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Book competition: Win a copy of ‘Eliud Kipchoge – 2:01:39’
We’ve teamed up with NN Running Team and have three copies of their stunning photo-led world record celebration publication to give away
On September 16, 2018, history was made.
Running the BMW Berlin Marathon in 2:01:39, Eliud Kipchoge obliterated the world record.
“No human is limited.”
In celebration of Kipchoge’s incredible achievement, NN Running Team and his management agency Global Sports Communication worked with photographer Dan Vernon to create a stunning photo-led publication which highlights the journey and work that went into the world record from Kipchoge and all those around him.
Starting with snapshots of Kipchoge training in Kenya, the book includes insight into his life and motivation and goes on to show the 34-year-old in world record-breaking action on the roads of Berlin.
Each page lists a kilometre of the marathon along with Kipchoge’s time at that mark in Berlin. His average pace was a jaw-dropping 69.19 per 400m, 4:38.4 per mile and 14:24.9 per 5km.
Kipchoge inspires many with his words as well as his performances, and the publication also features quotes from the Kenyan as he describes the importance of teamwork and the power of the mind.
“Nothing is stronger than a peaceful mind.”
“100 per cent of me is nothing compared to one per cent of the whole team.”
The book isn’t available to buy but we’ve teamed up with NN Running Team and have three copies up for grabs for AW readers.
How to enter
For your chance to win one of three copies of the book ‘Eliud Kipchoge – 2:01:39’, simply complete the form below, correctly answering the competition question.
Terms and conditions
Competition closes at 12 noon BST on Monday April 29, 2019. One entry only per person.
Click here for AW’s competition terms and conditions.
What's happened during GB's 26-year World Group absence?
Great Britain have ended a 26-year wait for promotion to Fed Cup World Group II this weekend with a 3-1 play-off win over Kazakhstan.
You would have to go all the way back to 1993 to find the last time Britain were in the World Group of women's team tennis.
Since then, there have been five UK prime ministers, 21 versions of the iPhone, and seven football World Cups.
"Five Live" was the UK's number one at the time - a set of tracks performed by George Michael, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.
But what else has happened since Britain dropped out of the World Group 26 years ago?
Three of Britain's Fed Cup team have been born...
Take That have had 12 number one singles...
Roger Federer has won 20 Grand Slam titles...
The number of worldwide mobile phone subscriptions has increased...
There have been 11 Olympic tennis singles champions...
Average house prices have more than doubled...
And Manchester United have won 22 domestic trophies and three European titles...
Australia reached their first Fed Cup final for 26 years with a 3-2 win over Belarus in Brisbane.
Ashleigh Barty and Samantha Stosur beat Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 3-6 6-2 in the deciding doubles tie to seal victory.
Barty also won both her singles matches, while US Open champion Stosur lost twice.
In November's final, Australia will host France, who beat favourites Romania 3-2 on Sunday.
French Open champion Simona Halep won both of her singles matches for Romania but victories for France's Kristina Mladenovic and Pauline Parmentier - against Mihaela Buzarnescu and Irina-Camelia Begu respectively - meant the tie went into a doubles decider.
Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia, who had not played together since the 2016 Fed Cup final after a public fall-out, came from behind to beat Halep and Monica Niculescu 5-7 6-3 6-4 and clinch victory for two-time champions France.
Romania, who beat defending champions the Czech Republic in an epic quarter-final, had been bidding to reach their first final.
France's most recent Fed Cup title was in 2003, while Australia won the last of their seven titles in 1974.
Australia's team of Rennae Stubbs, Elizabeth Smylie and Nicole Provis lost 3-0 to Spain in the 1993 final.
"It's super exciting. We all work so hard all year and we're such a tight team," said Stosur. "We're going to be giving it our best shot here in November."
Boulter wins to end GB's 26-year wait for Fed Cup promotion
Great Britain ended a 26-year wait for Fed Cup promotion when Katie Boulter fought back to seal their 3-1 win over Kazakhstan and spark jubilant scenes.
The team raced on to the court and hugged Boulter after she beat Zarina Diyas 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-1.
The British number two trailed by a set and a break - and needed a hot water bottle on her back during changeovers - but refused to give up.
