullen Jones, Garrett Weber-Gale and anchor Jason Lesak on last Sunday.
Nastia Luikin won the individual all-around final in women's gymnastics as she totaled four medals during the Olympics. Shawn Johnson won the gold medal for the balance beam to add to her two silver medals. The women's team won silver in the team final, while the men's team won bronze.
Venus and Serena Williams won the gold medal in the women's doubles final in tennis. In track and field, Angelo Taylor won the 400m hurdles, Dawn Harper won the 110m hurdles and Stephanie Brown Trafton won the women's discus throw.
The U.S. is second to China with 26 gold medals. The U.S. has also earned 28 silver medals and 28 bronze medals to bring their medal count to 82 overall, the highest of all nations.
Michael Phelps set the all-time Olympic record for eight gold medals in a single Olympics, breaking Mark Spitz's record from the 1972 Olympics. Phelps extended his all-time record for most Olympic gold medals to 14.
Phelps set Olympic records in each event, but set seven, not eight, world records. Phelps missed the world record in the 100-meter freestyle (50.58), but set an Olympic record in the event.
Phelps set a world and Olympic record in the 200-meter individual medley (1:54.23), the 200-meter freestyle (1:42.96), 200-meter butterfly (1:52.03), 4x200 freestyle relay (6:58.56), the 4x100 medley relay (3:29.34), the 400m individual medley (4:03.84) and 4x100 freestyle relay (3:08.24).
Phelps won the exhilarating 4x100 freestyle relay, along with Cullen Jones, Garrett Weber-Gale and anchor Jason Lesak on last Sunday.
Nastia Luikin won the individual all-around final in women's gymnastics as she totaled four medals during the Olympics. Shawn Johnson won the gold medal for the balance beam to add to her two silver medals. The women's team won silver in the team final, while the men's team won bronze.
Venus and Serena Williams won the gold medal in the women's doubles final in tennis. In track and field, Angelo Taylor won the 400m hurdles, Dawn Harper won the 110m hurdles and Stephanie Brown Trafton won the women's discus throw.
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Win Olympic Gold for U.S. in Women’s Beach Volleyball
The American duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh continued to prove their dominance in women’s beach volleyball as they captured the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Thursday.
As impressive as their 21-18, 21-18 victory in a steady rain over China’s Wang Jie and Tian Jia of China was, perhaps more impressive was the fact it was win number 108 in a row for the May-Treanor and Walsh tandem.
With the straight set victory May-Treanor and Walsh also extended their streak of never dropping a set at the Olympics and became the first pair to ever defend their Olympic gold medal title in beach volleyball.
As impressive as their 21-18, 21-18 victory in a steady rain over China’s Wang Jie and Tian Jia of China was, perhaps more impressive was the fact it was win number 108 in a row for the May-Treanor and Walsh tandem.
With the straight set victory May-Treanor and Walsh also extended their streak of never dropping a set at the Olympics and became the first pair to ever defend their Olympic gold medal title in beach volleyball.
United States to Face Russia in Women’s Basketball Semis, Australia and China Battle
The 2008 Beijing Olympics are heading into their final days and the women’s basketball competition will be featuring their two semifinal games on Thursday as the United States faces Russia while Australia takes on host country China.
The United States has yet to be challenged in Beijing and they will be heavy favorites when the face the Russians at 8:00 a.m. ET.
Australia has been equally impressive, carrying 5-0 record into their semifinals match against China. China’s only loss was a 45-point pounding at the hands of the U.S. Much like the U.S., Australia has yet to be challenged as all of their victories have been by 19-points or more.
The United States has yet to be challenged in Beijing and they will be heavy favorites when the face the Russians at 8:00 a.m. ET.
Australia has been equally impressive, carrying 5-0 record into their semifinals match against China. China’s only loss was a 45-point pounding at the hands of the U.S. Much like the U.S., Australia has yet to be challenged as all of their victories have been by 19-points or more.
Women’s Softball Gold Medal Game Features United States and Japan
While the United States women’s softball team just beat Japan in an epic nine-inning contest on Aug. 20 the two countries will be squaring off again on Thursday with the gold medal at stake at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The United States plated four runs in the top of the 9th on Wednesday to beat Japan 4-1 and now find themselves in their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal match.
The Americans pushed their record to 8-0 in Beijing and will now face Japan who knocked off Australia 4-3 to earn the birth into the gold medal game.
