TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2017 SPORTS

India’s ‘Faith Runner’ falters on the final straight

—MUMBAI: Tormented by blisters, illness through the monsoon rains without skip- metres per day is very challenging but I lentils, after every run. The five-time ultra- and injuries, Indian ultra-marathoner ping a day. He needed to clock 150km (93 wanted to show the endurance limit of marathon winner lost 16 kilos (35 pounds) Samir Singh got to within 36 kilometres of miles) on the final day on Sunday, after human spirit,” Singh told AFP ahead of during the challenge as his exertions took his goal of running 10,000km in 100 days falling behind schedule through illness. the final run. their toll. when pain and exhaustion beat him. But the 44-year-old could only complete “I have focused on my goals with deter- Singh, dubbed “The Faith Runner” and 114km, falling agonisingly short of his tar- RUNNING SORE mination and nurtured my dreams despite inevitably compared to Forrest Gump, get-which was the equivalent of about a Friends mocked the man from Madhya cracked heels, fractured joints and legs,” spent nearly three months running quarter of the Earth’s circumference. “He Pradesh state for taking on the challenge, Singh said. Singh was spotted one day by between Mumbai’s slums and business was plagued by gastro-intestinal infections but it became an attempt that caught the Mumbai documentary-makers Vandana district using donated clothes and equip- and contracted viral fever but has run public imagination. “I survived without a and Vikram Bhatti, who christened him ‘The ment, and living on just $3 a day. At the 9,964.19 kms in 100 days,” Vikram Bhatti, job for the last nine months and people Faith Runner’. end of his attempt on Sunday, the 5ft 7ins who handled Singh’s campaign, told AFP. have come forward and supported me with “We met him on the 47th day of his (170cm) running coach, who also suffered Dressed in a blue sports vest, Singh donations, shoes, clothes and equipment,” challenge and were taken aback by his stomach problems and viral fever, started each day in the early hours from Singh said. He had a GPS watch, a basic story. So, we have been running a weighed just 40 kilogrammes (88 pounds). the northern Mumbai slums and headed mobile phone for emergencies and 200 Facebook campaign to create awareness Singh started on April 29 in Mumbai’s to the business district in the city’s rupees ($3.14) a day. Singh said he particu- and generate funds for Samir,” Vandana scorching heat, and has been running south. “My journey of running 100 kilo- larly enjoyed his meal of rice and spicy Bhatti said. — AFP Samir Singh