Johanna Konta had earlier put Britain one win away from World Group II.
Konta's own stunning comeback from 4-1 down in the final set to beat Yulia Putintseva 4-6 6-2 7-5 had given the home crowd in London belief that Britain would finally earn promotion in what was their fifth play-off in eight years.
For a while, it seemed the wait would continue as Boulter lost her grip on the match, having won the opening two games, but when she completed her comeback with an emphatic ace on match point, the celebrations began.
"Ah, finally! I'm ecstatic for the team," said Britain captain Anne Keothavong, whose team paraded around the Copper Box Arena, firing tennis balls into the crowd.
"It was such an incredible effort. We kept putting ourselves in this position. But I really feel that having the home advantage this time around made a big difference."
Celebratory scenes as Boulter finishes the job
After watching Konta come from 4-1 down in the deciding set to beat Kazakh number one Putintseva, Boulter knew victory in her match would seal the tie for Britain.
Boulter admitted she was "struggling physically" during her defeat by Putintseva on Saturday and although she swiftly took a 2-0 lead in the opening set, she repeatedly sat with a hot water bottle on her back during changeovers.
Diyas - who Konta needed two hours and 38 minutes to beat on Saturday - started to find her groove and responded to take the set to a tie-break.
Boulter said Saturday's dramatic defeat - which came despite her holding three match points - would stay in her mind "for a long time" and she seemed nervous - only picking up one point as Diyas comfortably won the tie-break 7-1.
The Kazakh gained the advantage in the second set too but was seemingly distracted by a car alarm seconds before double-faulting and allowing Boulter to break back at 2-2.
The addition of a few drums in the British crowd - to compete with the noisy Kazakh band that had been providing a soundtrack to the action - built a more intimidating atmosphere and Boulter thrived off their support, breaking again late to win the set.
Diyas and Boulter had already suffered three-set defeats this weekend but the Briton was determined not to lose another.
The 22-year-old British number two was quickly 2-0 up before she held off a break point in the third game of the third set - prompting a standing ovation from the home fans.
A lucky net cord helped bring up break point for Boulter at 3-0 up but Diyas saved it with a thumping serve.
That only delayed Boulter's move to increase her advantage as she turned up the gears to make it 5-1.
Konta, fresh from her victory, joined Heather Watson, Katie Swan and Harriet Dart on court ready to celebrate.
And Boulter, on her third match point, threw her arms up in celebration as the crowd erupted in joy.
"I was so nervous watching Katie on the side of the court," said Konta. "I'm sweating so much. We have been in this position for the last three years in a row.
"I am almost speechless which is not normal. I'm still sweating!"
Konta battles back again
Konta has not done things the easy way in the Fed Cup of late - her past five matches in the women's team tennis competition have gone to three sets.
And so she was always going to be in for a battle against Kazakh number one Putintseva, who fought back from 5-2 down in the third set to win the tie-break against Boulter on Saturday.
World number 38 Putintseva - ranked eight places above Konta - showed no signs of tiredness against the Briton, holding off three break points in her first service game before needing just one to take a 2-1 lead.
Konta, who had started with intensity and good variation, broke back immediately and seemed to feed off a much more vocal home crowd.
When Putintseva broke again to move 5-4 up before serving for the first set, Konta responded by silencing the noisy Kazakh band's drums and trumpet for most of the second set - breaking twice and winning 68% of the total points in a dominant display.
Momentum was with the Briton but the crowd were still wary - they had seen Putintseva come from behind the previous day.
The Kazakh was given a taste of her own medicine, though, as it was Konta who completed a resilient fightback.
Putintseva had shown signs of weakness. She had her blood pressure taken during a medical time-out, while ice was applied to her neck and head while she trailed 3-0 in the second set.
Konta went on to take that set in style but then went 4-1 down in the third - two quick breaks followed a time violation and the Briton showed her frustrations by arguing with the umpire.
She did not give up, though, finally breaking back at the third time of asking at 4-2 and went on to win 16 of the last 19 points to seal her 11th successive Fed Cup singles victory.
Fed Cup: GB captain 'in awe' of Johanna Konta & Katie Boulter after promotion
Britain's Fed Cup captain Anne Keothavong is "in awe" of her players after they won promotion to World Group II for the first time in 26 years.
