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2021-09-25 16:45

Ben Johnson’s short lived stardom at the 1988 Seoul Olympics

(Sports news) The 100m final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics is known as one of the most scandalous races of all time, only one athlete out of the top five has not had drug charges on him. On September 24 1988, there was Ben Johnson who had the world record of 9.83 secs and was looking to beat Carl Lewis who was the defending Olympic champion. Lewis was already an established athlete as he had won four Golds in the previous Olympics at Los Angeles and had been a star in the field of athletics.

Ben had the world record, Lewis was the defending champion, Linford Christie was the European champion and Calvin Smith a former world record holder. The 100m final was one of the most anticipated ones as each athlete had equal chances of winning the gold medal, as soon as the shots were fired Ben with his muscled figure ran the race of his life as he lifted his hand signalling victory at the finish line. The timing was 9.79 secs and it was the first time any athlete had run a sub 9.80 secs, Carl Lewis came second with a time of 9.92 secs and Linford Christie came third with a time of 9.97. Four athletes had run under 10 seconds as Calvin Smith ran a 9.99 secs for a fourth place finish.

It was the fastest 100m men’s final and Ben dethroned Lewis for the title but three days later there was even more shocking news as Ben failed the drug test which again put him in the headlines but this time not for a good deed. Carl Lewis claimed his second consecutive title, Christie moved into the second spot and Calvin Smith won the bronze medal. Ben Johnson's world record of 9.83 secs was also now not legal and Carl Lewis had the world record.

Calvin Smith as of now is the only one out of the top five in the 1988 race who has remained clean in his career. Linford Christie was failed a drug test in 1999, Lewis had charges against him for failing the drug test at the US Olympic trials and Dennis MiItchell who had finished fourth was banned for two years in 1998 for excessive levels of the male sex hormone testosterone. There have been questions about drug testing in the field of sports and how athletes can escape the syringes as with the rise of technology there have been various ways to go under the radar.

Surprise and compulsory testing is one of the ways to determine the athletes who have taken substances in the past. The drug tainted athletes effectively are banned from the sport or banned for some period of time depending upon the severity of the case. Although athletes mostly take it for medicinal purposes, the case of Russia and certain cases in the US prove that there can be the support from the state or the athletes use it deliberately. The sport needs to remain clean at all costs and athletes who have been doing it naturally will always be there to support the cause.

Also read: Ferdinand Omanyala Omurwa posts the 8th fastest time in the 100m at World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Series

2021-09-24 19:01

We created a brotherhood: Leander Paes on his successful partnership with Mahesh Bhupathi

Mumbai, Sep 24 (Sports News) Many years ago, Leander Paes acted on a whim when he asked Mahesh Bhupathi, "Would you like to win Wimbledon?" and the tennis star says what followed was a partnership that brought many trophies for India.

This "brotherhood" between the two Indian tennis icons, who were the first doubles team from the country to win at Wimbledon in 1999, is what the two tennis legends have revisited through ZEE5's non-fiction series "Break Point".

Paes said the audience will get to see a faithful representation of their journey through the series, directed by filmmaker couple Nitesh Tiwari and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari.

"We created a brotherhood. And through ‘Break Point’, you get to see the journey of two young Indian boys and how we conquered the world of tennis, won Wimbledon and became number one in the world," Paes told PTI in an interview.

Once the poster boys for the sport in the country, nicknamed the "Indian Express", Paes and Bhupathi played together from 1994 to 2006 and reunited for their second stint from 2008 to 2011.

Besides the Wimbledon championship that they won in 1999, Paes and Bhupathi also won two French Open titles in 1999 and 2001.

Through "Break Point", Paes said he re-lived all the games that he and Bhupathi played together including the several Grand Slams and the Olympics, while also taking note of the ups and downs of their relationship, among other things.

"One of my favourite memories is when I was 16-year-old playing in Sri Lanka, and Mahesh was 15, playing at the same Asian championships. So when I saw him, I had an intuition that we could win Wimbledon together and we could be number one in the world.

"So I watched him play for about 15 minutes and when he came off the court he had a big smile on his face and I shook his hand. I said, 'I am Leander.' and he said, 'I know and I have been following you'. And then I said, 'Thank you, but would you like to win Wimbledon?'" Paes said.

