I Dig Sports

Barty beats Williams in Birmingham to close in on number one ranking

Published in Tennis

Friday, 21 June 2019 10:13

Ashleigh Barty moved to within two matches of becoming world number one after beating Venus Williams 6-4 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham.

The French Open champion will overtake Naomi Osaka at the top of the rankings if she wins the title on Sunday.

Barty, 23, won five games in a row to take the first set and then broke Williams' serve twice in the second.

The Australian will face Barbora Strycova in the semi-finals.

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Para table tennis recommended for Commonwealth Games inclusion

Published in Table Tennis

Thursday, 20 June 2019 21:13

Para table tennis could be set to make its debut at the Commonwealth Games after the sport was recommended for inclusion at Birmingham 2022 alongside Women’s T20 cricket and beach volleyball.

It would represent the eighth para-sport to be showcased at the Commonwealth Games, helping to further the diversity of the events programme, while continuing to raise the profile of Para table tennis around the world.

The sport has enjoyed a dramatic growth in participation numbers in recent times with over 2000 athletes currently active globally, representing more than 100 different countries.

Moreover, the sport boasts a proud history as one of the founder Paralympic Games disciplines, having been included among eight sports at the first ever event held in Rome in 1960, and its rich tradition with the Games will be further strengthened at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 events.

Now inclusion at the Commonwealth Games would ensure the sport features among the world’s most prestigious events, further increasing its exposure and appeal in key growth territories.

“The ITTF is delighted to learn that the CGF Executive Board has accepted the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee’s recommendation for the inclusion of Para table tennis. We wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Table Tennis England in preparing the submission. This will hopefully provide us with an opportunity to build upon the successes of the Gold Coast Games, to further the development of our Para athletes across the Commonwealth and provide an impetus for activity on the local and national scene in England. We eagerly await the endorsement of the CGF membership so that planning can move into high gear.”

Bruce Burton, ITTF Executive Vice President

Since the ITTF took over the governance of Para Table Tennis in what was a pioneer move in 2007, plenty of work has been done to improve many areas of the game, such as educating coaches, officials and developing the players themselves.

From a technical perspective, Para table tennis makes an extremely strong case for being regarded as the most inclusive sport for people with disabilities, using the same equipment as able-bodied athletes, the same rules and the same field of play, helping to provide equal opportunities and experiences to all.

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Opportunity for youth: Ghana holds trials for African Games selection

Published in Table Tennis

Thursday, 20 June 2019 23:17

Established names will no doubt gain ultimate selection but in order to give young players the opportunity to show their skills, trials will be held at the D. G. Hathiramani Hall located in the Accra Sports Stadium, where some 49 players, comprising 30 men and 19 women, have been invited under the supervision of Anthony Owusu Ansah, the national head coach.

In addition to the established players, most notably Joseph Amissah, a left handed pen-holder has been invited alongside Augustine Baidoo, Desmond Osei, Samuel Hagan, Godwin Nyarko Aseku and Daniel Tawiah. All impressed recently in April at the African Junior and Cadet Championships.

Meanwhile, Celia Baah-Danso, the current Sports Writers Association of Ghana player of the year and recent Liebherr 2019 World Championships participant has been invited alongside the experienced Cynthia Kwabi, Eva Adom-Amankwaa, Hilda Asare and Eva Ampah. The notable female junior names on the list are Augustina Baidoo, Millicent Ankude, Matilda Fodu and Diana Opoku; all rapidly improving players.

Worthy contenders for national team places but one name stands out, listed at no.411 on the current Cadet Girls’ World Rankings, 10-year-old Emmanuella Yaa Kyere is present.

The first series of matches which comprise the trials will be held from Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th July, the second from Wednesday 10th to Saturday 13th July and the third on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th July.