Every match in their 3-1 play-off win over Kazakhstan in London was a nerve-shredding three-setter.
Katie Boulter was a set and break down before the decisive win over Zarina Diyas, and Johanna Konta trailed 4-1 in the third set against Yulia Putintseva.
"It was such an incredible effort," Keothavong said.
"I am just totally in awe of these women."
Boulter's 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-1 triggered wild celebrations after Great Britain finally got themselves out of the third tier of women's team tennis after four failures at the same stage in the previous seven years.
Keothavong, who played in two of those play-offs and captained the others, said the victory at the Copper Box Arena was "right up there" as one of her best achievements in tennis.
"I couldn't get there as a player but to be able to captain this achievement and to finally achieve it together after so long is definitely a highlight for me," she said.
"Watching the players develop and grow; watching Jo lead this team as the number one; playing a small part in something much bigger is a very proud moment for me."
Konta, whose stunning 4-6 6-2 7-5 victory over Putintseva on Sunday had put Britain one win away from promotion, said she was "speechless" following the team's triumph.
"I have dreamed of being a part of the team that was able to achieve this," the world number 46 added.
'Springboard for bigger things'
Keothavong hopes Fed Cup success will provide a "springboard for bigger and better things" for 22-year-old Boulter.
The British number two was impressive on her debut at February's Europe/Africa Zone round-robin event in Bath, winning all of her singles rubbers.
She held three match points against Kazakh number one Putintseva on Saturday although she eventually lost, but she picked herself up - despite a back problem - to win the tie with the comeback win over Diyas.
She has shot up the world rankings in the past year and is now ranked 86th after breaking into the top 100 in November.
And in January Boulter, alongside British team-mate Cameron Norrie, beat 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and Frances Tiafoe in the mixed doubles at the Hopman Cup.
"For Katie, this can be used as a springboard for bigger and better things. The players need to use it in a positive way," Keothavong said.
Boulter said she will learn from the experience, especially the defeat by Putintseva that she said at the time would stay in her mind "for a long time".
"We all have good days and bad days but I will fight and get up for the next match no matter what the circumstances are," Boulter said.
'Utterly brilliant', 'inspired', 'an amazing achievement' - reaction to the GB's success
Former British number one Annabel Croft, now a television commentator and analyst: "Absolutely amazing weekend of tennis. Congrats to Johanna Konta, Katie Boulter, Anne Keothavong and the rest of the Fed Cup team. Inspired performances with home fans cheering at the Copper Box.
British doubles player Jamie Murray, who helped the nation win the Davis Cup in 2015: "What a weekend for the GB Fed Cup team! Amazing achievement girls!"
Leon Smith, Britain's Davis Cup captain: "That was utterly brilliant from our GB Fed Cup Team. This team deserves so much praise. Well done all. Bring on the World Group! Come on!!"
Fed Cup: How Great Britain can thrive after World Group promotion
Anne Keothavong was a playing member of Great Britain's Fed Cup team when they made the trip to Sweden for the 2012 World Group play-off.
Seven years, and three further play-off disappointments later, she is now the captain of a side which finally has the chance to discover whether it can be competitive against the world's elite.
GB's 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan at London's Copper Box Arena ensures a return to World Group level of the Fed Cup for the first time since 1993.
The format for next year's competition is far from signed off. But, for the first time in a generation, Britain will at least start the year with a theoretical chance of lifting the trophy.
The International Tennis Federation hopes to introduce a week-long Finals featuring 12 teams from next April.
The plan is for this year's semi-finalists to be joined by the winners of eight play-off ties to be staged in February.
Interest from host nations was sought in March. Budapest is said to be among the cities to have put its name forward, but financing the event is another matter.
The ITF is understood to have pledged prize money in excess of $10m (£7.7m), and that money is supposed to be generated by the host city.
There is also a fair amount of opposition to the concept. WTA tournaments staged in the weeks either side of the proposed Finals will expect to see traditionally strong fields depleted.
And there are players - and many fans - who resent the potential reduction in the number of home ties which generate the special atmosphere evident this weekend.
Keothavong, who says she has not yet been asked her views by the ITF, admits to being in two minds about whether the reforms are in the best interests of the sport.