He recalled that Bhupathi was taken aback by what he said and started laughing.

"He said, 'You're crazy.' I said, 'I am crazy. Would you like to win Wimbledon?' And the rest is history," added Paes, who as a singles player had famously won the bronze medal in tennis at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

What Paes respects a lot about Bhupathi is that he believed in his dreams and worked hard for them.

"I think that what we've achieved together has created some world records as we are unbeaten in the Davis Cup in 24 matches, we played so many Olympics together.

"We've been number one in the world together. So I really respect the hard work that you put into believing in that dream." Their partnership, however, was marred by a public fallout in 2012 ahead of the London Olympics but Paes said they have put that past behind them and moved on in their lives.

He described the show as quite "real" and "raw".

"We are very true to telling the story of how we were pioneers at the time because there was no manual to teach us how to be the best in the world.

"And it also shows our mistakes, the downfalls that we had, the things that possibly we did wrong that we could have done better." Personally, for him, his win at Atlanta Olympics is a moment closer to his heart as it seemed like emulating his Olympian father Vece Paes.

The tennis star felt that one of the key reasons why they chose to narrate their own story through "Break Point" is that they wanted to share a true story.

"One of the reasons we didn't choose actors and told it directly from our own mouths and our own stories…and also we got our parents, siblings, friends and opponents that we played against, like the Bryan twins, the Woodies, Martina Hingis, Radek Stepanek, Mark Knowles.

"I'm really appreciative of all of them coming and taking part in ‘Break Point’," he said.

Praising Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari, Paes said the directors have gone beyond the game and tapped into the human aspect.

"Through all the episodes, they take you through a journey of human emotions. They show you how champions are built, how Champions also make mistakes and that they are human also.

"They show you how winning Wimbledon on one day might make you the king of the world but the next day you are vulnerable too,” he added.

Paes is grateful to the director duo, writer Piyush Gupta and the streaming platform ZEE5 for giving them the platform to narrate their story in multiple languages.

"It's been one phenomenal journey. We proved that if you work hard and if you believe in yourself, have the courage to believe in your dreams, you can be world champions, for sure.

"With this show, we can actually reach the masses to inspire them that if these two can win Wimbledon then you can also be a champion of the world in anything you want to." "Break Point" will stream on ZEE5 on October 1.

Also Read : Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra meets Abhinav Bindra

News Source : PTI

2021-09-21 16:01

After winning 200m gold in only his 2nd senior level race, Amlan Borgohain wants to just run fast

New Delhi, Sep 21 (Sports News) He has won a gold with the fifth fastest time ever by an Indian in only his second 200m competition at senior level but Assam youngster, Amlan Borgohain, wants to take one step at a time and refuses to harbour lofty ambitions.

The 23-year-old Borgohain, hailing from Meleng village in Assam's Jorhat district, claimed the men's 200m gold on Sunday with a time of 20.75 seconds during the National Open Championships in Warangal, Telengana.

His time was the second fastest on the country's soil and fifth fastest ever by an Indian after national record holder Muhammed Anas Yahia (20.63), Dharambir Singh (20.66), Arokia Rajiv (20.66) and Anil Kumar (20.73).

"It was my first senior level 200m final race since I started taking part at senior level in 2019 and I don't have any international experience," Borgohain told PTI in an interview from Bhubaneswar, where he is training at the Reliance Foundation Odisha Athletics High Performance Centre (HPC) since April last year.

His first senior level 200m race was during the 2019 National Open Championships in Ranchi, where he had clocked 21.99 seconds. He had also won a silver in the 100m dash with a creditable time of 10.34 seconds in Warangal.

Asked what are his targets, he said, "I have just started my career and I want to just run fast.

"Olympics is any athlete's ultimate dream but, at the moment, I am not looking very far. I want to take one step at a time. My coach is there to help me and chalk out my future course of action." Borgohain is under the tutelage of Welshman James Hillier, the head coach at the Reliance Foundation HPC, who has mentored the likes of Rio Olympics 4x400m relay bronze medallist Emily Diamond in the past.

"Of course, there is Asian Games and Commonwealth Games next year but I am not going to put pressure on him by telling him about medals. There is a lot of room for improvement and we are focussing on that.

