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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
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			<title>Russia says 8 athletes in 2012 Games positive after retests</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1112017/russia-says-8-athletes-2012-games-positive-retests</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1112017/russia-says-8-athletes-2012-games-positive-retests#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 28 May 16 15:51:01 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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				<![CDATA[ROC this week confirmed that 14 of their athletes were found to be positive in 2008 Beijing Olympics after retesting]]>
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				<![CDATA[Russia's Olympic Committee (ROC) said on Saturday that eight of its athletes in the 2012 London Olympics were positive for doping following new tests of their samples given during the Games.

"The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially informed the Russian Olympic Committee that the results of new samples taken during the London Olympic Games have returned positive results for eight Russian athletes in three disciplines," the ROC said in a statement after the IOC on Friday reported 23 new doping failures from retests on 265 samples from London.
Brother of Brussels suicide bomber set for Rio Olympics
Russia this week confirmed that 14 of their athletes were found to be positive in the 2008 Beijing Olympics after retesting.

"In accordance with international regulations, the names of the athletes will not be disclosed before the analysis of the B sample," the statement added.

The head of the ROC's legal department, Anna Brilliantova, said the B samples would be tested on May 31 and June 1 at the anti-doping laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Russian athletics federation said on Tuesday that it would bar any athlete found to have used doping in previous years from competing at Rio.
Rio Olympics organisers to distribute 450,000 condoms among athletes
The latest revelations come as Russia is embroiled in an immense doping scandal which could prevent its track and field athletes from competing in Rio.

The world athletics governing body IAAF is set to rule on June 17 whether to lift Russia's provisional suspension from Rio over evidence of state-sponsoring doping in Russian athletics.]]>
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			<title>Olympics failure: Don’t keep high hopes, says Abbas</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/422522/olympics-failure-don%e2%80%99t-keep-high-hopes-says-abbas</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/422522/olympics-failure-don%e2%80%99t-keep-high-hopes-says-abbas#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Aug 12 18:44:28 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=422522</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan hockey captain says country should keep realistic expectations.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan hockey captain Sohail Abbas said the country should not keep ‘high hopes’ as the team returned at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore after finishing seventh in the 2012 London Olympics.


Pakistan suffered two crushing losses – to Great Britain 4-1 and Australia 7-0 – that ended their chances of making to the semi-finals of the hockey event, the only realistic chance of the country bagging a medal at the Olympics. Pakistan, however, did manage a draw against Spain and beat South Africa and Argentina in the group phase.

Reduced to playing a classification match, the Greenshirts then beat Korea to finish seventh – one spot better than their final place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Abbas, the world’s leading goal-scorer, said the expectations should have been ‘reality-based’.

“The world saw how we performed at the Olympics,” said Abbas. “The nation should not keep high hopes. Success or defeat lies in the hands of God.

“Australia is the number one hockey team. We played competitive hockey and fought back very well and I’m satisfied with myself and my team’s performance.”

While there were calls to completely overhaul the hockey team, which has failed to produce positive results, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) ruled out major changes and added that a gradual transition would take place.

Abbas, who has been termed an incorrect choice as leader, added that he had not made up his mind on the 2014 World Cup. “I have not thought about my availability as yet.”

Meanwhile, the team’s head coach, Akhtar Rasool, was pleased with the Greenshirts’ performance, barring the encounter against the world champions.

“It has been four months since I took charge of the hockey team,” said Rasool, who took over after Dutch Michel van Heuvel was shown the door by the PHF. “During this time, I have developed the squad. I believe that the way the team performed in the Olympics, except for the one match against Australia, has been commendable.”

Rasool said that the team worked really hard for the event. “As far as the federation is concerned, it did everything to facilitate and look after the team. The players awakened the nation’s hopes in hockey and our next target is the 2014 World Cup.”
Pakistan athletes took part in shooting, 100m sprint, 800m events, besides swimming and hockey in the 2012 Olympics. The country last bagged a medal at the 1994 Games.
Akhtar Rasool

“It’s been four months since I took charge. During my time I’ve developed the squad. The way the team performed in the Olympics, except for the game against Australia, has been commendable.”

Sohail Abbas

“Australia is the number one hockey team. We played competitive hockey and fought back very well and I’m satisfied with my and my team’s performance. Success or defeat lies in the hands of God.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Spice Girls rock at Olympics closing ceremony</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/422039/spice-girls-rock-at-olympics-closing-ceremony</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/422039/spice-girls-rock-at-olympics-closing-ceremony#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 14 Aug 12 16:14:28 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[The band sang their famous songs riding around the stadium atop taxi cabs.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The London Olympics closed with a dazzling and eccentric extravaganza of music and dance that rocked the main stadium filled with royalty, celebrities, athletes and a sea of exuberant spectators, reported Reuters.


One of the biggest cheers of the night came as five coloured London taxi drove into the centre of the stadium letting out five famous singers — the Spice Girls.

The Spice Girls reuniting to perform at the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games was not really a secret, as the band was spotted rehearsing but the cheers were deafening as Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm and Melanie Brown — aka Posh Spice, Baby Spice, Ginger Spice, Sporty Spice and Scary Spice, respectively — sang “Wannabe” and “Spice Up Your Life” riding around the Olympic Stadium atop black London taxi cabs, reports CBS News.

The famous group performed together Sunday night after four years. Earlier this year however, the quintet had talked about their launching their latest musical “Viva Forever”, this fall in London.

Victoria also appeared at the closing ceremony when one of her designs was part of the British fashion show.

She tweeted a photo of the “Girl Power” group posing together with a teaser: “Tell us: What did you think of the Spice Girls’ performance?”

The three-hour show also starred George Michael, Russell Brand, DJ Fatboy Slim, Annie Lennox and “Monty Python” actor Eric Idle singing “Bright Side of Life” with roller-skating nuns in Union Jack underwear.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>London basks in Olympic glory despite doping case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421609/london-basks-in-olympic-glory-despite-doping-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421609/london-basks-in-olympic-glory-despite-doping-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 12 21:25:28 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Belarus shot-putter stripped of gold after testing positive for banned drug.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The London Olympics lost its first medallist to a doping scandal as Belarus shot-putter Nadezhda Ostapchuk was stripped of her gold medal a day after the Games closed in a blaze of music and colour.

Athletes began a mass exodus from London and turned their thoughts to Rio de Janeiro in 2016, as Britain basked in the adulation for a Games that electrified billions of viewers around the globe. The closing ceremony on Sunday night saw rockers The Who wrapping up a musical extravaganza after The Spice Girls, George Michael and Brazilian football legend Pele entertained a 80,000 crowd at the Olympic Stadium.

But 31-year-old Ostapchuk waved goodbye to her women’s shot put title after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said she had tested positive for the anabolic steroid metenolone. Ostapchuk, the 2005 world champion, took a surprise gold medal with a throw of 21.36m but urine samples provided the day before the competition on August 5 and immediately after it both tested positive. The gold medal will now go to Valerie Adams of New Zealand, with Russia’s Yevgeniya Kolodko taking silver and Lijiao Gong of China bronze.

The news failed to dampen the mood in Britain though, with London mayor Boris Johnson saying that for him and many other Londoners the Games had been ‘the most extraordinary event we can remember in our lifetimes’. IOC President Jacques Rogge praised the Games as ‘happy and glorious’.

Record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt and swimmer Michael Phelps lit up the Olympic Park in east London and heptathlete Jessica Ennis led an unexpectedly high number of British champions who kept fans’ excitement at fever pitch. The United States topped the medals table with 46 golds, eight ahead of China, while Britain had 29 – their best since 1904. It was the first Games where every team had at least one female competitor.

The ceremony also saw the Olympic flag handed over to the mayor of Rio, a symbolic transfer which launches the four-year countdown to the 2016 Games. Rio gave a taste of what to expect with a swinging samba section in the London closing ceremony that included Pele and carnival-style dancers.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>London Olympics 2012: United States push China aside to restore medal dominance</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421341/london-olympics-2012-united-states-push-china-aside-to-restore-medal-dominance</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421341/london-olympics-2012-united-states-push-china-aside-to-restore-medal-dominance#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 12 04:13:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[agencies]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=421341</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A star-studded closing ceremony late on Sunday night marks the end of the Games.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The United States finished top of the London Olympics medal table on Sunday with 46 golds ahead of China on 38 and hosts Britain with 29. The US won 104 medals in total with 29 silver and 29 bronze followed by China on 87, including 27 silver and 22 bronze. Britain won 64 medals overall with 16 silver and 19 bronze.


At the main stadium in London’s East End, the closing ceremony brought the curtain down on 16 full days of spectacular sporting action, passionate crowds and the thrill of watching hosts Britain punch well above their weight.

A star-studded closing ceremony late on Sunday night marked the end of the Games. The Spice Girls, The Who and George Michael performed at a concert titled “A Symphony of British Music” featuring more than 30 hits from the last five decades.

“This is the disco at the end of a wedding,” artistic director Kim Gavin said of the ceremony, at the conclusion of which the Olympic Flame is extinguished and all eyes turn from London to 2016 hosts Rio de Janeiro.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron basked in the glory of hosting a successful Olympics which has helped lift the gloom in recession-hit Britain, praising the prowess of British athletes after their best medal haul for more than 100 years.

“We showed the world what we’re made of, we reminded ourselves of what we could do and, yes, we demonstrated that you should never ever count Team GB down and out,” Cameron told reporters at his official Downing Street office, where a section of running track had been laid in front of its black door.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Russia survive scare in volleyball final</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421241/russia-survive-scare-in-volleyball-final</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421241/russia-survive-scare-in-volleyball-final#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 12 01:31:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[World Cup holders save two match points against Brazil.]]>
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				<![CDATA[World Cup holders Russia saved two match points as they came from two sets down to beat world champions Brazil 3-2 in a thrilling Olympic men’s volleyball final.

Russia looked down and out at two sets to love and 22-19 down in the third, but with the title just three points away, Brazil collapsed.

The South Americans, who also lost the 2008 final, failed to complete an Olympic double a day after their women beat the US to retain their title.

Russian coach Vladimir Alenko could barely believe it.

“It’s ‘idiot’s dream’ coming true. They say you can’t enter the same river for the second time, but I tried it,” he said, referring to Russia’s poor showing in Beijing.

Wing spiker Sergey Tetyukhin praised his team for their character. “It’s hard for me to speak. Emotions are overwhelming me. It was a hard match,” he said.

Meanwhile, Italy beat Bulgaria by three sets to one to claim the bronze medal.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Cycling: Kulhavy wins men’s mountain bike gold</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421242/cycling-kulhavy-wins-men%e2%80%99s-mountain-bike-gold</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421242/cycling-kulhavy-wins-men%e2%80%99s-mountain-bike-gold#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 12 01:29:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=421242</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Italian Marco Fontana finished third to take the bronze at 25 seconds]]>
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				<![CDATA[Jaroslav Kulhavy of the Czech Republic won the men’s Olympic mountain bike gold after an epic seven-lap race which left Swiss Nino Schurter in a close second place.

Italian Marco Fontana finished third to take the bronze at 25 seconds behind Kulhavy’s winning time of one hour 29 minutes seven seconds. Kulhavy and Schurter attacked each other several times on the way up the final climb and it was the Swiss who crested going into the descent which would lead to the final, small climb before the finish line. The Czech, however, pulled ahead of Schurter on the way around the Olympic rings on the grass to leave the Swiss in his wake by a few bike lengths at the finish.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2012.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Germany claim hockey gold</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421240/germany-claim-hockey-gold</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421240/germany-claim-hockey-gold#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 12 01:29:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Dutch manager admits side outplayed after 2-1 defeat.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Dutch manager Paul van Ass admitted his side was outplayed after Germany won the hockey title for the second successive time when they triumphed 2-1 against the Netherlands, the former champions, in a blood and thunder final.