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Flying the flag in Minsk: Marcos Freitas, Panagiotis Gionis and Vladimir Samsonov

Published in Table Tennis

Friday, 21 June 2019 07:57

The three medallists in each of the men’s singles and women’s singles events secure places in Tokyo. Similarly, the gold medallists in each of the men’s team and women’s team competitions gain qualification, as do the mixed doubles winners; all being subject to National Olympic Committee approval,

Notably for Vladimir Samsonov his target is twofold. On the one hand to make his seventh consecutive Olympic Games appearance, his debut being in 1996 in Atlanta, on the other to climb one step higher than four years ago in Baku when beaten in the final by Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov.

Almost as impressive for Panagiotis Gionis, his aim is a fifth such appearance, his initiation being in 2004 on home soil in Athens, for Marcos Freitas, the quest is to make it four in succession, his first venture was in 2008 in Beijing.

It is the men’s singles and women’s singles events which start play. Germany’s Timo Boll, aiming for a sixth consecutive Olympic Games appearance, heads the men’s singles seeding ahead of Sweden’s Mattias Falck. The defending champion, Dimitrij Ovtcharov is the no.3 seed, he is followed by Great Britain’s Liam Pitchford. Vladimir Samsonov, Frenchman Simon Gauzy, pursued by Austria’s Daniel Habesohn and Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson complete the top eight names.

Meanwhile, in the women’s singles event, Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, Austria’s Sofia Polcanova and Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm occupy the top three respective seeded positions ahead of Germany’s Petrissa Solja, Romania’s Bernadette Szocs and Hungary’s Georgina Pota. Li Jie, the runner up in Baku when beaten by now retired colleague, Li Jiao, is the no.7 seed, Portugal’s Fu Yu is the no.8 seed.

The mixed doubles event will commence on Sunday 23rd June, the men’s team and women’s team competitions on Thursday 27th June.

Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Qualification Procedure

Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Schedule of Play

Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Special Team Ranking Men (December 2018)

Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Special Team Ranking Women (December 2018)

Minsk 2019 European Games – Table Tennis: Latest Results

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Aussies go for triple gold in World Doubles

Published in Squash

Friday, 21 June 2019 00:26

Zac Alexander at full stretch as he and Rex Hedrick reach the men’s final

All-Australia on finals day in Gold Coast
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent

Hosts Australia are guaranteed gold medals in all competitions after dominating day four of the WSF World Doubles Squash Championships at the Carrara Squash Centre on the Gold Coast.

In the men’s competition, defending world champions Cameron Pilley and Ryan Cuskelly overpowered their Colombian opponents Andrés Herrera and Juan Camilo Vargas to have another shot at gold.

The pair from New South Wales won the match 11-5 11-7 and will face a challenge from second-seeded compatriots Zac Alexander and Rex Hedrick in the final.

“I thought we played really well, we probably lost a bit of concentration in the second where the ball got a little bit dead after the first game, but overall very confident,” Cuskelly said.

Pilley added: “We haven’t played together since the Commonwealth Games over a year ago so we are getting better with each match and getting more confident.”

Alexander and Hedrick were pushed by gritty South African duo Jean-Pierre Brits and Christo Potgieter (all pictured above), with the Australians eventually winning 11-9, 11-4.

“They (the South African pair) have looked dangerous the whole time and they’ve had some good results, so we knew it was going to be tough and a bit tricky but we thought we’d stick to our guns and do what we do well,” Hedrick said.

Partner Alexander added: “For us as a team it is getting through the first couple of points at the start of the game and the other boys (Cuskelly and Pilley) are so strong and attacking and are pretty much top 20 in the world still so we are the underdogs for sure.”

With no bronze medal playoff at the WSF World Doubles, both the Colombian duo and the South African pair will take home bronze.

Pilley will have a shot at a second gold in the championships when he pairs with cousin Donna Lobban in the mixed doubles final. Pilley and Lobban, the defending Commonwealth Games mixed doubles gold medallists, won through against Alexander and 17-year-old South Australian Alex Haydon 11-9, 11-7.

“It is nice to not play your absolute best and still come off with a two-nil win so we will take that,” Lobban (pictured) said.

