I Dig Sports

Run Quinta

Published in Athletics

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 13:38

Euan Crumley visits a stunning Algarve location which will provide the stage for a new running festival in November

Picture a typical November day in Britain. Now picture the thought of heading out for your usual run as those dark, damp and cold conditions settle in.

It can be a drudge to train through those winter months. It’s at that very point in the year when summer feels like a distant memory and when most of us crave a little sun on our faces, to escape to warmer climes and find ourselves in an environment which is tailor made for activity and training. Quinta do Lago is just that place.

Just a short flight away from the UK and a mere 20-minute taxi ride from Faro airport, this stunningly beautiful resort in the Algarve will play host to an ambitious new premium running festival, Run Quinta, which will cater for all abilities and allow participants to challenge themselves in truly spectacular, top-class surroundings.

The festival weekend of November 8-10 will see the staging of a road half-marathon (on November 9), followed by 5km and 10km events a day later which travel along the beachside trails of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

It promises to be a truly immersive experience and an opportunity to sample the kind of facilities to which professional athletes are accustomed.

Run Quinta event HQ will be The Campus, a state of the art multi-sports training hub which is regularly used by elite sportspeople. The Ireland rugby team will be fine-tuning their World Cup preparations there while a number of English Premier League outfits, not to mention Paris St Germain, have taken advantage of the remarkable facilities on offer.

Olympic triathletes Jonny and Alistair Brownlee are no strangers to The Campus either and, as you wander through the impressive grounds which are a hive of sporting activity, it’s not hard to see why.

All manner of sports are catered for – from tennis, to swimming to cycling, while the high performance gyms, exercise classes, sauna and ice baths add a different dimension to training.

The 650m fitness trail which surrounds The Campus will represent the finishing lap to the Run Quinta half-marathon, run on the resort’s wide and welcoming roads which are bordered by some truly breathtaking properties.

Once across the finish line the runners can relax, unwind and celebrate their achievements at Dano’s Sports Bar – a bustling, substantial venue serving excellent food which will host a post-race party that features live entertainment.

The Run Quinta weekend is about so much more than running. Entrants to the festival will have access to many of the facilities
at The Campus, thus making the exclusive feel much more inclusive and adding to the enveloping nature of the experience.

There is the option of attending a charity dinner on the Saturday evening, while the party atmosphere is intended to move on to the Sunday, too, as the running focus moves down towards the immaculate trails surrounding the Ria Formosa – you can see them spreading out beneath you from the plane window as you come in to land – for the 5km and 10km events.

These start and finish at The Shack, another lively, high-quality bar and restaurant which will provide a vibrant and spectacular backdrop to an area which is just crying out to be explored and run on.

During my visit I stayed at the Magnolia Hotel, which is just a short warm-up away from the start lines for the weekend events.

Runners who opt to book one of the inclusive three-day packages on offer (starting from the great value price of £299 per person) will also stay at what is an immaculate, welcoming venue which houses a restaurant, heated outdoor swimming pool, gym, spa and even a cinema which can be booked for groups on request.

As well as the 74 rooms there are also seven cottages available to book on the property.

Every base has been covered for Run Quinta participants and it looks set to be the ideal opportunity for athletics club groups to get away, provide members with an autumn target to aim for and to celebrate all that is great about running.

Temperatures are still expected to hit around 20 degrees centigrade for race weekend and there really can be few better places for some warm weather training. Virgin Radio’s Chris Evans, who recently interviewed AW publisher and event ambassador Wendy Sly, is intending to take part and there are plenty of reasons to join in. This is a festival which really could run and run.

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'Nervous' Osaka avoids first-round shock

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 12:34

Defending champion Naomi Osaka battled from behind to beat Russian 20-year-old Anna Blinkova 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 in the first round of the US Open.

The world number one was 4-1 down in the opening set before she won five games in a row to take the lead.

In a second set riddled with errors, she saw off three sets points and held match point before losing a tie-break.

Japan's Osaka, who made 50 unforced errors in the match, fought off three more break points in the decider.

The top seed will now face Polish world number 53 Magda Linette in round two.

'It's just a game - I have to remember that'

Osaka, 21, announced herself to the tennis world when she won back-to-back Grand Slams in New York a year ago and Melbourne in January.

That propelled her up the world rankings but Osaka said in June her French Open third-round exit was "probably the best thing that could have happened" because she was suffering headaches from the "stress" of being the top seed.

She was then dumped out of Wimbledon in the first round before retiring with a knee injury in the quarter-finals at Cincinnati this month - the same knee was heavily strapped here at Flushing Meadows.