Both goals were scored by Jan Philipp Rabente, who thus denied the Dutch the chance of becoming the first nation to win both hockey golds at the same Games.

It was also frustrating for the Dutch as they had beaten the Germans in their pool match earlier in the tournament.

“I have to say the Germans defended superbly today,” said the Dutch manager. “We are very skilful, but the Germans won it despite our skills.”

Meanwhile, Germany coach Markus Weise was pleased with the win. “For the Dutch it was harder to play the final because until then they had never had any difficulty,” said Weise. “We had lost one and drawn one and we had something to think about.”

In the third-place play-off, Australia scored a deserved 3-1 win over Great Britain which earned them the bronze medal.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>The nation’s greatest ever, says Britain boss</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421244/the-nation%e2%80%99s-greatest-ever-says-britain-boss</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421244/the-nation%e2%80%99s-greatest-ever-says-britain-boss#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 12 01:25:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Olympic athletes hailed by national association.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Britain’s Olympic athletes were hailed as the nation’s ‘greatest ever team’ after they seized the most medals in more than a century at the London Games.

But as the hosts ensured third place in the medals table, British Olympic Association (BOA) Chairman Colin Moynihan was quick to warn that the momentum created must turn into a lasting legacy.

“This team has excelled. There have been historic, unforgettable images with a team united and focused,” said Moynihan. “We are very proud of the outstanding success.”

Great Britain started the final day with 28 golds and a total of 62, behind the US and China, but ahead of Russia who had 21 golds in a total of 78.

The performances undoubtedly were a factor in British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to guarantee funding for Olympic sports until the 2016 Games in Rio.

The country’s grim economic prospects had appeared set to see a reduction in financial support for sport ahead of the Rio Games, but on Sunday it was agreed that £125 million would be allocated annually for the next four years to maintain funding at the same level as the run-up to London.

“The motto of these Games has been ‘inspire a generation’. Nothing has been more inspirational than seeing our elite athletes win gold this summer,” said Cameron.

“There’s a direct link between elite success and participation in sport. I want one of the legacies of these Games to be our athletes triumphing in Rio in 2016, and in future Olympic Games.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>US shoot to basketball glory</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421235/us-shoot-to-basketball-glory</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421235/us-shoot-to-basketball-glory#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 12 01:04:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Durant stars as Americans down Spain in final; claim 14th overall gold in sport.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The United States Dream Team of NBA stars captured their second Olympic men’s basketball gold medal in a row and the 14th overall by beating Spain 107-100 in yesterday’s championship game.


The US multi-millionaire line-up of NBA elite improved their Olympic record to 62-1 since revamping the national team programme after settling for bronze in 2004. The Americans, helped by Kevin Durant in the final, ran through the tournament undefeated just as they did in 2008 when they defeated Spain 118-107 in the Beijing final.

But reigning European champion Spain, routed by the US NBA stars in a pre-Olympic exhibition game last month in Barcelona, stayed with the defending champions to the very end, keeping within reach until the final minutes.

US players began celebrating when James and others were pulled from the court with 37 seconds to play. Paul and James Harden hit late free throws to seal the triumph.

NBA-bound Shved powers Russia to bronze

Meanwhile, Alexey Shved gave NBA fans a taste of what they can expect next season, lifting Russia over Argentina 81-77 for Olympic bronze to bring his homeland the first men’s basketball medal under its flag.

The 23-year-old guard scored 13 of his 25 points in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to power Russia onto a podium spot, seizing command of the game in the closing moments the way NBA stars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James do.

“When I think about it, it was the best in my life, honestly,” said Shved of his late heroics. “To win a medal in the fourth quarter like that is great.”

Centre Sasha Kaun found the words much faster to sum up the first medal for Russia since the old Soviet Union dynasty was shattered.

“We’ve made history,” said Kaun. “We haven’t won anything since the Soviet Union fell apart. Shows how much we’ve grown.”

Shved has already signed to play for the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves next season, alongside Olympic teammate and veteran big man Andrei Kirilenko.

US women rip France for fifth gold in a row

Extending their Olympic dynasty run to a fifth gold medal in a row, the United States women’s basketball team overpowered France 86-50 in the championship final.

Candace Parker produced game highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds to power the US Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) stars to their seventh crown in the past eight Olympics.

“For USA basketball to do it five times in a row, that’s really special,” said Parker. “We’re never going to take anything for granted. That’s the key. You never want to be the team that ends the streak.”

The Americans’ women’s team has not lost at the Olympics since dropping a 1992 Barcelona semi-final to the Unified Team of former Soviet players and only once during the win streak has a rival kept the US winning margin below 10 points.

“The US has had unbelievable teams,” said US coach Geno Auriemma. “I think we’re just another one on the list. We accomplished the same thing they did. I think that makes us equal with them.”

STAR PLAYER

30 is the number of points Kevin Durant scored for the US in the final which was the highest by any player in the match.

DOMINANCE

5 is the number of gold medals the US men’s basketball team has claimed in the past six Olympics.

UNBEATEN STREAK

41 is the number of games in a row the US women’s basketball team has now gone unbeaten in.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>In the spirit of the Games</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421135/in-the-spirit-of-the-games</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421135/in-the-spirit-of-the-games#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 12 Aug 12 19:09:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[anum.fatima]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=421135</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Disqualification from Olympics, subsequent acceptance of apologies holds many lessons for us as a nation.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Though the Olympic Games 2012 have seen some teams and players being disqualified in their events, it was the disqualification of four pairs of women’s doubles badminton players in the early weeks of the Olympic Games that gives us insight into the spirit of these Games. The decision came after the Badminton World Federation (BWF) barred the pairs — top-seeds from China, two pairs from South Korea and one from Indonesia — on charges of throwing away matches.

The disqualification came when the players adopted a strategy of intentionally losing games in the group stages to leverage easier matches in the knockout round. Heavy criticism has been heaped on the new rules with the British Olympics Association Chairman Lord Moynihan stating that the format “needs to be investigated”. Players and officials alike are blaming the inefficiency of the BWF rules for their disqualification, while outraged fans are voicing their opinions on social networking websites and in newspapers.

While anger from ardent supporters is expected, it is the honour displayed by the respective nations and their coaches — though not denying that they should not have tried to manipulate the rules in the first place — which pales in comparison with anything one might see in our own country. It was admirable to see how coaches of the disqualified teams accepted the blame for proposing a strategy that went against the spirit of the Games and issued apologies to their respective nations. China’s badminton coach, Li Yongbo, said that the “Chinese players failed to demonstrate the fine tradition and fighting spirit of the national team. It’s me to blame”. Likewise, Indonesian newspapers and the Korean media were also seen voicing their dismay at the show put up by their athletes.

Rewind to Pakistan, and we see the Supreme Court pestering prime minister after prime minister to write the wretched letter to the Swiss authorities to no avail and with no regard whatsoever for the so-called ‘honour’ of the country. This is not surprising though, since apologising is anathema for all and sundry in Pakistan. The lack of regard for assuming responsibility in our land is not something unexpected, hence the conflict that has arisen over the writing of the letter. In fact, it even took the great superpower over six months to accept responsibility over the Salala incident. While the Olympics disqualification was embarrassing for the respective nations, it was accepted in the spirit of the Games and no furore was created by the authorities concerned and no conspiracy theories have followed thereafter.

However, two years back when our cricketers were caught in the storm of the spot-fixing controversy, at least two of them fought to death trying to deny charges heaped on them. In fact, it seemed that it was a matter of honour for these cricketers to keep pleading their innocence, only to be further humiliated by having the charges proved in a London court.

The disqualification from the Olympics and subsequent acceptance of apologies of those involved holds many lessons for us as a nation. The first step in progressing and not living with our heads buried in the sand is to recognise a mistake, apologise for it and then ensure that it is never repeated again. One of our many pitfalls as a nation has been the fact that anyone and everyone in a position of power has worn their ego on their sleeve, as a result of which, we have never been able to analyse and accept our weaknesses, let alone learn from them for the greater good of our nation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Obama applauds Muslim women Olympians</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421005/obama-applauds-muslim-women-olympians</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/421005/obama-applauds-muslim-women-olympians#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 12 Aug 12 05:43:14 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=421005</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[First time in Olympic history every team from a Muslim majority country now includes women as well, says Obama.]]>
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				<![CDATA[US President Barack Obama celebrated women athletes from Muslim nations who are making their debut in the Olympics as he marked the holy month of Ramazan on Saturday.


“Here in America, we are incredibly proud of Team USA,” Obama said, noting that a majority of the American delegation to the London Olympics were female.

“Also, for the very first time in Olympic history, every team now includes a woman athlete. One of the reasons is that every team from a Muslim majority country now includes women as well,” Obama said, at an annual iftar dinner grouping prominent members of the US Muslim community at the White House.

Among athletes making history in London was middle distance runner Sarah Attar who made history by becoming the first female to represent Saudi Arabia in Olympics track and field.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Swimming: Thorpe unbowed by Australia’s pool flop</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420834/swimming-thorpe-unbowed-by-australia%e2%80%99s-pool-flop</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420834/swimming-thorpe-unbowed-by-australia%e2%80%99s-pool-flop#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 12 18:36:41 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420834</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Five-time Olympic gold medallist hopeful of improvement.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe said Australia’s poor showing at the London Games had not dampened his comeback hopes and he expected his homeland to quickly return to form.


Thorpe, 29, failed to qualify for London at March’s Olympic trials, little more than a year after announcing ambitious plans to come out of retirement, and has been commentating on the Olympics swimming event.

He vowed to continue swimming despite the London setback and told Australia’s ABC Television his compatriots’ lacklustre Olympic campaign in the face of deep and fierce competition had not dimmed his enthusiasm for the pool.

“I’m still keen, this competition has changed swimming, and this has been coming for quite some time,” said Thorpe. “I’m more enthusiastic about it now because of watching those results. I love that the medals are going out (widely), that there’s been a renaissance of performance in Europe as well. At the same time China’s emerging as a swimming nation and they’re being consistent with performances.”

Thorpe admitted that he had been surprised at Australia’s performance – the first time it has failed to win an individual gold in the pool since 1976 – with many swimmers failing to replicate their trial times. Former head coach of Australia’s swimming squad Don Talbot has warned it will take the side four to eight years to rebound from its ‘mediocre’ performance, but Thorpe said he believed the golden days would soon return.

“I think Australia can take a position back close to where we were before, at some of the dizzying heights of success that we’ve had, but I think people’s expectations have to be a little more realistic as well,” said Thorpe. “I think we’ve been too successful for too long and people have under-appreciated how much it actually takes to win a gold medal.”

Known as the ‘Thorpedo’, the Olympic great retired in 2006 after a glittering career in which he ruled the pool from 1998 to 2004, taking nine Olympic medals and 11 world titles and setting 13 long course world records. He returned to racing last November in Singapore but had a string of disappointing results leading up to his ultimately unsuccessful London Olympic bid in March. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Olympics: Dream comes true for Libya’s Gezah</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420837/olympics-dream-comes-true-for-libya%e2%80%99s-gezah</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420837/olympics-dream-comes-true-for-libya%e2%80%99s-gezah#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 12 18:33:25 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420837</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Nation’s lone female athlete disappoints in 100m but glad to be in London.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The revolution disrupted her training but Hala Gezah’s ‘childhood dream’ of competing in an Olympics came true as the only Libyan woman at the 2012 London Games competed in the 100 metres.