“We thought our Aussie team-mates played really well today and it was a good game, so yeah we’re happy to be in the final.”

Making his senior Australian debut at the tournament, Ethan Eyles (also 17-years-old) will play off in the gold medal match with his partner Christine Nunn. Eyles and Nunn tamed their more experienced opponents, Catalina Pelaez and Matias Knudsen of Colombia, 11-10, 11-6.

Australia will take gold in the women’s doubles competition as well, with the final round robin match between Lobban/Nunn and Sarah Cardwell/Jessica Turnbull to determine the final position.

Cardwell and Turnbull are guaranteed a silver medal at worst on the final day, after defeating Colombian sisters Laura and Maria Tovar 11-8, 5-11 ,11-5 in what was day four’s tightest match.

The Colombian pair will be looking to stop an Australian clean sweep of medals, when they play Taylor Flavell and Selena Shaikh on the final day. The Victorian pair, who are making their national team debut in the tournament, defeated Jemyca Aribado and Aysah Dalidah of the Philippines 11-7, 11-6 on the penultimate day to give themselves a shot at world championship bronze.

WSF World Doubles Squash Championships, Gold Coast, Australia.

Men’s semi-finals:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [3] Andrés Herrera & Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 11-5, 11-7 (23m)
[2] Zac Alexander & Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [5] Jean-Pierre Brits & Christo Potgieter (RSA) 11-9, 11-4 (35m)

Women’s 4th Pool round:
[2] Sarah Cardwell & Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt [3] Laura Tovar & Maria Tovar (COL) 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 (26m)
[4] Taylor Flavell & Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt [5] Jemyca Aribado & Aysah Dalida (PHI) 11-7, 11-6 (18m)

Mixed semi-finals:
[1] Donna Lobban & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [3] Alex Haydon & Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-7, 11-9 (18m)
[4] Christine Nunn & Ethan Eyles (AUS) bt [2] Catalina Pelaez & Matias Knudsen (COL) 11-10, 11-6 (24m)

FINAL DAY SCHEDULE

Women’s pool match (gold medal playoff):
Donna Lobban & Christine Nunn (AUS) v Sarah Cardwell & Jessica Turnbull (AUS)

Men’s Final:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly & Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [2] Zac Alexander & Rex Hedrick (AUS)

Mixed Final:
[1] Donna Lobban & Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [4] Christine Nunn & Ethan Eyles (AUS)

Pictures courtesy of CRAIG STEWART (Brisbane Sports Photography)

Posted on June 21, 2019

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Cam and Donna’s double delight in Gold Coast

Published in Squash

Friday, 21 June 2019 10:03

Cameron Pilley and Donna Lobban celebrate their mixed doubles triumph

Clean sweep for Aussies in World Doubles
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent

Australian cousins Cameron Pilley and Donna Lobban struck double Doubles gold on the final day of action in the WSF World Doubles Squash Championships as hosts Australia claimed eight medals across the three events at the Carrara Squash Centre on the Gold Coast.

Pilley and Ryan Cuskelly defended their world title, again claiming gold in the men’s event with victory over fellow Australians Zac Alexander and Rex Hedrick.

Cuskelly and Pilley set the tone early, racing to a lead in the first game and taking it convincingly 11-5. In the second, Alexander and Hedrick fought hard with Cuskelly taking issue with a number of refereeing decisions. The experienced duo from New South Wales managed to prevail in the second to secure a second straight world championship title.

“That second game was very much 50-50 and could have been anyone’s but very happy that we pulled back that deficit at the end of the last one,” Pilley said after the medal ceremony.

Cuskelly added: “They had us a little nervous at the end but they played some good squash – we’re just happy to have got the job done.”

Ryan Cuskelly and Cam Pilley take the men’s doubles title

Pilley partnered Lobban to take gold in the mixed decider as well. The combination, which was victorious at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, again proved too strong against compatriots Ethan Eyles and Christine Nunn, winning 11-5, 11-8.