"I don't think I've ever been this nervous in my life," Osaka told the crowd on Arthur Ashe court. "I came off really slow and never really found my rhythm. I fought as hard as I could and managed to win.

"You want to do well after you did well last year. I didn't smile much playing this match so hopefully I can change that in the next match. It's kind of just a game so I have to remember that."

Osaka avoided becoming only the seventh player to lose in the opening round of a women's singles title defence at a Grand Slam, while defeat would have cost her the number one ranking.

Muguruza out but Kvitova through

There was, however, a first-round exit for former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza, who lost 2-6 6-1 6-3 to Alison Riske.

American Riske, ranked 11 places below the Spaniard at 36th, sealed her first win at Flushing Meadows since 2013.

Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon champion and sixth seed Petra Kvitova advanced by beating fellow Czech Denisa Allertova 6-2 6-4.

Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, Swiss 13th seed Belinda Bencic and Dutch seventh seed Kiki Bertens are also through.

Latvia's Ostapenko overcame Serb Aleksandra Krunic 6-3 7-6 (7-9), while Bencic beat Luxembourg's Mandy Minella 6-3 6-2. Bertens won 6-4 6-2 against Spaniard Paula Badosa.

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Titles in Olomouc, chances enhanced

Published in Table Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 04:34

On the men’s singles standings, Lin Yin-Ju appears at no.5 (741 points), one place behind Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto (764 points) who experienced a first round exit in Olomouc. They trail the Chinese trio comprising Xu Xin (1,713 points), Ma Long (1,425 points) and Lin Gaoyuan (764 points).

Notably, all four men’s singles semi-finalists in Olomouc are very much in contention for places in the Grand Finals. Brazil’s Hugo Calderano is at no.10 (369 points), Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov one place lower (356 points), colleague Timo Boll at no.15 (244 points). Olomouc was a fourth appearance for Timo Boll on this year’s ITTF World Tour, he needs one more; no doubt in October he will compete on home soil in Germany.

Likewise, quarter-finalists in the Czech Republic, Germany’s Patrick Franziska and Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu are very much in contention for Grand Finals places. Patrick Franziska is listed at no.12 (355 points), Lee Sangsu just below the line at no.18 (205 points). Also for those who suffered earlier exits in Olomouc the door is open. In addition to Tomokazu Harimoto, compatriot Jun Mizutani, twice a Grand Finals winner, is named at no.13 (311 points), Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting on the brink at no.17 (222 points).

Fighting on three fronts

A place in the men’s singles event at the Grand Finals for Lin Yu-Ju; it is also a men’s doubles option. Despite defeat in the final in Olomouc in harness with Liao Cheng-Ting at the hands of Korea Republic’s Cho Daeseong and Lee Sangsu, on the standings the duo occupies the no.7 spot (251 points). The list is led by Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu (750 points). Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Wong Chun Ting, who experienced a quarter-final exit in Olomouc, occupy third place (451 points).

Two possibilities at the Grand Finals for Lin Yun-Ju, there could well be a third. In the mixed doubles standings partnering Cheng I-Ching, the duo occupies the no.2 spot (763 points). Wong Chun Ting and Hong Kong colleague, Doo Hoi Kem retain top place (770 points).

Neither pair competed in Olomouc; significantly Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito were present and now reserve the no.4 position (500 points), like the leading pairs having completed the four appearance criteria as a partnership. Runners up, they were beaten in the final by the Korea Republic’s Cho Daeseong and Shin Yubin; they are now listed in the no.6 spot (263 points) but need one more appearance to meet the minimum criteria.

China in ascendancy

Meanwhile, on the women’s singles standings, Chen Xingtong is named at no.7 (739 points), one step behind Japan’s Mima Ito (760 points), the player she beat in the second round in Olomouc. China’s Sun Yingsha (1,319 points) continues to head the list followed by compatriots Chen Meng (1,300 points), Wang Manyu (1,051 points), Liu Shiwen (779 points) and Ding Ning (775 points).

Somewhat significantly, Chen Xingtong is one place ahead of Japan’s Miu Hirano (570 points), the player she overcame in the Czech Republic final; likewise Miu Hirano is one ahead of colleague Kasumi Ishikawa (466 points), the player she ousted in the penultimate round.

Increasing their chances of a Grand Finals places; in the Czech Republic China’s He Zhuojia and Gu Yuting alongside Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Austria’s Sofia Polcanova did their cause no harm. He Zhuojia is named at no.12 (338 points), Jeon Jihee at n.16 (234 points). Just below the line, Gu Yuting is at no.17 (183 points), Sofia Polcanova at no.20 (153 points).

