The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Chong Wei vows to make amends by winning Olympic gold at same venue
- Rookie Keegan stages great fightback to win his first major trophy
- World No. 1 Djokovic first to win five Masters titles in a season
| Chong Wei vows to make amends by winning Olympic gold at same venue Posted: 15 Aug 2011 06:23 PM PDT LONDON: The titanic battle between two maestros of world badminton in the men's singles final in the World Badminton Championships at the Wembley Arena on Sunday has whetted the appetite of lovers of the sport. And just thinking of a mouth-watering re-match between China's Lin Dan and Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei at the same venue in next year's London Olympics is enough to give everyone goosebumps. On Sunday, Chong Wei and Lin Dan displayed skills of the highest quality in a heart-pounding final which ended with the latter coming from behind to win his fourth world title with a 20-22, 21-14, 23-21 win. There was no shame in defeat for Chong Wei as he showed the world and Lin Dan that not much separates them as far as their standard and determination are concerned. Their duel has now narrowed down to who gets luckier during crunch situations. A visibly disappointed Chong Wei, whose tears ran down his cheeks during the victory ceremony thinking of how close he came to being the country's first world champion since its inception in 1977, has vowed to make amends at the Olympic Games. "From now all my preparation will be geared towards the Olympic Games. I will continue to give emphasis in training and look at ways to further improve my game," said Chong Wei. "Lin Dan will be the main threat again. I am happy to say that our standards are about the same now. I gave my all because the world title meant a lot to me and this desire to get the better of him will only grow stronger." Chong Wei said that China would be out to demoralise him over the next one year. Besides Lin Dan, they also have Chen Jin, Chen Long and Du Pengyu in the fray for Olympic glory. The 21-year-old Chen Long, despite a shock first round defeat to Guatemala's Kevin Cordon, is expected to come back stronger from his first world meet debacle. "China have a big pool of players. They will come after my scalp during the Olympic qualifying period to break my resolve. I will not let that happen," he said. "It is also my hope that our younger players will step up. I will help in whatever way I can to raise their standard and confidence". None of Malaysia's back-up shuttlers – Liew Daren, Chong Wei Feng and Chan Kwong Beng – had played in the world championships. And with their world ranking far down the list, they are unlikely to make it for the Olympic Games. National coach Rashid Sidek hopes that youngsters would be inspired by Chong Wei's performances at the world meet. "Chong Wei was far behind Lin Dan's standard at one stage. But he has put in a lot of hard work to stand at the same level with the Chinese ace. That speaks volumes about his committment and hunger to make a difference," said Rashid. "He was mentally strong. If not he could not have taken Lin Dan to the distance. Unfortunately, he was unlucky not to win. Chong Wei will come stronger after this." Except for Chong Wei and probably the women's doubles Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty's gallant fight before going down to Japan's Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa in the second round, there was nothing much to shout about for Malaysia at the world meet. The top doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong were a letdown after losing tamely to South Koreans Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong for the fifth time. National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky has his work cut out for him if he hopes to turn the duo into medal prospects at next year's Olympic Games. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Rookie Keegan stages great fightback to win his first major trophy Posted: 15 Aug 2011 06:14 PM PDT JOHNS CREEK (Georgia): PGA Tour rookie Keegan Bradley capped a stunning late fightback by winning his first major title in a playoff with fellow American Jason Dufner for the 93rd PGA Championship on Sunday. Bradley, who had trailed the pacesetting Dufner by five strokes with three holes to play in regulation, clinched the prized Wanamaker Trophy over three extra holes as the shadows lengthened at a sun-splashed Atlanta Athletic Club. His victory, in his first major start, ended an unprecedented run of six majors without a US champion, and was his second title on the US circuit in his debut season. "This feels unbelievable," a beaming Bradley, 25, told reporters after becoming the first player to claim a Grand Slam crown in his maiden major start since fellow American Ben Curtis at the 2003 British Open. The last player to achieve the feat on American soil was Francis Ouimet at the 1913 US Open. "I always wanted while growing up to win tournaments and win majors, and I can't believe this trophy is sitting next to me," said Bradley, who was ranked 108th in the world coming into this week. "It's an honour to be even thought of in that category. And I'm very proud of the way I played. It's the best golf I've ever played, and man, it was so exciting." Bradley holed a four-foot birdie putt at the first playoff hole, the par-four 16th, to hold an early advantage over Dufner, who missed his attempt there from six feet. Though Bradley could only par the tricky 160-yard 17th where a large pond guards the front of the green, he found himself two strokes ahead after Dufner ran up a three-putt bogey. Bradley then sealed victory in the year's final major with a two-putt par at the treacherous 18th after both players found the front portion of the green with their approach shots. After tapping in from less than two feet, the slender American acknowledged the roars from the crowd crammed around the green before shaking hands with Dufner, who had birdied the hole from long range. Bradley, a nephew of LPGA great and World Golf Hall of Famer Pat Bradley, won his first PGA Tour title in a playoff with compatriot Ryan Palmer at the Byron Nelson Championship in May. "Hats off to Keegan for coming in there in the last three holes in regulation," Dufner, 34, told reporters after losing a playoff for the second time this year on the PGA Tour. "He played great playoff holes and it's probably not the finish I was looking forward to." Co-leader overnight with PGA Tour rookie Brendan Steele, Dufner had been unflappable for much of the day and was five strokes clear while playing the par-three 15th after Bradley had tripled-bogeyed that hole one group ahead. However Dufner then fell back with bogeys at 15, 16 and 17 while Bradley sank birdie putts from nine feet at the 16th and 40 feet at the 17th to force a playoff. "If you told me I would play those holes even par for the week, I probably would have taken at the beginning," 80th-ranked Dufner said of the brutal four final holes on the Highland course. "Just a little disappointed right now, especially 16 and 17. Those are the ones that kind of stick out to me," added Dufner, who tied for fifth in last year's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits but has yet to win a PGA Tour title. The pair had finished the 72 regulation holes on eight-under-par 272, Dufner fading to a one-under-par 69 while Bradley closed with a five-birdie 68. Denmark's Anders Hansen closed with a joint best-of-the-day 66 to finish third at seven under, two strokes ahead of Swede Robert Karlsson (67) and American veterans David Toms (67) and the 47-year-old Scott Verplank (70). Verplank, who trailed by one shot after making a birdie at the par-five second, had been bidding to become the second-oldest player to win a major, compatriot Julius Boros having clinched the 1968 PGA Championship aged 48. World number one Luke Donald and second-ranked fellow Briton Lee Westwood both got to within three strokes of the lead on the back nine before losing momentum on the way to matching 68s and a tie for eighth at three under. — Reuters Final round scores US unless stated: 272: Keegan Bradley 71-64-69-68 (wins play-off), Jason Dufner 70-65-68-69; 273: Anders Hansen (Den) 68-69-70-66; 275: Robert Karlsson (Swe) 70-71-67-67, David Toms 72-71-65-67, Scott Verplank 67-69-69-70; 276: Adam Scott (Aus) 69-69-70-68; 277: Lee Westwood (Eng) 71-68-70-68, Luke Donald (Eng) 70-71-68-68; 278: Kevin Na 72-69-70-67, D.A. Points 69-67-71-71; 279: Gary Woodland 70-70-71-68, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 69-71-71-68, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 72-69-69-69, Bill Haas 68-73-69-69, Nick Watney 70-71-68-70, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 71-71-66-71, Steve Stricker 63-74-69-73; 280: Brian Davis (Eng) 69-73-69-69, Phil Mickelson 71-70-69-70, Ryan Palmer 71-70-69-70, Matt Kuchar 71-71-68-70, Hunter Mahan 72-72-66-70, John Senden (Aus) 68-68-72-72, Brendan Steele 69-68-66-77; 281: Charles Howell 72-68-73-68, Robert