Li and Chen Keep China in Contention for Singles Titles
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2014 Spain out to upset under-manned United States SEVILLE: Hosts Spain and the rest of the field must believe US team that is much weaker than past squads. Zealand, Turkey and Ukraine in Bilbao - and D - Angola, they finally have a decent shot at knocking off the mighty And Spain have a motivated group which includes Australia, South Korea, Lithuania, Mexico and Slovenia in United States as the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup tips off brothers Pau and Marc Gasol as well as fellow NBA stalwarts Gran Canaria. None of the teams from Groups A and B can today. Serge Ibaka, Jose Calderon and Ricky Rubio, not to mention face nations from Groups C and D until the final or third The United States were clearly the better team at the Euroleague stars Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, Sergio place game. In addition to the United States and Spain, 2012 Olympics when LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Llull and an ageing but still dangerous Juan Carlos Navarro. another contender as of earlier this week was Lithuania. But Bryant and company knocked off Spain in the final in the 2013 European Championship runners-up saw leading London. But at the 2014 World Cup, Spain bring back Format point guard Mantas Kalnietis break his collarbone in the almost their entire team and are dying to get some revenge Because of the format of the tournament, Spain and the team’s final warm-up game, ruling him out of the full com- against an under-manned US team. United States cannot meet until the final - or the third place petition. None of that Olympic trio is back for the Americans, who game - both of which will take place in Madrid. Among the other challengers will be France, who will be have not lost in their runs to the titles at the 2008 and 2012 The tournament runs from August 30 until September missing 2013 EuroBasket MVP Tony Parker; Croatia, who Olympics and the 2010 World Championship. James and 14. Spain are drawn into Group A in Granada which also took fourth last summer in Europe; perennial European Bryant were not expected to play in Spain but the includes 2013 European champions France, Serbia, Brazil, powers Greece and Serbia; South Americans Brazil and Oklahoma City superstar Durant pulled out of the team just Iran and Egypt - with the teams playing each other in round Argentina; as well as Australia. three weeks before the start, citing exhaustion. robin fashion of five games in six days. Group A - Granada: Brazil, Egypt, France, Iran, Serbia, In addition to Paul George - who like Durant was expect- The top four teams in each of the four groups advance Spain ed to start for the Americans in Spain until the Indiana to the Round of 16. In the knock-out stages in Madrid, Group B - Seville: Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Philippines, Pacers star broke his leg - US coach Mike Krzyzewski also Group A’s teams will face the four top sides from Group B, Puerto Rico, Senegal has seen stars like Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus which has Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Philippines, Puerto Group C - Bilbao: Dominican Republic, Finland, New Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard all withdraw for a variety of Rico and Senegal in Sevilla. Zealand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States reasons. While Krzyzewski still has great players like Derrick Barcelona will host the knock-out stages for the teams in Group D - Gran Canaria: Angola, Australia, South Korea, Rose, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, it’s a Groups C - United States, Dominican Republic, Finland, New Lithuania, Mexico, Slovenia. — AFP Li and Chen keep China in contention for singles titles Nehwal says to reduce number of entrants per country COPENHAGEN: Chinese world number one Li Xuerui remained on course for a first world championship title after reach- ing the semi-finals of the women’s singles in Copenhagen yesterday while second seed Chen Long advanced to the last four of the men’s draw. Top-ranked Li, runner-up at last year’s Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Attiyah tournament, beat Indian seventh seed Saina Nehwal 21-15, 21-15 to move a step closer to adding to the Olympic crown she Nasser Al Attiyah won at London 2012. “The first set was pretty comfortable. In in Beirut to attend the second set some of my tactics weren’t well executed and that allowed Saina to 37th Lebanon Rally get close, but I eventually adjusted and pulled (the victory) off,” said the 23-year- BEIRUT: FIA Deputy Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Attiyah reached old, who will face Japan’s Minatsu Mitani Beirut to attend the 37th Lebanon Rally kick off which for a shot at the title. On Wednesday started yesterday at the show stage in the middle of Nehwal had sparked a war of words by Beirut. He reviewed the latest preparations related to the calling for the sport’s governing body, the rally; in addition to that he held marginal meetings with a Badminton World Federation (BWF), to number of FIA registered unions and clubs stakeholders to reduce the number of entrants per coun- set out the main guidelines for the next planned meeting try at international tournaments to curb which will be held in Beirut at the beginning of the next China’s dominance. Li, one of four initial Chinese represen- COPENHAGEN: Saina Nehwal of India plays against Li Xuerui (not in picture) of month. China during their women’s single quarter final match at the 2014 BWF Al Attiyah stated that we are here fully energetic and tatives in the women’s draw, let her per- formance do the talking for the most part Badminton World championships held at the Ballerup Super Arena in optimistic in Beirut among our brothers in Lebanon either Copenhagen yesterday. — AFP competitors or organizers, as I confirmed before that the on Friday before the topic again resur- Lebanon Rally is going to be successful before it starts, we faced in Denmark. really well and I hope to go much further,” tive singles title. After splitting the first added the 11th seed, who played down two games Chen found himself in trouble all realize the volume of insistence and firmness of these “There are good players from many concerns of fatigue having saved three in the decider but turned things around to organizers and fully acknowledged with all preparations countries. Too many restrictions is not match points the day before in a three-set prevail 21-14, 12-21, 21-17 and book a done, this all would absolutely lead us to be fully con- good for the sport. It would not be fair for win over South Korea’s Bae Yeon-ju. “I did- semi-final showdown with Indonesia’s vinced of fruitful future of this sport in the Middle East and the Chinese players who put in all the n’t feel I was tired, I just went all out. “I Tommy Sugiarto. “In the third game when the other sports organized under the umbrella of FIA. effort and training,” said Li. keep improving every time. I have to be I was 11-9 down I had to change things,” Al Attiyah also assured that all FIA - Middle East regis- P.V. Sindhu of India produced another aggressive, that’s my style. Chinese play- said Chen, whose last title came at tered clubs are trying seriously to cooperate effectively gritty performance to outlast China’s sec- ers are strong, I just played my best and January’s Korea Open. among each other throughout the organization of such ond-ranked Wang Shixian 19-21, 21-19, gave 100 percent.” Earlier, 16th seed “During that time it was dangerous. If I type of sports, today we see an effective participation 21-15 in an 85-minute marathon. Sindhu, a bronze medallist a year ago, matched her Mitani, who dumped out defending play the way I was I do think I can lose. But from Gulf countries in the International Lebanon Rally Ratchanok Intanon in the last 16, caused I told myself I can’t give up because 2014, as Qatar participates with 5 competitors, Kuwait performance from Guangzhou as she recovered from dropping the opening set another upset as she rallied to edge South maybe the condition of my opponent also and Lebanon as well, all these positive factors contribute Korean fifth seed Sung Ji-hyun 9-21, 21-18, changes. in developing the social anticipation and sport support. before displaying remarkable composure and stamina to close out a hard-fought 22-20 “I was confident once I got it to 14-all Al Attiyah added that we insist on developing our pro- though.” Sugiarto was made to work grams and activities, our guide strategy in this concept is final game. “I’m very happy. It was a really long China’s Chen survives extremely hard to see off 37th-ranked FIA’s guidelines, our goal in MENA is to go in parallel match, very equal and then I took the Men’s second seed Chen Long scraped Dutchman with the world motor sport and would come through lead,” said Sindhu, 19. through a gruelling encounter with South Eric Pang as the fifth seed reached the continuous media support, as we all work within a team- “I was trailing 16-12 in the second set Korea’s Son Wan-ho to keep China firmly last four for the first time courtesy of a 22- work. and made a very good comeback. I played in contention to win a seventh consecu- 20, 21-19 win.