The 17-year-old Eyles, making his Australian senior debut, was impressive in the final against his more experienced opponents.

Nunn added to her silver medal in the mixed and Lobban to her gold, with the pair teaming to win gold in the women’s doubles event.

The experienced duo, who were partnered for the first time in this tournament, were pushed by fellow Australians Sarah Cardwell and Jessica Turnbull.

An all-Australian line-up as Donna Lobban and Christine Nunn win the women’s title

Lobban and Nunn claimed a tight first game 11-9 and were up 2-0 in the second game before a heavy collision between Nunn and Cardwell sent the latter to the floor. Cardwell hit her head in the fall, but was cleared by medical staff and was able to resume the match.

Lobban and Nunn stayed composed despite the delay in play and went on to win the second 11-4.

“I’m really happy with how we played and stayed focus throughout the tournament,” Nunn said. “It’s been a good week and we’ve been able to build on every match.”

The two said their immediate concern after the match was for the health of their team-mate (Cardwell) but were elated with the result.

Victorian pair Taylor Flavell and Selena Shaikh ensured an Australian clean sweep of the medals, defeating Colombian sisters Maria Tovar and Laura Tovar in the 3rd-place play-off in the Pool 11-6 11-8.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

WSF World Doubles Squash Championships, Gold Coast, Australia.

Men’s Final:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [2] Zac Alexander & Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-5, 11-10 (29m)

Women’s Final:
[1] Donna Lobban & Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [2] Sarah Cardwell & Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11-9, 11-4 (28m)

Pool third place play-off:
[4] Taylor Flavell & Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt [3] Laura Tovar & Maria Tovar (COL) 11-6, 11-8 (15m)

Mixed Final:
[1] Donna Lobban & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [4] Christine Nunn & Ethan Eyles (AUS) 11-5, 11-8 (16m)

MEDAL WINNERS:

Women’s Doubles
GOLD MEDAL: Christine Nunn/Donna Lobban (AUS)
SILVER MEDAL – Sarah Cardwell/Jessica Turnbull (AUS)
BRONZE MEDALS – Selena Shaikh/Taylor Flavell (AUS) & Maria Tovar/Laura Tovar (COL)

Men’s Doubles
GOLD MEDAL – Ryan Cuskelly/Cameron Pilley (AUS)
SILVER MEDAL – Zac Alexander/Rex Hedrick (AUS)
BRONZE MEDALS – Jean-Pierre Brits/Christo Potgieter (RSA) & Andrés Herrera/Juan Camilo Vargas (COL)

Mixed Doubles
GOLD MEDAL – Cameron Pilley/Donna Lobban (AUS)
SILVER MEDAL – Ethan Eyles/Christine Nunn (AUS)
BRONZE MEDALS – Zac Alexander/Alex Haydon (AUS) & Catalina Pelaez/Matias Knudsen (COL)

Pictures courtesy of CRAIG STEWART, Brisbane Sports Photography

Posted on June 21, 2019

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Johnny McPhillips and Joe Thomas: Duo join Leicester Tigers for 2019-20 season

Published in Rugby

Friday, 21 June 2019 08:30

Welsh centre Joe Thomas has joined Premiership side Leicester Tigers for the start of the 2019-20 season.

The 23-year-old played for Dragons and Ospreys in Wales and, most recently, for New Zealand club Otorohanga.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity to join Leicester Tigers. They are a massive club with a big history of success," said Thomas.

Tigers have also signed 22-year-old Newcastle-born fly-half Johnny McPhillips from Ulster Rugby.

McPhillips said: "I'm incredibly excited to be joining such a prestigious club like Leicester Tigers."

Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy added: "Joe has a very good skill-set, he was highly rated on his way through the ranks in Wales and now he is keen to come in here and take on a new challenge with Leicester.

"Johnny was very well regarded as a young player in the Irish system and he has gained some good experience of senior rugby with Ulster."