Needing appearances

Possibilities for Gu Yuting in the women’s singles event, in partnership with Mu Zi it is the same in the women’s doubles. The winners in both Bulgaria and the Czech Republic they are named at no.3 (400 points) on the women’s doubles standings but like compatriots, Chen Meng and Wang Manyu, who head the list (500 points), have only made two appearances as a partnership this year.

Japan’s Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki who have competed six times together, suffering a first round defeat in Olomouc when facing Gu Yuting and Mu Zi, lead the order of those eligible. They are in the no.7 spot (276 points).

Eyes now turn to Stockholm; the 2019 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open commences on Tuesday 1st October.

Monday 26th August: Latest Standings after 2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open

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Chile in focus but Brazil on course

Published in Table Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 05:56

In the men’s team events, in class 1-2, not seeded, Luis Bustamente and Vicente Leiva recorded a 2-0 penultimate round win against the no.2 seeds, the Argentine pairing of Fernando Eberhardt and Guillermo Bustamente. In the final they now meet Brazil; the top seeds, Guilherme Marcio de Costa and Iranildo Espindola duly reserving their place in the final courtesy of a 2-0 win in opposition to Venezuela’s Gregory Moreno and Luis Rojas.

Likewise in class 3-5, Cristian Gonzalez and Maximiliano Rodriguez emerged surprise finalists; they recorded a 2-1 win against Venezuela’s Roberto Quijada and Noel Sandoval to claim their place in the title decider. Notably the previous day, the Venezuelans had gained first place in their group, accounting for the top seeded Argentine partnership of Mauro Depergola and Elias Romero. An impressive 2-0 win was the order of affairs.

Second place in the group meant a semi-final clash for Mauro Depergola and Elias Romero against the top seeded Brazilian outfit comprising David Andrade de Freitas, Eziquiel Babes and Welder Knaf. A 2-1 win in favour of Brazil was the outcome.

Similarly in class 9-10, Chile in the guise of Manuel Echaveguren and Gustavo Castro upset the order of merit; they gained a 2-0 semi-final win when facing the no.2 seeds the United States combination of Tahl Leibovitz and Jerry Vasquez. The win to note being that of Manuel Echaveguren; he accounted for Tahl Leibovitz (11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-5), gold medallist in the individual event, to seal the victory.

In the final, the Chileans meet the top seeded Brazilian combination of Carlos Carbinatti, Claudio Massad and Diego Moreira; they booked their place in the final by securing a 2-1 win in opposition to Colombia’s Alvaro Puerto and Diego Jimenez.

Success for Chile but there was a result in the opposite direction, a reversal of the class 9-10 outcome. In class 6-8, the no.2 seeds, Cristian Dettoni and Matias Pino Lorca experienced a 2-0 penultimate round defeat in opposition to the United States partnership formed by Marco Makkar and Ian Seidenfeld. In the title decider, Brazil awaits. In the counterpart semi-final, the top seeds, Paulo Salmin and Luiz Guarnieri Manara clinched a 2-1 win in opposition to Colombia’s José Vargas and Diego Henao.

Brazil in the driving seat, it is the same in the one women’s team event being contested; represented by Joyce de Oliveira, Thais Fraga Severo and Marliane Amaral, a 2-0 win in opposition to Colombia’s Manuela Guapi and Nelly Sanchez reserved the place in the class 2-5 final. In the gold medal contest they meet the no.2 seeds, Mexico’s Edith Sigala and Martha Verdin; they posted a 2-1 semi-final win in opposition to the Argentine formation of Veronica Blanco, Maria Garrone and Nayla Kuell.

Play in Lima concludes on Tuesday 27th August.

Lima 2019 Para Pan American Games: Draws and Latest Results

Lima 2019 Para Pan American Games: Official Website

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Brazil heads medal list but Cristian Gonzalez steals the show

Published in Table Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 11:56

The winner of men’s singles class 4 on the third day of play, as the curtain closed in the Peruvian capital city, alongside colleague Maximiliano Rodriguez, he prevented a Brazilian team clean sweep.

Not listed amongst the seeded teams, competing in men’s team class 3-5, the duo overcame Brazil’s David Andrade de Freitas and Welder Knaf, the no.2 seeds, to seal the title. A hard earned 2-0 margin of victory was the order of the day. The doubles was secured by the very narrowest of margins (5-11, 14-12, 0-11, 11-5, 11-9) before Cristian Gonzalez returned to the table to cement the victory; in an equally tense contest he accounted for David Andrade de Freitas (11-4, 8-11, 2-11, 11-8, 11-6).

