The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Wiggins in hospital after being hit by car
- Berdych beats Tsonga to stay in hunt for semis
- Defender Faiz may be small in size but he’s blessed with speed and ability
| Wiggins in hospital after being hit by car Posted: 07 Nov 2012 04:19 PM PST LONDON: Tour de France champion and Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins was in hospital on Wednesday after being hit by a car while riding his bike near his family home in Lancashire, north-west England, police said. However, a police spokesman said the British cycling star's injuries were "not thought to be life-threatening". Wiggins, 32, was thrown off his bike when hit by a car believed to have pulled out of a petrol station before colliding with him. Wiggins is known to often go for training rides on rural roads in the area. The accident happened at approximately 6:00 pm (1800 GMT) in Wrightson, Lancashire, near Wiggins's family home in Eccleston and took place just months after he called for drivers and cyclists to "co-exist" following a fatal accident near London's Olympic Park. The driver of the car that hit Wiggins, a local woman, was said to be unhurt. A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "Police were called to the scene of a road traffic accident at Crow Orchard Road in Wrightington at about 6:00 pm this evening. "A cyclist has been involved in a collision with a white Vauxhall Astra car. The rider of the bike, a 32-year-old local man, was taken to hospital by ambulance with injuries not thought to be life-threatening. "His family have been told." Wiggins rides for Team Sky and in a statement on its website the British road race outfit said: "We can confirm that on Wednesday evening Bradley Wiggins was involved in a road traffic accident whilst riding his bike near his home in Lancashire. "He is being kept in hospital overnight for observation but the injuries he has sustained are not thought to be serious and he is expected to make a full and speedy recovery. "We will announce more details in due course." Accident investigators visited the scene but the road was not sealed off. Garage attendant Yasmin Smith, who went to Wiggins's aid, told the Lancashire Evening Post: "By the time I got there he had moved to a safer place but was still on the ground and he was in a lot of pain. "He said he thought he had broken his ribs and while a lot of police cars arrived it was about 15 minutes before the ambulance got there, by which time he was blue." This year saw Wiggins become the first British winner in the history of the Tour de France and, barely two weeks later, he also won the time trial at London 2012 in front of his home fans for a fourth career Olympic gold medal. On the same August 1 day that Wiggins enjoyed his latest Games triumph, a cyclist was killed following a collision with an Olympic media shuttle bus just outside London's Olympic Park. Commenting on the accident Wiggins, who has called for a law making it compulsory for cyclists to wear protective helmets, said: "It's dangerous and London is a busy city and a lot of traffic. "I haven't lived in London for 10 to 15 years now and it's got a lot busier since I was riding a bike as a kid round here, and I got knocked off several times. "But I think things are improving to a degree - there are organisations out there who are attempting to make the roads safer for both parties. "We've all got to co-exist on the roads. "Cyclists are not ever going to go away as much as drivers moan, and as much as cyclists maybe moan about certain drivers they are never going to go away, so there's got to be a bit of give and take." - AFP |
| Berdych beats Tsonga to stay in hunt for semis Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:21 PM PST LONDON: Tomas Berdych remains in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals of the ATP Tour Finals after the Czech fifth seed defeated France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 at London's O2 Arena on Wednesday. Berdych, who lost his opening Group A fixture against Andy Murray, now has to beat world number one Novak Djokovic on Friday to book his place in the last four of the prestigious season-ending event. The former Wimbledon finalist's victory also means Djokovic isn't certain to qualify yet even though the Serb maintained his 100 percent record with a win over Murray earlier on Wednesday. Tsonga isn't definitely eliminated but he would need to beat Murray in straight sets and hope Berdych loses by the same margin against Djokovic to advance. "It was important to win and now I'm looking forward to the next match," Berdych said. "I tried to just focus on myself and remind myself I had won the recent matches between us. "I was a bit surprised with the score in the final set but not how hard I had to work for it. I played well and finished it well." Berdych had beaten Tsonga in both of their meetings this year, including the final of the Stockholm Open, and the 27-year-old was a deserved winner again after a blistering finish. Tsonga hasn't defeated a top-eight ranked player this year and once again the flamboyant Frenchman was too inconsistent on the big points. Berdych had a chance to take control of the first set when he earned three break points in the seventh game, but Tsonga saved all three with a series of booming serves and powerful forehands. Tsonga didn't make the most of his escape though as a series of wayward groundstrokes gifted Berdych the first break at 6-5 and the Czech gleefully seized the chance to serve out the set with an ace. Berdych saved two break points at 1-2 in the second set, yet Tsonga was beginning to find some momentum and he pressured the Czech into one more mistake to move 3-1 ahead. Tsonga briefly wobbled when he served for the set, giving Berdych a break point, but he held on to send the match to a decider. Berdych was under pressure again in the first game of the final set, this time digging deep to save two break points, and he made the most of his reprieve with a break for a 3-1 lead. Suddenly the tide had turned back in Berdych's favour and he sealed the win in emphatic fashion with a second break. - AFP |
| Defender Faiz may be small in size but he’s blessed with speed and ability Posted: 07 Nov 2012 04:57 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Defender Faiz Helmi Jali is proof that size does not matter when he was among 18 players named for the Champions Challenge I hockey tournament in Quilmes, Argentina, from Nov 24 to Dec 2. The 20-year-old Johor player stands at only 156cm (about 5' 2") and weighs 55kg – but he still managed to impress national coach Paul Revington in training. The South African coach said that "Faiz may be small in size, but he has the speed and ability to defend well". Faiz, who played as the sweeper in the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca in May, said he never expected to be named for the tournament as there are other equally good and experienced defenders in the training squad. "But I thank coach Revington for having faith in me despite my small built. I am also happy to make my debut with the national team after being called up for training the last two years," said Faiz, who is majoring in sports management at Universiti Malaya. "I have proven to coach Revington that despite my size, I am able to tackle and play well as a defender. My ultimate test will be in the Champions Challenge I tournament. "I will give my best in the tournament and not be intimidated by players with bigger physiques. Playing well in the tournament will also help me win a regular place in the national team." Four former internationals – Chua Boon Huat, Ismail Abu, Jivan Mohan and Mohd Amerullah Abdul Aziz – have also been named for the tournament. The 32-year-old Boon Huat and Ismail, 28, last donned national colours at the Champions Challenge II tournament in 2009. Jivan, 29 last played for the country three years ago while Amerullah only had a short stint with the national team in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup four years ago. Revington said that the four ex-internationals "are still good and can play at a high level". "I am confident they will be able to give their best in Argentina," said Revington, who has set the team a top-four target. Midfielder Mohd Shahrun Nabil has been named skipper for the first time. Eight teams will feature in Champions Challenge I tournament and Malaysia are in Group A with South Korea, Canada and Poland. Argentina, South Africa, Ireland and Japan are in Group B. Malaysia finished fifth in the tournament in South Africa last year. The Squad Azlan Misron, Baljit Singh Charun, Chua Boon Huat, Faiz Helmi Jali, Faizal Saari, Ismail Abu, Jivan Mohan, S. Kumar, Mohd Sukri Abdul Mutalib, Mohd Fitri Saari, Mohd Shahrun Nabil Abdullah (captain), Mohd Amin Rahim, Mohd Amerullah Abdul Aziz, Mohd Marhan Mohd Jalil, Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim, Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor, Roslan Jamaluddin, Tengku Ahmad Tajudin Abdul Jalil. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan