SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2015 Aussie surfer ‘excited’ to compete after shark attack SYDNEY: Australian surf champion Mick was like, ‘Nah, nah, it’s just a bird, it’s just a surf. Despite his experiences, Fanning-cur- add that he was more concerned about the Fanning said he was excited about resuming bird’,” the three-time world champion said rently ranked second on the tour-said he conditions off Teahupo’o, which is competitive surfing after fighting off a shark from Tahiti, where he is set to compete in wanted to resume competitive surfing as renowned for its heavy waves. in South Africa, but admitted he was the next leg of the World Surf League Tour soon as possible after the attack. “If you “Over here it’s pretty unlikely you’re spooked by seeing a fin on his first return to this weekend. leave it for too long, then your mind starts going to see any big great whites,” the the waves. However, anxious to catch one more playing tricks on you,” said Fanning. surfer, who won in Tahiti once in 2012, told The 34-year-old made headlines around wave, Fanning stayed out on the water “It makes the situation worse than what it the Australian Associated Press. the globe when he battled a shark on live when he “saw a fin just come up and go actually is, and so, yeah, I just really wanted “I’ve been here many times. I’m com- television while competing at a world tour through the wave”. to get back out there.” Fanning said he was fortable with the wave, it’s just a matter of event at Jeffreys Bay off South Africa’s “I was just like, ‘Are you for real, what’s keen to put the South Africa attack behind surfing right at the right time.” Fanning Eastern Cape province in mid-July. going on here?’” he told the tour’s organis- him, telling Sydney’s Daily Telegraph on told the Telegraph he had not sought pro- About a week later, Fanning returned to ers. The surfer’s return to the water was Friday from Tahiti, “I’m very excited to be fessional help following the attack but the ocean off Australia’s east coast to surf being filmed by an Australian television pro- back in the water competing. would “talk it out” with his family and when he “saw a shadow go through a gramme, and he admitted he agreed to take “It will be nice for people to start focusing friends. “It’s not a taboo topic. I talk about wave”. “I was like, ‘You’re kidding me’ and I his board out at a spot he normally did not on something different.” Fanning went on to it when I need to.” — AFP Eatons packing everything but the medals for Beijing RALEIGH: Decathlon world record holder Ashton Eaton and heptathlon favourite Brianne Theisen- Eaton will not be travelling light in their journey to the Beijing world championships. One elite athlete travelling to a country with unfa- miliar cuisine for a major international meeting fol- lowed by a vacation in Japan might be expected to have quite a few bags with them. When it is a married couple both competing in multi-discipline events with high hopes of gold medals, the result is a mountain of baggage that would test even the most generous airline allowance. “1 month. 5 suitcases. 18 pairs of shoes. 20 pounds of food,” the couple wrote recently in an attention- grabbing heading to a blog post. JAKARTA: Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark hits a return against Lin Dan of China during their quarter-final men’s singles “Packing is an ordeal for us no matter where we’re match of the 2015 World Championships badminton tournament in Jakarta yesterday. — AFP going, but this month long trip to Asia for the world championships is one of the biggest yet,” the Oregon athletes added. Jorgensen to face Lee So what are husband and wife taking? The Eatons- he is American, she Canadian-spell it out, complete with pictures, on their blog, www.weareeaton.com Chong after Lin upset Along with shoes for non-training and competi- tion, there is lots of training equipment: Pole vault poles, tape, bands and straps. JAKARTA: Jan O. Jorgensen shattered Lin between Lin and Lee, arch-rivals who for years has punched above his weight against the But 20 pounds (9kgs) of food? “We normally don’t Dan’s dreams of a sixth world crown yesterday, have provided some of the most explosive Chinese champion, and Chen was prepared for go this crazy,” they said. “However in defeating the Chinese badminton legend and contests on the court. Lin, who has deprived the worst when Axelsen went on the offensive China, we’re not sure what will be available to us booking a semi-final showdown against Lee of gold medals not just at the world cham- in the second game. “I was starting to prepare and although we enjoy trying food from different cul- Malaysian superstar Lee Chong Wei in Jakarta. pionships but the Olympics, expressed regret for the third game, but luckily I got it,” Chen tures, when we’re going somewhere to compete we The Danish shuttler overpowered Lin 21-12, the old foes wouldn’t clash again in Jakarta. told reporters via a translator. 21-15, just the third time in his career he’s beat- “I’m quite disappointed I can’t meet Lee Chen progresses to the semi-finals where like to stick to what we’re used to.” en the two-time Olympic champion consid- Chong Wei,” he said via a translator. “But I have he will face fourth seed Kento Momota, who There is a reason, they said. “It’s important we keep ered by many one of the true greats of the to accept the result, because I didn’t do so very dispatched Hong Kong’s Wei Nan 21-6, 21-14. up our protein consumption during competition, so sport. It was an emotional victory for well today.” Lee has returned from an eight- The 20-year-old Momota, who won the bringing easy protein sources like salmon, tuna, Jorgensen, who was forced to withdraw from month doping ban guns blazing, convincing Indonesian Open in June, said he was hoping canned chicken, beef jerky, nuts and seeds, and the world championships on home soil in many his gold-medal drought at the world to face Axelsen but is determined to do his almond butter are perfect options,” the couple point- Copenhagen last year despite being a real championships could come to an end in best against the defending champion. ed out. medal contender. Jakarta. He brushed aside 13th seed Hu Yun of “Chen Long is the number one seed, so I “Oatmeals and cereals make breakfasts easy, and The second-seed wiped tears from his eyes Hong Kong 21-12, 21-18 on Friday, his third hope to prove myself against him,” the we never go anywhere without gum or electrolytes.” as he recalled the training and sacrifice he’d high-profile scalp in as many days. Jorgensen Japanese star said through a translator. In the But there is more. “A hard drive with tons of movies poured into preparing for this year’s world acknowledged the formidable task awaiting women’s singles, world number one Carolina because we sit around the hotel with nothing to do championships. “Now here I am, playing some him Saturday, saying Lee was “more hungry Marin appeared at her most confident as she for most of the day,” they said. Also, “Ibuprofen. After of the best badminton I’ve done ever,” the 27- than ever to show he is the best”. charged past her toughest opponent yet, sev- two days of competing, we’re hurting.” year-old told reporters. Jorgensen had one of “In my book he needs to have a gold, I just enth seed Wang Shixian of China, 21-17, 21-19. But even with the best laid plans, there is the last the toughest draws in the men’s singles, and hope it’s not this time,” he said. She will face Korean Sung Ji-Hyun after the minute scramble. “We’re always up really late the many did not expect him to emerge tri- ninth-seed beat India’s P.V. Sindhu 21-17, 19- umphant from his tete-a-tete with Lin. Chen Long prevails 21, 21-16. Sindhu’s compatriot Saina Newhwal night before, packing, cleaning, and doing last But the fifth-seeded Chinese star never Chen Long fought off a stubborn Viktor emerged triumphant over Wang Yihan of minute errands,” the couple said. And trying to found his rhythm against Jorgensen, blaming Axelsen to win 21-18, 30-29, with the plucky China in marathon 72-minute contest, while remember to bring their passports. “Brianne has for- everything from his physical condition to Dane pushing the top seed to the limit in an Indonesia’s Lindaweni Fanetri clawed back to gotten hers before.” — Reuters crowd noise for his poor showing. Badminton epic quarter-final that lasted more than hour. defeat fourth seed Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan fans had been pining for a semi-final bout It’s not the first time the 21-year-old Dane before a roaring home crowd. — AFP.