Silver for Brazil, in the remaining categories it was gold. In the men’s team events, in class 1-2 Guilherme Marcio da Costa and Iranildo Espindola justified their top seeded position to claim the top prize; at the final hurdle they recorded a 2-0 win against Chile’s Luis Bustamente and Vicente Leiva.

Likewise, in class 6-8, Paulo Salmin and Francisco de Melo asserted their authority on proceedings; also the top seeds, they posted a 2-0 win against the United States combination of Ian Seidenfeld and Marko Makkar.

Imposing, in class 9-10, it was the very same from Carlos Carbinatti and Diego Moreira; also the top seeds, they recorded a 2-0 margin of victory in opposition to Chile’s Manuel Echaveguren and Gustav Castro.

Titles for the men; it was the same for their female counterparts. In the one women’s team event staged, the combination of Joyce de Oliveira, Thais Fraga Severo and Marliane Amaral Santos struck gold in class 2-5; at the final hurdle the top seeds, the secured a 2-0 win against Mexico’s Edith Sigala and Martha Verdin, the no.2 seeds.

Success on the concluding day of play; Brazil duly ended proceedings as the leading nation in the table tennis events. The final tally read: nine gold, six silver and nine bronze. Next in line came Chile with four gold, three silver and six bronze, ahead of Mexico three gold and three silver.

Lima 2019 Para Pan American Games: Draws and Latest Results

Lima 2019 Para Pan American Games: Official Website

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WRU chief executive defends World Cup warm-up schedule

Published in Rugby

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 08:47

Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips has defended Wales' schedule of four World Cup warm-up internationals.

Wales have already faced England home and away and have another double-header against Ireland on 31 August and 7 September.

Phillips insists the decision to play four World Cup games was not financially motivated.

"To my knowledge all other teams are playing four games," said Phillips.

"The choice was made to play four and even when I look at it today it feels like the right decision."

'No substitute for playing'

Legendary full-back JPR Williams and fly-half James Hook were among those who have voiced concerns that players could suffer injuries before the tournament.

Gareth Anscombe was ruled out of the World Cup in the opening warm-up games against England but Taulupe Faletau suffered his tournament-ending injury in training.

"The analogy I would use is that it is a bit like the British and Irish Lions in that how many games you have before the first Test is critical," said Phillips.

"If you talk to the players after the Twickenham game against England, they had not played for 10 or 12 weeks and really felt it after the game.

"There is no substitute for playing and injuries can be picked up in training."

Phillips said that the plan was always to have two home warm-up matches - and that as long as they did that, they made no further money by playing four games in total, rather than three.

Warren Gatland says it was "fair" to criticise Wales' decision to play four matches, but Phillips said the Wales head coach was involved in the planning process.

"Those decisions are made in conjunction with the coaches," said Phillips.

"We looked at the review after the 2015 World Cup and you are always going to play three or four warm-up games.

"It would not matter if we played three or four financially because if we played three, we would still play two home games. We are not making any more money with four matches.

"I was very relaxed about it with Warren to ask if he wanted to play three or four because I knew I was going to be playing two of those at home.

"That agreement has been made a while ago. What has brought it into focus in Wales is the way the World Cup draw panned out was that we were able to play Ireland and England home and away which are four tough games.

"If we'd had England in the same pool as us, we wouldn't have been playing them at all. We might have been playing Ireland home and away, along with Scotland and Italy."

Wales begin their World Cup campaign in Japan against Georgia on Monday, 23 September before further pool matches against Australia, Fiji and Uruguay.

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Etzebeth named in SA World Cup squad after denying assault allegations

Published in Rugby

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 04:16

South Africa international Eben Etzebeth has been named in the Springboks World Cup squad after denying allegations of assault.

Reports on social media claimed the lock pointed a gun at a homeless man in Langebaan, a town north of Cape Town.

"It is completely untrue and unfounded to claim that I physically or racially abused anyone in Langebaan as has been reported on social media," he said.

"Multiple witnesses can corroborate that."

He added: "I am and will always strive to be a true ambassador to this beautiful rainbow nation and the sport that I love."

Etzebeth was part of the South Africa squad who reached the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup and is now set to travel to Japan with the side, who begin their campaign against defending champions New Zealand on 21 September.

The South African Rugby Union released a statement saying it would "co-operate with the authorities in any way necessary".

"SARU is a law-abiding member of South African society and has no tolerance of acts of violence or racial abuse," the statement added.

