14 Friday 26th August, 2011 Semenya and Pistorius have points to prove at Worlds South Africa bank on JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Previously banned from competing, both Caster Semenya and double- amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius have been cleared to run after high-profile legal battles and will showcase their ability at the athletics world champi- experience for RWC onships. Both South Africans have some- thing to prove this week in Daegu, South Korea, after fighting to be allowed to line-up against the world’s “This squad has the experience and ability to top runners. Semenya, who won the women’s make a strong challenge of the title, but we know 800 at the worlds in Berlin two years ago, hopes to show her victory as a rel- it will be very difficult. It has been a tough sea- atively unknown teenager in 2009 was not down to any natural abnormality which gave her an unfair advantage son to date and we have had some challenges over other women. Now 20, Semenya returns to the with the amount of rugby the players have had to worlds two years after a storm of con- troversy overshadowed her stunning play.” - coach Peter de Villiers debut in Berlin. Coach Peter de Villiers In those two years, Semenya was forced out of competition for 11 South Africa squad for months by the International outh Africa have banked on expe- Fourie will join Smit in playing in with the amount of rugby the players RWC 2011: Association of Athletics Federations rience in their attempts to their third Rugby World Cup, a con- have had to play.” Forwards: Willem Alberts, Bakkies following gender tests, threatened to Sbecome the first nation to suc- trast to 20-year-old fly half cum full With an average of 40 caps per Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk take the governing body to court, was cessfully defend the Webb Ellis Cup back Patrick Lambie who is the player, South Africa have had a mixed Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie cleared to run by the IAAF without explanation and then missed the 2010 with 18 of their 30-man squad for youngest member of the squad. year so far, a weakened side suffering du Plessis, Francois Louw, Victor Commonwealth Games with a back Rugby World Cup 2011 having been “The squad has a backbone of heavy losses to Australia and New Matfield (vc), Tendai Mtawarira, injury. part of the France 2007 winning proven title-winning ability and expe- Zealand away in the Tri Nations and Johann Muller, Chiliboy Ralepelle, This year she has shown erratic group. rience as well as a strong component were in danger of arriving at RWC Danie Rossouw, John Smit (captain), form, fought off reports she was unfit, John Smit, the man who lifted the of new stars,” said coach Peter de 2011 without a win before beating an Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ not training and had fallen out with coveted trophy at the Stade de France Villiers. “Injury has denied us one or All Blacks side missing many of its van der Linde her coach, and was again hampered by the niggling back problem in the on 20 October 2007 after South Africa’s two players who could have been very stars 18-5 last weekend. Backs: Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, weeks leading up to Daegu. 15-6 defeat of England, will again lead important to us, but I am very happy South Africa will have to hit the Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Semenya departed for the world the Springboks’ challenge in what will with the squad we have picked. ground running at RWC 2011 with Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Francois championships with customary disre- be his third appearance on the Rugby “This squad has the experience and Wales their opening Pool D opponents Hougaard, Butch James, Pat Lambie, gard for the media, refusing to do World Cup stage. ability to make a strong challenge of at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar, JP interviews after her national federa- tion had invited reporters to talk to Second rows Bakkies Botha, Victor the title, but we know it will be very 11 September. Fiji, the side they beat Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn. her. Matfield and Danie Rossouw, flanker difficult. It has been a tough season to in the 2007 quarter-finals, Namibia (Squad subject to RWCL approval) Instead, the media-shy world cham- Schalk Burger and centre Jaque date and we have had some challenges and Samoa then await the Springboks. www.irb.com pion denied reports of problems ahead of her title defence in a statement from her management team. “The recent