TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 SPORTS Latvians claim volleyball gold

BAKU: Latvia’s Martins Plavins and Regza closed out the first set of the final but, with Haralds won a surprise gold in the men’s victory within grasp, lost five successive beach volleyball at the on points in the second to be taken to a Sunday after playing just one tournament decider. In front of a passionate crowd who and one practice session together. The duo, were rooting for the unlikely duo, the temporary partners solely for the inaugural Latvians held their nerve to take the final Games, defeated Russians Dimitry Barsouk set, winning crucial points on their oppo- and Yaroslav Koshkarev 21-16 18-21 15-10 nents’ serve to claim their country’s first in the final at the European Games Park. gold and second medal of the Games. Plavins, who won bronze at the 2012 “For now it is perfect,” Plavins told Olympics, and Haralds usually have reporters. “If we played one more tourna- different partners with whom they train ment maybe not, we would come third or and compete alongside permanently. fourth but for now it is perfect. “He has his partner, I have my partner “In the final you don’t want too many and we agreed with them to play this tactics, the most important is just serve and Olympic cycle together. This is just for the side-out (winning points on the opponent’s European Games,” Plavins told reporters. serve) and we did those well which is why “One practice, one final (is our only com- we won.” Czech pair Premysl Kubala and petition together).” The pair comfortably Jan Hadrava took the bronze.—Reuters ‘I’d be a movie star, not an archer’

BAKU: Slovenian archer Den Habjan in the last 16 at Tofiq Bahramov stadium. BAKU: Sarah Lagger of Austria competes during the women’s long jump event at the yesterday. —AP Malavasic has no desire to become a “It’s nice that people recognise you, but it’s celebrity but appeared to enjoy his fleeting not everything. I mean, I shoot for me, not moment in the spotlight at the European to get famous. If I wanted to become a Games yesterday. celebrity I’d star in a movie or something,” His exploits did not quite live up to he said. “Of course it helps if people know British divers make Andy Warhol’s ‘everyone will be famous for you and maybe a few more doors are open 15 minutes’ quote but the world number to you than others. You can maybe achieve 206 more than surpassed his albeit limited certain things easier if you are perhaps expectations in Baku. more published.” The Slovenian’s run came a splash at Games With his main aim “to go out there and to abrupt end on a windy afternoon in the get some more experience in front of the capital, with Frenchman Lucas Daniel, the cameras”, the 22-year-old won two contests world number 17, having too much guile in the men’s individual before bowing out and accuracy. —Reuters BAKU: In 2008, a 14-year-old Tom Daley cap- events, and Katherine Torrance was victorious in clubs with two percent selected to join the pro- tured the imagination of the British public at the the 3 metre springboard competition in the gramme. The success of Daley, who also won a Beijing Olympics and if performances at the Azeri capital. bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, has inaugural European Games are anything to go “This has to be one of the strongest teams boosted the profile of the sport and helped cre- by, Team GB have a host of young divers poised we’ve ever taken to a European championships,” ate a programme saturated with potential future to follow in his footsteps. Haslam told Reuters on Monday. “I think every- medalists. In an impressive display of diving at the Baku one here could have got a medal and everyone “We are right up there in Europe and even in Aquatics Centre, Britain’s juniors garnered four managed to reach the final. the world with people like Tom Daley,” Lee told golds, one silver and one bronze from eight “We’ve got a massive group of youngsters Reuters. “Not many people knew diving before events, suggesting Daley’s 2009 world title could now so hopefully us doing well will spur some of then and it wasn’t a popular sport. Words can’t soon be matched by any one of the current crop. them on.” Much of Team GB’s success can be describe how much he’s done for diving, it’s James Heatly led the way for his teenaged attributed to the Talent Identification (TID) pro- incredible what he’s done and we’re all so glad. team mates when the 18-year-old claimed gramme that was implemented in 2003 and “We’re incredibly strong and we are so suc- medals of all three colours, including a silver aims to identify potential future medalists and cessful. We’re really good (at identifying and nur- alongside 17-year-old Ross Haslam in the syn- nurture them through the crucial fledgling years turing talent) because we’ve had so much suc- chronised event, across the men’s springboard of their diving careers. cess. “We are getting closer and closer to that diving disciplines. In the 12 years since its introduction, nearly gold medal and who knows? In Rio (the 2016 Matthew Lee and Lois Toulson added gold 500,000 youngsters have been assessed in high- Olympics) or Tokyo (2020 Olympics) we might medals in the men’s and women’s platform performance centres and talent development get that gold.”—Reuters Phelps wins 200 individual medley

