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12 Established 1961 Sports Sunday, February 4, 2018 Vonn hits ‘big number’ 80th World Cup win, Garmisch hat-trick Vonn closing in on Stenmark’s all-time alpine record of 86 WCup wins GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN: US ski injury to US team-mate Jacqueline Wiles, US Army base in the town. queen Lindsey Vonn chalked up her 80th who was stretchered off the course after a Vonn plans to go even faster in today’s World Cup win yesterday with downhill bad crash. second downhill race, on the full-length victory at Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the course, in the last World Cup event before third straight year-just days before the ‘HARD TO BE HAPPY’ the Olympics. “I’m looking forward to skiing Winter Olympics. “It was really hard to be happy and to on the full track and getting a little bit more Vonn, 33, clocked 1min 12.84sec, just celebrate with Jackie in hospital,” said speed tomorrow,” said Vonn. 0.02 secs faster than World Cup downhill Vonn, who grimaced when Wiles crash. The women’s Olympic alpine programme leader Sofia Goggia, who finished second. While American Breezy Johnson finished starts with the giant slalom on February 12 Austria’s Cornelia Huetter was third at 0.13 fourth, crashes by US skiers Laurenne Ross while the downhill-the blue-riband event-is sec back on a shortened course due to and Wiles worried Vonn. on February 21. Vonn won downhill gold at warm temperatures in the Bavarian Alps the 2010 Vancouver Games, but missing at the start of the week. Sochi four year later with injury. Eight Vonn is closing in on Ingemar years after her last Olympics, Vonn is Stenmark’s all-time alpine record of 86 gunning for gold. World Cup wins. “It’s a big number,” said Vonn of her 80th victory. “I remember HAPPY RIVALS when I got my 50th win here, I never I never thought She put in an impressive display on thought I would get close to Annemarie I would get 80 the Kandahar course, shaving fractions Moser-Proell’s record (of 62 wins). of a second off Goggia’s time at the first “Now I am getting closer to wins-it’s a big day two time checks. She was 0.08 behind Stenmark’s. “It’s incredible. “I am so at the third, but picked up speed on the thankful that I have gotten myself in a lower section of the course, where her position to get these wins coming into rivals had slowed, to claim her milestone the Olympics. “I feel strong mentally and “It was a rough day for the whole team,” win in style. physically. “I never thought I would get 80 said Vonn. “I am happy Laurenne wasn’t Vonn’s career stats are all the more wins-it’s a big day.” hurt, she’ll be sore, but at least her knee is impressive given her injuries - a fractured Vonn has the chance for another victory okay. “It was great to see Breezy get fourth, arm in November 2016 having broken her GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN: Lindsey Vonn of the US celebrates on the podium after winning in a second downhill today, the final tune- we are capable of all getting on the podium, ankle the previous August. Goggia took the Ladies’ Downhill event at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, up before the Olympics open in we just hope Jackie is okay.” delight in her rival’s performance and cele- southern Germany, yesterday. — AFP Pyeongchang on Thursday. A doubleheader This was Vonn’s fourth downhill win in brated with Vonn, who is just 43 points had been planned for Saturday but warm Garmisch after wins here in 2012, as well as behind in the downhill rankings. through, I am pleased for her.” Vonn also Goggia. “It is all or nothing with her and I temperatures in the Bavarian Alps meant in 2016, 2017 and now 2018. “It feels like I “We don’t know each other that well, but enjoys the competition. “Whenever she is like that. “It’s a fun little game, to see who the second race was moved back a day. am racing in the States when I am here,” it’s really fun to race with her,” said the 25- racing, she gives 100 percent, and she is has the hundreds, it makes it more exciting Vonn’s victory was overshadowed by she said after vocal crowd support with a year-old Goggia. “After all she has been always risking everything,” Vonn said of for us and the spectators.” — AFP Nigeria sends off booked his place with just one point its bobsledders Singh books over the qualification mark. He will be participating in the 15-km Nordic ski- with a party ing freestyle event that is scheduled rare India for February 16. The Winter Games Federation of LAGOS: Nigerians got to meet their Winter Winter India (WGFI) is not recognised by the Olympic bobsleigh team for the first time on IOA, which has made it tough for Friday night, just over a week