We came, we saw, we concurred. A legend was born yesterday, even though Usain Bolt himself still insisted there was a final denouement remaining. But you don’t run the second fastest 100-meter sprint of all time to beat the greatest assembled set of sprinters the world has ever seen and come out on the other ... Read more
olympic 2012
Comedian Kemboi
Ezekiel Kemboi could have been a stand-up comedian. His antics certainly had the press in raptures, but like all stand-up comedians he also made many valid points, albeit in a humorous way. “South Asians have cricket, Europeans have football, and Kenyans have
Bolt’s best yet to come?
Even champions get jitters. Usain Bolt certainly did, as on the starting blocks of the race that would either define his life or shatter his aura, Bolt battled the butterflies in his stomach. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it [Daegu],” said Bolt. A false start in the World Championship ... Read more
Britain in love with Jessica
Of the seven heptathlon events, her most favourite one is 100m hurdles so Jessica Ennis must have some ideas about China’s Liu Xiang, the poster boy in Beijing four years ago. It all had ended in agony for Liu, the first Asian man to take gold in an Olympics track event, winning the 110m hurdles ... Read more
‘Go Mo Go’
The giant screens at the Olympic Stadium often invite audience to make some noise but it was not something needed when Mohammed Farah raced his 10,000-metre run on Saturday. The crowd were already on their feet seeking Jessica Ennis and George Rutherford picking up two gold medals for Great Britain and when Farah began his ... Read more
Serena’s dream comes true
Serena Williams annihilated Maria Sharapova to win the women’s tennis singles gold medal here at the All England Club yesterday. When it was over, Williams, who owns 14 major championships as a professional and has earned more prize money than any other female player danced like a 6-year-old in
London Diary
Birthday boy Ryan Lochte is set to be upstaged again by United States rival Tyler Clary as they wind down from their Olympic exertions in the pool. After stealing Lochte’s 200m backstroke crown with a surprise gold medal on Thursday, Clary revealed he is heading to the heart of London’s west end to mix it ... Read more
Mohan’s exit ends BD interest
The Olympic Stadium was buzzing by the time the clock struck ten on Saturday morning, but out in the corner on the straight, the curtain-raising event of the day took place in relative obscurity. The first men’s 100-metre preliminary rounds kicked-off proceedings yesterday but for the watching thousands, every name on the scoreboard of the ... Read more
Oscar Pistorius runs into history
London Olympic 2012 Oscar Pistorius runs into history Oscar Pistorius was late. The press at the mixed zones was getting antsy. There were some whispers about deadlines. From time to time, murmurs went up around the hundred or so who had packed into the limited space for the chance to grab a single quote from ... Read more
Mohan takes the field today
Mohan Khan, Bangladesh’s last remaining athlete in Olympics 2012, will take the field today when he will sprint in men’s 100-metre pre-qualifying heats at the Olympics Stadium. Mohan, who was drawn in the first heat, said he is very relaxed before this long cherished event. ‘I am not at all nervous,’ said Mohan. ‘I know ... Read more
Speed costs Pendleton
“These things happen,” said a weary looking Victoria Pendleton. She said it with purpose, her brilliant blue eyes looking straight at the journalist who had asked her the question. But even then you got the feeling that the only person she was trying to convince was herself. “How could they do this to you Vicky?” ... Read more
A game far too wide
As the USA took the second set in tie-break Brazil coach Bernardo Rezende put his both hands on the head. The game was still evenly-poised but he sensed the worst and at the end he was proved right. Brazil lost their epic Pool B volleyball battle to the USA by 3-1 sets in what was ... Read more
London Diary
London Olympic 2012 London Diary After we reported yesterday that luminaries as diverse and impressive as Dmitri Medvedev (RUS), Kobe Bryant (USA) and Prince Albert of Monaco had been among the glitterati gracing the stands at these games, the celeb-sightings poured in from other sports, determined not to be outdone. One breathless snowboarding fan of ... Read more
Friendship core of swim rivalry
Michael Phelps tiptoed into the press conference, taking exaggerated steps with his massive frame. On the podium, Ryan Lochte who was answering a question, looked at Phelps with a flummoxed expression. A second later, they both burst out laughing. It was a wonderful moment partially because not thirty minutes ago, both these guys
Olympics hit by series of controversies
No Olympics is free from controversies but it seems London is having one too many with one after another debate unfolding making it very hard for the organisers to cope with. No sooner than the doping allegation against Chinese swimming champion Ye Shiwen dried down a match-fixing scandal by badminton players hit the Games and ... Read more
So good yet so far
Bangladesh swimmer put on a decent show in his only event in London Olympics when he clocked 24.64 seconds to finish 39th among 58 swimmers in the 50-metre freestyle heat on Thursday. The timing and position easily met the expectation of Mahfizur, Bangladesh’s best freestyle swimmer in the last five years, who came here thankfully ... Read more
A dream realised after eight years of wait
In the whole five minutes of the prize giving ceremony he did not smile for a second. A little lip movement while singing the national anthem and that was that – Daniel Gyurta looked like an ironman during the entire ceremony. To anyone who watched an emotional South African Chad le Clos, who broke down in tears ... Read more
Missile misfires
Aussies on the wane in the pool You didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out James Magnussen’s expression after Wednesday night’s thrilling 100-metre freestyle swimming final. The Australian first had his head buried in his hands. Moments later he could be seen staring straight into the wall of the swimming pool, hoping ... Read more
Emotional Phelps makes history
Michael Phelps ensured his status as the greatest ever Olympian on Tuesday night in London when he swam the anchor leg of a demanding relay race to earn his 19th medal. His win in the 4×200 metre freestyle relay for US also ended his unexpected gold drought that took his sleep away and added to ... Read more
Maria enchants
The dazzling streak of blonde hair, the piercing scream with every shot of the ball and the full house on Centre Court — Maria Sharapova certainly makes her presence felt. The Russian tennis player is a true superstar and you get that feeling almost as soon as she steps onto the centre court at Wimbledon ... Read more