SANTA CLARA: Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps knows training in Colorado Springs is good for his swimming career. That doesn’t mean he has to like it. “It’s painful,” Phelps said. “It’s mentally chal- lenging more than anything. I know, deep down inside, I do benefit from going.” Phelps took charge of the men’s 200 individual medley and raced to his second win of the Arena Pro Series on Sunday night. “It’s just good to push my body as hard as I can,” he said. “It helps prepare me. This has been a great confidence booster for me. I look at this and feel like I’m doing something right.” Phelps’ next focus is the national champi- onships, where he expects to swim the 100 fly, 100 individual medley and 200 individual med- ley, though he hasn’t confirmed anything. “I didn’t know what events I would swim here until I got here,” Phelps said. “I don’t know that I will be able to do all the events I want at nation- als.” First he has to survive a three-week training BAKU: Katie Taylor of reacts after her women’s light (57-60kg) fight regimen at the Olympic Training Center. “You’re against Denitsa Eliseeva of at the 2015 European Games. —AFP locked in this compound for three weeks,” he said. “I can complain about going but I know it’s what I need.” SANTA CLARA: Michael Phelps wins the men’s 200m IM on day four of the 2015 Arena Pro Olympic champion Missy Franklin, in her first Swim Series at the George F. Haines International Swim Center. —AFP Taylor keen to keep long course event of the season, finished third in the 200 backstroke, an event in which she holds not there. It was important to figure out what Russian Yulia Efimova won the women’s 50 young in their place the world record, and sixth in the 100 freestyle works in the water.” breast, edging Trojan Swim Club teammate on the final day. “I have a lot of mixed feelings,” ’s Katinka Hosszu won the women’s Jessica Hardy by a half-second. Efimova will be Franklin said. “I haven’t raced for a long time but 200 individual medley and the 200 backstroke, competing at the world championships in BAKU: Irish boxing great Katie Taylor her at the moment.” Taylor, who also rep- I felt strong and powerful. The speed just was her fourth and fifth victories of the weekend. Kazan, , later this summer. —AP has accrued enough gold to make even resented Ireland in football and is a tal- King Midas jealous but she is not satis- ented Gaelic footballer, denied her fied yet and while delighted there is a appetite for more titles had diminished. Baseball and softball on shortlist for Tokyo 2020 younger generation emerging she is “Absolutely I want this title,” said keen to put them in their place, begin- Taylor, who is an ambassador for the TOKYO: Baseball and softball top the shortlist of Bach last year, Games hosts have the chance to Games, in Beijing in 2008. “This is a great day for ning in Baku. Games and also was the Irish team flag- sports competing for spots as additional attrac- bring in one or more sports popular in their our sport,” WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari said The 28-year-old Olympic bearer, as she was at the opening cere- tions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics along with country to boost ratings and attract greater in a statement. “Today baseball and softball-and champion-who also has five world and mony of the London Olympics. homegrown favourite karate, organisers said sponsorship. the millions of athletes and fans who call it their six European crowns to her name-got “I am hungrier than I ever was to win yesterday. Bowling, roller sports, sport climbing, Organisers would prefer sports already popu- sport-reached first base.” her campaign for an inaugural European championships.” Taylor, who along with squash, surfing and wushu were also included lar in Japan so new venues would not need to be Karate has never been contested at the Games title under way by beating expe- fellow Olympic heroines British duo Jade among the final eight, whittled down by a com- built and add to ballooning costs. Olympics. Judo, its fellow homegrown martial rienced Bulgarian Denista Eliseeva, the Johnson and Nicola Adams have given mittee from the original 26 sports which applied Baseball and softball, united under the World art, first joined in 1964, when Tokyo last hosted last boxer to defeat her, albeit in contro- the Games a much-needed lustre with for inclusion earlier this month. Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), are the Summer Games, and has been included on versial fashion, four years ago. the leading continental track and field As part of reforms initiated by International strong favourites to return to the Olympics for every programme since 1972. However, whilst Eliseeva at 34 is no athletes and swimmers absent, said the Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas the first time since Asia last hosted the Summer Squash officials, snubbed three-times in their bid for inclusion at the 2012 Games in London, longer the force she was others such as wrist injury she suffered when winning next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo 19-year-old Swede Ida Lundblad, whom her fifth world title in Korea last 2020, were delighted to have another opportu- she meets next on Wednesday, and four- November seemed resolved. nity. “We are confident that squash would bring time French champion and European sil- It is just as well for in Lundblad she something special to the programme of the ver medallist , 23 and will face a tough opponent. The Swede ,” World Squash Federation presi- who is seeded to meet her in the final, had a top class junior record having dent Narayana Ramachandran said. “Squash is a are seen as the flagbearers of the new been crowned both European and world fine gladiatorial sport played all over the world wave. “It is always great to have a new champion in 2012 and 2011 respectively and featuring great athleticism, competition and generation coming through, it reflects before showing the senior ranks held no broadcast output.” Surfing’s governing body the way the sport is growing, both in fears for her when she was crowned emphasised its appeal to a younger audience. quality and interest, and the talent out European champion last year, admitted- “With its youthful values and engagement, there is outstanding,” said Taylor, who is ly in a different weight category. Surfing has incredible global appeal and a trained by her father Peter. “My wrist held up well, but sure I had unique and modern blend of high performance, “However, that is not to say I am two bouts before I came out here, so I style and culture,” International Surfing going to step aside and wave them on. I was already reassured it was in good Association President Fernando Aguerre said. think I have a lot to prove to the young enough shape,” said Taylor. “This is a significant milestone for our sport... boxers and I am looking to stamp my “Lundblad is a type who likes to with the new, cost-effective Surf parks that are revolutionising our sport, we are confident that authority on them. brawl, but I like that, someone who is this is the perfect time for Surfing to step up to “I want to leave a great legacy and prepared to stand there and fight and the greatest sporting stage.” continue to win every major champi- trade punches. “It is always good to get A final decision will come in August 2016. onships and I think it’s always great to the first fight out of the way and blow Other sports which had been bidding to take have new challenges. Mossely is a fan- away the cobwebs. I’ll be a lot sharper BAKU: People look at a fire installation at the shore of the Caspian Sea in Baku where the 2015 part included tug of war, bridge, chess, sumo tastic fighter but I’m not thinking about for the next one.” —AFP European Games are taking place.—AFP wrestling, billiards and orienteering.—Reuters