MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2015 SPORTS Sambo hopes its beat hits right note at Games

BAKU: Not much remains from the ash- a heart attack-allows almost anything, es of the Soviet Union but in Baku today with participants permitted to use their sambo, a version of the martial arts heads and even grasp their opponents sport that was spawned to toughen up round their throat. Sport sambo-the the nascent Red Army’s fighting force, combatants are dressed in coloured will gain a wider audience when it judo style tops with shorts-by contrast is makes its bow at the European Games. rather more elegant. In training some of Indeed the Azerbaijan head coach the moves resemble a romantic dance Aqub Abdullayev told AFP he believes with legs interlocked, such as the one this could be Sambo’s moment to thrust favoured by Abdullayev. itself into contention for a spot eventual- “Combat Sambo is brutal, sport sam- ly in the Olympics. bo is not,” said Abdullayev, who has “In Baku the sport is entering a new been part of the coaching team since phase, it is a huge step for our sport and 2003 and became head coach in 2012. indeed for others that aren’t Olympic “In combat, you can use your hands sports. This could pave the way for get- (to punch), your legs (to kick) and even ting onto the Olympic programme,” said your head. “You are allowed to prevent Abdullayev in Azeri in an interview with someone from breathing. In sport sam- AFP. The main proponents of the sport bo, you cannot use your arms, legs or are largely confined to the dominant your head to hurt someone, you cannot power Russia and the countries that kill someone!” used to be part of the Soviet Union. It Abdullayev says the sport is becom- has, however, been exposed to a literary ing increasingly popular in Azerbaijan audience by world-renowned Brazilian with around 5,000 samboists (10 percent author Paulo Coelho, a sambo devotee, of whom are female). “Lots of children in his novel ‘The Winter Stands Alone’. are becoming interested, motivated by BAKU: Azerbaijan’s Sambo head coach Yaqub Abdullayev (center) guides Azerbaijan’s Sambo athletes during a training ses- Coelho speaks of the “art of killing the champions. It is taught in sports sion during the 2015 European Games. —AFP swiftly with one’s bare hands” but the schools, not classic schools, and is very form of sambo that the spectators will much in demand in military academies,” claims sambo is gaining in popularity fabric of Azeri culture.” Abdullayev cred- Abdullayev. For French samboist Sarah see on Monday is the milder of two said Abdullayev, who conducts the train- because it has facets to it that the tradi- its Jeyhun Mammadov for sparking Loko, the sport places demands on one types both a mix of various martial arts ing session in a discreet fashion, observ- tional number one combat sport, interest in the sport when he all but mentally as well as physically. “I am not including jujitsu, greco-roman wrestling ing before stepping in and passing wrestling, lacks. ruled the world from 1987-97, being very tactical, I am all about passion, and judo. Sport sambo rather than com- advice to the combatants, and never “In wrestling, you cannot use your crowned world champion seven times being fiery,” she said. “For me sambo is bat sambo. raising his voice. legs, in sambo you can. That is why it is and winning the European title on six about adrenaline, gravity and strength. The latter-whose creator Vasili Abdullayev, who says the top sam- becoming more popular. It is a combina- occasions. “He is the only Azerbaijani It is a sport involving a lot of move- Oshchepkov fell victim to Stalin’s purges boists in Azerbaijan earn a decent living tion of several martial arts,” said non-Olympic sportsman to be honoured ments, there is also a lot of body con- in the 1930’s, accused of spying for and receive apartments from the gov- Abdullayev. by the president (Ilham Aliyev). He is a tact, one has to be very strong physically Japan and dying in prison apparently of ernment as well as gaining sponsors, “Sambo is in its own way part of the world star, everyone knows him,” said as well as mentally.” —AFP Kammerer warms up for Rio with double gold