Last year the 23-year-old’s sessions on a Tripoli track were thrown into disarray by the overthrow of dictator Muammar Qaddafi. Now she is posing for pictures with Olympics legend Usain Bolt.

“In 2008 we could practise as normal, but with the revolution it was very difficult,” said her coach Abdullah Zaho, wearing a top in the red, black and green of Libya’s new rulers. “Training was virtually non-existent. We were afraid. We had lots of problems, above all because there was no communication between us and the local federation, and the Libyan Olympic Committee had no money.

“That made our task difficult.”

The committee was run by Muhammad Qaddafi, one of the ousted ruler’s sons.

Before the London Games, Gezah had taken part in only one race this year, at the biennial African athletics championships in Benin. She did not meet the minimum requirement to reach the 2012 Olympics.

However, the International Olympic Committee’s principle of universal participation means every country can enter somebody into athletics and swimming.

On August 3, in the Olympic Stadium, the wildcard finished fifth out of nine in her heat in a time of 13.24 seconds, clocking the 23rd fastest time out of the 33 that took part in the preliminary round.

“I could have done better,” she admitted. “But I’m honoured to be the first female athlete to wear the colours of the new Libyan flag.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Olympics: Chinese athlete loses bronze appeal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420831/olympics-chinese-athlete-loses-bronze-appeal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420831/olympics-chinese-athlete-loses-bronze-appeal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 12 18:26:12 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420831</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Technical errors mars women’s hammer throw event.]]>
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				<![CDATA[China lost their appeal seeking to have hammer thrower Zhang Wenxiu awarded the bronze medal over an unusual technical glitch during the women’s final on Friday.


The 26-year-old Asian record holder had thought that despite a foul throw in the final round she had won her second successive Olympic bronze medal with a mark of 76.34 metres. While she set off to celebrate the drama was unfolding.

Germany’s world record holder Betty Heidler had been allowed two throws in the fifth and penultimate round. The first one had not been able to be recorded owing to a technical error with the measuring equipment and her second one was a foul.

However, after the competition was over officials returned to the infield and found the mark of Heidler’s initial fifth round throw and were able to measure it at 77.13 (later adjusted to 77.12) which saw her edge the Chinese athlete out of the medal positions.

The appeal failed to convince the appeal jury of the sport’s governing body the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Basketball: US to face European champions Spain in final</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420829/basketball-us-to-face-european-champions-spain-in-final</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420829/basketball-us-to-face-european-champions-spain-in-final#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 12 18:22:13 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420829</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Durant scores 19 as NBA stars defeat Argentina 109-83.]]>
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				<![CDATA[US Olympic NBA stars booked a gold-medal rematch with reigning European champion Spain in tonight’s men’s basketball final by blowing out Argentina 109-83 on Friday.

Kevin Durant scored 19 points, while Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James added 18 each to lead the US multi-millionaires into a rematch of the 2008 Beijing Olympic final they won 118-107 over a similar Spanish squad full of NBA talent.

“This is the matchup everybody wanted to see,” said Anthony. “Any chance to repeat for a gold medal is a great feeling. Anything less than this would have been unsatisfying.”

The Americans reached the gold medal game for the 15th time in 17 attempts, having missed out in 1988 and 2004 after skipping the 1980 Moscow Olympics in a boycott. The US NBA stars seek a 14th all-time gold medal against a Spanish side that defeated Russia 67-59 in Friday’s other semi-final.

Argentina, led by 18 points from NBA star Manu Ginobili, will play Russia for the bronze medal after fading in the third quarter against a US onslaught.

“We started very well in the first half but once they started to get the shots in and started to run, they were just better,” said Argentina’s Carlos Delfino.

“When we made them play our game, we were close. They are masters, phenomenal, they play over the basket. When they are fit, they are unbeatable. They are the best in the world to run and shoot.”

Argentina ousted the US squad in a 2004 Athens Olympics semi-final on the way to capturing gold before the Americans returned the favour in Beijing. The US team improved to 61-1 since settling for bronze in 2004 and revamping the national team program with Mike Krzyzewski as coach and a versatile NBA all-star lineup.

“Anybody in this team can get going at any point — that’s the fun and dangerous thing about us,” added Anthony.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>55% Britons say Games worth the cost</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420827/55-britons-say-games-worth-the-cost</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420827/55-britons-say-games-worth-the-cost#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 12 18:20:27 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420827</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Survey suggests tax-payers think £9b cost ‘worth it’.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Fifty-five per cent of Britons believe the London Olympics have delivered good value for money, according to a poll published yesterday, as the hosts revel in Britain’s best performance at the Games for more than a century.


The 55% of the British population think the Games are ‘well worth’ the £9 billion price tag, cheering the nation up as it battles recession, according to the Guardian/ICM poll.

In contrast, only 35 per cent of the 2,021 people asked said the Olympics – which have cost more than four times the original estimate – were a costly distraction from economic problems.

Britain escaped a deep downturn in late 2009 but fell back into recession at the end of 2011. Latest official data showed the GDP slumped 0.7 per cent between April and June from the first three months of this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2012. ]]>
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			<title>Olympics: India slump to sixth defeat, finish last in hockey event</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420835/olympics-india-slump-to-sixth-defeat-finish-last-in-hockey-event</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420835/olympics-india-slump-to-sixth-defeat-finish-last-in-hockey-event#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 12 18:16:55 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420835</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[South Africa finish 11th with a 3-2 win over former gold-medallists.]]>
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				<![CDATA[India’s men’s hockey team lost their sixth game out of six at the Olympics yesterday when a 3-2 defeat to South Africa condemned them to 12th and last place in the tournament.


It was the first time that the eight-time champions had gone through an Olympics without winning a match.

“We keep making the same mistakes all the time,” said Sardar Singh, one of the team’s star players. “We have to be aggressive. It was emotionally tough conceding the second goal. We have to be tough in the circle in future. We have to improve a lot. It’s very disappointing. The whole team has been mentally affected.”

Andrew Cronje gave South Africa an eighth-minute lead before Sandeep Singh levelled six minutes later. Timothy Drummond, in the 33rd minute, and Lloyd Norris-Jones, after 64 minutes, gave South Africa a two-goal cushion before Dharmavir Singh reduced the margin for India in the 66th.

Meanwhile, Belgium scored their first Olympic win over Spain since the Montreal Games 36 years ago as two goals from Tom Boon helped them to a 5-2 win and a final placing of fifth. The victory seemed likely from the second minute when Jerome Dekeyser dived in front of the goal-keeper to make a clever deflection from a short corner and put the Belgians in the lead. Spain may still have been suffering from the disappointment of two late penalty corner decisions being overturned as they pushed for the goal against Great Britain which would have earned them a semi-final place.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Olympics: Brazil stunned by Mexico in football final</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420824/olympics-brazil-stunned-by-mexico-in-football-final</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420824/olympics-brazil-stunned-by-mexico-in-football-final#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 12 18:08:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420824</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Favourites lose 2-1 as their Olympic gold drought continues.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Mexico shocked Brazil to win their first gold in the Olympic men’s football tournament as Oribe Peralta’s double clinched a shock 2-1 victory over the five-time world champions yesterday.

Peralta struck after just 30 seconds and the Mexican striker sealed one of the all-time great Olympic upsets when he scored again late in the second half. Hulk got one back in stoppage-time before Chelsea’s Oscar spurned a golden opportunity heading over the bar from point-blank range in the final seconds of the match.

Mexico, playing in their first Olympic final, were deserved winners as Brazil once again failed to end their long wait for a first football gold.

South Korea win first bronze

Meanwhile, South Korea’s men beat fierce Asian rivals Japan 2-0 in the play-off for bronze to claim the country’s first Olympic football medal.

Arsenal striker Park Chu-Young and captain Koo Ja-Cheol scored either side of half-time, as the Taeguk Warriors claimed a measure of revenge for the senior side’s penalty shoot-out loss to Japan at last year’s Asian Cup. “This is one of the most special moments for me and my team,” said Koo. “I’m very proud to be one of the first footballers to become medallists in Korean history.”

Japanese striker Kensuke Nagai expressed his disappointment at the result.

“I’m really upset,” said Nagai. “We were able to play our football but the result just didn’t follow. But it’s been a really good experience and I hope that we can achieve a better result next time.”

South Korea’s players celebrated with extra relish as the match earned them exemption from military service. The South Korean authorities had promised to spare the squad a stint in the armed forces – which is usually obligatory – if they secured the bronze medal, and they successfully completed their mission in Cardiff. Coach Hong Myung-Bo revealed that the South Korean celebrations had got slightly out of hand.

“It was a big disaster in the changing room,” said Myung-Bo. “The players went crazy and threw everything about. I couldn’t go inside and had to wait outside until the press conference began. It was just crazy.”

Koo Ja-Cheol

 “This is one of the most special moments of my life. My team has never experienced something like this. I’m very proud to be one of the first footballers to become medallists in Korean history.”

Kensuke Nagai

“I’m really upset about the outcome. We were able to play our football, but the result just didn’t follow. It’s been a really good experience and I hope that we can achieve a better result next time.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Cash, land for Indian medallist: Report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420350/boxing-cash-land-for-indian-medallist-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420350/boxing-cash-land-for-indian-medallist-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 12 18:52:07 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Kom would also be promot­ed to the rank of additi­onal police superi­ntende­nt and given two acres of land, he said.]]>
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				<![CDATA[India’s latest sporting hero Mary Kom will receive $90,400 for winning a bronze in the Olympic women’s boxing competition, according to a report.


The mother-of-two from Manipur had to settle for bronze after she was beaten by Britain’s Nicola Adams in the 51kg category. The Manipur government decided to honour Kom after a cabinet meeting gave its approval, the Press Trust of India quoted a state spokesman as saying. “Kom has made the name of Manipur known in the sports arena and brought prestige for the whole country,” said the spokesman. Kom would also be promoted to the rank of additional police superintendent and given two acres of land, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2012.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Best is yet to come, says US football coach</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420351/best-is-yet-to-come-says-us-football-coach</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420351/best-is-yet-to-come-says-us-football-coach#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 12 18:40:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420351</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sundhagelabels his team ‘unstoppable’ for the 2015 World Cup.]]>
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				<![CDATA[United States coach Pia Sundhage insists her team’s Olympic final victory over Japan in the women’s football event is only the start of a golden era for the Americans which will peak with success at the 2015 World Cup.

Sundhage’s side avenged last year’s World Cup final defeat against Japan with a 2-1 win in the Olympic final at Wembley as two goals from Carli Lloyd and a superb display from US goal-keeper Hope Solo kept the Asians at bay.

It was a sweet moment for Sundhage’s players, who had been so devastated by their failure to win the World Cup for the first time since 1999.

But while many teams would see a gold medal as the defining moment of their careers, Swedish-born coach Sundhage is convinced the emergence of several talented youngsters suggests the best is yet to come.

“In 2015 there is a World Cup in Canada and I think the US could be unstoppable,” said Sundhage.

“We have young players like Tobin Heath who have come in and showed great composure and skill during this tournament. We always said the US had a great attitude and competed really well, but if you had technique it is very exciting when you look ahead to 2015.”

“A lot of credit goes to Japan. Our game-plan was to keep the ball away from them but that didn’t work and Japan were too good for us in possession until we changed.”

