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With Russia weakened, who will stop USA? Page 18

RIO DE JANEORO: Fireworks explode over the Maracana stadium during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. — AFP Glitter gives way to gold medals chase

RIO DE JANEIRO: The glitter and glamour of Rio’s stun- 4x100m crowns by clinching all three for the third many athletes are staying. formed refugee team and the joyous Brazilian contin- ning Olympics opening ceremony gave way to bitter straight Games. Brazil has spent more than $10 billion (9 billion gent. Iran’s flag bearer was Zahra Nemati, their first ever competition for the first medals of the Games dogged Gymnastics could unearth a new heroine in euros) on new infrastructure and preparations for the female flag-carrier who will compete in archery despite by a doom-laden buildup. America’s teenage star Simone Biles, while rugby and Games at a time of economic crisis, angering many being paralysed in both legs. The first medal of the Games will be picked up in golf return to the Olympic programme after gaps of 92 Brazilians. The Russian delegation, battling allegations of state- shooting on Saturday but hopes and dreams will also years and 112 years respectively. Despite the resentful undercurrent, and the protests backed doping, got only lukewarm applause when they be fulfilled-or shattered-for cyclists, fencers, But even the joys of the elite sports competition to against the Games just hours earlier, spirits were high entered the stadium. weightlifters, jodokas, swimmers, and archers as the first come and the opening ceremony extravaganza failed to among the athletes, performers, fans and officials at the Each athlete was presented with a seed and a car- Olympic titles are determined. dispel gloom over Brazil’s parlous political and econom- 78,000-capacity Maracana. tridge of soil to enable them to plant a native tree of Hours earlier, the Olympics were declared open at ic situation, with boos and jeers breaking out as interim “The Olympic dream is now a wonderful reality. The Brazil, which will ultimately form an “Athletes Forest” Rio’s fabled Maracana stadium late Friday with Brazilian president Michel Temer declared South America’s first best place in the world is here and now,” said organising made up of 207 different species-one for each delega- marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro lighting the caul- Olympic Games open. committee chief Carlos Nuzman, to rapturous applause. tion. Indigenous tribes and dueling dance groups were dron following an exuberant display of Brazil’s cultural Temer took over when impeachment proceedings Brazilian singer Paulinho da Viola sang the national among the highlights of a show low on technology but heritage, capped by breathtaking pyrotechnics-and a started against President Dilma Rousseff, whose sup- anthem to set off the show of laser lights and elaborate high on invention. burst of high-octane samba. porters accuse him of plotting against the suspended dances highlighting Brazil’s history and rise as an The evening’s overwhelming theme was environ- The ceremony lifts the curtain on a more than two- leader. The jeering ended only when it was drowned emerging power. mental protection. An early opening sequence depicted week sporting festival featuring superstars like Michael out by a loud barrage of fireworks. Brazil’s Gisele Bundchen strutted across the arena to the birth of life, culminating in the sprouting of a green Phelps and Usain Bolt. the iconic “Girl From Ipanema” before , home of entanglement of leaves from the stadium floor depict- All eyes will be on American swimming star Phelps, LUKEWARM APPLAUSE FOR RUSSIANS the ancient Olympics, led out the colourful athletes’ ing the Amazon rainforest. the most decorated Olympian in history, when he The opening ceremony followed fresh protests, parade. Indigenous Brazilians then performed dances before returns to the pool in the first week. Track and field will when about 3,000 people waving signs saying “No to More than 10,000 athletes from 207 teams took part, creating huge “Ocas” or native huts in the center of the see Jamaica’s Bolt aim to defend his 100m, 200m and the Olympics!” gathered outside a luxury hotel where with the biggest cheers reserved for the specially stage. — AFP

SHOOTING American Thrasher hits first gold on Games debut

RIO DE JANEIRO: Virginia Thrasher went through a American Sarah Scherer at sixth in qualifying to make three-week spring whirlwind, winning three NCAA the eight-person final. She opened the elimination titles and a spot on the US Olympic Shooting team. finals - a new format in this year’s Olympics - with a The precocious 19-year-old closed out the summer perfect 10.9 and was in the lead after Scherer became with her biggest surprise yet. Keeping her nerve on the first shooter knocked out. sport’s biggest stage, Thrasher yesterday earned the Thrasher stayed in the top spot as her competitors first gold medal of the Rio Olympics, outlasting two- fell off, consistently hitting 10s despite a fan blowing time gold medalist to capture the women’s 10- an air horn at random times. Thrasher entered the final meter air rifle title. with a 0.7-point lead and opened with a solid 10.5, “This is beyond my wildest dreams,” Thrasher said. “I which Li matched. Thrasher smiled after a 10.4 left a knew it was a realistic expectation for me to get into slight opening, but Li’s 10.1 on her final shot sent the finals and once you get into the finals, anything Thrasher on a surprising trip to the podium. can happen. For me, this year has been incredible.” “In the finals, about halfway through, it kind of Thrasher had a quick rise to the top. A figure skater became clear to me that I was in contention for a growing up, she switched sports five years ago after a medal,” Thrasher said. “But I quickly pushed that hunting trip with her family. Thrasher killed a deer thought away and focused on breathing, just taking with her first shot of her first hunting trip and has con- one shot at a time.” tinued to hit the mark wherever she’s gone. Thrasher pulled it off against two of the world’s best Thrasher was not expected to be among the top rifle shooters, Li and . Li won gold medals in air RIO DE JANEIRO: USA’s gold medalist Virginia Thrasher (center) poses on the podium with ’s silver medal five scorers - all that counts in NCAA competition - at rifle in 2004 at the Games and in 3-position winner Du Li (left) and China’s bronze medalist Yi Siling during the medal ceremony for the women’s 10m air rifle shooting powerhouse West Virginia, yet got better as rifle in four years later. She also competed in shooting event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Shooting Centre yesterday. — AFP the season progressed. She became the first freshman the 2012 London Games and pulled off a clutch shot in to win both NCAA rifle titles and led the Mountaineers the Rio final, hitting 10.9 to stay alive in the second lower than 10.4. Yi went out after a 9.8 on her final up on top of the podium and her whirlwind will wind to the team championship. round. shot to earn bronze and Thrasher finished with a down soon; a biomedical engineering major, she starts Less than a month later, Thrasher won the U.S. Yi took a similar path as Thrasher’s, earning air rifle cumulative score of 208.0 to beat Li by a point in front classes again at West Virginia on Aug. 17. “I’m actually Olympic Trials, earning a spot in Rio. gold at the 2012 London Games just three years after of a rowdy crowd. “I heard the cheers and the horns looking forward to getting back to school again,” She didn’t flinch at the sport’s brightest spotlight - starting her international shooting career. and it was very disturbing,” Yi said. “But I just had to Thrasher said. or an air horn. Though not expected to be a medal Thrasher stood her ground against the two Chinese control myself. I also looked up and saw that Virginia She will have a new title when she returns: Olympic contender, Thrasher finished a spot behind fellow shooters in the medal eliminations, hitting nothing and Du Li were doing well themselves.” Thrasher ended champion. — AP