KARACHI:
The Pakistan squad experienced mixed fortunes yet again on the fourth day of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, starting with boxer Muhammad Waseem reaching the quarter-finals of the men’s fly 52kg event after defeating Malaysia’s Jaya Raman Selvakumar in the round of 16.
Waseem will face Lesotho’s Moroke Mokhotho in the first quarter-final on July 29 at SECC, Hall 4A.
Meanwhile, all swimmers failed to improve their performance four days into the Games. Dubai-based Lianna Swan could not qualify for the main rounds in three swimming events, finishing 36th out of 45 contenders in the women’s 100m freestyle category, second-last in 200m individual medley and 32nd out of 38 competitors in women’s 100m breaststroke. On the other hand Anum Bandey finished 36th in the breaststroke event.
Twelve-year old Areeba Sheikh came last in women’s 200m backstroke event, clocking two minutes 46.30 seconds, while Haris Bandey was 32nd out of 37 swimmers in men’s 100m butterfly competition.
Marathon golds for Aussie Shelley, Kenyan Daniel
Australia’s Michael Shelley stunned the favourites from east Africa to win the men’s marathon gold at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, but Flomena Daniel spearheaded a Kenyan one-two in the women’s race.
Shelley, who finished 16th in the London Olympics, clocked a personal best of two hours 11 minutes 15 seconds on the largely flat course around the streets of Glasgow. Kenya’s Stephen Chemlany claimed silver in 2:11.58.
Uganda’s Abraham Kiplimo took bronze at 1:08.
“I’ve got to pinch myself, it is very exciting,” said Shelley. “To come back and actually win is indescribable.”
Shortly afterwards, Daniel broke clear late on from teammate Kilel to record a convincing Kenyan double in the women’s race.
This year’s Paris marathon winner timed 2hr 26min 45sec, with Kilel claiming silver at 25sec. Australian Jess Trengrove produced a strong last third to reel in Namibia’s Helalia Johannes for bronze, at 3:27.
Singapore win women’s table tennis gold
Singapore beat Malaysia 3-0 in the women’s table tennis final to secure a fourth straight gold in the event at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
The strong favourites suffered a mild surprise when they lost their first match since their win in the inaugural tournament in 2002 in their semi-final win over India.
But they were far slicker against the sixth seed Malaysians and did not lose a match on their way to gold.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s world number one Nicol David secured her place in the final of the women’s squash final at the Commonwealth Games with a win in three games over New Zealand’s Joelle King.
Ashmeade cruises in 100m heats
Jamaican champion Nickel Ashmeade and British tyro Adam Gemili both sailed through their heats of the men’s 100m at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, but Richard Thompson had a wobble.
Ashmeade clocked an easy-going 10.40 seconds to win his heat at a packed Hampden Park, home to the Scotland international football side.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Thompson, the 2008 Olympic silver medallist, could only finish third in his heat.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2014.
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