CWG Day 8: Australia, India, England remain top three
Australia, India and England maintained their hold on the top three spots of the Commonwealth games as seven gold medals were decided at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
On a day overshadowed by the Games' first positive drugs test, India pulled off a stunning clean sweep in the discus, winning the country's first athletics gold in 52 years.
Sally Pearson bounced back in emphatic fashion to win the 100m hurdles title.
India's hopes of boxing glory suffered a blow on a day dominated by the British "home nations".
And finally, England won a thriller against Australia in the opening stages of the rugby sevens where the Kenyans pulled off an upset against Samoa.
End of live updates
9.15 pm
Uganda's Moses Kipsiro added the 10,000m gold medal to the 5,000m one he already has when he held off a Kenyan challenge on Monday.He crossed the line in 27:57.39 ahead of Kenya's Daniel Salel and another Kenyan, Joseph Birech.
8.25 pm
Australia's Damon Kelly broke the Commonwealth Games super-heavyweight weightlifting record on Monday to take the title. Itte Detenamo of Nauru took silver while Canada's George Kobaladze claimed bronze.
The quarter-finals results from Badminton are as follows:
Men's singles:
Chetan Buradagunta (IND x3) bt Carl Baxter (ENG x5) 21-17, 21-9
Rajiv Ouseph (ENG x2) bt Wong Zi Liang (SIN x7) 21-13, 21-15
Kashyap Parupalli (IND x6) bt Muhammad Hafiz Hashim (MAS x4) 19-21, 21-19, 21-14
Women's singles
Liz Cann (ENG x4) bt Michelle Li (CAN) 21-14, 19-21, 21-16
Susan Egelstaff (SCO x3) bt Huang Chia-Chi (AUS) 21-18, 21-15
Wong Mew Choo (MAS x2) bt Aditi Mutatkar (IND x5) 21-8, 21-12
Mixed doubles
Nathan Robertson/Jenny Wallwork (ENG x1) bt Watson Briggs/Imogen Bankier (SCO) 22-20, 23-21
Chan Peng Soon/Liu Ying Goh (MAS x4) bt Chris Adcock/Gabby White (ENG x7) 22-20, 16-21, 21-11
Cheta Triyachart/Yao Lei (SIN x3) bt Anthony Clark/Heather Olver (ENG x5) 19-21, 21-8, 21-12
Koo Kien Keat/Chin Eei Hui (MAS) bt Jwala Gutta/Diju Valiya Veetil (IND x2) 21-13, 21-19
8.10 pm
Pandelela Pamg of Malaysia won gold in the women's 10m platform with Australians Melissa Wu and Alexandra Croak getting the second and third places.
Krishna Poonia leads an Indian clean sweep in the women's discus final winning the gold medal with a throw of 61.51 metres.Harwant Kaur came second (60.16) and Seema Antil was third (58.46).
The Cayman Islands scored their first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal on when Cydonie Mothersill powered to the delayed women's 200m title in 22.89 seconds. Abiodun Oyepitan of England took the silver (23.26) and Adrienne Power of Canada won the bronze in 23.52.
Nicol David kept alive her chances of a golden double when she and Ong Beng Hee recovered from an early hiccup to reach the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles by eliminating England's Adrian Grant and Sarah Kippax 11-7, 11-3 in the last 16.
New Zealand defeat South Africa 1-0 to move into the women's hockey final.
African champion Richard Mateelong led a Kenyan 1-2-3 in the men's 3,000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games on Monday, crossing the line in 8:16.40. World champion Ezekiel Cheboi was second (8:18.47) and Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto was third (8:19.65).
England's Anthony Ogogo beat India's Vijender Singh in a bad-tempered bout that saw the England fighter assured of a silver medal. Ogogo came from behind to win the middleweight bout 4-3 on points.
Australia's Olympic and world champion Steve Hooker cleared 5.60 metres to win the pole vault gold medal. England's Steve Lewis took the silver and another Englishman, Max Eaves, came third.
Kenya's Nancy Langat added the 800m gold medal to the 1,500m title she had already won when she crossed in 2:00.01 today. New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin took silver and Canada's Diane Cummins won the bronze.
England won a thriller against Australia in the opening stages of the rugby sevens here, while an improving Kenyan side pulled off an upset against Samoa.
6:15 pm
Pakistan's Khan says medal win 'a vindication'
Pakistan boxer Haroon Khan on Day 8 said he hoped he had proved a point to England's selectors after he won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games.
The younger brother of Britain's Olympic silver medallist from Athens, Amir Khan, chose to represent the country of his parents' birth after claiming he had been snubbed by the English boxing authorities.
He lost his semi-final bout to India's Suranjoy Mayengbam and took bronze. But he added: "I think I've proved my point to the selectors. There wasn't a British boxer in my category (in the semi-finals). I would love to see (the selectors) now. I should have won that medal for England."
Khan, who fought under his grandmother's name Iqbal, had a hostile reception from the Indian crowd, as the two neighbours renewed their rivalries in the ring after going head-to-head in the hockey on Day 7.
The 19-year-old admitted that he was always in for a tough fight with the man from Manipur in northeast India and predicted his opponent would now go on to defeat Kenya's Benson Njangiru in Wednesday's final.
"My main aim was to come here and stand on that podium. I've got the bronze. I can put it next to my brother's Olympic silver," he said.
Khan said he was still aiming to compete in the London Olympics in 2012, again for Pakistan.
5:45 pm
Pakistani boxer Haroon Khan loses to India's Suranjoy Mayengban 9-3 in the semi-final on Day 8, winning a bronze medal.
5:15 pm
Congratulations to Australia's Sally Pearson on winning the women's 100m hurdles gold medal at the CWG on Day 8 and crossing in a new Games record time of 12.67 seconds!
Canada's Angela Whyte takes the silver (12.98) and New Zealand's Andrea Miller (13.25) claims the bronze.
Tweeple 'really really like Sally'
austk Way to go Sally, you did Oz proud. Oi, Oi, Oi. #CWG
makiwa Onya Sally! oi oi oi!!!! #cwg
alicia_timtam Sal wins gold! Come on sally keep it together! #cwg
cricketfox SALLY GOES GOLD #cwg
thunder_67au YAY Sally! #CWG
DanConifer Biggest smile on my face after Sally Pearson won the 100m hurdles in 12.67seconds, breaking the Commonwealth Games record #cwg #delhi2010
StevieHewla I really really like Sally Pearson. #cwg
nakhrewali Pearson & Miller are being adorable on tv #cwg #nz#aus2 minutes ago via Echofon
bcarbonaro85 Well done Sally Pearson gold in the hurdles #cwg
dbreban_18 What a win! Go Sally :-) #cwg
5:10 pm
Australia's Sally Pearson looks set to win the women's 100m hurdles to make up for her heartbreak disqualification after coming home first in the 100m sprint final.
Tweeple cheer Sally on
silver_bodgie “@silver_bodgie: Go for Gold Sally, u little beaudy#cwg
Prince_James go sally pearson,her race starting soon,shes had incredibly bad luck over a long period of time, deserves gold more than anyone #cwg
catsman09 go sally pearson..do it for all the bogans #cwg
alicia_timtam carn sally!!! #cwg
cbelogu redemption time for Sally Pearson... 100m hurdles finals...#CWG
artistiquemeg Let's see how Sally goes tonight #cwg
alivicwil C'mon, Sally! #cwg
SueEJones What time is Sally on #cwg
8footerz @melissahoyer allegedly 5 mins till Sally time on ONEHD#cwg
4:45 pm
Canada's Alexandre Despatie wins the 3m springboard diving title on Day 8, his eighth CWG gold medal since his first appearance in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
4:20 pm
Cyprus's Georgios Achilleos and Andreas Chasikos win the gold medal in the men's Skeet Pairs at the CWG on Day 8.
4:03 pm
Pakistani boxer M Waseem loses 10-1 to Uotoni of Namibia in the boxing semi-finals here on Day 8, bringing home a bronze medal.
3:35 pm
Former Pakistan hockey stars on Day 8 blamed poor management for the national team's humiliating defeat against arch-rivals India in the CWG, predicting more disasters to come, AFP reports.
Pakistan went down 7-4 to India in the last group match of the field hockey event on Day 7, sending their rivals to the semi-finals and facing play-offs for fifth position.
Olympian and former coach Shahnaz Sheikh blamed the management and Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for a lack of planning. "It was shocking to see Pakistan lose like this," Sheikh told AFP.
"At this same ground we beat India 7-1 in 1982 and this time we lost in a shameful manner, for which the blame goes to those at the helm."
Sheikh said the team lost the match in the first 20 minutes.
"India launched a relentless attack and scored four goals in the first 20 minutes, which left our team bewildered," said Sheikh, famous for his dodges and dribbling during his illustrious career.
"The president of PHF, chief selector and team coach were on different lines before the Games, so it was not difficult to imagine what would happen to the team.
"Finishing 12th and last in the World Cup earlier this year was the first tsunami in Pakistan hockey, Sunday's was the second and if this slide is not stopped then, God forbid, more disasters will come in Pakistan hockey," said Sheikh.