Thursday’s women’s softball finals will be played at 6:00 a.m
The United States plated four runs in the top of the 9th on Wednesday to beat Japan 4-1 and now find themselves in their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal match.
The Americans pushed their record to 8-0 in Beijing and will now face Japan who knocked off Australia 4-3 to earn the birth into the gold medal game.
Thursday’s women’s softball finals will be played at 6:00 a.m
Women’s Soccer Finals Set as United States to Face Brazil for Gold Medal
The women’s soccer finals are set to take place on Thursday with the United States facing off against Brazil in what promises to be an exciting gold medal match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
After dropping their opening match of the Olympics to Norway the U.S. women marched through their opponents with purpose to survive group play and then dropped Canada 2-1 in the quarterfinals and drubbed Japan 4-2 in the semis to earn their golden ticket.
As for Brazil, the Samba women survived group play to advance to the quarterfinal round where they knocked of Norway 2-1 and then pounded Germany 4-0 to earn their way to the gold medal match.
Thursday’s women’s soccer finals are set for 9:00 a.m. ET while the bronze medal match between Germany and Japan will take place at 6:00 a.m. ET.
After dropping their opening match of the Olympics to Norway the U.S. women marched through their opponents with purpose to survive group play and then dropped Canada 2-1 in the quarterfinals and drubbed Japan 4-2 in the semis to earn their golden ticket.
As for Brazil, the Samba women survived group play to advance to the quarterfinal round where they knocked of Norway 2-1 and then pounded Germany 4-0 to earn their way to the gold medal match.
Thursday’s women’s soccer finals are set for 9:00 a.m. ET while the bronze medal match between Germany and Japan will take place at 6:00 a.m. ET.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
China Leads Gold Race, Phelps writes Games Gold History
He looked a bit uncomfortable at times Wednesday. Perhaps because of the burden of Olympic history. Or, maybe his faulty goggles were to blame. But that was welcome, for he looked human, something the world needs to tell itself about a man who swims like a machine.
Michael Phelps is now the most decorated individual athlete (six golds in Athens five in Beijing) in the history of the Olympic Games.
Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina and her countryman Nikolai Andrianov still hold the record for the most medals of any color: 18 for women and 15 for men. Andrionov’s record could fall, if Phelps, who has two bronzes from Athens, wins three more golds, as is expected, in Beijing.
Phelps was in the exalted company of Carl Lewis and Mark Spitz, both of the US, Latynina and the legendary Finn distance runner Pavo Nurmi for just a day before rising higher in the medals’ tally.
The icing on his cake: all his five golds in Beijing have come in world record time.
But he was not the only athlete to shatter records at will Wednesday. The women’s 200m freestyle and the individual medley records were broken in the pool and the 63kg weightlifting saw China’s Liu Chunhong smash the snatch, clean and jerk, and total records.
A different sort of record was set in the gymnasium, where China upstaged the US to win its first team gold in women’s gymnastics. The gold tasted doubly sweet because China had wrested its men’s team title from Japan a day ago.
A dramatic fall by Cheng Fei from the balance beam did not stop the host from beating the world champion by 2.375 points. The US entered the final Wednesday with only four fit gymnasts and major errors on the balance beam and in floor exercises - both by Alicia Sacramone - ruined its chances of winning the top prize.
Back in the pool, Italy’s Federica Pellegrini broke the women’s 200m freestyle record to take the gold. And Australia’s Stephanie Rice won her second gold in record time in the 200m individual medley.
Woman weightlifter Liu Chunhong put the stamp of China’s supremacy on the event. She set a world record in the snatch with 125kg, then broke that record with her next lift, snatching 128kg. Her 158kg lift in the clean and jerk and her combined total of 286kg were world records too.
But Sa Jae-hyouk of the Republic of Korea stopped China’s gold rush in weightlifting by edging out favorite Li Hongli to win the men’s 77-kg division.
Sa and Li both lifted a total of 366 kg, but Sa got the gold medal because of her lower body weight.
Before this, China had won in all the six weight categories it took part in.
Chinese divers completed their golden sweep in synchronized diving, with Wang Feng and Qin Kai leading from start to finish in the men’s 3m springboard, the last of the synchronized events.
China’s Chen Ying came from behind with a dazzling performance to win the gold in women’s 25m pistol shooting.
And Chang Yongxiang won China’s first silver in men’s wrestling after losing to Manuchar Kvirkelia of Georgia in a well-contested 74-kg bout.