Not only did Sundhage’s squad bring home the gold yet again, they also earned a $1.5 million team bonus from the US Olympic Committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2012.

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			<title>Women should be inspired by boxers: IOC</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420352/women-should-be-inspired-by-boxers-ioc</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420352/women-should-be-inspired-by-boxers-ioc#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 12 18:37:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rogge proud of female success in the Games.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The success of women’s boxing at the Olympics can inspire women to take up sport, said IOC chief Jacques Rogge who believes the decision to include the discipline in the Games has been vindicated.

The 70-year-old Belgian, who is presiding over his final Games as he steps down in September next year after a 12-year reign, was present at the climax to the women’s boxing event when the first three champions were crowned.

“I think I am very happy,” said Rogge. “There was a lot of criticism of the level of women’s boxing and of their technique prior to the Games. I think we have been vindicated that it was a good decision and it’s only the beginning.”

Rogge, though, would not put the introduction of women’s boxing at the top of the list of his achievements. He places the fight against doping and illegal gambling higher and said that boxing formed part of his campaign to get women a higher profile in sports. He is especially proud of having coaxed the last three hold-outs against sending women to the Games – Saudi Arabia, who were threatened with being barred if they did not do so, Qatar and Brunei – to breach that barrier at these Games.

“The Saudi Arabian runner getting a standing ovation along with our introduction of women’s boxing shows we are fighting the right cause.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2012.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>No drugs concerns over Bolt and Jamaicans</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420347/no-drugs-concerns-over-bolt-and-jamaicans</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420347/no-drugs-concerns-over-bolt-and-jamaicans#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 12 18:36:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[London Olympics chief plays down concerns]]>
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				<![CDATA[London Olympics chief organiser Sebastian Coe said he was satisfied that double sprint champion Usain Bolt and his Jamaican teammates were being properly drug-tested outside of races.

Coe was dragged into the row that erupted after Bolt said following his 200m victory on Thursday he had lost all respect for Carl Lewis because the US sprint legend has doubted the toughness of Jamaica’s drug-testing procedures.

“I haven’t heard those remarks but my admiration for both Lewis and Bolt is undiminished,” said Coe, who has admitted he wants to become president of the athletics world governing body IAAF in the next few years. “I have no reason to believe that they are not testing out of competition. I think the IAAF... (in our) domestic and international testing arrangements have been very comfortable about how Jamaica and the Jamaican track and field federations are upholding those values and protocols.”

In his post-race press conference after becoming the first athlete in history to retain both Olympic sprint titles, Bolt said he had ‘no respect’ for Lewis, who won nine Olympic golds spanning four Games in his career.

“The things he says about the track athletes is really downgrading for another athlete to be saying something like that about other athletes,” said the 25-year-old Jamaican. “I think he’s just looking for attention really because nobody really talks about him.”

Lewis made his comments about Bolt after the Jamaican achieved the 100m-200m double at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“No one is accusing anyone,” said the American. “I’m not saying they’ve done anything for certain... I don’t know. But how dare anybody feel that there shouldn’t be scrutiny, especially in our sport?”

The American visited the London Games, but said he was more interested in watching minor sports such as BMX racing than the athletics.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>I’m the greatest athlete: Bolt</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420346/i%e2%80%99m-the-greatest-athlete-bolt</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420346/i%e2%80%99m-the-greatest-athlete-bolt#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 12 18:26:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420346</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Jamacian chases 3rd gold in 4x100m relay but admits Rio 2016 could be difficult.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Usain Bolt declared himself the greatest athlete of all time after storming to victory in the Olympic Games 200m to seal an unprecedented second successive sprint double.


Bolt came to London facing questions over whether he was still the alpha male of the sprinting world after twin defeats to Yohan Blake in the Jamaican trials. But the 25-year-old, who retained his 100m title on Sunday in the second fastest time ever, emphatically silenced his doubters on Thursday, crossing the line in the equal fourth fastest time of all time of 19.32 seconds.

“It’s what I came here to do, I’m now a legend, I’m the greatest athlete to live,” said Bolt, who led a Jamaican clean sweep of the medals, ahead of Blake and Warren Weir.

“I did what I wanted. I came out of a rough season and I did what I had to do. I’ve got nothing left to prove. I’ve showed the world I’m the best. It’s wonderful. Jamaica has proven that we are the greatest sprint country.”

Bolt, the 100m and 200m champion at the Beijing Games in 2008, has now eclipsed the record of US track legend Carl Lewis, who won three golds and a silver in the sprints at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

Bolt chases ‘double treble’

Bolt will look to top off another epic Olympic campaign tonight when he goes in the 4x100m relay, chasing his third gold of the London Games.

The Jamaicans will not have it all their own way, missing the injured Asafa Powell from their stellar line-up in a likely two-way battle with a powerful US team.

“It could be a world record but you can never say because it’s a relay and it’s a baton so you never know. But for me, we’re just going to go out there and enjoy ourselves and run as fast as possible and it will be a good race to close the show again.”

Repeating feats in Rio Games a ‘hard reach’ - Bolt

Bolt, meanwhile, acknowlegded that repeating his staggering gold medal achievements in Rio in 2016 would be a tough mission as his younger rivals target his legacy.

“I think when I get to 30 I will be thinking about retiring. I’m not ready to retire yet. I love this sport, I have got all my success through this sport. I got all my fans through this sport. Track and field is way too hard.

“Blake is running 19.4 already, he’s running 19.7, so in the next four years he’s going to be firing. I think I want to get out before he starts running too fast.”

Blake, tipped as Bolt’s natural successor as the world’s fastest man, won silver in the 200m behind Bolt’s 19.32 seconds.

“I think it’s going to be a hard mission in Rio. Both these guys are 22 — I’m going to be 30, they are going to be 26. I think I’ve had my time. In life everything is possible, but for me this is going to be a hard reach.”

800m

Rudisha inspired by mentor father

With his world record-breaking Olympic 800m triumph on Thursday, David Rudisha achieved a long-held goal of going one better than the silver medal his father, Daniel, won at the 1968 Games.

The 23-year-old Kenyan - whose father won silver in the 4x400m relay in the 1968 Games - did it in style as he shattered his own world record in what was the fastest ever 800m race.

Rudisha, who was the first Olympic champion since Cuban Alberto Juantorena in 1976 to break the world record at 800m, said he had been thinking of his father prior to the race.

“In fact even before I started my race I thought of how my father was watching me back at home on television because he couldn’t come here,” he said. “He was always encouraging me and I wouldn’t be here but for him. He is a big inspiration to me. I was always dreaming of doing better than him and go a step further than him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Failure at the Olympics</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420247/failure-at-the-olympics</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/420247/failure-at-the-olympics#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 12 17:38:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=420247</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Investing in the athletes is a basic requirement as talent may bag medals at national and regional levels.]]>
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				<![CDATA[When Rabia Ashiq crossed the finish line almost 17 seconds after the 800m heat winner, it gave Pakistan’s sports authorities a moment to reflect upon reality.

There are no medals for effort — our swimmers, shooter, athletes and the hockey team displayed plenty of that — but the gulf between Pakistan and the competition it took on in London was massive and worrying. A post-mortem may not take place but calls for resignations in the hockey team and the federation were swift following the seventh place finish — an improvement of one place from Beijing 2008. The contingent’s chef-de-mission called for a cut in hockey spending and a greater share for other sports.

Interest and passion notwithstanding, sports, despite its widespread following in Pakistan, needs heavy investment at the grass-roots level. But most of our schools, colleges and universities do not have enough space for classrooms, let alone fields and equipment. With the added burden of academic expectations, the majority does not have time to spend on polishing its sporting skills. The few who do follow their hearts, are often laid low due to the omnipresent financial restrictions.

Great Britain has broken its gold count record in modern-era Olympics and stands third in the table — from a single gold in Atlanta 1996 to 25 in London so far. Their World Class Performance Programme, financed in part by the National Lottery, has played its role with athletes receiving support of up to £55,000 (Rs8 million) per annum, at the development stage, in addition to a personal award that contributes towards living and personal sporting costs. While Pakistani authorities will not be able to match that, an investment and training programme, similar to what the cricket board has, will be the right launching pad. Investing in the athletes is a basic requirement as talent may bag medals at national and regional levels but without adequate nourishing, it simply labels you as mere participants at global events.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Olympics dream over for Pistorius</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419833/olympics-dream-over-for-pistorius</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419833/olympics-dream-over-for-pistorius#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 12 19:44:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419833</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Heartbreak for ‘blade runner’ in 4x400m relay.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Oscar Pistorius’ historic Olympic campaign ended yesterday as the South African team failed to complete their 4x400m relay heat after a dramatic fall.

Teammate Ofentse Mogawane crashed heavily on the final bend of the second leg as two-time Paralympian Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in Olympic athletics, waited to take the baton. Mogawane had moved South Africa up from seventh to fifth on the leg, but rounding the bend into the final stretch, he ran into the back of Kenyan Vincent Kiilu and both came to grief.

Pistorius put his hands to his head, walked to the side of the track and sank to his knees, staring down the straight. Mogawane received medical attention and left clutching his left shoulder.

“It’s very disappointing, especially coming off second place in the world championships last year,” said Pistorius, who runs on specially constructed carbon fibre blades. “We’re pretty gutted. We’ve been training as a group for the last five or six years.

“It’s so hard, especially with the crowd being so amazing and there being so much support back home.”

Pistorius, 25, who had only learned on the eve of the relay he would be running in his preferred third leg spot, made history last Saturday when he made his Olympics debut in the individual 400m.

The South African, who had both his legs amputated below the knee before he was one, because of a congenital condition, had fought a long battle to be allowed to compete.

Pistorius competed in the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Olympics failure: Cut hockey funds and help other sports, says chef de mission</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419830/olympics-failure-cut-hockey-funds-and-help-other-sports-says-chef-de-mission</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419830/olympics-failure-cut-hockey-funds-and-help-other-sports-says-chef-de-mission#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 12 19:26:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.hussain]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419830</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Aqil Shah wants equal distribution of finances.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan contingent will be returning home empty-handed from the Olympics for the fifth time in a row and the country’s chef de mission, Aqil Shah, suggested a more equitable share of resources for all athletes, while lamenting the attention that hockey got for the mega event.

Shah called for a cut in the funds allocated to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and asked for focus to be put on other associations that are capable of winning medals.

“We’re spending way too much money on hockey,” Shah told The Express Tribune from London.  “The PHF received a funding of Rs500 million from the government while assistance for other federations was minimal. Despite getting so much money, we failed to win a medal. We’ve clinched medals in wrestling and boxing in the past. But how can athletes perform when they don’t even have the money to eat the prescribed diet.

“Similarly our karate players don’t have money to buy proper kits. This difference between sports needs to end with an equal distribution of funds. A medal is a medal whether it’s through hockey or from a discus throw. What I feel is if had we spent equally, we could have earned better results than this.”

Shah ponders formation of ‘sports body’ 

The official, who is also the Khyber-Pakthunkhwa sports minister, said he was mulling to form a sports authority in the country.

“We will be working for its formation after the Olympics. The purpose will be promotion of sports through an equal distribution of funds. The sports bodies or sports ministries are not getting equal or enough funds from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

“This body will include sports ministers of all the provinces as its core members to ensure transparency. I have faith that our chances to end the drought of Olympic medals will get better by ensuring equal distribution of funds. What I want is a different result in Rio 2016 than what we got in London.”

