I Dig Sports
Dina Asher-Smith, Caster Semenya and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake among those in action as the 10th edition of the IAAF Diamond League kicks off in Qatar
The road to Doha begins in the Qatari capital itself five months ahead of the season finale at the IAAF World Championships.
It is a very long journey back to the Middle East too, as the choice of Doha for the global championships has pushed it back to late September due to climate issues.
Nevertheless, the 10th edition of the IAAF Diamond League is again likely to see some of the best athletics of the whole season and the emergence of new stars.
The season-opener in Doha on Friday (May 3) will take place, for the first time, in the Khalifa Stadium, which will host the World Championships.
Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith had a memorable 2018 in which she won three European titles, and in Doha she will look to get her international season off to a flying start over the half-lap. However, last year’s world No.1 will have a tough challenge against Phyllis Francis of the United States, among others. Shannon Hylton joins her fellow Briton in the field.
In the men’s 200m the top two at the European Championships last year go head-to-head again in the shape of Ramil Guliyev of Turkey and Britain’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake. Ecuador’s Alex Quinonez, Canada’s Aaron Brown and Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago are other sub-20 athletes who have been confirmed.
Much attention will be on the women’s 800m following the addition of South Africa’s Caster Semenya to the field. The two-time Olympic champion was not included on the original entry list but is now set to race, a couple of days after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced its decision on her case against the IAAF’s new rules on female classification.
As reported on Wednesday, the CAS dismissed the challenges from both Semenya and Athletics South Africa against the new rules but added that the panel “expressed some serious concerns as to the future practical application of these DSD Regulations”.
The regulations will come into effect on May 8.
In the Doha 800m field on Friday, Semenya will be joined by Britain’s Lynsey Sharp, Kenya’s Margaret Wambui, USA’s Ajeé Wilson and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, among others.
The shot put is also set to be a highlight. After achieving the best throw of the last 29 years so early in the season, USA’s Ryan Crouser will be looking to build on his 22.74m as he takes on world champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand, plus USA’s Darrell Hill, European champion Michal Haratyk of Poland and Czech thrower Thomas Stanek.
Also in action in Doha will be Britain’s Lorraine Ugen and Shara Proctor in the long jump, Meghan Beesley in the 400m hurdles and Charlie Myers in the pole vault, plus Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba in the 3000m, and USA’s Brianna McNeal and Sharika Nelvis in the sprint hurdles.
Johanna Konta through to Morocco Open quarter-finals
British number one Johanna Konta reached her second WTA quarter-final of the season with another hard-fought, three-set victory at the Morocco Open.
Konta, who saved three match points in her opening match in Rabat, won 6-1 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 against Romanian Ana Bogdan.
Konta, 27, led 4-1 in the second set, only for 132nd-ranked Bogdan to raise her game and win a tie-break to level.
But seventh seed Konta regained control in the decider to earn another win in her first clay-court event of the year.
The Briton again showed her strength of character to earn a fourth straight three-set victory.
She will face Taiwanese second seed Hsieh Su-wei in the next round after she beat Lara Arruabarrena of Spain 4-6 7-5 6-3.
Eddy Tay has been the team manager for the Singapore national team since 2008. Notably since his appointment, Singapore won the women’s title at the Liebherr 2010 World Team Championships in Moscow; in addition he received the Coaching Commendation award in 2003 from the Singapore Sport Council
“It has been a good learning journey for me to be a course conductor. I feel honoured and I am delighted to share my experiences and contribute to table tennis in Singapore.” Eddy Tay
Vast experience in coaching and management for the national team made Eddy Tay the ideal candidate to be an ITTF/PTT Level One coaching course conductor.
All responded to the efforts of Eddy Tay, none more so than Tay Jit Kiat, 24 years old, a former Singapore team youth player.
“I feel the coaching course and the instructor taught me a lot of basic knowledge while keeping it interesting. The para portion was very new to me because I never experienced it before and I feel it is quite challenging. The course was conducted in a very professional way with a lot of knowledge.” Tay Jit Kiat
Likewise former junior international, Yin Jingyuan, 22 years old, was most positive.
“This course allowed me to explore different types of coaching styles. The course conductor was also able to share his vast experience and explain the latest developments in table tennis. I have also learned a lot about the application of sport science in table tennis and various factors to consider when conducting training and competitions which will go a long way to help me to be a better coach. Most importantly, I met other coaches. My instructor, Eddy Tay, shared with me the experiences as a coach and team manager, broadening my horizons.” Yin Jingyuan
Overall, a total of 17 participants passed the course.