BAKU: Hungarian Zoltan Kammerer’s dou- for now I am not ready to declare that ble gold at the European Games was the these will be my last games.” latest chapter in the storied career of the Critics of the inaugural Games in the three-times Olympic champion and Azeri capital had suggested the multi-sport marked the start of his preparations for a event carried little importance, with many potential final showpiece appearance at of the continent’s best athletes forgoing Rio 2016. the opportunity to compete. Sprint kayaker Kammerer is a sporting The kayak sprint, traditionally dominat- icon in his native Hungary, having won two ed by European nations, included a strong gold medals at the Sydney 2000 Games, field and Hungary, with a rich history of another in Athens 2004 and silver at success, places huge significance on it. London 2012. Krammerer’s medals were two of 10 At the KUR Olympic Training and Sport won by the Hungarians. “I travelled to the Centre in Mingachevir, Kammerer claimed European Games knowing that this will be gold in both the men’s K4 (kayak four) the most important event before the 1,000 metres and the K2 (kayak double) Olympic qualification world champi- 1,000 metres events. European Games gold onships,” Kammerer added. does not count towards Rio 2016 qualifica- “Our head coach already decided last tion, with quota spots instead being year to put the European Games ahead of achieved for the country rather than the the European Championships. We knew athlete, at the world championships in that other nations prepare likewise, so we Milan. Should he qualify, it would be a sixth counted on having a strong field and tough Olympic appearance for Kammerer, who competition. BAKU: Athletes compete during men’s cycling road race in the old city of Baku at the 2015 European Games yesterday. —AP was his country’s flag-bearer at the 2008 “Since canoe sprint is mostly a European Beijing Olympics and has won 13 world sport, we knew that it would be difficult to championship medals. achieve good results, as the best athletes “I was 18 when I first competed at the compete in this event. Olympics,” the 37-year-old told Reuters yes- “Hungarians appreciate equally all Sanchez powers terday. “I haven’t thought that 20 years lat- national successes- naturally the Olympics er, with three Olympic golds, I will be are above all, but the European Games preparing for my sixth Games. gold medal also means an enormous pride “I love what I do. So this is simply my life. for the athlete and brings great joy to the I don’t know what will happen in 2020, but fans too.”—Reuters to road race gold

BAKU: Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez, winner of him to launch his powerful surge 100 metres suspended Sanchez, who has always denied four Tour de France stages but dogged in recent from the finish that Grivko and Vakoc were doping, over accusations he was linked to years by alleged links to doping, claimed men’s unable to counter, shared an emotional Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes in the road race gold at the European Games yester- embrace. Operation Puerto blood doping racket. day. The 31-year-old Astana rider prevailed in a “I told him this medal was for him, and for the He was reinstated a few weeks later but was sprint battle for the line with Ukraine’s Andriy team,” Sanchez told reporters. “I know him from then let go by the Belkin team (previously Pro Grivko, an Astana team mate, taking silver and sharing rooms, not only this week but from the Blanco) over continued speculation. Czech Petr Vakoc bronze. world championships and he’s a great team After one season with second-tier Spanish Another Spaniard, Jesus Herrada, was fourth mate and a promising rider.” Early in his career, team Caja Rural Sanchez was signed at the start after providing sterling assistance to Sanchez, such was Sanchez’s prodigious talent he was of 2015 by Astana on a one-year deal. “When who claimed a bronze medal in the individual compared to Spanish great and five-times Tour you start losing confidence in yourself it’s hard, time trial on Thursday. de France winner Miguel Indurain. but I kept going, working hard and training a lot, Sanchez knew he had victory in the bag He won the 2005 Tour Down Under but his step by step and waiting for the precise metres before the finish line at Freedom Square, career stalled following his biggest triumph in moment,” he said. sitting up and raising both hands in triumph at winning the Paris-Nice in 2009, despite adding Asked if the doping allegations were now the end of the 215.8 km race around the streets Tour de France stage wins in 2011 and 2012 to long behind him, Sanchez replied: “I keep doing of the capital. Sanchez and Herrada, who gave successes in 2008 and 2009. In 2013, Team Pro my job, for myself, for my family, for the benefit his team mate a perfect lead-out and allowed Blanco cycling, formerly Rabobank, provisionally of my team and for my national team.” —Reuters Hill — Britain’s shooting star

BAKU: She may by her own admission be very been a massive part of my shooting,” said Hill. her victory, also credits her grandfather in creat- girly, have pink cartridges and be inherently “He used to do it at weekends for a bit of fun. ing the atmosphere that has allowed her to cope clumsy, but teenager Amber Hill is a hot shot I did not want to watch my brother’s rugby with the pressure and media attention from a when it comes to skeet shooting and whose match, so I went with my grandad.”He had the very early age. exploits have already garnered an award that biggest gun and I was a tiny little 10-year-old “When I was 10 years old, a guy came up to AZERBAIJAN: Georgia’s Salome Pazhava competes in the women’s rhythmic gymnas- the likes of Wayne Rooney have previously won. but I wanted to have a go. “I shot the gun and it me and was like, ‘can we do an interview with tics individual apparatus final at the 2015 European Games. —AFP The bubbly 17-year-old-who when she is not almost blew me off my feet, but I loved it. Amber?’” said Hill. “I was like, ‘no, definitely not’. I shooting skeets (clay pigeons) for fun is training “It was such an adrenaline rush. Most people didn’t want anything to do with that. to be a beautician-added the European Games will shoot a gun and be a bit unsure about the “But my grandad was like, ‘no you are going title to the world crown she won aged just 15 in recoil. “It has changed my life with the opportu- to do it’. “He plonked me in front of the camera Russia dominate Peru, the same year she won the BBC Sports nities it has given me. It is an incredible journey and I had to get on with it. “That really, really Young Personality of the year award. that I am on.” helped me, to be put in the moment.” —AFP Hill-who showed extraordinary nerve to beat Hill, who hails London Olympics heptathlon gymnastics Italy’s world number one Diana Bacosi in an epic champion Jessica Ennis-Hall as a role model and sudden death shoot-out that saw her clinch it showing no fear organised a meeting with her in with her 30th shot-has thanks to the gold in a coffee shop in Sheffield post the Olympics, BAKU: Russians continued their domi- “First of all you feel that the level of compe- Baku claimed a place in Rio next year barring a admits people do look surprised when she tells nance of the gymnastics medals at the tition is lower than the Olympic Games, the selection shock. them what she does. European Games in Baku with seven more main competitors are not here. “It is an amazing feeling,” she told a smatter- “Being 17 and a girl, you do get mixed reac- on Saturday to take their combined tally to “My happiness is mixed with the under- ing of journalists on Monday in the Athletes tions when you tell people you have got a shot- 16 in 18 events so far. standing that Rio is coming up and it will Village the morning after her win. gun at home!” she purred. “It is not expected of At the stunning purpose-built National be much harder there.” David Belyavskiy “Being the first European Games as well, it me because I am very girly. At the same time, I Gymnastics Arena adjacent to the Olympic won silver in the men’s parallel bars and makes it even more special. “It does not stop like a shotgun. “You get mixed reactions but Stadium, Russia have bagged seven golds, bronze in the men’s floor final. there, guaranteeing my place in Rio means this people have seen my reactions and really do six silvers and three bronze medals. Nikita Ignatyev claimed silver in the has been a phenomenal trip.” support me in what I do.” Hill, who is now due to Aliya Mustafina won a gold and silver on men’s rings and bronze in the horizontal Hill, who hails from the south eastern town of take off for a holiday in Marbella, said despite Saturday in the women’s uneven bars and bar finals while Seda Tutkhalyan finished Bracknell in Surrey, had shrugged off the searing her not being too steady on her feet and ability floor exercise finals, taking her gold medal second in the women’s vault. heat-temperatures reached 34 degrees celsius- to send things crashing to the floor her grandad haul to three for the championships. There are still 16 gold medals up for to beat her vastly more experienced opponent. always believed in her. She stressed, however, that the level of grabs across the trampoline and rhythmic, “I do like the sun,” said Hill, who was sporting “Everyone says I am clumsy, which is not the competition will be far tougher at the Rio aerobic and acrobatic gymnastic disciplines her customary turquoise nail varnish. “You can’t best thing for shooting,” said Hill. “My grandad Olympics. “I am pleased with my perform- and Russia have athletes in the finals in go wrong with a bit of sun. I just can’t wait to get has always said I have something a little bit dif- ances today and I did what I wanted to do,” every event. After eight days of full compe- out there now and get some Rio sun.” ferent. He has pushed me and been supportive the 20-year-old told reporters. tition in Baku, Russia lead the table with 59 Hill’s life changed irrevocably the day, aged of me for such a long time.” “Obviously there is happiness. The com- medals — 26 more than their closest rivals 10, her grandfather Bill Rogers asked her if she Hill, who was straight on to the phone to petition is over, and that is the main thing. Azerbaijan.—Reuters would like to go shooting. “My grandad has speak with her grandad and other relatives after Amber Hill