"I'm not sure," Britain's captain says. "We've waited so long for a home tie and now we've got it.
"The support we had was something we might not experience again, so it's hard to know. I don't know what the right format is for this competition."
If the planned reform flounders, the ITF is likely to create one 16-team World Group for 2020, played on a knockout basis with the final four competing for the title in November.
Either way, Britain will have its work cut out to make progress.
Potential opponents include Japan (featuring world number one Naomi Osaka); Romania (featuring world number two Simona Halep); the Czech Republic (with two top five players in their ranks); and the United States (who have three top 20 players to choose from).
Britain does not currently have any singles' players in the world's top 40, and yet in Johanna Konta and Katie Boulter do have two players you underestimate at your peril.
Konta appears, at times, to be overwhelmed by nerves. Her game goes off the boil, and yet she invariably recovers, and should be mightily proud to have won 11 singles matches in a row.
At 3-5 down in the deciding set against Yulia Putintseva on Sunday, she won 16 of the last 18 points of the match. She was simply brilliant, and is developing a steely Fed Cup persona.
Boulter is much earlier in her Fed Cup career, but four singles wins in four days in February's qualifying round in Bath were followed here by a very near miss against Putintseva (a match she should have won), and then a courageous comeback against Zarina Diyas.
With a hot water bottle tucked down the back of her skirt to soothe a bad back at change of ends, she clinched the tie by running away with the final set. Some shrink, where Boulter seems to thrive.
The pair will undoubtedly need the support of others if Britain are to become a force at World Group level.
Heather Watson has had a shocking time in singles of late, but is a Grand Slam doubles champion. If she can forge a potent partnership with Harriet Dart, a natural doubles player with singles aspirations of her own, Britain will add another line of defence.
Katie Swan only turned 20 last month and is now a top 200 player with four Fed Cup wins to her name.
And looking a little further ahead, there is 16-year-old Emma Raducanu, who Keothavong hopes "will be knocking on the door soon".
The team spirit seems genuine, and so optimism should not be frowned upon - especially as, for the first time for more than a quarter of the century, the team will not have to endure the annual tribulations of Europe-Africa zone qualifying.
It will be a shame if Britain is not able to host home ties on a regular basis - the LTA proved again at the Copper Box that they know how to put on a really good show - but at least the stakes will be higher in future.
That, in turn, means the profile will be higher. And that is outstanding news for women's tennis in the UK.
Today (Monday 22 April) from 09:00 until 18:00 (GMT+2) the 2019 ITTF Annual General Meeting is being held in Budapest, on the occasion of the Liebherr 2019 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships.
However, you do not need to be in the Hungarian capital to know what’s going on! For the very first time, the ITTF is broadcasting its AGM live on its official streaming platform itTV and on Youtube. Register free of charge so that you can tune in and watch the AGM, as well as hundreds of matches taking place at the Liebherr 2019 World Table Tennis Championships, which got under way yesterday and runs until Sunday 28 April.
Live streaming this year’s AGM marks an essential step to provide maximum openness and transparency between the ITTF’s key decision-making bodies and all ITTF members, as well as members of the public, who will be able to enjoy a 360° view inside the Grand Ball Room of the Corinthia Hotel, Budapest.
Significantly, the AGM will see votes cast to decide where the 2021 and 2022 World Championships will take place. Morocco and United States are battling it out to host the former, ensuring that the greatest annual table tennis event will enter a new market. Meanwhile, bidding to stage the 2022 World Championships are China, Japan and Portugal: the first time in recent history that three bids for a single event have reached AGM final voting.
Annual reports will be delivered by ITTF President, Thomas Weikert, ITTF Deputy President, Khalil Al-Mohannadi, joined by other members of the Executive Committee, Continental Federations and Committees, while ITTF CEO, Steve Dainton, and ITTF Secretary General, Raul Calin, will be among those to speak.
Click here to view the AGM agenda in full.
Good start but tough task ahead for Panagiotis Gionis
A qualified dentist but table tennis is the first call.