Pakistan, three time Olympic and four time world champions, have slid at international level, finishing a worst-ever eighth in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and 12th at the World Cup in February-March this year.
In May, Pakistan appointed Dutchman Michel Van den Heuvel as team coach in a bid to meet the European and Australian challenge.
Sheikh demanded changes in the PHF. "I request the prime minister and president to save the national hockey through some serious steps, which includes removing the PHF set-up, which is not competent enough to run the sport," he said.
Former captain Shahbaz Ahmed said Van den Heuvel would not be able to solve Pakistan's problems. "When I played league hockey in the Netherlands, I found him an ordinary coach and I told club's president that if he (Van den Heuvel) remains the coach then we will not be able to win any trophy."
Ahmed said PHF top officials were prone to make excuses for poor performances. "When they flopped in the World Cup they sacked coach Shahid Ali Khan and now they will make another excuse," said Ahmed. Another former star Mansoor Ahmed said Pakistan lacked confidence. "
A vociferous crowd was the difference for me," said Ahmed of the 19,000 strong crowd which backed the home team on Sunday. "Moreover our Dutch coach couldn't understand the tempo of an Indo-Pak match, which is always very fast. "We were badly let down."
2:05 pm
A Mid-day.com report says that the CWG athletes have used up the 2000 condoms that were stocked in the vending machine at the Athlete's Village and a request for more has been made:
When it comes to athletes, performance matters the most. Apart from the adrenaline rush at the stadiums, players and officials at the Commonwealth Games village are experiencing highs in the bedroom too.
According to the data provided by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), 2,000 packets of condoms consisting of two units each were put in the vending machine installed inside the Games Village on October 1.
Now, the authorities at the Village have asked for more and the NACO would refill the machine with 2,000 more packets on Monday.
"We have been asked to supply around 2000 more condom packs in the Village by Monday," confirmed Gaurav Jain, team leader, technical support group for condoms, NACO.
The condoms will be provided in a case containing 960 packs, each containing two units. "We feel that it is a very healthy and mature trend emerging out of the mega sporting event," Jain said.
"We have been trying to raise awareness about the importance of the condoms since last many years. We could not have asked for a better publicity for the practice of safe sex," he said.
Apart from the Games Village, condom vending machines were installed at Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar, Paharganj, Connaught Place and bus stand and Railway Stations.
"The vending machine installed in Paharganj has been refilled four times since October 1. Other machines at bus stands and Railway Stations have been refilled twice," said another NACO official.
2:00 pm
According to a Karachi News.Net report, British boxer Amir Khan slams England selectors for not selecting his brother Haroon to box for the nation of his birth:
British boxing ace Amir Khan has slammed England's boxing selectors after his brother Haroon Khan guaranteed himself a medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Haroon was forced to fight for Pakistan after being snubbed by the country of his birth.
He is now guaranteed a medal after beating Wales' Andrew Selby to reach the flyweight division semi-finals.
"I hope the England selectors wake up and realize they are not doing their job right. Where is all the Lottery funding being spent? This is the reason young fighters like Haroon are walking away," The Sun quoted Khan, as saying.The Pakistan team doesn't even have a physio or nutritionist due to costs. Haroon had no Lottery funding, no training camps or international experience. What he has achieved is all down to raw talent," he added.
Earlier, Haroon had said that his aim was to win a medal at the Games in Delhi and prove the selectors wrong.
"Proving the selectors wrong feels better than having the medal round my neck. My aim was to get a medal. The English flyweight did not get it and I did. I wanted to get a medal to prove to the Amateur Boxing Association I'm good enough to get in the British squad and I've done that," Haroon had said.
"I've made my dad proud and I'm going to make him more proud," he added.
The 19-year-old further said that he would not be following in his brother's footsteps by competing for Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.
"If it is going to be 2012, I'll definitely fight for Pakistan," Haroon said.
1:20 pm
Headlines India reports that the bad press surrounding the CWG has been slammed as ''unfair and exaggerated" by foreign media.
"Exaggerated" and "unfair"... That is how many foreign journalists covering the Commonwealth Games (CWG) here describe the bad press the event has been receiving abroad, with some even saying it reflects a "pre-set negative mindset".
John MacKinnon, a sports columnist from Canada who has been here for over two weeks, said: "I think the negative press the event organisers and India has been receiving are exaggerated.
"Some things like empty stands in some events are a matter of concern, especially for the athletes who need motivation. But on the whole the reports are unfair."
MacKinnon said athletes were quite satisfied with the event that began Oct 3 and will go on till Oct 14. "If you ask me, then I think the athletes are on the whole quite happy with the arrangements.