Pakistan took part in four disciplines this year as it received wild-card entries for shooting, swimming and athletics, while the hockey team qualified for the mega event after winning the Asian Games. Pakistan’s last medal in the Olympics was its hockey bronze in 1992.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>At least we did better than India: Pakistan coach</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419829/at-least-we-did-better-than-india-pakistan-coach</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419829/at-least-we-did-better-than-india-pakistan-coach#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 12 19:19:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.hussain]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419829</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Junaid satisfied with 7th position after Greenshirts beat Korea 3-2 in classification match.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan edged out South Korea 3-2 to finish seventh in the hockey event of the London Olympics – an improvement on Beijing 2008 by one place – and coach Khawaja Junaid saw consolation in India’s misery who will be fighting for the 11th spot.


The win also brought Pakistan’s participation in the Olympics to an end after its shooting, swimming and athletics campaign ended at the first hurdle.

Meanwhile, in the hockey event, Pakistan beat Argentina and South Africa besides drawing against Spain. However, heavy losses against GB and Australia cost the team dearly and it failed to progress to the knockouts.

Coach happy with Asian domination 

Meanwhile, while Pakistan coach Khwaja Junaid lamented the team’s failure to qualify for the semi-finals, he remained satisfied after it maintained its continental domination.

“At least we return as the best-ranked Asians,” Junaid told The Express Tribune from London. “Korea finished eighth, while India will be avoiding a bottom-place finish. This has proved our Asian supremacy which we gained with a gold medal at the Asian Games two year ago.”

Junaid was especially pleased after Pakistan finished ahead of traditional rivals India.

“There’s always a sort of competition against India and finishing ahead of them is a respite. We were going well before the match against GB. Australians were favourites but we had a chance of winning against Britain. But there are no excuses for the huge loss against Australia as the players totally failed against them.”

He added that the team deserved to play the fifth-sixth position match. However,  he said he was satisfied with the team’s performance. “We did well and our future is bright in the game.” The Greenshirts are scheduled to return home on August 14.

Stage comeback against Korea 

Meanwhile, in the classification match, Pakistan conceded two goals as South Koreans dominated the proceedings early in the first half.

However, the Greenshirts kept their cool and scored three successive goals to win the match. Mohammad Waqas reduced the lead before Abdul Haseem Khan equalised. Former captain Mohammad Imran then scored the decisive goal through a brilliant flick on a penalty-corner to seal the 3-2 win.

More Olympians join chorus of revamp  

Back home, Olympians have lamented Pakistan’s seventh finish, calling for a complete overhaul in the team.

“We cannot progress under this set up,” said Shahnaz Sheikh. “This federation got enough time and now they should give other people a chance.”

Olympian Manzoor junior said major changes were required to improve Pakistan’s world rankings.

“Finishing seventh does not make much difference. We have not shown any improvement in four years. There should be a complete overhaul.”

New Zealand finish ninth

In another play-off, New Zealand beat Argentina 3-1 to finish ninth. South Africa and India will play the 11th-place play-off, while Spain and Belgium will compete for fifth place tomorrow.

DECISION

Abbas not to retire, says agent

Pakistan hockey captain Sohail Abbas will not be retiring anytime soon, confirmed his agent following the team’s seventh-place finish in the London Olympics.

Abbas, who was appointed captain for the Azlan Shah Cup and then the Olympics, proved to a major disappointment in London and currently stands at 348 goals, a world record. While Abbas vowed to carry on, Pakistan’s Waseem Ahmed confirmed his decision to retire with immediate effect.

Khwaja Junaid

“We were going well before the match against Great Britain. We had a chance of beating them as well. But there are no excuses for the loss against Australia. There’s always a sort of competition against India and finishing ahead of them is a respite. We did well and our future is bright.”

Shahnaz Sheikh

“We cannot progress under the current PHF set up. This federation has gotten enough time to improve Pakistan hockey and they’ve failed to do so. It is time that they step down and other competent people be given a chance so that the country can regain its lost glory.”

Islahuddin

“Pakistan only won two matches in their group games and these victories came against lower-ranked competitors — Argentina and South Africa. We failed to perform against major teams – Great Britain and Australia – and that showed there’s no progress.”

Samiullah

“This team finished eighth in Beijing and it finished seventh in London. It’s time for the team management to step down. A team, under a new set up, should be prepared for the 2014 World Cup and Asian Games. Seniors should be honoured for their achievements and then be shown the door.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan finish 7th in London Olympics hockey after defeating South Korea</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419719/pakistan-finish-7th-in-london-olympics-hockey-after-defeating-south-korea</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419719/pakistan-finish-7th-in-london-olympics-hockey-after-defeating-south-korea#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 12 12:32:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419719</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Current position is a rank higher than in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan triumphed over South Korea 3-2 in the Olympics classification match for the 7th and 8th positions, Express News reported on Thursday.

Team Green is now ranked 7th in the London Olympics hockey, a rank higher than its position in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

South Korea scored the first goal of the match in the starting few minutes however, Pakistan soon levelled it. South Korea was leading with two goals by the end of the first half.

Waqas, Muhammad Imran and Abdul Haseem scored one goal each in today’s match, sealing Pakistan’s fate for the overall ranking.

Pakistan had failed to qualify for the semi-finals after world champions Australia defeated them 7-0 in a do-or-die battle.

The national team had earlier drawn its inaugural match against Spain 1-1, won the second match against Argentina 2-0, lost against Great Britain 4-1 and defeated South Africa 5-4.]]>
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			<title>Seven Cameroon athletes missing from London Olympics</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419689/seven-cameroon-athletes-missing-from-london-olympics</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419689/seven-cameroon-athletes-missing-from-london-olympics#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 12 06:57:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419689</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Group was made up of five boxers, one swimmer and one woman football player.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Seven Cameroon athletes have disappeared while at the London Olympics and, although their visas remain valid, British police have been informed, a spokeswoman for Games organisers LOCOG said Wednesday. 

The Cameroon team informed LOCOG that the competitors had left the Athletes' Village on the Olympic Park and asked for assistance in tracking them down, spokeswoman Jackie Brock-Doyle said.

"They have been reported as missing but they have visas to stay in this country until November, so right now they haven't done anything wrong," she said.

The state daily Cameroon Tribune reported that the group was made up of five boxers, one swimmer and one woman football player.

The head of Cameroon's Olympics delegation, David Ojong, was quoted as saying that seven of Cameroon's 28-member delegation had "defected".

A member of Cameroon's footballing federation, which the missing footballer belongs to, criticised the athletes for using their sporting clubs as "immigration gateways".

Athletes "have the right to their dreams. They have the right to provide themselves with the means to realise those dreams, but they must not use money from the state of Cameroon to do it," footballing federation spokesman and marketing head Junior Benyam said.

He called the athletes' disappearance a "flagrant violation of the regulations governing the operation of national teams".

Herve Emmanuel Nkom, the ex-manager of Cameroon soccer team Dynamo de Douala who is now a politician, said the incident was indicative of a broader problem in Cameroon sports.

"Sport is sick in Cameroon," he said. "I'm sad, but also I understand. These youngsters, for various reasons, wanted to see their sport flourish elsewhere."

The sports ministry of the west African country and its high commission in London both declined to comment, as did London's Metropolitan police.

Cameroon has not won any medals at the London Games, which end on Sunday.]]>
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			<title>Gymnastics: Zou unfazed by elusive 6th gold</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419348/gymnastics-zou-unfazed-by-elusive-6th-gold</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419348/gymnastics-zou-unfazed-by-elusive-6th-gold#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 12 22:27:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419348</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The gymnast claimed his fifth gold by retaining his men’s floor title.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Zou Kai gave his performances in London a positive evaluation after falling just short in his quest to become the first Chinese sportsperson to win six Olympic gold medals.


The gymnast claimed his fifth gold by retaining his men’s floor title, having earlier helped China to glory in the men’s team final, but had to make do with a bronze medal in high bar final.

Although he failed to add another gold medal to his collection, Zou said he was pleased by his overall display. “Every competition feels the same, but I felt a lot less of a burden about getting gold,” said Zou. “I’m very satisfied with these results. I’ve won two golds and one bronze medal. I can’t win them all.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Track cycling: Hoy makes it six gold medals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419350/track-cycling-hoy-makes-it-six-gold-medals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419350/track-cycling-hoy-makes-it-six-gold-medals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 12 22:23:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419350</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Meares ends Pendleton reign as GB dominate cycling events.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Chris Hoy brought the curtain down on Britain’s dominant track cycling campaign in style but Australia’s Anna Meares denied Victoria Pendleton a golden farewell.

Hoy’s second gold of the Games gave him his sixth Olympic title from a career which began with silver in Sydney, and sees him surpass Steve Redgrave as Britain’s most successful Olympian. It took the virtually unstoppable British track team’s gold tally to an impressive seven from 10 finals, equalling their record haul from Beijing.

Had it not been for Meares, it could well have been eight. The 29-year-old Australian came into the Games dreaming of beating her nemesis Pendleton, the defending Olympic and six-time world champion, on the biggest stage of them all. And in a controversial but enthralling sprint final, the Queenslander outfoxed the 31-year-old Englishwoman in the second race after Pendleton had been relegated after winning a close first duel win for an infringement.

Hoy, meanwhile, went off to consider his future on a rather cheerier note after dominating the keirin field to defend his title from Beijing, having won the team sprint last week. The 36-year-old Scot passed Redgrave’s tally of five gold medals, all of which were won in consecutive Games.

“I’m 99.9% sure that I won’t be in Rio,” said Hoy. “This is the perfect end to my Olympic career. I feel amazing. I’m relieved that it’s over.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Hockey: Hapless India slammed by former players</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419349/hockey-hapless-india-slammed-by-former-players</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419349/hockey-hapless-india-slammed-by-former-players#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 12 22:21:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419349</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[8-time winners finish group campaign without a win.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[India did not deserve to be part of the Olympics field hockey after the eight-time gold medallists were condemned to their poorest finish ever, according to former players.

India lost all five group matches and will take on South Africa for the last two places in the 12-nation competition - lower than their previous worst of eighth position at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

“This team did not deserve to be in the Olympics,” said former international Mohammad Shahid. “They have let the whole nation down.”

India, who won their last Olympic hockey gold in 1980, failed to qualify for the Beijing Games four years ago and needed to win a qualifying event at home in New Delhi to make the trip to London. Ranked 10th in the world, India were never serious contenders for the semi-finals, but even skipper and goal-keeper Bharat Chetri was stunned at the total meltdown in the ongoing Games.

“We didn’t play as a team,” said Chetri. “Every match we went down and down. The morale is totally low. We are not defending, neither are we scoring. We have to learn more hockey and improve a lot.”

India’s coach Michael Nobbs, who took over last year, escaped criticism which was mainly directed at the players.

“The players have been given a lot of exposure, they can’t blame anyone for their performance,” said the 1975 World Cup winning captain Ajitpal Singh.

India were the only team in the competition which failed to gain a point, scoring just six goals against 18 conceded.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Athletics: Pakistan seek IAAF’s help</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419347/athletics-pakistan-seek-iaaf%e2%80%99s-help</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419347/athletics-pakistan-seek-iaaf%e2%80%99s-help#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 12 22:12:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419347</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Athletics federation wants guidance from world body.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) President Akram Sahi has asked for assistance from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), urging the sport’s governing body to help the country flourish at the international stage.

Sahi met the IAAF President Lamine Diack in London, adding that the guidance from the body will go a long way in helping Pakistan athletes who have put on a disappointing show at the Olympics. Liaqat Ali and Rabia Ashiq failed to progress from their first test in the 100m sprint and 800m event respectively.