"He is certainly the best 200m runner in the country at the moment. I am planning to take him to Europe next year to compete on the European circuit and get some more experience competing against quality foreign athletes.

"He has the right attributes to become a top-class athlete. He is always eager to learn, wants to work hard and also very actively participates in anything, not the kind of shy or reticent athlete, he is the leader of any pack." Borgohain also took part in the Federation Cup in March in Patiala where he ran 10.44 seconds in 100m but did not run in 200m due to a hamstring injury. A bout of COVID-19 infection -- he tested positive on his 23rd birthday -- forced him to miss the National Inter-State Championships in June.

A fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sunil Chhetri, football was Borgohain's first love but took up athletics once his armyman father was posted in Hyderabad, where they shifted from Assam. His father BC Borgohain retired as Subedar Major in 2009.

"Just like most of northeasterners, my first love was football and I played the game in my childhood and school days. But once our family shifted to Hyderabad, there was little scope for football. So, I shifted to athletics. That was in 2015," he said.

Asked if he had faced financial issues during his formative years in the sport, Borgohain said, "We are not well off but the situation was not that bad. It is not that I will not get things like running shoes with spikes, but it takes some time for my father to gather money to buy the stuff." His first athletics medal came at the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) Nationals in Lucknow in 2015 and podium finishes in the Under-18 and Under-20 categories at state level followed.

Borgohain, whose family has now returned to their native village in Assam, then took part in the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) nation-wide athletics competition in 2017.

He clocked 10.84 seconds in 100m and 22.06 seconds in 200m in the 2018 RFYS national finals.

Hillier spotted him at the Khelo India Games in Guwahati in January last year and invited the youngster to appear for an evaluation at the HPC in February. After four weeks of intensive training and assessment, Borgohain was confirmed a spot at the Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre in April last year.

Also Read : Amlan Borgogain, Praveen Chithravel share limelight with Manju Bala Singh

News Source : PTI

2021-09-21 11:45

I hope we can reach more people with the power and spirit of rugby - Paul Walsh MBE, Founder and Managing Trustee at Jungle Crows

Rugby in India is a sport that is steadily developing and Indian athletes are constantly making a name for themselves in the sport, both domestically and around the world. While rugby might still have some way to go to be considered a ‘mainstream’ sport in the country, those working behind the scenes are dedicated to raise the standard of rugby, right from the grassroots and are building a solid foundation for a sustainable rugby ecosystem for years to come.

In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, Mr. Paul Walsh MBE, Founder and Managing Trustee at Jungle Crows Foundation speaks about the recent partnership between Bristol Bears and Kolkata Jungle Crows, the role of British actor Stewart Wright, grassroot development, the impact of the partnership and long term benefits.

Q 1) What will the partnership between Bristol Bears and Kolkata Jungle Crows bring to the rugby ecosystem in India?

I am thinking about this in two ways - the first is perhaps obviously, the benefits the partnership will bring to the Jungle Crows and the second is how we can work for this to support rugby in India more generally. We have to get down to some detailed discussions but one area of the partnership that is particularly exciting is how we can tap into the very excellent Bristol Bears Academy. The Jungle Crows coaching at grass roots is what we all enjoy so much, so improving and developing our skills and systems will be a top priority for us. Of course this will all be online for some time yet, but let's see where it leads.

Q 2) What role did Bears’ season ticket holder and Bristol actor Stewart Wright have in making this partnership a reality?

Stewart basically made the partnership happen. When he completed the film "Jungle Cry" this became a mission for him. It is difficult to get the attention from a team as busy and focused on performance as the Bears. Through various connections and reminders, Stewart was eventually able to discuss the partnership with the right person, have it agreed by the Bears board and from then it all moved very quickly.

Q 3) What does a partnership of this nature do for the grassroot development of rugby in India?

Well we hope it continues to improve and grow grassroots rugby and give other clubs something to aim for themselves. Just having media attention is so helpful in its own right, it gives young players a big boost. We want the partnership to develop so it isn't just about the Jungle Crows but supports rugby communities across the country. That's the challenge.

Also read: Rugby has completely changed my life, it’s a misconception that rugby is a very difficult contact sport - Sandhya Rai, Rugby player

Q 4) How much of a boost will this partnership have on the national men’s and women’s rugby team in India?