ATHLETICS Tori Bowie - from foster child to fame

LONDON: Tori Bowie’s dream of one day seeing a sign in her home community saying ‘welcome to Sand Hill home to Tori Bowie’ looks almost certain to be realised after her 100m win at the world athletics championships. For the sport of athletics the 26-year-old American’s victory-courtesy of her habitual hurl- ing herself at the line which denied diminutive Ivorian Marie Josee Ta Lou the gold-will be a wel- come antidote to the largely hostile reception of her compatriot and two-time dope cheat Justin Gatlin’s win in the men’s race the night before. For Bowie-who finally tasted gold in an indi- vidual event after lesser medals in the Olympic 100 and 200m as well as the 2015 100 world SYDNEY: In this file photo dated Friday, Sept 15, 2000, the 1956 sprint champion final-it will also be a moment of glory shared Betty Cuthbert who is confined to a wheelchair with Multiple Sclerosis, waves as she with her paternal grandmother and her role is pushed by three-time silver medal winner Raelene Boyle as they carry the Olympic model, Bobbie Smith. torch during the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Betty Cuthbert, But for Smith, Bowie says she and her sister the only runner to win Olympic gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400-meter sprints, Tamara-younger by just under a year-would has died in Western Australia, aged 79. — AP have been taken on by foster parents. “My moth- er dropped us off at a foster care centre when I was just two,” Bowie told NBC last year. Aussie Olympic legend “But my grandmother ended up fighting for us and winning custody of us. “We didn’t have much but she gave us character,” added Bowie, Betty Cuthbert dead who has shortened her name from the unusual Fentorish. SYDNEY: Australian Olympic icon Betty courage, but more importantly she always Cuthbert, the only athlete to ever win gold managed to smile.” ‘DON’T THINK OF BOYS’ LONDON: United States’ Tori Bowie celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Women’s in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, has died Athletics Australia president Mark Arbib Smith for her part had no hesitation in 100 meters final during the World Athletics Championships in London Sunday. — AP aged 79 after a long battle with multiple called her “inspiring”. “She is the only ath- assuming her responsibilities to her discarded sclerosis, officials said yesterday. Cuthbert lete, male or female, to win Olympic gold in grand daughters even though she had five chil- self because she has given her entire life to us,” Smith for her part is especially proud of how shot to fame as a little-known 18-year-old the 100m, 200m and 400m, with her trophy dren of her own to bring up in the tiny enclave Bowie told MSNnews.com last year. Smith, who the two girls have turned out. “It makes me at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, winning cabinet also including three medals from in Mississippi which is so small Bowie says there is still referred to as ‘Mama’ by both the sisters, think about no matter how bad things can get or the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, earn- the Commonwealth Games,” he said. are no ‘stop lights’. She said her own grandmoth- instilled in the two girls from an early age what start in your life or be in your life, it’s still good ing her the nickname “Golden Girl” by “She will be forever remembered as a er had taken in six grandchildren, including her- their priorities should be so they could experi- things that can come out of it,” she told WBTV. local media. legend of the sport and a trailblazer for self, despite the hardship. “So I knew if she could ence a different life to the impoverished one Bowie, who is also determined to emulate her She suffered a hamstring injury at the our female athletes.” Born in Sydney, she take in six, I could take in two. That helped moti- their parents and she had done. grandmother’s example in taking disadvantaged Rome Games four years later and briefly moved to West Australia in later life after vate me and let me know I could do it,” the 70- “I encouraged them to go to school and don’t children under her wing and encouraging them retired, before being coaxed back to the being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in year-old told the Clarion-Ledger. think of boys at young age and they took my that they can succeed, is mindful of another track to win the 400m at the 1964 1969, which confined to a wheelchair. Bowie, who has done some modelling and is advice,” she said. Bowie, who says she was a piece of advice Smith gave them. Olympics in Tokyo. During her career, she She returned to the spotlight in 2000 keen to get into acting with her goal to attract tomboy in her youth going out and playing bas- “My grandmother told me a long time ago, set nine world records, four of them in when she took part in the ceremony to the attention of gospel film legend Tyler Perry, ketball with her male relations as well as going ‘I don’t care if you’re sweeping a porch for a 1958, and remains the only athlete, male light the cauldron at the Sydney Olympic says she and Tamara are eternally cognisant of shooting with them, has shown that on the track living. She said, you need to do your best.’ “So or female, to win Olympic gold in the Games. Cuthbert was an inaugural mem- their grandmother’s sacrifices. and Tamarra, whilst a talented athlete in her own I’ve lived by that every single day,” Bowie told 100m, 200m and 400m. ber of the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame “To me, it’s like she really hasn’t had a life her- right, is studying law. WBTV.— AFP Swimmer Ian Thorpe is the only and she was inducted into the IAAF Hall Australian to claim more Olympic gold of Fame in 2012. medals, with five. “Betty was the Golden “Rest in peace Betty Cuthbert-an inspi- Girl of the track and a national heroine,” ration and a champion on and off the said Australian Olympic Committee presi- track,” tweeted Prime Minister Malcolm dent John Coates. “It’s very sad to lose such Turnbull, while fellow track legend Cathy a great champion. Betty battled her illness Freeman said: “Thank you for the inspira- for many years and showed tremendous tional memories, Betty Cuthbert.” —AFP