“I’ve told him that we want to send our sprinters to Jamaica, long-runners to Kenya and hurdlers to China to allow them to train in world class facilities,” said Sahi told The Express Tribune. “He was very forthcoming and directed the world body’s training officials to meet for extensive deliberations.”

He added that Diack has also asked him to promote athletics on a grass-root level in Pakistan, while also assuring assistance at the international stage.

“I’m also trying to meet officials of Jamaica and Kenya because all athletes from all over the world want to train with them while there are other countries in my mind as well.”

Sahi, who also went to London on a personal visit with an aim to see national athletes participate in the Games, met officials from other countries to share the vision of improving athletics in Pakistan. He said that a meeting with IAAF officials will be followed by officials from other countries also talking at length about the topic before he returns to Pakistan on August 13.

Meanwhile, when asked about the performance of Pakistani athletes Liaqat and Rabia, he said that he was disappointed by both.

“Both kids have disappointed me because I was expecting better performances. They failed to raise their game at the big stage.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Campaign not a failure: hockey coach</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419345/campaign-not-a-failure-hockey-coach</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419345/campaign-not-a-failure-hockey-coach#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 12 22:10:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.hussain]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419345</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Junaid insists Greenshirts on the right track to regain lost glory.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Dismissing calls from various quarters to offer his resignation and be held accountable for Pakistan’s dismal Olympics campaign, the team management defended the team’s performance with coach Khwaja Junaid insisting it did ‘reasonably well’.


Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals after suffering two losses in their group — a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Great Britain before Australia recorded a thumping 7-0 victory to seal the Greenshirts’ fate. In a repeat of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the three-time gold medallists will play for seventh place today, a match they lost four years ago to eventually finish eighth.

Various Olympians including former greats, citing a lack of progress, have demanded resignations from the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) top officials, team management and selection committee. While all the team officials were contracted until
the Olympics, Junaid expressed his interest to continue as coach.

“The PHF is the one that will need to decide my future,” Junaid told The Express Tribune while responding to the resignation calls. “While it was a setback that we failed to qualify for the semi-finals, I don’t see our campaign as a total failure. We played well against Spain who are ranked higher than us.  We also did well against Argentina and South Africa who are also a force to be reckoned with.”

Junaid, who was a part of Pakistan’s 1992 Olympics team that won bronze, also took a shot at former players, saying they should review the performance of the team when they were in-charge.

“Many Olympians who are making noise right now had their chances. The team failed miserably under them and faced heavy defeats even against weaker opponents. At least we have maintained our position.”

Pakistan favourites for World Cup

Meanwhile, Junaid urged the fans not to lose heart on the missed opportunity of winning at the Olympics after two decades.

“We’re in a rebuilding phase while the other top teams are playing with experienced players. These players will not be able to play the 2014 World Cup and till then our youngsters will have ample experience and start as favourites.”

I didn’t have much time: Rasool

On the other hand, Pakistan team manager and head coach Akhtar Rasool distanced himself from the team’s performance, saying that he did not have ample time to get the best out of the players.

Rasool, who sounded a confident tone ahead of the event and added that the team’s preparations had been good, said, “I had little time. It was very difficult to form an outstanding team in a short period of four months.”
However, critics have rubbished the excuse saying the Olympian should not have accepted the responsibility if he had little time. Rasool replaced Dutch coach Michel Van den Heuvel who was sacked by the PHF for breaching his contract’s code of conduct.
Chief selector not seeking contract renewal

The PHF chief selector Hanif Khan will not seek a renewal to his contract that expires at the conclusion of the London Olympics.

“I am pondering over my future,” the Olympian told The Express Tribune. “It’s most likely that I will not seek a renewal as the chief selector. I wasn’t interested even before I took over and it was only at PHF’s insistence that I agreed.”

He added that he was ready to share the blame for Pakistan’s failure for reaching the semi-finals.

‘Major overhaul required’

However, Hanif said an overhaul was required, calling for a review of the team structure as well.
“All the seniors irrespective of their stature should be shown the door. There should be places for young players only who are the team’s future. The PHF must expel players like Sohail Abbas, Shakeel Abbasi, Waseem Ahmed and Rehan Butt.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Olympics: Rabia unable to make an impression either</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419344/olympics-rabia-unable-to-make-an-impression-either</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419344/olympics-rabia-unable-to-make-an-impression-either#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 12 22:07:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[nabeel.hashmi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419344</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[800m runner fails to progress after finishing her heat in 6th position.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan’s hockey match against Korea for seventh place will be the country’s final representation in the London Olympics after its second athlete, the 800m runner Rabia Ashiq, was knocked out of the event as she finished a disappointing sixth in her heat.

Rabia’s timing, a 2:17:39, was seven seconds slower than her personal best as South African star Caster Semenya moved a step closer to adding the Olympic title as she eased into the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Rabia said that she was pleased with her show that saw her finish the track 17 seconds slower than the winner of the heat. She dispelled the notion that the Mondo track, which is being used in London, was easy to run on as it required more power and energy compared to the tartan track that they were used to.

“I’m happy with my timing in the race because I only had a week to get used to the track conditions and the girls in my heat were very quick,” Rabia told The Express Tribune.

“I put in everything I could in the first round to keep up with the pace but that extra yard of sprint took a lot of energy out of me. The gap widened a lot during the second lap and that de-motivated me.”

The Lahore-based athlete left for the mega event with an aim to break the national record of 2:08:04, set by her mentor Parveen but was pleased with the experience she gained while in London.

“For me the Olympics were okay because it wasn’t just about the experience. I wanted to break the national record. Now I’ll shift my focus to the SAF Games.”

Saudi woman takes slow lane into history

Meanwhile, middle distance runner Sarah Attar made history, becoming the first female athlete to represent Saudi Arabia in Olympics track and field — but limped home a distant last in
her heat.

Attar timed 2:44:95 in heat six of round one of the 800m, nearly 44 seconds behind Kenya’s Janeth Busienei (2:01.04). Wearing a white hood, long-sleeved green top and black leggings, the 19-year-old student described appearing in the Olympics as ‘an incredible experience’. (With additional input from afp)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Olympics blues</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419286/olympics-blues</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419286/olympics-blues#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 12 18:26:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419286</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan hockey confirmed its status as a mere participant in the London Olympics.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As the false hopes brought to life by the thrilling 5-4 comeback win over South Africa were brutally put back to sleep by the Australians, Pakistan hockey confirmed its status as a mere participant in the London Olympics. While the team carried medal hopes for the country — hope, rather than credible aims — Pakistan’s national sport, once again, failed to add to its tally of eight Olympics medals, the last one being the bronze won in 1992. Pakistan’s lead-up to the Games reeked disaster — sacking of the Dutch coach less than five months before the Olympics, seniors punished for exercising their rights of earning an honest living, alarm bells falling on deaf ears after an embarrassing Azlan Shah Cup sojourn, as well as defeats in the pre-London warm-ups.

The Asian Games triumph in 2010 gave the Pakistan Hockey Federation breathing space, sweeping the glaring decline in rank and performance into temporary oblivion. But the show in London, where the team was found lacking in every department, brought reality back into play. The defence was in tatters, the goalkeeper had a tournament to forget, there was no link-up between the midfield and the forwards and, the biggest concern shown by critics, the finishing was non-existent.

The golden days are buried but Pakistan hockey, eighth in Beijing 2008, is not even on a road to recovery. The seniors were brought back into the side to add to the hopes but the results were not achieved. The journey that started with a commendable 1-1 draw against Spain has ended in a disaster. The Greenshirts will take on South Korea today for seventh place, aptly depicting the complete lack of progress in the last four years. It was not just the colour of the turf but the Olympics blues that hit us hard. The gulf in class was loud enough for the officials to take notice. Unless priorities are changed and emphasis is put solely on the improvement of the sport, Rio 2016 has the makings of another disaster.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan's Olympic dream comes to an end as Rabia Ashiq bows out</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419193/pakistans-olympic-dream-comes-to-an-end-as-rabia-ashiq-bows-out</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/419193/pakistans-olympic-dream-comes-to-an-end-as-rabia-ashiq-bows-out#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 12 11:32:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=419193</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rabia Ashiq was the last one to reach the finish line in the 800m race.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan’s last hope of bringing an Olympic medal home was lost after Rabia Ashiq was the last one to reach the finish line in the 800m race, Express News reported on Wednesday.

Ashiq could only manage 2:17, the last in her heat. The athlete’s personal best stands at 2:10, which she recorded at the Asian Grand Prix in May.

The female runner had told The Express Tribune that she was training hard and was looking forward to the competition.

Ashiq was one of the two runners from Pakistan participating in the London Olympics. Sprinter Liaqat Ali, the other Pakistani runner, made a quick exit from the men’s 100m as he finished fourth in the preliminary round and was unable to progress into the heats.]]>
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			<title>Triathlon: Brownlee brothers win gold, bronze</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418774/triathlon-brownlee-brothers-win-gold-bronze</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418774/triathlon-brownlee-brothers-win-gold-bronze#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 12 20:45:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418774</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Alistair, 24, was among the leaders from the outset and he seized gold with a blistering run.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[British favourite Alistair Brownlee shattered pre-race warnings of plots to stop him as he stormed to victory in the Olympic triathlon, with his younger brother Jonny finishing third.

Spain’s Javier Gomez finished second, 11 seconds off the winner, after the 1.5km swim, 43km bike-ride and 10km run.

The Brownlees’ rivals had formed alliances aimed at breaking their dominance but Alistair, 24, was among the leaders from the outset and he seized gold with a blistering run. Alistair clocked one hour 45 minutes 25 seconds for the race while his brother, forced to serve a time penalty for mounting his bike too early, held on to third as he finished 31 seconds behind.


Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Olympics: Bolt jogs through his 200m heats</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418782/olympics-bolt-jogs-through-his-200m-heats</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418782/olympics-bolt-jogs-through-his-200m-heats#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 12 20:38:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418782</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sprint king looking forward to his ‘favourite event’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Imperious Usain Bolt eased through the first round of the Olympic 200m as the Jamaican took the next step towards a sprint double after having already retained his 100m title in style.

Reigning champion Bolt showed no signs of fatigue as he ran the bend hard before relaxing in the home straight and strode over the line to win in 20.39s in the first heat.

“This was an easy run, I am enjoying it,” said Bolt. “This is my favourite event so I am looking forward to it.”

His main challenger for the 200m, Yohan Blake, also negotiated his passage into the next round with ease, as the Jamaican, who took the silver behind Bolt in the short sprint, won his heat in 20.38s. Blake said it was possible Bolt’s three-year-old world record of 19.19s could be under threat in the later rounds.

“The track is fast and Usain is fast so anything is possible,” said Blake.

European challenger Christophe Lemaitre of France also went through after winning his heat in 20.34s. The challenge for the US will come from Wallace Spearmon, who qualified second in his heat, while his US teammate Maurice Mitchell also went through with a time of 20.54s to win his heat.

Bolt stormed to the 100m gold medal on Sunday in an Olympic record 9.63s, the second fastest time in history, as he banished any doubts about his form following an inconsistent season.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>‘Officials, selectors and coaches must all resign’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418775/%e2%80%98officials-selectors-and-coaches-must-all-resign%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418775/%e2%80%98officials-selectors-and-coaches-must-all-resign%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 12 20:35:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.hussain]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418775</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Former hockey players come down hard after Olympics failure.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan’s thrashing at the hands of Australia that put the Greenshirts out of the medals race has forced former players and Olympians to demand resignations from the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) top brass.