Notably in addition to the hosts, players and coaches from Burundi, Congo Brazzaville and Gabon attended.
Overall the initiative proved a great success, all the players and coaches responded; the local media taking a great deal of interest in proceedings.
Most notably there were 12 features on television; also, six radio stations in addition to four local newspapers covered the event. In particular,on Sunday 28th April from 3.30 pm to 6.10 pm there was live television coverage.
Present for the occasion was Jean Marie Okouna Olandzobo, President of the African Central Region, as well as President of the Congolese Table Tennis Federation.
It was a great opportunity to discover African talents; thanks are extended to the International Table Tennis Federation, the Africa Table Tennis Federation and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Proceeding concluded with the Challenge tournament, one in which the host nation excelled. Exauce Ngefuasa and Lily Dinanga won the respective cadet boys’ singles and cadet girls’ singles title. Similarly, Malola Fernando secured the under 12 boys’ singles title. The one title to elude the Democratic Republic of the Congo came in the under 21 girls’ singles competition, the event being won by Burundi’s Gateka Yakin.
A busy week, most rewarding and one from which the region has most certainly benefitted; the potential was evident, the task is nurture and develop the unquestioned talent.
The next competition in Kinshasa is the Continental Cadet, Hopes Week and Challenge to be stage at the Pullman Hotel from Saturday 8th to Saturday 15th June.
2019 Central Africa Regional Cadet, Hopes Week and Challenge: Full Results (Sunday 28th April)
Overall, a total of 30 coaches attended, most significantly there was a vast age range, the youngest member being 16 years old, the most senior 60 years of age.
“The Delhi Public School has a distinct focus on table tennis with a world class facility. The school’s table tennis facility is fast becoming famous globally as a high quality table tennis destination and has a name of its own “Pinnacle Table Tennis Academy”. In past the school has produced many junior and senior level champions and boasts names of the many coaches who are Level One and Level Two certified.” Harpreet Singh
Supported by Mrs Rajoo Mann, the Chair; the Head of Sport at the Delhi Public School is Dr. Virender Rana, a National Institute of Sports graduate and former table tennis player. He leads a young and dynamic team, focusing very much on the development of the individual whether it be players or coaches.
“When we started to build the table tennis facility, people were ok to have a small facility but we never settle for second best. We ensured that we created one of the best facilities for table tennis in India.” Rajoo Mann
A most successful initiative, it is one that sets a splendid example.
“The Pinnacle Table Tennis Academy in Sonipat has set the standards in India for residential table tennis academies and shown a way for other schools as well how to set up such facilities which will produce champions.” Harpreet Singh
All responded to the efforts of Harpreet Singh in what was a ground breaking venture.
“Even though it was a first time experience for the Delhi Public School to conduct an ITTF/PTT Level One course; the team of Miss. Komal Dhamija, Mr.Ashutosh Sharma and Mr. Mohan from Tenvic were able to pull everything together with great efficiency.” Harpreet Singh
A fruitful endeavour and one appreciated by M.P. Singh, Secretary General of the Table Tennis Federation of India.
“The Table Tennis Federation of India is committed to encourage such enthusiasm for creating world class table tennis facilities in India, which will enable all players and coaches to have right environment to practice the sport and be the best in the world.” M.P. Singh
Enthusiasm combined with effort was plentiful; it was for all a most rewarding experience.
Furthermore, it was success for the host nation. Nathan Pellissier, Trevor Hirth and Joel Coughlan secured top spots without experiencing defeat.
Nathan Pellissier, the top seed, accounted for colleague Jake Ballestrino (11-6, 11-7, 11-7) and New Zealand’s Matthew Britz (11-2, 11-5, 11-4). Similarly Trevor Hirth, the no.2 seed, was in form. He beat Connor Holdback (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4) also from Australia, prior to overcoming Fiji’s John Christopher (11-7, 11-5, 11-4). Meanwhile, Joel Coughlan, the no.3 seed, prevailed in opposition to Tonga’s Iotili Loamanu (11-5, 11-3, 11-2) and when facing New Zealand’s Victor Kamizona (11-8, 11-2, 11-6).
First places determined, the question in the one remaining match in each group is as to who gains second place and thus progress to the main draw.