"I have been interacting with the Canadian athletes and they are very happy with the facilities in the Games Village, the food, everything. They are abiding by protocol and see no reason to complain," MacKinnon told media.
Voicing similar feelings, Mereseini Marau of the Pacific Islands News Association said athletes were quite happy with the arrangements.
"I have been interacting with a lot of athletes from Papua New Guinea, Tonga and others and they are satisfied with the arrangements. Every big sporting event has its share of glitches and so does India. I think the opening ceremony put an end to a lot of negative reporting that India was getting," Marau told media.
However, bad press continues to dog the Games abroad.
Media for instance has been running a series, "What's going wrong in Delhi today", pointing out glitches such as empty stands, vomiting swimmers and blocked lavatories in Delhi.
According to MacKinnon, much of the negative reporting stems from a pre-set mindset on the part of the media.
1:15 pm
Boxing semi-finals results are in:
Light flyweight 46-49kg
Jafet Uotoni (NAM) beats Muhammad Waseem (PAK)
Paddy Barnes (NIR) beats Amandeep Singh (IND)
12:10 pm
A New Zealand television host has quit after sparking a diplomatic row when he ridiculed the name of Sheila Dikshit, the chief minister of the Indian capital New Delhi, according to Reuters report.
Television station TVNZ came under heavy criticism after its "Breakfast" show host Paul Henry mispronounced Dikshit, despite being told by the lead anchor that it is pronounced "Dixit."
India summoned New Zealand's high commissioner on Thursday to formally protest against what it said were "racial remarks" involving Dikshit, who was asked last month to take charge of the floundering Commonwealth Games preparations.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Monday that Henry had resigned after several hundred complaints to the broadcaster regarding his Dikshit comments and questioning whether the nation's Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, who is of Indian descent, was "even a New Zealander."
"He has made that decision and I guess over the last week he's had some time to reflect on the comments," Key told breakfast television on Monday.
Key said there had been no pressure from himself or the government on TVNZ regarding Henry's future and it was "good that he has personally made that decision."
The prime minister said Henry's resignation would help repair any damage caused to New Zealand's relationship with India but stressed that these were comments from one person.
TVNZ Chief Executive Rick Ellis said he accepted Henry's resignation on Sunday after seven years as a breakfast TV host and apologized to anyone who had been offended by the presenter's "inappropriate on-air comments."
"I will be apologising in person to the Governor General. I also apologise to the Indian community, both here and in India," he said in a statement.
12:00 pm
Australia defeat England 1-0 to make it to the final of the CWG women's hockey on Day 8.
11:50 am
Wild monkeys and stray dogs got front row seats but a massive security operation kept most other spectators away as Australia snatched another two Commonwealth Games cycling gold medals on the streets of Delhi on Day 8, AFP reports.
Delhiites were out in force later in the day, though, when a packed house roared the hosts on to a 7-4 hockey victory against Pakistan, dispelling any doubts about the city's passion for sport after days of empty venues at the $6 billion event.
India has mobilised more than 100,000 personnel to ensure the safety of the Games for 71 mostly former British colonies, which they intended to use as a display of soft power to complement their growing economic might.
The embarrassing setbacks that scarred the run-up to the Games and the gremlins that have dogged the event since the opening ceremony have only served to reinforce a determination that there should be no security breaches.
"We continue to monitor security and one of the more important aspects of security is that there is no let up," Games Federation President Michael Fennell said.
11:15 am
Scottish pair Kay Copland and Jen McIntosh win the gold in the 50m Rifle Prone women's pairs event at the CWG on Day 8.
11:00 am
CWG women's 100m winner Osayemi Oludamola, who claimed gold when Australia's Sally Pearson was controversially disqualified for false-starting, has failed a dope test, AFP reports on Day 8.
The Sydney Morning Herald said a senior Games anti-doping official confirmed the Nigerian had tested positive for a banned stimulant, but would not comment on whether she would be stripped of her medal.
"There are a few bridges to cross yet, including the testing of her B (second) sample. Let's not get ahead of ourselves yet," the unnamed official was quoted as saying.
Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell was due to give a press briefing shortly in New Delhi, the report said.
Oludamola finished second behind Pearson but was awarded gold when the Australian was disqualified, some hours later, after a protest from the English team, leaving her in tears.
1731916090-0/sabrina-(3)1731916090-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732020599-0/BeFunky-collage-(73)1732020599-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732000633-0/Express-Tribune-(3)1732000633-0-270x192.webp "pcb refuses to accept mohammad yousuf s resignation")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