RUGBY Savea dropped from NZ’s Rugby Championship squad

WELLINGTON: Blockbusting wing Julian leadership group.” Savea has been dropped from the All Blacks with a fit-again Nehe Milner-Skudder back in TRAVEL WORRIES the frame in a 33-man squad named yester- Hansen said he also had to be mindful of day for the Rugby Championship. the impact that the Rugby Championship With the exception of Milner-Skudder and travel, which involves playing in Australia, a recall for prop Nepo Laulala, the line-up South Africa and Argentina, would have on reflects the frontline players used in the the All Blacks’ end-of-year northern hemi- recent drawn series against the British and sphere tour. “There is a massive travelling Irish Lions. component to the Championship, which Savea, known as “The Bus” and with 46 comes at a cost at the end of the year, so we’ll tries from 55 Tests, had been a regular in the be looking to implement some new strate- 11 jersey for the All Blacks since 2012, but he gies to try and overcome that,” he said. now finds himself dumped on his 27th birth- champions Canterbury day. He looked in a precarious position when provide the bulk of the squad with only required for the third Test in the Lions 10 players, while there are eight from the series, and was then relegated to the bench , six from the Waikato , five LONDON: New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh competes in men’s shot put final during the World Athletics Championships in London Sunday. — AP by the Wellington Hurricanes for their Super Otago Highlanders and four . Rugby semi-final against South Africa’s Golden Lions. New Zealand squad: Milner-Skudder has been making a rapid Forwards: (Wellington N Zealand’s Walsh deposes return to form after being out of rugby for Hurricanes), Nathan Harris (Waikato Chiefs) most of the past two years with injury prob- (Canterbury Crusaders), Wyatt lems. He last played for the All Blacks in the Crockett (Crusaders), 2015 World Cup final. (Crusaders), Nepo Laulala (Chiefs), champion Kovacs in shot Of the two All Blacks to take off-shore con- (Crusaders), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland Blues), tracts following the Lions Tests, Charlie Scott Barrett (Crusaders), Faumuina’s departure has opened the door (Chiefs), (Crusaders), Sam LONDON: Tomas Walsh of New Zealand won and then lose it in the final.” There was a heat- Croatia’s Stipe Zunic took the bronze with for Laulala. But the selectors opted not to Whitelock (Crusaders), (Chiefs), the men’s shot put world title on Sunday with a ed finale, though, when Kovacs’s final throw, 21.46m whilst there was crushing disappoint- replace , instead reducing their (Hurricanes), (Blues), stunning series of throws climaxing with a best that appeared to be over 22m, was ruled out ment for Crouser, who could finish only sixth fly-half ranks to and Lima (capt, Crusaders), of 22.03 metres. The 25-year-old-a former by a red flag. with 21.20m. Walsh pumped the air with his Sopoaga. Damian McKenzie has been named (Hurricanes), (Otago Highlanders) builder which he credits for his body strength He demanded an explanation but there was fist after his second throw and he had good as a replacement for fullback , who Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), TJ edged out America’s defending champion Joe to be no going back on the decision as his trail- reason to as he took the lead from Kovacs, who will take an extended break from the game Perenara (Hurricanes), Aaron Smith Kovacs, who posted a best of 21.66. ing foot clipped the board as he launched the had hurled his shot out to 21.46. following the first two matches. (Highlanders), Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), “To pull it out on the last one is awesome,” shot. However, with the heat of battle having Walsh consolidated his lead with his third “For us, it’s case of re-establishing our- Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders), said Walsh, who revealed he had been under- cooled Kovacs was satisfied with his silver effort recording a mark of 21.75m but things selves and building on our good work from (Crusaders), (Hurricanes), going treatment on his groin prior to the final. although he took added satisfaction that he weren’t going well for Crouser, who slipped to last year and during the recent Lions series,” Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs) Sonny Bill “I knew that (Olympic champion) Ryan Crouser would have won if the throw had been fifth by the third round. The American’s third coach said. Williams (Blues), (Hurricanes), was going to attack on the last attempt and it allowed. “I am happy to get on the podium, of effort was a massive throw but it was ruled a “There were some clear things learnt in (Crusaders), (Blues), is so special for me to know that I was able to course, but I was ready to come back for the foul. The pressure increased on Crouser as his the Lions series and this is a great chance for Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes), Waisake attack, too. gold,” he said. “My last throw, which I did fourth throw also resulted in a foul and he us to implement those; to continue to grow Naholo (Highlanders), Ben Smith “Whether it was a fierce throw or not, I tried protest, was long enough to win. Despite the went into the sixth and final round in sixth our skill execution and the mental side of our (Highlanders). Utility replacement: Damian my hardest in the last throw and it worked. I result of the protest, I am just glad it was spot. However, there was to be no grandstand game, and develop our leadership and the McKenzie (Chiefs). — AFP did not want to do 22m in the qualification enough to win.” finale for the 24-year-old. — AFP