Similarly, in women’s singles class 6-10 where there are two groups in the initial stage of play, the leading names, both from the host nation, posting convincing wins in their one and only matches on the opening day. Both opened their accounts with successes against compatriots. Melissa Tapper, the top seed, beat Rebecca Julian (11-2, 11-4, 11-1), Andresa McDonnell accounted for Christine Wolf (11-4, 11-2, 11-4).
Outcomes as very much anticipated but in the one further event that witnessed play on the opening day, there was a surprise. In men’s singles class 3-5, Shadrack Timothy, the top seed, was beaten by Australia’s Caleb Crowden (11-8, 11-8, 11-8); an upset but not in the corresponding group, also from Australia, Chen Junjian, the no.2 seed and winner two years ago in Suva of the men’s class 2-3 title, was in no mood for charity. He beat New Zealand’s Patrick Todman in three straight games (11-2, 11-3, 11-2).
Play concludes in Darwin on Saturday 4th May.
Para Oceania Championships 2019: Latest Results & Draws
Each day play commenced at 8.00 am and ended at 6.00 pm, matters concluding with the traditional competition from which the leading players progress to attend the Continental Hopes Tournament scheduled to be staged in June in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Uganda emerged the most successful nation. Amaniyo Flavia and Kasoma Tendo won the respective under 15 girls’ and under 15 boys’ events; Wabugoya Juma emerged the under 12 boys’ champion. The one interloper was Rwanda’s Hirwa Kelia, she won the under 12 girls’ event.
Understandably, Jiagwe Robert, President of Uganda Table Tennis Association, was delighted, the success a reward for the efforts made in the past two years.
“This marks the very first time in the history of Ugandan Table Tennis that we are sending a team of cadet and hopes players to the Continental African Championships. There has always been some neglect of these young ones but we have now put good eyes on them and these are the fruits of our efforts and the extra ordinary work being done by our coaches, clubs and schools.” Jiagwe Robert
Delighted with the results, Jiagwe Robert was most positive about the future.
“This performance is proof that table tennis now has a very clear and admirable future. We have very many young players now and to have these young ones performing. We are extremely excited that it is the young ones who have helped Uganda to finally conquer our Eastern Zone of Africa.” Jiagwe Robert
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — May 1 marked 25 years since the death of racing legend Ayrton Senna.
The weekend of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was a horrible one. Roland Ratzenberger was killed in an accident during qualifying and then Senna lost his life in a single-car crash during the opening laps of the following day’s race.
Back in 2004, 10 years after Senna’s accident, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis met with a small group of journalists, including yours truly, to reflect on the life and times of the Brazilian who drove for McLaren from 1998 through 1993 and won three world championships with the team.
“When he joined our team, he did not have a sense of humor,” Dennis recalled. “That doesn’t really go down well in our team. Some of you consider us gray and uninteresting and lacking passion and ‘esprit de corps.’ But it is just not like that inside the team. If I reflect back, he didn’t have a sense of humor, and it was important that he had one.
“I started the process of trying to give him an understanding of the value of laughter, and what a great way it was to break tension in a situation. Of course, it became an amusing mission for (teammate) Gerhard Berger and myself. Practical jokes ran consistently through the team and they were sometimes extreme.
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The practical jokes between Senna and Berger were wild indeed.
“In Australia, Gerhard stole Ayrton’s passport,” Dennis said, “and we surgically removed the picture from the passport and cut out of a very dubious magazine an equivalent sized photo of male genitalia and carefully put it back with cello tape so that at a glance you didn’t realize that anything had taken place.
“When Ayrton came back to Europe he immediately got on an airplane and flew to Brazil. He had to go through Argentina and that was the first time anybody looked at his passport. They were not amused and he spent 24 hours in Argentina because they would not allow him to pass through Argentina without the passport being rectified.”
Senna was a tough negotiator when it came to contract time. During one negotiation, Dennis and Senna were half-a-million dollars apart.
“It became a point of principle — who was actually going to win that last part of the negotiations,” Dennis said. “His English wasn’t perfect at that stage, so the moment came when I suggest to breaking the deadlock by tossing a coin. It was something that clearly didn’t happen in Brazil — the concept of tossing a coin to break a deadlock. So it took a while to explain it. Then, of course, it got quite serious because we realized that if we were going to do this as a way to break the deadlock we should be very clear about the rules. I literally had to draw a picture of a head and a picture of a tail and select a coin and say this is you and this is me, it can’t land on the side. It has to be flat.