French wrestler Steeve Guenot won the first gold for France in Greco-Roman wrestling (66kg) since 1926.
In cycling, French veteran Jeannie Longo missed the women’s time trial podium by just 2 seconds in what could be her final Olympic race. American Kristin Armstrong won the 23.8-km race.
Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara won the men’s time trial, powering his way to his second Olympic medal in four days. The Swiss had surprised himself with the bronze in the men’s road race on Saturday.
Benjamin Kleibrink of Germany won the gold medal in men’s foil fencing with a convincing victory over Japan’s Yuki Ota.
Britta Heidemann, also of Germany, won the gold medal in women’s epee, giving Germany its second first-place fencing finish of the night.
Masae Ueno won Japan’s third gold medal in judo, defending her 70kg Athens title against Anaysi Hernandez of Cuba.
World champion Irakli Tsirekidze of Georgia won the men’s 90-kg judo gold, scoring an early penalty point and then holding off Algeria’s Amar Benikhlef.
Michael Phelps is now the most decorated individual athlete (six golds in Athens five in Beijing) in the history of the Olympic Games.
Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina and her countryman Nikolai Andrianov still hold the record for the most medals of any color: 18 for women and 15 for men. Andrionov’s record could fall, if Phelps, who has two bronzes from Athens, wins three more golds, as is expected, in Beijing.
Phelps was in the exalted company of Carl Lewis and Mark Spitz, both of the US, Latynina and the legendary Finn distance runner Pavo Nurmi for just a day before rising higher in the medals’ tally.
The icing on his cake: all his five golds in Beijing have come in world record time.
But he was not the only athlete to shatter records at will Wednesday. The women’s 200m freestyle and the individual medley records were broken in the pool and the 63kg weightlifting saw China’s Liu Chunhong smash the snatch, clean and jerk, and total records.
A different sort of record was set in the gymnasium, where China upstaged the US to win its first team gold in women’s gymnastics. The gold tasted doubly sweet because China had wrested its men’s team title from Japan a day ago.
A dramatic fall by Cheng Fei from the balance beam did not stop the host from beating the world champion by 2.375 points. The US entered the final Wednesday with only four fit gymnasts and major errors on the balance beam and in floor exercises - both by Alicia Sacramone - ruined its chances of winning the top prize.
Back in the pool, Italy’s Federica Pellegrini broke the women’s 200m freestyle record to take the gold. And Australia’s Stephanie Rice won her second gold in record time in the 200m individual medley.
Woman weightlifter Liu Chunhong put the stamp of China’s supremacy on the event. She set a world record in the snatch with 125kg, then broke that record with her next lift, snatching 128kg. Her 158kg lift in the clean and jerk and her combined total of 286kg were world records too.
But Sa Jae-hyouk of the Republic of Korea stopped China’s gold rush in weightlifting by edging out favorite Li Hongli to win the men’s 77-kg division.
Sa and Li both lifted a total of 366 kg, but Sa got the gold medal because of her lower body weight.
Before this, China had won in all the six weight categories it took part in.
Chinese divers completed their golden sweep in synchronized diving, with Wang Feng and Qin Kai leading from start to finish in the men’s 3m springboard, the last of the synchronized events.
China’s Chen Ying came from behind with a dazzling performance to win the gold in women’s 25m pistol shooting.
And Chang Yongxiang won China’s first silver in men’s wrestling after losing to Manuchar Kvirkelia of Georgia in a well-contested 74-kg bout.
French wrestler Steeve Guenot won the first gold for France in Greco-Roman wrestling (66kg) since 1926.
In cycling, French veteran Jeannie Longo missed the women’s time trial podium by just 2 seconds in what could be her final Olympic race. American Kristin Armstrong won the 23.8-km race.
Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara won the men’s time trial, powering his way to his second Olympic medal in four days. The Swiss had surprised himself with the bronze in the men’s road race on Saturday.
Benjamin Kleibrink of Germany won the gold medal in men’s foil fencing with a convincing victory over Japan’s Yuki Ota.
Britta Heidemann, also of Germany, won the gold medal in women’s epee, giving Germany its second first-place fencing finish of the night.
Masae Ueno won Japan’s third gold medal in judo, defending her 70kg Athens title against Anaysi Hernandez of Cuba.
World champion Irakli Tsirekidze of Georgia won the men’s 90-kg judo gold, scoring an early penalty point and then holding off Algeria’s Amar Benikhlef.
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