“When I started table tennis, it was not as professional as it is at present, so I decided to go to school and become a dentist; this was necessary because I needed to have something to fall back when I quit table tennis. Now that table tennis has now been professionalised, I think my love for the sport continues to soar. I actually started playing professionally at 23 which was a bit late compared to what happens now.” Panagiotis Gionis
Now the 39 year old has eyes set firmly on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, he believes as long as his body still carries him, he will continue to play table tennis but with a possible target of ending in the next three years.
“I am in Budapest with the aim of getting ranking points ahead of the qualification for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Going to being a dentist will not be easy because I did not practise in the last 10 years and if I have to go back, I need to start reading again which is not going to be easy. My target in table tennis is to make it to the next Olympic Games in Tokyo and as long as my body can carry me I will continue but I am looking at three to four years more of playing actively.” Panagiotis Gionis
Now very experienced, in the men’s singles event, he will need that experience in abundance; he is in the same half of the draw as China’s Fan Zhendong, the top seed but more significantly in the second round he could face Chinese Taipei’s 17 year old Lin Yun-Ju, the no.20 seed.
“In the men’s doubles, I am hoping we can make it to the main draw but in the singles, I hope I can get a good draw to win my first round match. However, I am faced with a tough task against this young Chinese Taipei’s star in the second round. It is not going to be easy against this youngster because he is playing very well now.” Panagiotis Gionis
Quite simply, it was for Mariana Sahakian, an experience never to be forgotten; especially her second match of table number one.
“Despite losing two matches , I have enjoyed myself in Budapest particularly having the opportunity to play in the main hall was an experience I will not forget in a hurry. Budapest has been a good experience for me; I was able to play against top players with different styles of play. I hope to continue to enjoy the moment in Hungary.
Most importantly, Mariana Sahakian is wiser for the venture. However, for the 41 year old, there is a major goal, having competed in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“I hardly compete in any tournaments apart from this World Championships and other continental competitions because of lack of funds. My main target is to make it to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. This is my priority for now and attending the Budapest World Championships will afford me the chance to assess other players and gain points to be able to get good draw during the qualifiers later this year in Hong Kong.” Mariana Sahakian
Now, for two decades, Mariana Sahakian has been representing Lebanon despite having featured previously for Armenia, her home country for whom she made her debut at the World Championships at Zagreb 2007 in Croatia.
First mission completed, second much greater: to keep table tennis alive in Venezuela
The facts in Budapest read that Cecilio Correa and Jan Medina recorded a straight games win in opposition to the partnership formed by Luxembourg’s Gilles Michely and Latvia’s Artur Reinholds (11-5, 11-8, 11-8). It was a most comprehensive win.
“It was not as easy as it may have looked, we were better in the short play; sometimes we played long, maybe one in three points, just to keep them guessing.” Jan Medina
Control but at 10-7 in the third game, Gilles Michelly released a top spin stroke that would have left superman stunned; on the next point he served into the net!
“It was incredible stroke, I didn’t know what to do; I thought about calling for “Time Out”, taking a break.” Cecilio Corea
It was good to see the smiles on the faces of the two young men and then I realized as our conversation developed just how much I take for granted; my old bones may ache but everything I need is paid for and provided. Simply their country has hit rock bottom.
“We have great problems in Venezuela, we manage the best way we can; we fight for our families but we try to be positive in these difficult times.” Cecilio Correa
Simply, the two young men have met all the costs and expenses to be in Budapest, there is no money in the sport ministry funds; they are to be applauded for their efforts and frankly their positive view on life.
“Cecilio is collecting bat rubbers to give to young players in Caracas, so we can keep the sport alive; he has collected over 460 sheets. Many players in Latin America have helped; such players as Adriana Diaz from Puerto Rico; we keep trying.” Jan Medina
Both Cecilio Correa and Jan Medina play in Europe; Cecilio Correa for Deportivo Murcia Idecomur in Spain, Jan Medina for Holzbüttgen in Germany.
“At the moment in Caracas, there is no food in the supermarket, you can’t but toilet paper; people are leaving, the average earnings per month are between $6 and $10 that is all!”
Desperate times but most certainly the spirit is willing and for the young people in Venezuela, they have two fine role models; stand tall Cecilo Correa and Jan Medina.
Support Venezuela – Contact:
Jan Medina – Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cecilio Correa – Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.