Allenby (Aus) 72-70-71-68, Jerry Kelly 65-73-74-69, Bubba Watson 74-68-70-69, Mark Wilson 69-71-71-70, Scott Piercy 71-68-71-71, Brendon de Jonge (Zim) 68-72-69-72, Spencer Levin 71-70-68-72; 282: Chris Kirk 72-72-69-69, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 72-71-67-72, Alexander Noren (Swe) 70-72-68-72; 283: Matteo Manassero (Ita) 68-74-71-70, Ben Crane 71-72-66-74; 284: Johan Edfors (Swe) 71-70-73-70, Harrison Frazar 72-69-72-71, Ian Poulter (Eng) 74-68-70-72, K.J. Choi (Kor) 70-73-69-72, Bill Lunde 71-71-69-73, Jim Furyk 71-65-73-75; 285: Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 70-73-76-66, Ross Fisher (Eng) 71-69-76-69, Noh Seung-yul (Kor) 71-70-75-69, Andres Romero (Arg) 72-70-74-69, Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) 73-68-72-72, Brandt Jobe 68-69-73-75; 286: Rickie Fowler 74-69-75-68, John Rollins 72-72-70-72, Jhonattan Vegas (Ven) 70-68-74-74, Johnson Wagner 71-69-72-74, Simon Dyson (Eng) 68-72-71-75; 287: Ryan Moore 75-69-76-67, Ricky Barnes 69-75-71-72, Bryce Molder 74-69-70-74; 288: Michael Bradley 70-74-74-70, Zach Johnson 71-72-73-72, Kim Kyung-tae (Kor) 73-71-70-74; 290: Robert Garrigus 70-70-74-76, Kevin Streelman 73-71-71-75; 291: Sean O'Hair 71-73-77-70, Peter Hanson (Swe) 71-71-76-73, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 73-69-75-74, Rory McIlroy (Nir) 70-73-74-74, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69-73-72-7; 292: Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 75-69-76-72, Yang Yong-eun (Kor) 71-73-74-74, Mike Small 73-71-70-78; 294: Paul Casey (Eng) 72-72-78-72, Davis Love 68-71-76-79; 295: Shaun Micheel 66-78-77-74, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 73-69-73-80. 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| World No. 1 Djokovic first to win five Masters titles in a season Posted: 15 Aug 2011 06:12 PM PDT MONTREAL: Novak Djokovic stopped American Mardy Fish 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to win the Montreal Masters on Sunday, capping his competitive debut as world number one with a record-setting title. The sensational Serb began his reign in style becoming the first to capture five Masters Series events in a single season while extending his match record to a jaw-dropping 53-1. The win also made him the first to capture an ATP tournament on debut as number one since Pete Sampras in 1993. Back in action for the first time since his Wimbledon victory, Djokovic quickly found his footing on the Canadian hardcourts and only dropped a single set along the way. "History-making, of course it's special," Djokovic told reporters. "Of course, it's an honour and privilege to be part of the history of the sport that I love and that I play. "I'm still 24. I still have lots of desire to win all the tournaments that I play. Fish, who had enjoyed a brilliant hardcourt campaign to reach his third consecutive final, threw everything he had at Djokovic but rued missed chances to break his winless record against the Serb. "I felt like I had an opportunity today, I really did," said Fish. "I had a lot of chances in that first set and ended up losing. "If you try to forget who you're playing against, you're just playing another player, maybe you can figure out a way to get a break or two there. "I mean, there's a reason why he's won so many matches this year ... He's got to be leading the tour in break-points saved ... among other things." The 29-year-old American failed to convert five break-points in the first four games. Djokovic, however, was not nearly as generous, breaking at the first opportunity to jump to 4-2. The Serb then moved in for the kill, holding serve and breaking Fish again to take the first set. The feisty Fish delivered on his promise of a fight in the second set, breaking his opponent twice to level the match, but Djokovic recovered and finished off Fish with a service winner to seal the third. Already highly fancied to add a US Open title to his Wimbledon crown and two Australian Open championships, Djokovic will continue his buildup to the year's final Grand Slam at Cincinnati next week where he could extend his record to six Masters Series titles in a season. "I probably had a little mental advantage when you get on the court knowing that you're the player to beat," he added. "But, on the other hand, it adds the pressure and expectations as well because you are a favourite to win each match you play, whoever you play against." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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