media reports that Court extends Caster Semenya is not ready to defend Sujatha Vidyalaya win U-12 netball tourney her world 800-metre title are untrue. enjoining Semenya remains disciplined, focus and excited about representing South Sujatha Vidyalaya order Africa at the IAAF World Nugegoda emerged U-12 The District Court yes- Championships in South Korea,” the statement said, promising Semenya champions, at the Milo terday extended till would put up “a strong fight in Trophy 2011 Inter School October 14 the enjoining defence of her title.” Netball tournament, held order granted in fovour of But Semenya has not come close to recently. Kandy SC regarding a dis- the blistering pace of 2009 since her The leading schools which pute in the ongoing domes- return from the enforced layoff. The participated in the tourna- tic league rugby tourna- Pretoria-based athlete only twice ran under 2 minutes in her build-up and ment were Ananda Balika, St. ment, sources said. her season’s best 1:58.61 was still way Bridget’s Convent, Lumbini Kandy SC obtained off the 1:55.45 that won her gold two Vidyalaya, Kolonnawa Balika, legal assistance recently years ago. That form is unlikely to be Rathnawali Balika, Colombo when they complained in good enough to retain her title. South International School, court through their Pistorius is attempting to prove he deserves a place against the leading Bomiriya Central College and lawyers that the club had able-bodied athletes after he ran a per- St. Lawrence College. been unlawfully denied six sonal best last month in the 400 — on The matches were played match points which they his controversial carbon-fiber blades at Shalika grounds received in their match — to qualify for his first worlds. Narahenpita. against CH&FC. The 24-year-old multiple The Sujatha Vidyalaya Kandy SC obtained the Paralympic champion is not expected to threaten the world’s best 400-metre team was captained by enjoining order preventing athletes, but he said just running at Isurangi Dumagangoda and any other team from being the worlds is a dream come true. He the teacher-in-charge was declared the winner of the took his case to the Court of Indika Herman. Caltex sponsored inter-club Arbitration for Sport and won the Saduni Amaya Lokuliyana rugby tournament till the right in 2008 to be allowed to run in able-bodied events on his blades after of Sujatha Vidyalaya, was dispute is resolved. he was initially banned by the IAAF. The champion team with officials adjudged the Best Player. The tournament com- mittee which runs the tour- nament objected to Kandy SC fielding an ineligible Sidelined Gay already thinking of London Olympics player and thus denied DAEGU, South Korea (AP) — Tyson Gay keeping him on the sideline. Amritha, National tennis them the points gained in posed for pictures as he promoted a bright Really,though, his focus was anywhere their win against CH&FC. orange shoe he can’t even run in. but here. He’s already thinking a year Kandy topped the The American record holder in the 100 ahead to the 2012 London Olympics, hop- champion for third time points table after the con- showed up for world championships only ing he will be ready to take on Usain Bolt as a spectator, his surgically repaired hip & Co. BY REVATA S SILVA (Seed 1) bt K.A. Dharmakirthi 6-1, 6- clusion of the second 1, Gamini Dissanayake (2) bt W.P.J. round, despite the six Amritha Muttiah sealed Wijesiri (8) 6-0, 6-1, K.M.S.P. Perera points which they were Novices Boxing Championship her supremacy in Sri Lankan (3) bt N.G. Balasooriya 6-2, 6-0, denied of. (RN) women’s tennis by clinching Mahanama Basnayake (4) bt H.M.L. the Nationals title for the Senarathne (5) 6-0, 6-0 Under-15 ‘A’ Basketball Weerasinghe and Guneththi third successive year yester- Wheelchair Men’s Doubles: day, Aug. 25, at the Sri Lanka Semi-finals - Mahanama Basnayake declared as best boxers Tennis Association in & Upali Rajakaruna (1) bt N.G. Bens win two Colombo. She cruised to win Balasooriya & H.M.L. Senarathne (4) M.D.V.Weerasinghe of Police who In the women’s category, S. Priyanka the Women’s Singles final 6-2, 6-3, Gamini Dissanayake (2) & tournament defeated K.P.G.K. Gunarathna of Army Guneththi of Police SC defeated T.L.D.M. over Nilushi Fernando 7-5, 6- K.M.S.P. Perera bt T.B. Nandasena & in the Bantam Weight Under-56 kgs was Abeywardena of Linea Clothing BC in 2. Nishantha Wanninayaka 6-1, 6-0. matches named as the best boxer while K. T. the Bantam Weight Under-54 kgs and was “I needed to play my best Women’s Singles: Ramesh of Army who lost to M.M.J. named as the best boxer in the women’s tennis in the previous Final - A.