Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 Trstenjak makes Slovenia history as Japan dominate worlds ASTANA: Tina Trstenjak won Slovenia’s saved face with victory in the women’s who lost to Petri a year ago in Moscow for took her second world silver medal after first ever world title as Japan continued to under-57kg category. She won her second bronze. Japan’s men have two gold, a silver also reaching the final in 2013 in Rio, before dominate the world championships in world title in Astana on Wednesday and will and a bronze medal from the four cate- triumphing in Moscow 12 months ago. Kazakhstan yesterday. Trstenjak beat reign- be a clear favourite in Rio. gories so far disputed, although their big Trstenjak had taken bronze last year and ing champion Clarisse Agbegnenou in the But in traditional Japan it is the perform- men rarely match the lightweights’ results. earnt European silver medals the last two under-63kg final to gain revenge for her ance of the men that matters most. And it Their women have fared ever so slightly years. Israel’s Yarden Gerbi, the 2013 world defeat to the Frenchwoman in the has been so far so good for the country that better with Misato Nakamura adding champion, was surprisingly beaten for European gold medal encounter last year. usually dominates the lightweight divi- under-52kg gold to Matsumoto’s title while bronze by Munkhzaya Tsedevsuren of And after one silver and seven bronze sions. a silver and two bronze medals have also Mongolia, having earlier lost to close friend medals since their independence from the A day after Shohei Ono beat compatriot been garnered. With four gold and nine Agbegnenou in the semi-final. old Yugoslavia, it was a first world title for Riki Nakaya to win under-73kg gold, 21- medals in total so far, Japan have already The second bronze medal went to Miku Slovenia. But Japan continue to set the year-old Nagase upset 2013 world champi- virtually assured they will finish top of the Tashiro of Japan, who lost to Agbegnenou benchmark a year out from the Olympic on Loic Petri of France to claim Japan’s first medals pile. Yet Trstenjak did her best to in the quarter-finals. In the under-81kg divi- Games in Rio de Janeiro as Takanori Nagase ever world title at under-81kg. hog some of the limelight with her first ever sion, Georgia’s 2014 champion Avtandil won the men’s under-81kg division. Nagase distracted Petri in groun d fight- gold medal from a major tournament. Tchrikishvili lost to Victor Penalber of Brazil Japan suffered a humiliating week in ing by manoeuvring for an armlock before The Slovenian, who turned 25 three for bronze with Canada’s Antoine Valois- London three years ago when the country switching into a hold. He kept Petri pinned days ago, scored the winning half-point Fortier taking the other bronze medal, that gave birth to the sport flopped at the on his back long enough to score the maxi- waza-ari score with a dropping shoulder- beating Lee Seung-su of South Korea, Olympics. Their men failed to win a single mum ippon-equivalent to a knock-out in throw (seoi-nage). Agbegnanou, 22, the big adding to his silver last year and bronze at gold medal and only Kaori Matsumoto boxing. It was sweet revenge for Nagase, favourite, could not find an answer and the 2012 Olympics. — AFP Schippers eases into final, Asher-Smith flies BEIJING: In-form Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers eased into the final of the 200 metres at the world championships yesterday, further bolstering her position as favourite to take a first world title in the event today. The 23-year-old former heptathlete, who won silver in the 100 metres behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on Monday, was well clear of her rivals after the bend and eased up to win her semi-final in 22.36. British teenager Dina Asher-Smith, however, produced the fastest time of the round in the third semi-final, power- ing across the line in 22.12 seconds to improve her person- al best for the second time in two days. The 200 metres is wide open this year in the absence of reigning champion Fraser-Pryce, who decided against dou- bling up, and Olympic champion Allyson Felix, who pre- ferred the challenge of the 400m when the schedule pre- vented her her from running both. Elaine Thompson of Jamaica ran close to her personal best to win the opening semi-final in 22.13 seconds ahead of Candyce McGrone of the United States (22.26). Another American, Jeneba Tarmoh, finished second behind Asher-Smith in 23.38 to qualify for the final along with Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson, who was runner-up to BEIJING: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates as he wins the final of the men’s 200 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF Schippers in 22.53. Ivat Lalova-Collio of Bulgaria ran a per- World Championships at the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium in Beijing yesterday. — AFP sonal best of 22.32 to qualify as one of the two fastest fin- ishers outside the top two in each race along with Veronica Campbell-Brown. Bolt crushes Gatlin to Twice Olympic champion Campbell-Brown, who ran much of her qualifying heat on Wednesday in the wrong lane, stuck firmly to lane four as she posted her best time of the season in 22.47. — Reuters claim Beijing double BEIJING: Turns out, only a man on wheels can two Olympic titles. “I told you guys that I would trackside chair, the American came over to con- take down Usain Bolt. Shortly after the do it.” He capped his performance with his gratulate Bolt and the two rivals shook hands Jamaican great won a fourth 200-meter title trademark “Lightning Bolt” pose. After two and chatted. Seven years ago, Bolt started his and a 10th gold overall at the world champi- years of doubt and worries that age had started amazing run of gold at the Beijing Olympics onships, a cameraman on a two-wheel vehicle to affect the bearded champion at 29, he again and has not lost a major 200 race since. The banged into Bolt from behind. displayed the wide grin of a teenager. Jamaican, however, had been struggling with Suddenly, the Olympic champion was down With the clock reading 19.55 seconds, Bolt injury since winning his third straight 200 title at on his back, flipping over before getting back set the best time of the season. And despite the 2013 world championships in Moscow. on his feet and then briefly holding his left leg. slowing down, he still beat Gatlin by .19 - much Behind Gatlin, Anaso Jobodwana won After regaining his composure, he walked back more than the .01-second edge Bolt had in bronze with a South African record of 19.87. In to the cameraman to make sure he was OK, too. Sunday’s 100 final. the absence of gold from Gatlin, triple jumper “It took me out pretty well,” Bolt said. “But This season was supposed to be Gatlin’s Christian Taylor and Allyson Felix made up for I’m OK. No issues so I’m happy about it.” The best chance to challenge Bolt and despite the it for the United States, both with superlative unrivaled Jamaican outran Justin Gatlin again best times of his career at 33, he still came up performances. yesterday in another sprint showdown. After short when it counted. Taylor produced the second-best triple bursting through the bend and powering down jump of all time with a leap of 18.21 meters on the finishing straight with no one close, Bolt Oldest man his final attempt to pad his lead over rival BEIJING: Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, centre, had time to look left for Gatlin’s red jersey. With “I am the oldest man in the field and still Pablo Pichardo of Cuba. The 2012 Olympic races clear of Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson and Ivory nothing in sight, Bolt lifted both arms and running,” Gatlin said. “Running pretty well.” Bolt gold medalist and 2011 world champion has Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, left, to win a women’s punched his thumbs into his chest to show is now 2-0 in Beijing against Gatlin, who had been in a duel all season with Pichardo, with 200m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships once again he is the greatest sprinter of all time. been unbeaten in two seasons, with only the both clearing the 18-meter mark in the last at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing, yesterday. — AP “There was no doubt,” Bolt said after win- 4x100 relay to come tomorrow. two months to raise the prospect of the world ning his fourth 200 world title in a row to add to Once he sat down to savor his victory on a record falling in Beijing.— AP.