Turkey Hails Historic Gold from Guliyev
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SPORTS Saturday, August 12, 2017 23 Turkey hails historic gold from Guliyev Istanbul surprise victory on Thursday night in Guliyev, 27, was born in Baku but urkish London, Turkey’s first ever gold at the took up Turkish citizenship in 2011 leaders championships. and was cleared to compete for his Tand media “I congratulate Ramil Guliyev, who adopted country two years later. yesterday has made us all proud by winning the The authorities in Azerbaijan were hailed 200m gold medal,” President Recep unhappy at his switch -- even to a Azerbaijan- Tayyip Erdogan wrote on Twitter. nation with such close political and born Ramil He also sent the athlete a cultural ties -- but Guliyev insisted Guliyev’s congratulatory telegram, the Turkey gave him an opportunity to historic gold medal in the world presidency added. train seriously. athletics championships 200-metres. The Hurriyet daily said that Guliyev After his victory was confirmed, Guliyev saw off more fancied had “won a gold that will go down in Guliyev wrapped himself in opposition, including 400m world history” while the pro-government Azerbaijan’s national flag before also champion Wayde van Niekerk of Yeni Safak said “Ramil has written waving a Turkish flag above his head. South Africa, for a sensational and history”. (AFP) US athlete Kori Carter (L) and US athlete Dalilah Muhammad celebrate after winning first and second places I’m my own man, insists Kori Carter wins Van Niekerk women’s 400m the American achieved in the Olympic title last year -- or 1995 championships, when he 100/200m world record holder hurdles took silver in the 200 metres Bolt, who is competing in his on Thursday behind surprise final global championships. London 53.50sec. winner Ramil Guliyev of “I will never try and fill nfancied Kori Carter “I just had to run my race, go out London Turkey. Usain’s shoes, or Michael’s,” outstripped US teammate and let them chase me,” said the ayde He had successfully said van Niekerk. DalilahU Muhammad for gold in the 25-year-old Carter. van defended his 400m world title “I’ve shown enough women’s 400m hurdles at the world “I’m on top of the world right NiekerkW says he earlier in the week. dominance, hard work and championships on Thursday. now, it’s been such a long year.” is building his own Nevertheless, van Niekerk, performances to start building Carter ran 53.07 seconds from Jamaica’s Ristananna Tracey “image and brand” and who was unusually emotional my own image and brand. the outside lane to claim a timed a personal best of 53.74sec for doesn’t want to be tagged after the race, raising his arms “I have the utmost respect shock victory, Olympic bronze, while two-time defending as the successor to track in celebration when he heard for Usain and he is the one I champion Muhammad champion Zuzana Hejnova of the and field legends Usain Bolt he had finished second, said have been watching over the taking silver with Czech Republic was fourth. (AFP) and Michael Johnson. he believed his effort had been last few years. I have got to The 25-year-old South “successful”. know him quite well and I African 400 metres world However, he dismissed thank him for what he has record holder just missed comparisons with either done for the sport. Mayer leads world out on emulating Johnson’s Johnson -- whose 400m world “This week is the perfect feat of the 200/400m world record the South African time for us to honour him.” championship double, which shattered when he won the (AFP) decathlon London rance’s Olympic silver medallist Kevin Mayer led the world decathlon Fafter the first three events in London yesterday. A season’s best shot put of 15.72 metres in the third discipline saw the Frenchman amass 2,703 points to leapfrog Germany’s Rico Freimuth, now in second on 2,678. American Trey Hardee, world champion in 2009 and 2011, sits in third (2,647), while Canada’s Olympic bronze medallist Damian Warner is sixth (2,590). The decathletes, seeking to become the first man other than the now retired Ashton Eaton to win a global decathlon event since 2011, compete in the high jump and 400m later on Friday. Saturday sees them competing in (L-R) Britain’s Chris O’hare, Poland’s the 110m hurdles, discus and pole Marcin Lewandowski, Kenya’s Timothy vault in the morning session Cheruiyot and Czech Republic’s Jakub before rounding Holuša finish the semi-final of the men’s off with the 1500m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF javelin and World Championships at the London 1500m. Stadium in London yesterday (AFP) (AFP) France’s Kevin Mayer competes.