I think the ecosystem of any sport requires inputs at all sorts of levels. The India under 18 women have just won the silver medal in Asian 7s in Tashkent. These are our top young athletes, trained in excellent facilities provided by KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, coached by Ludwiche, an excellent South African Coach, but to make this happen needs a foundation and a pipeline of talent coming through. If the partnership can play a part in developing this talent then we can have a positive impact on how the national team performs.

Q 5) Sport has the power to uplift entire communities, do you think this partnership can have a transformational impact on the lives of others?

For me the community connection with the Bristol Bears is a fundamental part of the partnership. As their mission the Bears have "To inspire our community through rugby success." The Jungle Crows have always been like a family, with all the ups and downs that it involves. I've been fortunate to see some of the transformations rugby has had on young people, all over the world. I am hoping we can do more and reach more people with the power and spirit of rugby.

Q 6) What are some of the long term benefits that you can see as a result of this partnership?

For me I'd hope that the Bears can become a sort of mentor to the Jungle Crows. Whether in business, life or in sports, having a mentor brings real benefits. It will give us confidence, help us to figure out strategies, and of course mean we play better rugby. It is worth saying here though, that this isn't a one way street and it is important we also bring some benefits to the Bristol Bears. We have some ideas around this that need to be developed and we've plans to be worked out, but this is a great start!

2021-09-20 17:15

Ferdinand Omanyala Omurwa posts the 8th fastest time in the 100m at World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Series

(Sports news) Ferdinand Omanyala Omurwa of Kenya ran a 9.77 secs as he finished ahead of Justin Gatlin who came third with a timing of 10.02 secs and Trayvon Bromell running a season leading 9.76 secs to capture the Continental Tour Gold Series at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi. This was the final race of the year as it was also the fastest one this year, the last time two sprinters finished under 9.80s was in 2012 London Olympics and it was the fastest 100m race ever.

Trayvon Bromell has now run the fastest time this year in 100 metres and the 6th fastest in history with his performance in Kenya. Omanyala has run the eight fastest of all time and he became the first Kenyan to run in the semifinals of the men's 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Omanyala became the first Kenyan to break the sub 10 barrier when he ran a 9.96 secs at the International Josko Lauf Meeting in Austria a month back and lowered it to 9.86 secs in the final. He broke Akani Simbine’s record of 9.84 secs which he had run in July and will look to go under 9.70s and become the fourth man to do it after Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Tyson Gay.

Usain Bolt has both the World records in 100m and 200m, he had run a 9.58 secs in the 100m and a 19.19 secs in 2009 at Berlin. In the current runners only Gatlin, Bromell and Christian Coleman have come closest to breaking it. Although the record seems to be safe, now there might be a minor one in a million chance that there will be a new record or a run under 9.75 secs next year. Bolt is the only athlete to ever run a 100 metre under 9.60 secs also under 9.65 secs and also holds the Olympics records in 100m and 200m.

Omanyala has defied the tradition of Kenyan runners as they are mostly known for their endurance, they have been dominating the middle and long distance running for the past few decades. Omanyala has been sprinting towards records for the country as he has improved his timings considerably this year, this year’s leading time of 9.76 is the joint fastest in the last five years as in 2019 Coleman ran the same timing. Gatlin ran a 9.74 secs in 2015 which has not been surpassed ever since and is currently 39 years old and still giving tough competition to rivales who are over 15 years younger to him. He is one of the seniors in athletics and can break Kim Collins' record of 9.93 secs which is the fastest by a 40 year old.

Fredrick Lee Kerley shift from 400m has paid off well as he ran a personal best of 19.76 secs to win in Nairobi, he had become the first athlete to win the 100m, 200m and 400m in Diamond League and is the third athlete after Wayde van Niekerk and Michael Norman to run a sub 10 in the 100m, sub 20 in 200m and sub 44 secs in 400m. Kerley is a well built athlete and a tall one like Bolt as he is 6ft 3 inch and had won the silver in the 100m behind Lamont Marcell Jacobs at the 2020Tokyo Olympics. One individual beating both the 100m and 200m world record is near to impossible task but the current set of sprinters are finding their pace in each event and can target a single event for now.

Also read: Mike Powell’s world record in Long Jump still on top after three decades as Beamon’s Olympic record untouched after half a century

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