“When we got the rules and had been over them several times, then it was who was going to toss the coin, were we going to catch it, was it going to fall to the ground?” Dennis explained. “We had a couple of practice runs. It was a very small office with a brown shag carpeting, so it was not a particularly good surface on which this coin was going to land. We threw the coin, and it rolled under the curtain. He lifted the curtain and it was flat, it rolled off the side of the curtain onto the parquet flooring. I won the bet.
“It wasn’t until I was driving away that I realized that it was a three-year contract and in fact $1.5 million that we had thrown a coin for,” Dennis added. “I somewhat doubt that anyone has tossed a coin for $1.5 million. That sounds like we were disrespectful for money, but it was nothing to do with that, it was simply a way to break the deadlock.”
CONCORD, N.C. – On Tuesday, multi-time AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series champion car owner Richard Hoffman passed away after a recent illness.
Hoffman was a major part of the United States Auto Club pit area for more than six decades, following in the footsteps of his father Gus, and the immense outpouring of memories and support on social media in the wake of his passing directly reflected his impact within the racing industry.
SPEED SPORT has collected a sampling of those Twitter messages, which can be viewed below.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of a great man. Please keep your thoughts & prayers with the family of Richard Hoffman. It’s truly been an honor to drive for him over the last several years and the relationship we were able to build over that time is something I will cherish. pic.twitter.com/djWjTaSNxT
— Brady Bacon (@BradyBacon) April 30, 2019
Heartbroken to hear the loss of a great businessman, a great car owner, a great man and a great friend. @richhoffman69 you will be so missed by many. Rest In Peace Sir. pic.twitter.com/VncckNXaZi
— Chad Boespflug (@ChadBoespflug) April 30, 2019
Saddened to hear the passing of Richard Hoffman. Thoughts and prayers to @hoffmanracing and the Hoffman family. ?? #69
— Landon Simon (@LandonSimon24) April 30, 2019
Richard Hoffman was one of the most intense competitors I’ve ever met. He’d been winning since before his current drivers were born, and all he wanted to do was keep winning. And setting fast time. It was kind of a running joke that they might not always stay in palaces…
— Kirk Spridgeon (@KirkSpridgeon) May 1, 2019
We’re going to miss a guy who set the bar for the rest of the series. He & his team were the mainstays. The team you had to beat, no matter the year. I always appreciated his constructive criticism, and his support & praise meant more than anyone.
— Kirk Spridgeon (@KirkSpridgeon) May 1, 2019
RIP Richard Hoffman, a man who has done so much for the racing community. I enjoyed speaking w/ him last summer in Indiana. He spoke of the long list of great wheelman that drove his car, seemed very proud, for good reason. Thoughts go out to his family, friends & @hoffmanracing pic.twitter.com/yHh0xqyDHk
— Brent Anderson (@FireDownBA) May 1, 2019
My thoughts and prayers are with Richard Hoffman’s family and friends and the entire @hoffmanracing team through this difficult time. Richard was an important part of a great legacy and I will cherish the few conversations that I was able to have with him. ??
— Isaac Chapple (@IsaacChapple52) May 1, 2019
?? Thoughts & Prayers to the entire @hoffmanracing Family during this very difficult time on the passing of Richard Hoffman. We appreciate the fast racecars, friendships & memories together during our time in the famous #69 @USACNation Sprint Car! RIH R.H. ? pic.twitter.com/rSXYC5BHW4
— Dave Darland Racing (@DaveDarland) May 1, 2019
Saddened at the passing of Richard Hoffman @hoffmanracing he will be sorely missed.
— Keith Kunz (@KeithKunz) May 1, 2019
This is so sad to hear of the passing of Richard Hoffman. He was a special man. RIP
— Bob n Monica Clauson (@mowerman677) May 1, 2019
Condolences to the family, friends and fans of the legendary @USACNation car owner Richard Hoffman. Hoffman's team won an amazing 11 @USACNation National Sprint Car owner titles. Richard Hoffman was a 2013 inductee of the @sprintcarhof. pic.twitter.com/QgGEYxNlwz
— IMS Museum (@IMSMuseum) April 30, 2019
Saddened to hear about the passing of Richard Hoffman. He always came by our pit to ask about @John_Andretti. His passion for sprint cars was second to none. #RIP
— Jarett Andretti (@JarettAndretti) April 30, 2019
HOLLY, Mich. – As the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series presented by Engine Pro season prepares to kick off this weekend at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, one of the prevailing storylines circles around the impressive class of rookies that will take to the track this season.