The Olympians have asked the PHF President Qasim Zia and secretary Asif Bajwa, as well as the selection committee and the team management, to take the blame and step down.

“We are standing exactly where we were in Beijing four years ago,” former captain Qamar Zia told The Express Tribune. “The federation’s policies have failed to yield results and now they should resign to give the country’s hockey a new start. This setup is not capable of delivering the goods and that has been proved by the team’s results under them. We will once again feature in a position match like we did four years ago while the pain of a bottom-place finish in the World Cup is still fresh.”

Government should interfere: Ibrahim 

Meanwhile, another Olympian Qamar Ibrahim said that the repeated blunders by the PHF think-tank deprived the team of a podium finish.

“They’ve committed countless blunders,” said Ibrahim. “For instance, the decision to keep just one goal-keeper in the squad was suicidal and cost the team dearly. Shahid Ali Khan, the goal-keeping coach, is the same man under whom Pakistan finished bottom in the World Cup. The PHF is making a mockery of the national game by obliging its favourites. This whole set-up should be abolished.

“There is still hope and the the government should take action before it is too late.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Hockey: Routed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418769/hockey-routed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418769/hockey-routed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 12 20:27:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.hussain]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418769</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Hapless Pakistan fall to a 7-0 loss against Australia to crash out of semi-final race.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[It seemed like the World Champions were gifted a club-like opposition – Pakistan fell behind against Australia in the second minute and there was no respite for them until the 70th.


The 7-0 rout sealed Australia’s progress to the semi-finals and condemned Pakistan to a position match, the haplessness visible on their faces and minds as they trudged off the field after their biggest Olympics defeat.

Australia scored four goals in the first half and added three more ahead of their knockout clash against Germany. Chris Ciriello was the chief tormentor with a brace, while M Knowles, J Dwyer, R Ford, G Turner and L De Young were the other goal scorers. It was a poor performance from Pakistan who, despite creating a couple of chances, failed to pose any real threat.

Goal-keeper Imran Shah, preferred over the experienced Salman Akbar, had a day to forget as Pakistan concluded the group stage conceding 16 goals in five matches. Pakistan also failed to take a single penalty-corner in the important clash.

Blunders caused heavy defeat: Junaid            

Pakistan coach Khwaja Junaid said his players displayed a below-par performance in the match.

“They did not play up to their potential,” Junaid told The Express Tribune from the Riverbank Arena in London after the loss. “They failed to execute the plan and kept on repeating their mistakes. You can’t expect mercy from the world champions by making things easy for them. We failed in proper passing that cost us heavily. We failed in all departments.

“It’s possible that the team failed to sustain the pressure of the crunch game against the world champions.”

However, Junaid hoped for a better finish from his team than the last Olympics. Pakistan are to play a classification match, a situation that will get clear after the match against Spain and Great Britain which was due to start later on Tuesday.

‘Defence let us down’

Meanwhile, after conceding seven goals in the final game, chief selector and Olympian Hanif Khan stated the obvious – blaming the ‘fallen defence’.

“It was total humiliation,” said Khan. “This defeat has ruined the team’s overall satisfactory show in the event. It all happened because of poor defence and lack of planning from the team management. All we needed was to contain Australia till the opening quarter through solid defence.  This is what I was yelling about before the match.”

Dutch top pool

Meanwhile, the Netherlands defeated South Korea 4-2 to top their pool with a fifth successive win which also allowed defending champions Germany to enter the semi-finals.

Netherlands, assured of a semi-final spot before Tuesday’s game, spiked a late rally from Asia Cup holders South Korea to complete an all-win record in the preliminary round-robin league. The Dutch emulated their women’s team, which on Monday stormed into the semi-finals by winning all five matches.

Netherlands finished with 15 points, while the defeat shattered South Korea’s hopes of staying in contention. The Koreans finished on six points from five matches. South Korea’s loss meant Germany, who have nine points from four games, will finish second in the group irrespective of the result in their last pool match against New Zealand. (with additional input from AFP)

Hanif Khan

“This defeat against Australia has ruined the team’s overall satisfactory performance in the Olympics. It all happened because of poor defence and lack of planning from the team management.”

Khwaja Junaid

“The team did not play up to their true potential, they failed to execute their plans and you cannot expect mercy from world champions Australia by making things easier for them.”

View a slideshow of the match here. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>After heavy defeat, ex-Olympian fears for future of hockey in Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418810/after-heavy-defeat-ex-olympian-fears-for-future-of-hockey-in-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418810/after-heavy-defeat-ex-olympian-fears-for-future-of-hockey-in-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 12 17:28:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418810</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Former Olympian and World Cup winners lament the fall in standards of Pakistan hockey.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Former Pakistan hockey captain Islahuddin Siddique expressed his concerned for the future of the game in Pakistan after the national men’s team crashed out of the Olympics on Tuesday after being comprehensively beaten 7-0 by Australia, BBC news reported.

Pakistan needed to win Tuesday's match to get to the semi-finals, and a real shot at a medal. But the team from down under was in an unforgiving mood.

It is noteworthy that the national team had also finished at the bottom of their group in the 2010 World Cup, compounding Siddique’s stated concerns.

"If you are losing, losing, losing, people don't want to come and play hockey," he told the BBC.

"It was really disappointing because Australia beat Pakistan by a tennis score. We used to win by five, six seven goals and now we are losing by the same score. Everyone wants to see the Pakistan flag high and for Pakistan to win the title. Everyone understands hockey it is our national game and with this result, I think everyone is annoyed."

The national men’s hockey team has had a rich history at the Olympics, having won eight medals including gold at the 1960, 1968 and 1984 games. But Siddique, who won 130 caps for Pakistan scoring 117 goals, feels the team is falling further behind rival countries.

Having led the national side to a World Cup, Siddique said, "not reaching the last four is very disappointing for Pakistan hockey. Other teams are playing very high skill hockey and Pakistan must improve. We need some surgery and we need some good infrastructure in hockey."

Talking to the BBC, the hockey team manager Akhtar Chaudhry criticised the team for their defeat, saying, “the midfield was totally abolished and the forwards totally failed to win a single penalty corner."

"Because of this bad play Pakistan lost 7-0."

The former world cup winner said that the drubbing constituted as one of the "worst game and I have never seen Pakistan play like this before in my 47-year career."]]>
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			<title>Olympics 2012: Pakistan lose 7-0 to Australia</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418702/pakistan-lose-7-0-to-australia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418702/pakistan-lose-7-0-to-australia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 12 11:49:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418702</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Australia now lead Pool A and have qualified for the semi-finals.]]>
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				<![CDATA[World champions Australia defeated Pakistan 7-0 in a do-or-die battle for both the teams playing men’s Olympic hockey in London on Tuesday.

Australia now lead Pool A and have qualified for the semi-finals.

Pakistan had earlier defeated South Africa 5-4, raising its chances of securing a semi-final berth. However, this defeat shakes Pakistan’s Olympics dream.

Team Green had earlier drawn its inaugural match against Spain 1-1, won the second match against Argentina 2-0 and lost against Great Britain 4-1.

Hockey legend Olympian Hasan Sardar had called Pakistan’s match with Australia a tough test and said that to win against them, it would require performance from each and every player of the team.

Another legendary Olympian Samiullah had said that there is little hope for the underdogs to beat the Australians or either pull a draw as Australia is undoubtedly the best team playing in the tournament.]]>
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			<title>Glory can spark more success: Andy Murray</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418327/glory-can-spark-more-success-andy-murray</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418327/glory-can-spark-more-success-andy-murray#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 12 19:08:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418327</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Britain’s Murray believes Olympic triumph is the stepping stone]]>
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				<![CDATA[Britain’s Andy Murray believes his Olympic triumph in the men’s singles event will provide the perfect springboard to break his Grand Slam drought.

Murray produced the performance of a lifetime to win his first Olympic gold medal with a crushing 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 demolition of world number one Roger Federer in the men’s final on Sunday at the centre court of Wimbledon. The 25-year-old Scot’s astonishing display avenged his heart-breaking Wimbledon final defeat against the Swiss maestro Federer last month, but more importantly for Murray it provided concrete evidence that he can win these kinds of high-stakes encounters with the best players of the world.

Murray has been beaten in four Grand Slam finals and some suggested the world number four was destined to be remembered as a nearly-man who fell short of the standards set by Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. But the win was the perfect preparation ahead of the US Open later this month.

“It will help with the way I go into this kind of a high-profile match,” said Murray. “Come US Open time I hope this victory will have given me the confidence I need to go in there and believe in myself a bit more. I have lost some tough matches in the past and I’ve had a lot of questions asked about me many times. So I’m just glad I managed to put on a good performance I’ve been waiting for.

“It was quite a strange feeling for me because after the Wimbledon final I was really so overly emotional, not only after I left the court, but for the next couple of days after the match. This time I felt surprisingly calm during and after the final.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Hockey: Australians not invincible, says Junaid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418325/hockey-australians-not-invincible-says-junaid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418325/hockey-australians-not-invincible-says-junaid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 12 19:02:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.hussain]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418325</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mood upbeat in Greenshirts’ hockey camp ahead of crucial clash today.]]>
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				<![CDATA[A win against Australia today is what the Pakistan hockey team needs to qualify for the Olympics semi-finals.

The Greenshirts, who made an emphatic comeback after a drubbing at the hands of Great Britain (GB) with a 5-4 win over South Africa, are confident ahead of the crucial clash against the opponents, yet to lose in the event. Pakistan are placed third with seven points, ahead of Spain on goal-difference, while Australia and GB occupy the first and second places respectively.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan team management was keeping things simple.

“We know we need a win and we’re going for it,” Pakistan coach Khwaja Junaid told The Express Tribune. “They are tough and mighty but not invincible. They were held by GB after a 3-0 lead and this shows they’re vulnerable. Our players have regained confidence after the South Africa win.”  The last two encounters between the two sides in 2011 saw contrasting results with Pakistan edging out Australia 4-3 in a four-nation final, while the defeat was avenged with a 6-1 thrashing in the Champions Trophy a month later in December.

‘Pakistan must play in Asian style’ 

Meanwhile, former captain Islahuddin Siddiqui said that aggression may help Pakistan shock the world champions.

“The team should play attacking hockey — the Asian style,” said Islahuddin. “They should try to dominate them from the start. But the team also needs to improve their defence.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2012.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Olympics: Rabia’s coach hopes for an easy start</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418326/olympics-rabia%e2%80%99s-coach-hopes-for-an-easy-start</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418326/olympics-rabia%e2%80%99s-coach-hopes-for-an-easy-start#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 12 18:58:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[nabeel.hashmi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418326</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Much will depend on the competition she faces in the heat, says Parveen.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Bushra Parveen, Pakistan’s athletics coach accompany the two-person squad in London, believes that Rabia Ashiq’s chances of doing well in the 800m run depend on the kind of competition she faces in her heat.

After a disappointing finish by the 100m sprinter Liaqat Ali, the focus has shifted to Rabia who will be competing in the heat tomorrow. While the runner left for the Games with a target of breaking the national record (2:08:04), set by Parveen, the athlete’s personal best currently stands at 2:10:65 that she recorded at the Asian Grand Prix in May.

“Rabia’s performance will depend on her competitors as the competition level will give her extra motivation to do well,” Parveen told The Express Tribune before adding that the runner will need to control her nerves. “We thought Ali would do quite well but he disappointed us with a slow start, so I can’t predict anything. Rabia is very confident that she can set a new national record.”

