Serena and Bartoli Reach Final at Stanford

14 Monday 1st August, 2011

Powell wins 100 metres in 9.86 in Hungary

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Asafa Powell won the 100-metre race in 9.86 seconds at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday, the fastest run in the country. The Jamaican was the only com- petitor to run under 10 seconds in windy conditions and temperatures of 20 degrees (68 Fahrenheit) at Ferenc Puskas Stadium, finishing ahead of Ngonidzashe Makusha of Zimbabwe and Andrew Hinds of Barbados. “I could have gone a lot faster today but I was working on some stuff,” said Powell, whose personal best is 9.72. “It was cold and I was a bit cautious. It was still a good time.” Powell will compete at the Aviva Grand Prix Diamond League meet in London next weekend. It’s his last race before the world championships, which start Aug. 27 in Daegu, South Korea. “This is my year and I’ll try my best. We’ll see if it’s enough for a gold Sujit Fernando (L) and Arjun Fernando with medal (at the worlds),” said Powell, SL Nationals Doubles’ trophies who won bronze in the 100 at the worlds in 2007 and 2009. Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica won the women’s 200 in 22.26 seconds, with Sanya Richards-Ross of the United States second in 22.63. Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria was third. Joel Craddock led an American sweep of the top three spots in the 110 hurdles, winning in 13.48. Kevin Craddock was second, followed by Jeff Porter. Bernard Pinto Kevin Borlee of Belgium took the 400 in 45.91, followed by Hungary’s Marcell Deak Nagy and Erison Hurtault of France. Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius of South Africa, who runs on carbon- fiber blades and qualified for the able- bodied worlds for the first time earlier this month, was last in the 400 after finishing in 47.47. “This is a really beautiful city and the crowd was really supportive. I’m just sorry I couldn’t give them a quicker time,” Pistorius said. “I hope to return one day and give them a bet- ter race.” Zoltan Kovago of Hungary won BY REVATA S. SILVA tured in the Ceylonese before a period from 1960. His Nationals from 1952 to 1970, Singles’ wins came in 1941, 1947 the discus with a throw of 69.50 metres on his fifth attempt, the best in t is always difficult to pick winning 13 overall titles; 4 and 1950. He won the 6 Doubles the best few out of heavy lot Singles, 4 Doubles and 5 Mixed between 1940-50 and on five occa- the world this year. He beat Virgilijus Iof top players who fared well Doubles along with 2 Triple sions partnered F. C. (Frederick Alekna of Lithuania by nearly 3.5 in the men’s game of the Sri Crowns and 4 runner-up titles. Cecil) de Saram, the well-known metres. Lanka Tennis Nationals, espe- In a career spanned through a Oxford and All-Ceylon cricketer. Saturday’s tournament was the cially after its post independ- period where a lot of well- inaugural edition of the Istvan Gyulai ence era competitions. Yet a few known Indians participated in ! Bernard L. Pinto: Memorial, commemorating the late the Ceylon Nationals, players stand out in the list. Bernard Pinto has been a Secretary General of the IAAF who Ferdinands won the Singles in ! Arjun Fernando: committed player whose career, died in 2006. He was a sprinter in his years 1957 (beating Bernard He played in the Nationals highlighted with more Doubles youth, winning 28 national champi- Pinto in the finals), ‘63 (again from 1974 to the late 1980s, win- accolades than those in Singles, onships in Hungary. ning 6 Singles and 7 Doubles (no Pinto), ‘69 and ‘70 (in both occa- sions beating India’s S. N. Misra spanned alongside the career of Mixed Doubles) titles, a total of Rupert Ferdinands. Pinto, play- 13, and earns a top spot in the in the finals). He won the Doubles in 1957, ‘59, ‘64 and ‘70, ing in the Nationals from 1951- list. Arjun in fact is the most 73, won only one Singles titles prominent Sri Lankan player in on all times partnering Pinto (in 1966 beating P. S. Kumara in the 80s who had an impeccable but for the year 1970 when he the final) but 8 Doubles and 2 unbeaten record from 1977-88 in partnered D. L. Fonseka. His vic- Mixed Doubles titles, a total of Singles. Five of his Doubles torious Mixed Doubles partners 14 and 16 over-all runner-up titles came when he partnered had been the famous Ranjani titles to add to them. He had var- his brother Sujit. The records Jayasuriya, S. Wickramasinghe say Arjun has won both the and Wendy Molligoda. ied Doubles partners in the Singles and the Doubles titles men’s game, from 1957-73, like each year continuously for five ! F. J. Koo de Saram: Ferdinands, Raja Praesoody, S. years, from 1984-88; a true indi- Though he began playing in C. Misra, G. N. Perera and; P. cation of the sheer dominance the Nationals in 1941 as a promi- Senaka Kumara. In Mixed he has had in men’s tennis at nent junior, Koo de Saram Doubles, Pinto had partnered I. that time. became virtually a household Zehden, Ranjani Jayasuriya, C. name for his prodigious play George, Rukmani Kodagoda and and probably his exceptional Mala Fernando. ! Rupert Ferdinands: Rupert Ferdinands A player known for his gift- height! He won 3 Singles, 6 Part 7 on Saturday, Aug, 5: ed talents as well as his diminu- Doubles, 1 Mixed Doubles (a The full list of Women’s and tive physique, Ferdinands fea- total of 10) and a single Triple Men’s Singles National champi- Crown and 5 runner-up titles ons from 1884-2010. Asafa Powell

Cibulkova still plans to travel to San Diego, where she is scheduled to play Wednesday. Serena and Bartoli “It’s still open and I’m hoping to be ready,” she said. “I still have things to do reach final in San Diego.” Cibulkova, playing in her 100th career WTA main draw, is projected to rise from at Stanford No. 19 to No. 16 in the WTA rankings by reaching the semifinal. She beat qualifier Marina Erakovic 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfi- STANFORD, California (AP) — Cibulkova withdrew from the other semi- nals. Serena Williams, who needed nearly a final because of a strained abdominal “It was a great tournament for me,” year to recover from surgery, is putting muscle. Cibulkova said. “I was looking forward to her best foot forward again and playing Cibulkova said the injury has been maybe winning my first tournament. I like a champion. bothering her all week. was so full of confidence.” Williams moved into the final of the “It was painful when I played Marina The ninth-ranked Bartoli reached her Bank of the West Classic with an impres- (Erakovic), but I was able to get through fourth final of the year and her third final sive 6-1, 6-2 victory over Germany’s that match,” she said. “I thought it would at Stanford. She won the title in 2009. Sabine Lisicki on Saturday night. be better in the morning, but I saw a doc- Bartoli reached the semis when Japan’s It’s her first appearance in a final tor and he recommended not playing Ayumi Morita withdrew with an injury since winning the title at Wimbledon last since the injury could worsen.” after the first set Friday night. year and her first final on American soil Cibulkova had the same problem earli- “This has never happened to me but since losing to Victoria Azarenka in er in the year, missing two tournaments there’s not much I can do about it,” Miami in March of 2009. after getting through the quarterfinal at Bartoli said. “It’s a shame Dominika had The unseeded and 169th-ranked Madrid. to be put out. It will be an extremely Williams will meet third-seeded and “Maybe I rushed to play too quick,” tough match tomorrow and I need to get ninth-ranked Marion Bartoli of France, she said. “I don’t want to make the same ready.” Serena Williams Marion Bartoli who advanced when Slovakia’s Dominika mistake.”