In fact, more than a half-dozen rookie contenders are entered for Saturday’s Must See Racing 50 at the high-banked, quarter-mile Indiana bullring, a testament to the growth and stability of the series.
This year’s Must See Racing rookie battle will be led by an open-wheel veteran in Joe Liguori, who has a wealth of experience in midget and USAC Silver Crown cars through the years, but will be embarking on his first season of touring action in a winged 410ci asphalt sprint car.
From Lebanon, Ind., Liguori is a past recipient of the Rumble in Fort Wayne’s David Lesiecki Award for Untiring Dedication and Devotion to Motorsports, as well as a multi-time feature starter at the historic indoor midget event. He earned three top-10 finishes in four Silver Crown appearances last season.
Liguori is excited by the new challenge of pavement 410ci sprint car racing, as well as looking forward to competing at Anderson, a track he’s had plenty of experience at over the course of his career.
“I grew up racing pavement in Florida,” Liguori noted. “I ran open wheel modifieds, some mini stocks and a handful of sprint car races with TBARA between 2004 and 2008. My record book shows that I’m a better pavement racer than I am a dirt racer, so it made sense as I’ve gotten a little older to come back to pavement racing this season and see what we can make of it.
“I’ve won at Anderson in national midgets, (Ford) Focus midgets, regional midgets and even Kenyon midgets, so it’s a track that I’m familiar with and know how to get around and I’m excited to be back there this weekend.”
Another rookie, albeit less of a household name, hoping to leave his mark on the Anderson quarter-mile this weekend is 14-year-old Brenden Torok, piloting the No. 99 sprinter for car owner Dave Koyan.
Torok will contest select Must See Racing events amid a full-season pursuit of the Crate Sprint championship at Ohio’s Lorain County Speedway, a class in which he won two races last season.
The teenager is eager to get started against the tough competition that Must See Racing provides, especially after spending last season as a crew member for series veteran Charlie Schultz and gaining the opportunity to learn about the mechanics of the asphalt sprint cars he’ll be driving regularly this year.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to race on the stage that Must See Racing provides this season, especially being that I’m just 14,” said Torok. “It’s a great opportunity and one that I’m really thankful for. I’ve already been watching a lot of video to learn as much about the track as I can and I’ll be relying on a lot of the knowledge I gained working with Charlie (Schultz) last season to get up to speed quickly during the race weekend.
“It’s an exciting time and we hope to have a lot of fun.”
Recently announced to the seat of the Mike Blake Racing No. 81 is 15-year-old Clintonville, Ohio, young gun Trey Osborne, who will team with Blake to run six races at Anderson this season, including Saturday’s Must See Racing winged event and the non-winged Pay Less Little 500 on May 25.
Osborne is the reigning United States Speed Ass’n Mel Kenyon Midget Series champion and became the first driver in that series’ history to lock up the championship prior to the final race of the season when he clinched the title a month early in 2018.
Other rookie contenders expected to be in action include Lorain County regulars Tim Henthorne and Joshua Sexton and Indiana hotshoe Tyler Roahrig, who will race at Anderson in the No. 99 entry of longtime asphalt sprint car owner Wayne Stickney.
Roahrig is a pavement late model standout in the Midwest who came back from injury to race again after a frightening super late model crash at Anderson in 2014 forced him to relearn how to walk.
Contending against the rookies will be a loaded crop of veterans seeking to defend their turf, including four-time series champion Jimmy McCune, Anthony McCune, National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Jeff Bloom, former supermodified ace Charlie Schultz and another veteran in Tom Jewell.
Friday evening will see an open practice and cookout for the Must See Racing sprint car teams at Anderson, followed by Saturday’s full racing program.
Pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, with rotating practice beginning at 5 p.m. Qualifying will start at 6:30 p.m. and racing will begin at 8 p.m., immediately following opening ceremonies.
The full night of racing will be broadcast live via pay-per-view on SpeedShiftTV.com, as well as recorded for tape-delay broadcast on MAVTV through the award-winning SPEED SPORT television series. USAC infield reporter Georgia Henneberry will be the pit reporter for the SPEED SPORT telecast.
In addition to the Must See Racing sprint cars, the Mel Kenyon Midget Series, late models, Legend cars and the Midwest Champ Carts will also be on the racing card for the May 4 program.
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