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Tigers prop Joe Heyes has signed a new contract with Leicester. The club have not disclosed the length of the deal.

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Israel Folau: Sacked rugby player in anti-gay row asks for donations

Published in Rugby

Thursday, 20 June 2019 19:34

Rugby player Israel Folau, who was sacked by Rugby Australia (RA) for criticising gay people, has appealed for public donations to help him legally contest his dismissal.

Folau, a 30-year-old star full-back, had his contract terminated in May after posting on social media saying "hell awaits" gay people.

The devout Christian argues his firing was unlawful and an act of religious discrimination.

RA says he breached a code of conduct.

The former Wallabies player has drawn widespread condemnation for his social media comments, but he also has vocal supporters.

On Friday, Folau released a video to launch a crowd-funding campaign aiming to raise A$3m (£1.6m; $2.1m) for his legal case.

He filed a case against RA and Rugby New South Wales at the Fair Work Commission - Australia's national workplace relations tribunal - earlier this month.

"Every Australian should be able to practise their religion without fear of discrimination in the workplace," he says in the fundraising video.

"Even people who don't share my beliefs have defended my right to uphold and express them.

"If you want to join this journey with me, to fight for the right to freedom of religion, please donate."

Folau has played 73 Tests for Australia and was estimated to be on a contract worth A$5m. He owns a multi-million dollar property portfolio in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.

Folau said he and his wife had already spent more than A$100,000 on legal fees, after engaging a top legal team.

'High-level breach'

RA has consistently defended their firing of the star full-back, saying he breached player behaviour standards "including respectful use of social media".

It had previously warned Folau over anti-gay messages he had posted on social media in the past.

In May, chief executive Raelene Castle said RA had terminated his contract to "stand by our values and the qualities of inclusion, passion, integrity, discipline, respect and teamwork".

Folau also lost sponsorship deals with companies including car manufacturer Land Rover and sportswear brand Asics.

He could be seeking up to A$10m in damages through the Fair Work Commission, media reports say.

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Scotland's Barclay out to banish World Cup demons

Published in Rugby

Friday, 21 June 2019 02:25

John Barclay hopes playing at a "really special" Rugby World Cup in Japan can help banish memories of missing out on the tournament four years ago.

The back-row was omitted by Vern Cotter for the 2015 edition after finding himself largely frozen out of the Scotland squad.

And the 32-year-old says it remains the biggest regret of his career.

"My biggest disappointment in 15 years of rugby was to not get picked for that squad," Barclay told BBC Scotland.

"It's something that motivated me not just this year, but motivated me to get back involved with Scotland and really push for that. I'd love to go to another World Cup."

'I've still got a lot to prove'

Barclay made his Scotland debut against the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup one day before his 21st birthday. He was a mainstay of the side four years later for the tournament in New Zealand and has amassed 71 caps.

"I went to my first [World Cup] when I was just a kid," he said.

"I didn't really understand the position I was in and didn't play a lot. The second one, I went as a regular starter and it'll be a different dynamic this time.

"I've still got a lot to prove to myself and to the team and I would just love to go to a World Cup in Japan with Scotland. To be part of this group would be really special."

Barclay joined Edinburgh last season but had to wait 10 months before making his debut in March after suffering a horrendous Achilles injury in his final appearance for former club Scarlets.

He says the goal of being part of Gregor Townsend's squad for Japan kept his spirits high during the painstaking recovery process.

"It's something I thought a lot about when I was injured, when I was struggling to hit milestones in my recovery," said Barclay.

"Mentally I feel pretty fresh, I don't feel drained from a season which can be the case sometimes.

"My body feels really good. There's a lot of training to do but for me it was great to get a few games in, have a bit of a break and then begin this road to the World Cup."

'I don't know how you can pick this squad'

Townsend named a training squad of 44 which will be whittled down to 31 once the head coach has a closer look at his options during a training camp in Portugal and summer Tests against France and Georgia.

