TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016 SPORTS Nadia still turning heads 40 years on from perfect 10 LONDON: She was once the ponytailed like I’ve been celebrating the anniver- I look around, I turned my head and saw Scoring that first 10 became such a lowed, Comaneci admitted memories of Romanian teenager excited at the sary the entire year. Everyone I meet this the scoreboard. I first saw the 073 which traffic-stopping moment people seem pre-Montreal can be a little blurry at thought of owning coloured socks and year wants to talk about it.” was my competition number and 1.00 to forget that Comaneci went on to col- times. While she needs to “go and eating bubble gum yet Nadia Comaneci Those celebrations are set to contin- score which was under. “I looked at one lect three gold medals in Montreal, Google to see where I went” on her first went on to captivate the world by per- ue for the next few weeks as Comaneci of my team mates and she shrugged her including the all around title, and two trip outside Romania, what she does forming an Olympic feat that continues heads to Montreal on July 21 where her shoulders, indicating that something more top prizes in Moscow four years remember is the things that used to to stir the emotions four decades later. 10-year-old son Dylan will get his first was wrong with the scoreboard. It all later. light up her eyes. “The fascinating thing The ponytail is long gone, the child- chance to see the Olympic Stadium happened so fast.” Born in 1961 in the factory town of for us to bring home to Romania was hood cravings have been replaced by “where his mom’s name is engraved”. Onesti to a car mechanic named bubble gum, coloured socks and more sophisticated tastes, but no mat- Then it will be on to Rio for the Aug. WHITE SOCKS Gheorghe and his wife Stefania, coloured hair clips. These were things ter where she goes Comaneci cannot 5-21 Games. The anniversary will be With officials not expecting any gym- Comaneci still has to pinch herself when we didn’t have in Romania at the time,” escape the memories of what happened spent together as a family with Dylan nast to attain perfection, the electronic she thinks how her life is now dictated said Comaneci. “We only had white on July 18 1976 in Montreal. and her husband-fellow Olympic cham- scoreboard installed in Montreal lacked by something she did “as a 14-year-old socks in Romania. But when I used to The day she became the first gym- pion Bart Conner- and Comaneci’s mem- the space needed to accommodate all child”. “Nellie (Kim) got a 10 a little after come back from the States, I used to nast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic ory of the occasion remains razor sharp four figures to illustrate the perfect me but nobody talks about it. If fate had bring back pink and yellow socks with Games. “Every time there is a zero in the despite the passage of 14,610 days. “I mark. That epic fail by technology did wanted it, it would have been someone all kind of designs, and hair clips and anniversary, it’s kind of bigger. There remember when I started to do the com- little to tarnish Comaneci’s memory of else making history. I was just a little bit elastic bands for the ponytail that had was 10, then 20, then 30 and now 40, it pulsory (routine on the uneven bars), I the feat. “The fact that the scoreboard quicker!” she quipped. colourful designs. seems like a lot of numbers. It’s like half thought I did a pretty good routine but I could not show the 10 added to the dra- “At that time I didn’t understand the “We used to exchange leotards with of your life is gone,” Comaneci told didn’t think I did my perfect routine,” ma, it made it bigger,” she said breaking impact it made as I wasn’t competing to gymnasts from other countries. I don’t Reuters in a telephone interview while said the 54-year-old, who now resides in down in laughter. “Scoring the first 10 in make history, I was competing to win remember who I got my most prized on a short holiday in California with her Oklahoma. “I know I didn’t watch the history was a big deal but the fact that medals. “It’s very special that it will be leotard from but it was one with a lot of family. “But to realise that it’s 40 years scoreboard as I was already thinking even an electronic scoreboard could not there for eternity.” stars on it.” Chances are whoever got since it happened, it’s like ‘oh my gosh, about the balance beam after I finished. figure out how to put out a score, it There is so much focus on what hap- Comaneci’s leotard has not forgotten its really?’ “Because it’s the 40th year, I feel “Then I heard the big noise in the arena, made the story more historic.” pened in 1976 and the years that fol- original owner. — Reuters Asian and European Tour announce ‘strategic alliance’ SINGAPORE: The Asian Tour and the we are delighted to announce this European Tour announced a “strategic ‘Strategic Alliance’,” Keith Pelley, chief exec- alliance” yesterday that could pave the way utive of the European Tour said. for more co-sanctioned golf tournaments “We have enjoyed a very strong and being held in Asia. The alliance follows a prosperous relationship with the Asian Tour period of negotiations, which began last over the past 17 years, and this formalises August, between the two circuits who will that partnership, representing an exciting now both be invested in expanding playing new era in our association.” opportunities in Asia and the rest of the The Malaysian Open in 1999 was the globe. The two tours will have a new joint first co-sanctioned tour between the two organisations, which have since conducted 95 such tournaments. Talks on the expected union appeared to be in trouble in December when Asian Tour Chief Executive Mike Kerr resigned for unspecified reasons following player con- cerns about limited opportunities on the combined circuit. Last year’s Asian Tour featured only 12 stand-alone events with many more co- sanctioned with larger circuits such as the European, U.S. PGA and Japan Tours who all boast fuller schedules and bigger prize money. “This is a very positive step forward in our desire to further grow professional Keith Pelley golf in Asia and around the world,” Kyi Hla Han, commissioner of the Asian Tour said. office in Singapore but will retain their own “We are also confident a greater collabora- separate identity in terms of brand and tion between the Asian Tour and European TROON: Phil Mickelson of the United States, left congratulates Henrik Stenson of Sweden for winning the British Open Golf Championships at logo, and will be managed by their own Tour will deliver a stronger product to our the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, Sunday. — AP individual boards, both organisations said partners and appeal to new sponsors to get in a statement. involved with the game. “Following successful discussions over “The future looks very exciting for the the past year to develop our joint vision, Asian Tour and European Tour.” —Reuters Stenson, Mickelson forever Thai badminton linked after epic Open duel TROON: They walked off the 18th green togeth- putt bogeys and a 5-foot birdie attempt that slid Swede again up by a shot after rolling in an 18- star Ratchanok er, arms wrapped around each other, forever by the cup at 17, Stenson became only the sec- foot birdie the previous hole. linked by one of golf’s greatest duels. ond player to close with a 63 in the final round Mickelson had the edge, putting his Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson. No losers of a major. Johnny Miller did it first in 1973, rally- approach on the green, about 30 feet from the cleared of doping here, but only one winner. Stenson claimed the ing from six shots down to capture the U.S. Open flag. Stenson’s second shot rolled off the right claret jug, a major champion for the first time at by a single stroke. side of the green, leaving him with a 50-foot age 40. All it took was 10 birdies and a magnifi- This one was more like the 39-year-old show- putt up the ridge. BANGKOK: Thai Badminton star Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the cent 8-under 63 in the closing round of the down between Watson and Nicklaus at another Stenson made his. Mickelson didn’t. That was Ratchanok Intanon broke down in tears Badminton Association of Thailand, said British Open. course in the British Open rotation, the one 25 the decisive blow. “We both played some great and spoke of her relief yesterday after doctors had been treating Ratchanok for Right on his heels, almost to the very end, miles down the Scottish coastline. Watson’s 65 golf,” Stenson said. “It makes it even more special being cleared of doping, ending fears her pain in her right hand and back. “We said it was Mickelson. Lefty shot a bogey-free 65, good was just enough for a one-stroke victory against to beat a competitor like Phil. He’s been one of Olympic dreams had been scuppered.