The official stressed that the 800m runner has got plenty of time to get used to the conditions and the track compared to Ali and has a better chance of doing well.

Meanwhile, Rabia said that she has been training hard and was looking forward to the competition.

“My training has been good in London and I hope I do well in my event,” said Rabia.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>I am closer to being an Olympic legend: Usain Bolt</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418333/i-am-closer-to-being-an-olympic-legend-usain-bolt</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418333/i-am-closer-to-being-an-olympic-legend-usain-bolt#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 12 17:58:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418333</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[After the 100m gold, Bolt says 200m win will set him apart from everyone.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Usain Bolt raced to a repeat in the Olympic 100m and told compatriot and training partner Yohan ‘The Beast’ Blake to forget about an upset in the 200m.


The 25-year-old Bolt – world record holder in both the 100m and 200m – wants to retain the 200 title he won in Beijing, believing a second Olympic sprint double will seal his status as a Games legend. Bolt’s confidence was shaken by defeats at the hands of 22-year-old Blake, who won the world 100m title last year after Bolt was disqualified for a false start and beat Bolt in both the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican Olympic trials. Having risen to the occasion at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday, winning the 100m in dominant style over Blake and 2004 champion Justin Gatlin, Bolt said the 200m was his property.

“I’ve told Blake that the 200m will be different because that’s my pet event,” said Bolt. “I’m not going to let him beat me again. I’ve said that to him already.”

Bolt, who will also look to retain the 4x100m relay and may even compete in the 4x400m relay if he emerges from the 200m in good shape, said that winning the 100 had taken him one step nearer to the tag of legend. However, only a 200m victory, he said, would cement his claim to ‘greatest’ status.

“I think I have to wait until the 200m and then my fans have got to say ‘yes he is’ so I’m never going to say I’m the greatest until after my 200m.”

Bolt’s win in the 100 leaves Blake searching for consolation in the 200m, but Bolt said his younger team-mate had opened a Pandora’s Box with his victory at the Jamaican trials.

“Definitely the trials woke me up. Yohan gave me a wake-up call. He knocked on my door and said ‘Usain, this is Olympic year, wake up’ so I’m happy and I’m grateful for that moment because after that I refocused and I got my head together.”

Blake vows to roar again

Meanwhile, Blake, who could only claim silver in 9.75 seconds ahead of Justin Gatlin in 9.79 seconds, vowed to roar again, possibly in three more events.

“Usain is a world beater and he’s the fastest man in the world,” said Blake. “It’s my first Olympics and I won a silver medal. What more can I ask for? To be the second fastest man in the world behind Bolt is an honour.”

Blake, who received a three-month ban in 2009 for taking a drug that had a similar chemical structure to the banned tuaminoheptane, said that his Olympic adventure was far from over.

“No, it’s not mission over. I have the 200m, 4x100m and maybe 4x400m. We have the 200m coming up. I think it’s going to be an interesting one.”

Man arrested for throwing bottle on 100m track

Meanwhile, a man was in police custody after being arrested for throwing a bottle onto the track the second the men’s 100m final was about to start, according to London police.

The man shouted abuse then threw the bottle just as the showpiece final was about to get under way. As the starter called ‘set’ and the athletes rose to wait for the bang, the bottle landed behind the blocks in lane five, a few metres behind Blake. It came to a halt just as the sprinters set off.

“I was so focused I didn’t see anything,” said Blake. “I was so focused on just running to the line.”

The police spokesman told AFP that the man was arrested inside the Olympic Stadium ‘on suspicion of causing a public nuisance’.

“He had been heard to shout abuse and then threw a plastic bottle on to the track,” he said. “That was immediately prior to the start of the men’s 100m final. He remains in custody at an east London police station.”

US sprinter Justin Gatlin, who won bronze, said: “It was a little distraction and I didn’t know what it was. But when you’re in those blocks and the whole stadium’s quiet you can hear a pin drop.”

Gatlin said the incident had not affected the race.

“You just have to block it out and go out there and do what you got to do. You can’t complain about that, the race went on and it was a great race.”

Usain Bolt

“I have told Johan Blake that the 200m race will be different from the others because that’s my pet event. I am not going to let him beat me again in that race. I’ve said that to him already.”

Johan Blake

“It’s the first Olympics of my career and I won a silver medal in it. There is nothing more I could have asked for. To be the second fastest man in the world behind Bolt is an honour.”

Justin Gatlin

“It feels great to be back competing in the Olympics after eight long years. Just to come back and use my God-given talent of speed is special. I went out there and I did the best I could do.”

Dwain Chambers

“I wanted to do well in the race and get into the 100m final but  sadly I could not. I am happy to be here at the Games, I really am. I am gutted that I didn’t make the final but you can’t have it all.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>'For Olympics semi-final berth, Pakistan hockey has a tough test ahead'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418290/for-olympics-semi-final-berth-pakistan-hockey-has-a-tough-test-ahead</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418290/for-olympics-semi-final-berth-pakistan-hockey-has-a-tough-test-ahead#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 12 15:58:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[ppi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418290</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Defeating world champion Australia requires top performance from each and every player: Former Olympians]]>
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				<![CDATA[Hockey legend Olympian Hasan Sardar feels that there is a tough test ahead for the green-shirts when they face world champions Australia on Tuesday in a do-or-die battle. 

To conquer their opponents, Sardar believes that  performances from each player could earn a rare victory for Pakistan and a rarer Olympics semi-final berth.

"Each and every player must perform in the match to win against Australia," Sardar told PPI. "Pakistan plays well against Australians and there is a chance that eighth placed Pakistan could beat World No1 Australians in the last group match."

However, Sardar added that the match could be their toughest test yet and the defence must put on show their best and the forward-line should assist them to keep the Australians on tenterhooks by attacking frequently.

"The Pakistani defence did well in the first two matches but against Great Britain and South Africa, the defence looked disoriented. Meanwhile, forward-line also failed to support them well," he said.

The fact that the forward-line has started scoring field goals, Sardar believed it was a good sign going into the all important match.

"The players should go all out to win their match. Australians play open and attacking game like us and therefore our team will also have a good chance to beat the hot favourites," he said.

But the Australians will also be determined to win the match as they are also in dire need of three points to confirm their place in the semi-finals after drawing against hosts Great Britain.

Australia and Great Britain hold the top two positions in the group with eight points each while Pakistan are at third ahead of Spain and South Africa with seven points.

"We have defeated Argentina in the tournament and Argentina has drawn its match against Australia. So I think there is hope for us that our team beats Australia and qualifies for the semi-finals and let’s pray that our team win and qualify for the semi-finals," Hasan said.

Meanwhile, another legendary Olympian Samiullah said that there is little hope for the underdogs to beat the Australians or either pull a draw as Australia is undoubtedly the best team playing in the tournament.

"Fingers are crossed for the team but the chances are low as Australia is the best team competing in the tournament. In order to win, each player must give out their personal best to win the match," Samiullah said.]]>
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			<title>Memorable quotes from the London Olympics</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418275/memorable-quotes-from-the-london-olympics</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/418275/memorable-quotes-from-the-london-olympics#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 12 14:36:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=418275</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Following are some of the fun quotes from the London Olympics, from the city Mayor to Bill Gates.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Following are some of the fun and memorable quotes from the London Olympics:
"The headgear... it kept falling down over my eyes. Then my contacts fell out in the first round, so I was having to wait for my opponent to get a little closer so I could throw my shots."
Flyweight Rau'shee Warren, the first American boxer to compete in three Games, rues the latest loss in his eight-year Olympic losing streak.
"(I) grab the chimp by the scruff of the neck and get it into a box. I know their chimps really well."
Team GB's cycling "head" coach Steve Peters talks about helping athletes deal with mental "chimps" and "gremlins" to attain peak performance.
"I hope that this medal inspires the kids at home to put down guns and knives and pick up a pair of trainers instead. If they do that, I will be the happiest guy in the world."
Erick Barrondo, winner of Guatemala's first-ever Olympic medal with silver in the men's 20-kilometre race walk.
"My mother used to tell us in the mornings, 'Carl put on your shoes, Oscar you put on your prosthetic legs ...So I grew up not really thinking I had a disability. I grew up thinking I had different shoes."
South African runner Oscar Pistorius, nicknamed 'Blade Runner' because he races on carbon fibre prosthetic blades, talks about growing up playing sports with brother Carl.
"I understand it because the Chinese always win, and maybe some people think this not good for table tennis. I don't think so. We always win because we work much harder than the others."
Chinese women's table tennis coach Shi Zhihao gives his take on rules limiting each country to two players aimed at curbing China's domination of the sport. It was China versus China in the women's singles final.
"Good evening, Mr Bond."
The 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth makes her film debut in a clip with James Bond star Daniel Craig shown as part of the quirky opening ceremony.
"The female body is a masterpiece. Everyone likes to look at the female body, especially in dynamic, athletic sport."
Natalie Cook, gold medallist at Sydney in 2000, defends bikinis in beach volleyball.
"The excitement is growing so much I think the Geiger counter of Olympo-mania is going to go 'zoink' off the scale."
London Mayor Boris Johnson is characteristically effusive in summing up the mood at an Olympics concert in London's Hyde Park.
"There are many people who want to start rowing because I have come to the Olympic Games. We will start when I get back. We just have to wait for the boats to arrive."
Wildcard Niger rower Hamadou Djibo Issaka trained for just three months for the men's single sculls, but never in his landlocked and mostly desert country.
"When baby kicks, I will breathe in and breathe out and try to calm myself down and talk to baby: 'Behave yourself and help mummy to shoot!'"
Eight months pregnant, Malaysia's Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi later said she felt "three or four kicks" during 10-metre air rifle qualifying.
"My results come from hard work and training and I would never use any banned drugs. The Chinese people have clean hands."
Chinese swimming sensation Ye Shiwen brushes aside doping suspicions raised after the 16-year-old set a world record to win the women's 400-metre individual medley.
"Some of you will be baffled, I can guarantee it ... I hope you enjoy that kind of Liquorice Allsorts of things. Many of you won't understand that reference, either."
Director Danny Boyle prepares international journalists for the opening ceremony he devised.
"Having been soundly beaten by Ariel since she was nine, I can certainly attest to her talent."
Billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is humbled by Ariel Hsing, the now 16-year-old US women's table tennis player who calls him "Uncle Bill".
"Had I won the gold medal, I would have retired."
Roger Bannister, famous for running a mile in under four minutes in 1954, reveals he might have quit two years earlier had he not missed out on the medals at the Helsinki Olympics.
"I said 'The medal is there, we have to take it'. I had a super feeling. I felt something big, but now I feel something even bigger, a big pain."
Injured Swiss cyclist Fabian Cancellara rues a crash in the men's road race.
'Inspire a generation' is our motto. Not necessarily 'Create a generation', which is what they sometimes get up to in the Olympic village."
London Mayor Boris Johnson extols the "energy and enthusiasm" of the Games' 10,000 athletes, to whom some 150,000 condoms have been distributed.
"It's tough. It's not ballet."
Six foot 5 inch (1.96 metre) Croatian water polo player Miho Boskovic clutches a bag of ice to his elbow as he describes the sport following a tough comeback win over Greece.
"We were getting rather frustrated with Transport for London at one point and discussed internally trying to get on a bus with a coffin."
London funeral director John Cribb expresses frustration at the special road lanes set aside for Olympic vehicles.]]>
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