"Our Rugby World Cup squad will have no place for anyone who transgresses those principles."

South Africa World Cup squad

Forwards: Steven Kitshoff, Tendai Mtawarira, Schalk Brits, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi (c), Francois Louw, Kwagga Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen.

Backs: Warrick Gelant, Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Sibusiso Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Francois Steyn, Makazole Mapimpi, Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard, Herschel Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach.

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Navidi the right man to lead Wales - Jones

Published in Rugby

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 12:26

Josh Navidi will be a worthy captain if he is selected to lead Wales in the World Cup warm-up against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday, says former skipper Ryan Jones.

Coach Warren Gotland is expected to make wholesale changes from the 13-6 win over England, with captain Alum Wynn Jones set to be rested.

"He's the right man to do it if he is chosen," Jones, who led Wales 33 times under Gotland, said of Cardiff Blues flanker Nevada.

"What we've seen over the past two or three years is the emergence of a guy who leads on and off the field and I think he's hugely respected among the group.

"He'll probably lead from the front like Alum Wyn Jones... and I think with his experience as well it lends itself to do it."

Ryan Jones made 75 appearances for Wales, including the Grand Slam campaigns in 2005, 2008 and 2012. He was appointed Welsh Rugby Union performance director in January.

He said Wales face a major challenge against Ireland in Gatland's last home game in charge of Wales, especially after Joe Schmidt's team were hammered 57-15 by England.

"It's going to be hell of a game this weekend - they're smarting," Jones added.

"It's a big opportunity for some of those Wales players who are probably in that question mark bracket for the World Cup.

"Knowing Gats the way we do, there's probably one or two players he hasn't quite made his mind up about yet and he'll certainly be using that as a carrot this week.

"Ireland will want to go into the Rugby World Cup with a couple of wins under their belt, and the clever play here is we're combating it with a group of guys including some who are playing for World Cup opportunities, very much as we saw England do in the first warm-up against Wales.

"It has the ingredients for a real fierce Test match and I just hope everybody comes through unscathed."

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Rugby World Cup: Richie Gray's Scotland absence 'his choice'

Published in Rugby

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 07:16

Former British and Irish Lion Richie Gray's absence from Scotland's World Cup training squad is his own decision, says assistant coach Danny Wilson.

Toulouse lock Gray was a shock omission from Gregor Townsend's 44-man training squad in May and was overlooked on Tuesday when Sam Skinner was ruled out.

The 29-year-old become a father to son Ostin at the end of May.

"Due to family reasons and returning from injury, he decided he couldn't commit to the World Cup," Wilson added.

"As I understand it, Gregor has been in conversation with him for a long time. Timing does come into these things at times and that's the situation. It's a personal choice which we understand from Richie.

"He's not been in the squad since I began my time with Scotland. Hopefully that will happen in the future, but we'll see."

Gray has not played for Scotland since the win over Italy in Rome in March 2018, mainly because of back and hip complaints.

However, he ended last season by helping Toulouse to the Top 14 title and has been in "constant conversation" with Townsend, according to Wilson.

As it stands, Skinner has been replaced by Tim Swinson. However, the Glasgow Warriors lock only has until Tuesday to earn himself a place in the 31-man squad for the tournament.

Swinson, who was selected for the World Cup four years ago, can play in both the second and back rows, which Wilson said could aid his case.

"We've obviously got a decision to make around that second-row/back-row situation that Sam offered us some flexibility around," Wilson said.

"There's an opportunity for boys to perform in these games then get picked but, first of all, Tim would have to get picked and right now he's just in to train. We'll see how that goes over the next two days."

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Scotland lock Skinner ruled out of World Cup

Published in Rugby

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 04:11

Scotland lock Sam Skinner will miss the Rugby World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday's win over France.

The Exeter Chiefs second row had scans after limping off during the 17-14 win at Murrayfield, and it has been decided that he would not recover quickly enough to "play a meaningful part" in the tournament in Japan.

Glasgow Warriors second row Tim Swinson will join up with the training group as cover, with Gregor Townsend naming his final squad on 3 September.

Swinson who has made 38 appearances for the national team, the most recent against Argentina in last summer, and can also cover the back row.

Scotland's opening game is against Ireland on 22 September.

And, while Skinner will miss at least four weeks, assistant coach Danny Wilson has not ruled out him being given a late summons to Japan once the tournament has started.

"Hopefully Sam will return as quickly as possible and in five or six weeks, depending on injuries [to other players], we'll have a fit body to look at," Wilson said.

"But that's not for me to decide the time frame, that will come from the physios."

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