Barclay believes, if he is selected, it will be the strongest Scotland World Cup squad he will have been part of.

"I genuinely believe, and I've been playing with Scotland a long time, this is a team that has some depth and some quality," he said.

"I sat on the team bus and said to some of the guys, 'I don't know how you can pick this squad'.

"In years gone by you could easily pick a 31, but this time there are going to be some guys who probably deserve to be on the plane missing out because you can only take 31. That can only be a good thing for us as a squad."

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SPEED SPORT: The Birth Of A Brand

Published in Racing

Friday, 21 June 2019 09:00

The popularity of auto racing at county fairs on the East Coast during the early 1930s served as the catalyst from which the SPEED SPORT brand was born 85 years ago.

An abundance of midget dates at county fairs across the region annually attracted numerous Midwest-based car owners, drivers and crews, and many of them utilized an area of East Paterson, N.J., which eventually became known as Gasoline Alley, as their base of operations.

Chris Economaki was always hard at work during his long stint as editor and publisher of National Speed Sport News. (NSSN Archives Photo)

“All these cars and drivers showed up in East Paterson in the end of June and stayed until early October,” Chris Economaki, National Speed Sport News’ longtime editor and publisher, recalled prior to his death in 2012. “Everybody lived in a furnished room in that town. There were no hotels, and no motels. There was no money anyway.”

Dick Vieldhouse, a local resident and race fan, recognized the need for a source of racing news. He went to the local newspaper in East Paterson — The Bergen Herald — to sell the editors on the idea of adding auto-racing news and results.

“They put out a weekly broadsheet newspaper for the town. It was like an eight-page tabloid. Sometimes it was 12 pages,” Economaki said. “This guy Vieldhouse went to them with the idea that with all the auto-racing people in town living in furnished rooms, they should publish some auto-racing news in the paper.”

The editors liked the idea, but they needed Vieldhouse to sell some racing-related advertising to support the additional editorial content.

Vieldhouse quickly sold an advertisement to Pyroil, which was heavily involved in the sport at the time, and racing news found a home on the back page of The Bergen Herald during the summer of 1932.

The coverage soon escalated to two pages, and in 1933 it became the back three pages. When the 1934 season started, auto racing was featured on four of the paper’s pages.

“The people in East Paterson complained about all this auto-racing news all over the paper,” Economaki noted. “They wanted to read about the school board and what the mayor was doing.”

During the summer of 1934, William Kay and Louis Fournier, owners of The Bergen Herald, developed a plan to satisfy their local readers along with those craving auto–racing news. Kay and Fournier knew the company that produced The Ridgewood News in nearby Ridgewood, N.J., had recently opened a new printing facility. They approached the paper’s owners with the idea of expanding the racing section of The Bergen Herald into a separate tabloid publication.

On Aug. 16, 1934, the East Paterson Herald Publishing Co. produced the first issue of National Auto Racing News.

In that issue, Kay and Fournier presented their vision for the future of the publication:

The cover of the first issue of what eventually became National Speed Sport News.

“We will in the future, as we have in the past, endeavor to give our racing fans all of the news from all of the tracks all of the time. Our constant endeavor since the inception of the Auto Racing Section has been to increase our service to our readers. That will continue to be our policy. We will welcome constructive criticism and helpful suggestions. We want this to be your paper. Our only aim and desire is to give you what you want in the way you want it.”

“It’s obvious from the very first issue that William Kay and Louis Fournier fully understood the paper’s role as a promotional tool for auto racing,” said Corinne Economaki, who succeeded her father as publisher of National Speed Sport News from 1990 to 2011. “They knew if they could help grow the sport, the paper would grow with it.”

And that’s exactly what happened.

After a brief publishing hiatus when auto racing was shut down during World War II, National Auto Racing News returned as National Speed Sport News in February 1943 with William Kay continuing as editor.

As the paper evolved, off-track news, regional columns and personality profiles were added to the editorial mix and letters from readers became a key element.

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