SPORTS DIGEST:ATHLETICS: Kenyan David Rudisha broke the 800 metres world record that had stood for 13 years yesterday, clocking one minute 41.09 seconds at the ISTAF meeting in Berlin.
Rudisha snatched the world record from Denmark’s Wilson Kipketer, who set a mark of 1.41.11 in 1997 in Cologne, Germany.
“This was my first real attempt to break the world record. I knew I was good, I had trained very hard,” he said.
“Now that I have run that time, I can say I have the ability to improve and go faster.”
The 21-year-old retained the African Championships title over the distance last month in the fastest time ever run in his athletics-mad country, proving he was a force to be reckoned with.
Semenya tops in Berlin again
ATHLETICS:Caster Semenya returned to the scene of her 800 metres World Championship triumph in Berlin yesterday.
Following a storm of controversy as doubts were raised about her gender, she was cleared to run again on July 6th and returned to action with victories in two low-key meetings in Finland, clocking 2:04.22 and 2:02.41.
But she improved significantly to dip under two minutes with a time of 1:59.90.
Cincinnati to Federer’s liking
TENNIS:Roger Federer ended a seven-month title drought with a 6-7 7-6 6-4 win over American Mardy Fish in the final of the Cincinnati Masters yesterday.
Federer captured his 63rd title in his 90th final and his victory was his fourth at Cincinnati since his first win in the tournament in 2005.
Fish, though, enhanced his reputation as a threat on the hard court with a mature display that bodes well for his chances in the US Open which begins on August 30th.
Federer, who had failed to add any trophies to his impressive collection since winning is 16th grand slam crown at the Australian Open in January, said he had grown to like a tournament which at first he found uncomfortable.
“I struggled at first here, I didn’t like the heat, but it has been an amazing run for me here,” he said.
Loeb closes in on seventh title
MOTOR SPORT:World champion Sebastien Loeb edged closer to his seventh consecutive title when he won the German rally yesterday to extend his lead in the standings.
The 36-year-old Citroen driver led the rally from day one and ended the final “Circus Maximus” inner-city stage in Trier with an overall 51.3-second lead over fellow Citroen driver Dani Sordo from Spain.
“It is unbelievable. To win here for the eighth time is fantastic,” Loeb said after the three-day race that included the world championships longest stage – the 48-kilometre Panzerplatte.
Citroen made a clean podium sweep with junior team driver Sebastien Ogier in third place. Ford’s Jari-Matti Latvala was fourth and Petter Solberg fifth with his Citroen.
The Frenchman leads the title race with 191 points, 58 ahead of compatriot Ogier in second.
There are four races left with the Japan Rally up next month.
Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen grabbed victory on the race’s final stage.
Atwal first Indian to win on US Tour
GOLF:Arjun Atwal became the first Indian to win a USPGA Tour event with a one shot victory at the Greensboro Classic last night.
Atwal parred the final hole and immediately dropped his club in disbelief as he achieved the landmark victory with a score of 20-under-par 260, beating American David Toms.
It feels great. I was so nervous of that (final) putt and Im glad it went in, Atwal said.
The world number 450 from Calcutta only qualified for the tournament on last Monday. Atwal, 37, who started the final round with a three-stroke lead, held on to secure a one-stroke victory by sinking a pressure-packed putt for par from seven feet at the final hole.
He made just one bogey in a steady three-under-par 67 in ideal conditions on the Sedgefield course.
Toms (64) birdied three of the final four holes to claim second place on 19-under. Americans John Mallinger, John Rollins, Justin Leonard and Australian Michael Sim were all tied for third on 18 under.
Saracens too strong for a very depleted Connacht
RUGBY:Two pre-season games down and two weeks before the Magners League opening, Connacht director of coaching Eric Elwood is already sweating on the availability of a fully fit squad.
Missing from Saturday’s evening’s 22-5 loss to English premiership side Saracens were unavailable Irish squad members Sean Cronin, Gavin Duffy and captain John Muldoon, and the injured Mike McCarthy, Keith Matthews, Johnny OConnor, Ian Keatley and Robbie Morris.
Connacht trailed 5-0 at the interval following a try from Saracens prop Richard Skuse after 13 minutes. A penalty try early in the second half added to the visitors’ tally before Connacht hit back after sustained pressure with a try from hooker Adrian Flavin.
From the kickoff a turnover saw scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth set up replacement centre Kameli Ratuvou for a try in the left corner. A 77th-minute try from Kelly Brown put a gloss on Saracens’ victory.
CONNACHT: T Halloran; T Nathan, N Taauso, E Griffin, F Carr; M Nikora, F Murphy; R Loughney, A Flavin, J Hagan; M Swift, B Upton; A Browne, R Ofisa, E Taylor. Replacements: B Wilkinson for Loughney; M McComish for Brown S Conneely for Ofisa, D Fanning for Nikora; C Willis for Murphy, R Sweeney for Hagan, D Nolan for Swift.
SARACENS: A Goode; C Wyles, A Powell, B Barritt, N Cato; D Hougaard, N De Kock; D Carstens, S Brits, R Skuse; H Vyvyan, M Botha, K Brown, J Burger, E Joubert. Replacements: R Penny for Goode, R Gill for Carstens, P Du Plessis for Skuse, R Wigglesworth for De Kock, K Ratouvu for Powell, J Melck for Joubert, D Barrell, for Burger, N Mordt for Barritt, G Kruis for Vyvyan, H Smith for Botha, E Reynecke for Brits, M Parr for Gill.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon.
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