Australia dominate the opening day

Australia stamp their authority on the opening day of ties at the Commonwealth Games as they top the medals chart.

NEW DELHI: Australia stamped their authority on the opening day of ties at the Commonwealth Games as they topped the medals chart with six medals and most wins coming in the swimming category where they claimed three gold medals.

Kylie Palmer kick-started the medal hunt with a win in the 200-metre freestyle, while Alicia Coutts took gold in the 200-metre individual medley and the men’s 4x100 freestyle team won back the title they lost in Melbourne.

Australia’s master-plan did not stick to script, with Coutts’s surprise victory pushing Emily Seebohm into silver spot. While Ryan Napoleon, returning after a suspension, was kept off top spot in the 400-metre freestyle by Canada’s Ryan Cochrane.

Nigeria bag first gold at the Games

Nigerian schoolgirl Augustina Nwaokolo stunned India’s Soniya Chanu to win the women’s weightlifting 48-kg title, shattering home hopes of taking the first gold of the event.

The 17-year-old Nwaokolo set a new Commonwealth record of 175 kilogramme after a snatch lift of 77kg and clean and jerk attempt of 98kg. Chanu took silver with compatriot Sandhya Rani winning bronze as India’s grip on the division ended after Kunjarani Devi had won 48kg gold in Melbourne four years ago.

India share women’s hockey points

India were forced to split points with a gritty Scotland after their opening Pool A match ended in a 1-1 draw.

World number seven New Zealand opened their campaign with a convincing 5-1 win against Wales in a Pool B match, while Malaysia narrowly won against Canada 3-2 and South Africa claimed a spectacular victory against Trinidad & Tobago 12-0 in earlier matches.

Sania Mirza of India played though in the first round of the mixed doubles with veteran specialist Leander Paes and they easily saw off the challenge of St Lucia’s Richelieu and Stacey Roehman 6-1, 6-0.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2010.