before the start Olympics berth Indian athletes to break through to the of the Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. big stage. Keshavan, 36, has been Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma India’s only regular face in the Winter Omeoga were given a rousing welcome at a NEW DELHI: Cross-country skier Games since making his debut in 1998. corporate reception held in their honour at a Jagdish Singh has qualified for the In the 2014 Sochi Winter luxury hotel in the commercial hub, Lagos. Winter Olympics, one of only two Olympics, India was represented by The trio-all born to Nigerian parents Indian athletes who will be seen in three athletes: Keshavan, Himanshu and brought up in the United States-will be action at Pyeongchang, South Korea. Thakur (alpine skiing) and Nadeem the first African team to compete in the Singh and veteran luger Shiva Iqbal (cross-country skiing). sport at the Games. Their qualification late LAGOS: (L-R): Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, Akuoma Omeoga, and Simidele Adeagbo dance on Keshavan will comprise the Indian Cricket-crazy India has never won a last year has since attracted massive inter- stage at a social event in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday. The ladies will represent Nigeria at the Winter contingent for the Games starting medal at the winter games and has est around the world and won the previ- Olympics when they compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. — AFP February 9, Indian Olympic only ever scooped one individual ously crowd-funded athletes a string of Association (IOA) secretary-general gold at an Olympics, with Abhinav big-name sponsors. Rajeev Mehta told AFP yesterday. Bindra taking the honours in a rifle Many people in Africa’s most populous in the mid-30s Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) by late good humour, batting back comparisons to It will be a maiden Olympic appear- shooting event at the 2008 Beijing nation said they were unaware the country evening, the reception increasingly resembled Jamaica’s participation in the 1988 Games in ance for 26-year-old Singh, who summer games. —AFP even had a bobsled team. Some were keen to a Nigerian wedding. Calgary, Canada, that led to the 1993 play up their supposed ignorance for comic Guests drank champagne and ate “small Hollywood film “Cool Runnings”. effect. “So, you are the driver?” the comedian chop” (finger food). Dance music distorted Questions about the basics of the sport- compering the event said, pointing at Adigun. through a skyscraper of loud-speakers. from timings to the number of people partici- “And you are the brake... appliers,” he Most people arrived late. Everyone blamed pating-were met with polite responses. But bad traffic. But Nigeria’s pioneering winter in a country where self-sufficiency is a matter only 15 still eligible to take part, ventured eagerly to Onwumere and sports team were made to feel at home with of life and death for most people, the women’s according to a source close to the Omeoga, as if searching for the correct ter- More athletes fairy lights and Christmas snowflake decora- hard work and commitment to achieving their case. Adams said that the IOC’s invita- minology. “And what is that thing you are tions twinkling overhead, above white plastic goals got the loudest cheer. tion review panel will examine each pushing? A wheelbarrow?” “First question,” sheeting stuck to the floor with gaffer tape. Adigun said she hoped their experience from Russia case individually before making a deci- he asked the women’s team-mate Simi To complete the frozen idyll, a bored-look- would “inspire young girls” and show them sion but promised that would happen Adeagbo, who will also make history by ing teenager wearing a single red rubber that anything is possible. For her, she said may make it before the Games get underway. becoming the first African to compete in the skeleton. “What is that?” glove operated a dry ice machine that sent once she had told herself out loud that she damp-smelling fog curling over snow drifts was going to try to make the Winter to Olympics EXPLOSIVE FINDINGS of cotton wool. Olympics there was no going back. “Once The IOC’s disciplinary commission DRY ICE AND COTTON WOOL Nearby, air conditioning units were set to you speak (something) into existence, that’s banned 43 Russian athletes for life and Despite being new to hurtling down an icy the equivalent of 16 degrees-a good 10 an affirmation that you’re going to commit,” disqualified all Russians from compet- track at 150 kilometres (93 miles) per hour, PYEONGCHANG: Thirteen Russian degrees below the temperature that normally she added.

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