The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Freezing for Tour de France
- Scott pins hopes on his Tiger
- Chun Seang’s fate in the balance for walking out on BAM again
| Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:24 PM PDT GRENOBLE (France): Spending three minutes in a cubicle at minus 150°C is not exactly the kind of thing you dream of doing first thing in the morning, yet riders from the FDJ team will do it every day on the Tour de France. The French cycling team have been experimenting with cryotherapy – exposure to extreme cold in a small chamber to help recovery – since last month. I tried out the method myself on the morning of the fourth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine, a preparation race before the Tour de France. Just after breakfast, I was told to strip to my underpants and given a pair of slippers before entering a cubicle filled with liquid nitrogen that lowers the ambient temperature to minus 150°C. I stood in the cubicle, keeping my forearms outside it to protect my hands from the cold – I could have worn gloves instead. My head was also sticking out of the top, as the body's extremities cannot stand such a low temperature. At first I was just a bit chilly but quite rapidly the cold began to sting my skin as the temperature dropped. Despite the cold, the core temperature of the body stays stable. Some people do not move inside the cubicle but I did, fearing I might freeze on the spot. When my three minutes were up, I was happy to get out. With a sense of relief, I put my clothes back on, probably faster than ever before. The FDJ riders went into the chamber every morning and every evening after a stage and will continue during the Tour, which starts on July 2. "The method was created in the Eastern countries some 30 years ago," FDJ team doctor Gerard Guillaume told Reuters. "It is used in rheumatology and traumatology. Those who used it would treat people and athletes recovering from accidents or crashes. "They eventually realised that it helped the athletes recover from great efforts." Cold is said to help recovery and reduce inflammation. In the long term, cryotherapy is also said to reinforce the immune system. The therapy was not a performance-enhancing method, Guillaume said. "It helps recovery, it does not help performance." "We're actually doing the right thing. There is absolutely no performance-enhancement," said Guillaume. "If it works, other teams will come to it, obviously." Another French team, AG2R-La Mondiale, have also started to use cryotherapy. "It helps recovery and the fight against pain after effort. Then, the technique can be implemented over the long term since the cold can improve the immune system," said team doctor Eric Bouvat. "In our team we use it after the stages, but also in the morning because the cold stimulates the endocrinal system." Last week's Criterium du Dauphine marked the first time the FDJ riders had used cryotherapy on a race. Every morning, the suppliers brought in 200 litres of liquid nitrogen, but the capacity will be brought up to 600 litres a day. "We need to have more autonomy on a three-week race like the Tour to avoid any mishap," said Guillaume. The riders themselves have accepted the therapy. "At first, it hurts a bit, especially the legs. It's like having a pack of ice around your legs, which is not the best feeling," said FDJ team leader Sandy Casar. "I'm okay with this, it's better than an iced bath as it's a dry cold," his team-mate Arnold Jeannesson said after spending his three minutes without moving in the freezing cubicle. He was followed by Francis Mourey, who does not mind the cold either. "Really, it's fine. I don't even feel the need to move inside the cubicle. It's good for my sleep, too," he said. — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:23 PM PDT Australian Adam Scott is banking on the indirect help of Tiger Woods to improve his own mediocre US Open record at Congressional Country Club. Three-time winner Woods pulled out of the tournament last week because of injuries to his left knee and Achilles tendon and Scott has recruited the former world number one's caddie, Steve Williams, for the year's second major. "It's been great," Scott said on a sun-splashed on Wednesday at Congressional while preparing for the opening round. "We've known each other for a long time and he's obviously one of the best caddies out here. I'm sure everything's going to go well." New Zealander Williams, who has previously caddied for players such as Australian Greg Norman and American Raymond Floyd, was on Woods's bag for 13 of his 14 major victories. "It's nice to have an experienced man there next to me like I've always had," said Scott, who split with veteran caddie Tony Navarro after the PGA Tour's Players Championship last month. "Hopefully I can get Steve in the position that he's used to in these things (majors) and then his real talent will come out." A seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, Scott has mainly struggled at the US Open where he has missed five cuts in nine career starts. He recorded his best finish with a tie for 21st at Winged Foot in 2006 but believes he is in good shape for Congressional this week. "My preparations have gone well so I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning," said the 30-year-old Australian. "I've got a good handle to the course now so I am just excited to get this week under way." Scott has produced a varied bag of form this season, mixing three missed cuts with two top-10s in nine PGA Tour starts. However, the world number 21 will take a great deal of confidence from his tie for second at the Masters in April, his best finish in the opening major of the year. "Augusta was obviously a great week," Scott recalled with a smile. "It was really nice to be in the mix late on Sunday afternoon, and it was nice to play well in that situation. "I felt I did everything I could and I was simply outplayed at the end. But I know that I can take positives out of that in how I performed late on Sunday. I was very happy with that." Scott is scheduled to tee off with Swede Robert Karlsson and long-hitting American Bubba Watson in the opening round. — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Chun Seang’s fate in the balance for walking out on BAM again Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:22 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have allowed women's singles shuttler Julia Wong to walk out from the national team without any punishment while the fate of elite men's singles shuttler Tan Chun Seang hangs in the balance. Yesterday, BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai confirmed that Julia had left the national team while Chun Seang's status was pending following his decision to leave last month. This is the second time that the 24-year-old Chun Seang has voiced his intention to leave the national team. He walked out on the BAM in 2009 and the national body imposed a two-year ban on him – the first time ever that the BAM had taken a strong stance over their national players. The BAM's contention for doing that was because they felt that Chun Seang was still an asset to the nation. As such, they did not want him or any of their players to leave at their whim and fancy – especially after investing so much time and money on their development. Chun Seang was unable to compete in any international tournament as an independent player. He eventually returned to BAM's fold. But, since his return, nothing much has changed for Chun Seang as far as his badminton career is concerned. He is still bothered by a knee injury and has failed to make any headway in the national team. In fact, his injury has prevented him from becoming an effective sparring partner for world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei. To make matters worse, he has been missing from training in the last few days. Chin Chai said that the BAM's exco would decide on Chun Seang's case during their meeting on July 1. "Chun Seang has informed us of his intention to leave. Previously we imposed a ban on him. "This time, the circumstances are different. He is no longer in his best condition. The exco will decide whether to let him leave without any penalties," said Chin Chai. "BAM do not have a blanket rule on this matter (on imposing bans on players leaving the national team) but we will look at it case by case. The exco will decide on this." If Chun Seang leaves, the Malaysian singles elite squad will only be left with Chong Wei, Chong Wei Feng, Liew Daren and Chan Kwong Beng. As for Julia, Chin Chai said she leaves with their blessing. "It is clear that Julia is unable to cope after going through the knee surgery. She is unable to make a strong comeback and we accepted her decision to leave the national team," he said. Julia has enjoyed mixed fortunes in her seven years with the national team. "I wish to continue but it is frustrating when I cannot give my best due to my knee injury. Currently, I am coaching players at a club. I hope to make a comeback one day," said Julia, whose most memorable outing was finishing as runner-up to Saina Nehwal of India in the Philippines Open in 2009. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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