Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2014

N look for golden return from nine boxers

GLASGOW: enters the semi-final stage in the Stephen Lavelle goes up against David Light of New . The South African will take on Scott Fitzgerald in today with Northern Zealand in their last four bout. of for a place in the men’s welterweight final. Ireland on course to better their haul of three gold medals The victor will face either ’s Samir El-Mais or Fitzgerald is one of seven English fighters left with a chance they collected in New four years ago. Efetobor Apochi of Nigeria in the final. ’s other of a gold medal with Joseph Joyce taking on Mike One of the favourites to do well is Paddy Barnes, who hopes rest on the shoulders of Reece McFadden in the Sekabembe of Uganda for a place in the super-heavyweight will attempt to defend the light title he won in men’s flyweight while Josh Taylor is one of the favourites to final. English fighter Nicola Adams is still on course to add a New Dehli four years ago when he takes on Fazil Juma clinch gold in the light-welterweight competition. Commonwealth gold medal to her Olympic title. Kaggwa from Uganda. Barnes is one of nine boxers from Taylor will take on English boxer Samuel Maxwell for a Standing between Adams and a place in the final is competing in the semi-finals and who are place in the final. Tulani Mbenge is already guaranteed to Canada’s Mandy Bujold, who eliminated ’s Kirsty all guaranteed at least a bronze. Scotland will be hoping for win South Africa’s first boxing medal since 2006 but he will Harris. Joining them in the last four today are Michaela a first ever Commonwealth heavyweight champion when want to emulate the gold won by Bongani Mwelase in Walsh from Northern Ireland and Pinki Rani of . —AFP

Aussie weightlifter arrested for assault

GLASGOW: Australian weightlifter Francois Etoundi had his Commonwealth Games accreditation revoked yesterday after an alleged assault at the athletes’ village in Glasgow, organisers announced. Etoundi, who won a bronze medal in the 77kg category, was detained by police after an early-morning disturbance on Wednesday and was due to appear before a court yesterday. “We do not want the gentleman returning to the village and as a consequence of that, we have worked with the Australian team and we fully support the question posed to us to withdraw his accreditation,” Commonwealth Games Federation chief exec- utive Mike Hooper told Thursday’s daily media briefing. Etoundi, 29, represented at the in Melbourne, finishing fourth in the 69kg category, but now represents Australia after seeking asylum to remain in the country. An official from the Australian team confirmed that they were GLASGOW: (L-R) Silver medallist England’s Emma Pooley, Gold medallist New Zealand’s and Bronze talking to police about the incident. medallist Australia’s Katrin Garfoot stand by the podium during the Women’s Individual Time Trial medal ceremony at “I was alerted to the matter after the daily chefs’ meeting on the in Glasgow, Scotland yesterday. — AFP Wednesday and my concern then was that the athlete has the right legal representation and that we were following the requirements of Police Scotland,” said chef de mission Steve Olympic champions Rudisha, Moneghetti. “At the moment it is a court matter and we cannot comment on what is happening with the athlete until it has been dealt with Pearson take centre stage and the relevant action has been taken.” Etoundi was arrested on Wednesday following an altercation at the athletes’ village in Dalmarnock in Glasgow’s east end. Time-trial Gold for Villumsen According to a report in Australian newspaper the Sydney Morning Herald, he is accused of assaulting a Welsh athlete. A GLASGOW: Olympic champions David Rudisha and Sally England, who took silver in Delhi four years ago, and Welsh spokesman from Team Wales confirmed that it was helping Pearson take centre stage at the Commonwealth Games on rider Geraint Thomas who arrives in Scotland on the back of police with their investigation. Thursday where seven medals are up for grabs on the fifth day claiming his highest ever finish of 22nd in the Tour de “We’re aware of an incident that occurred overnight involving of . Kenya’s Rudisha, who set a blistering world . a member of Team Wales and we’re currently working with Police record when winning Olympic gold in in 2012, will go in Australian trio of Rohan Dennis, Luke Durbridge and Scotland to assist them with their inquiries,” he told the newspa- the 800m against arch-rival Nijel Amos of Botswana. Michael Hepburn will also be among the favourites for the per. “Whilst the facts around the matter are being established, it “I’m happy to have qualified through the heat and the semi- title. New Zealand’s Linda Villumsen, who has been consis- would be wrong for us to comment any further.” The 35-hectare finals. I am looking forward to the final. The final is my main tently winning medals on the road for the past five years, is athletes’ village hosts around 4,500 competitors and 2,300 sup- competition and I am looking forward to it,” said Rudisha. In the the favourite to claim the women’s title. port staff. Costing £230 million ($389 million, 291 million euros) absence of , ’s world silver and Olympic Hoping to overhaul her are England’s Emma Pooley, who to build, it features 700 houses as well as shops, a pub, a post bronze medallist and teammates was recently crowned the British national champion for a office, a beauty salon, and a mini-hospital. — AFP and will be hoping to emulate Kemar Bailey- third time, Scotland’s Katie Archibald, who claimed a bronze Cole’s victory in the men’s 100m. The men’s 400m hurdles also on the track in the women’s points race, and Welsh rider features a strong line-up for the final, with Jehue Gordon gun- . ning for ’s first track gold, but with South In all 25 golds are up for grabs. Five will be in gymnastics African Cornel Fredericks looking strong. There are also finals in with finals in men’s floor, women’s vault, men’s pommel the men’s discus, while the women also have the 400m hurdles horse, women’s uneven bars and men’s rings. Four are to be and discus. decided in wrestling and two in diving. Australia’s Olympic champion Sally Pearson will be hoping to Weightlifting concludes with the men’s +105kg where put the controversy over suspended head coach Eric Australia’s Damon Kelly defends his title against the Hollingsworth behind her when she takes to the track for heats favoured challenge of ’s Itte Detenamo who finished in the 100m hurdles. Hollingsworth was suspended Wednesday above the Australian at the 2012 Olympics. after disparaging comments about the star hurdler missing a India and South Africa will battle it out for a place in the pre-Games training camp. The focus for cycling turns to the semi-finals of the men’s hockey tournament. road with the individual time trial. A draw will be enough for 2010 silver medallists India as As the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, they have the better goal difference with both sides having Scotland’s David Millar will be looking to defend that title over lost to gold medal favourites Australia and beaten Scotland the 40km circuit around Glasgow and surrounding areas. This and Wales in their opening three matches. marks his final season as a professional cyclist and he will be Australia will look to round off a 100 percent record in determined to finish his career in style. His chances have been Group A with a victory over already eliminated hosts GLASCOW: In this image taken Sunday July 27, 2014 boosted by the absence of Bradley Wiggins’ name on the start Scotland in the other game in the group. Australia’s Francois Etoundi bronze medal winner, right, sheet after the former Tour de France winner opted to focus on England will secure their place in the last four as long as stands on the podium with gold medal winner India’s the track, where he won silver in the Team pursuit for England. they avoid a heavy defeat against Canada, whilst New Sathish Sivalingam following the men’s 77kg weightlift- Zealand can make sure they finish top of Group B and avoid ing final at the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014 in Millar favourite a semi-final meeting with Australia with victory over Glasgow Scotland. — AP Millar will face tough opposition from Alex Dowsett of Malaysia. — AFP