SPORTS DIGEST:ATHLETICS: World record holder Usain Bolt won the 100 metres at an IAAF World Challenge event in Zagreb last night in a personal seasons best time of 9.85 seconds on a hot and humid evening in Croatias capital.
Bolt had to work hard to finish ahead of 2011 world bronze medalist Kim Collins, who kept up with the towering Jamaican until the final 10 metres.
Bolt was swarmed by fans and was escorted across the terraces by security officials as he received a standing ovation from 12,000 in the Mladost sports complex.
Personally, I felt I could have done a little bit better because it was a really poor start and I kind of lost concentration after the start, Bolt said.
McIlroy may miss 2012 Irish Open
GOLF: Rory McIlroy could skip next year’s Irish Open for a return to the scene of his US Open triumph.
The world number three’s agent, Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, indicated that PGA Tour bound McIlroy could be forced to choose between his national open and the clashing ATT National at Congressional Country Club, where he won the US Open by eight shots in June.
Sources have indicated that the European Tour is about to hammer out an Irish Open deal with potential new sponsors Zurich that could see the event move from the last weekend in July to the last weekend in June. That clashes with the PGA Tour’s €4.5 million ATT National, scheduled for Congressional Country Club from June 28th to July 1st.
Chandler said: “Rory is considering his options at the moment. The tournament in the States is at Congressional, so it is reasonably attractive too”
Olympic qualification at stake for Ireland
EQUESTRIAN:The opening competition of the 2011 European show jumping championships takes place in Madrid this afternoon and Irish riders will be anxious to make a good start as the team seeks qualification for next summer's Olympics in London.
“We have a tough job ahead of us,” said Team Ireland Equestrian’s show jumping manager Robert Splaine. “There are still very strong teams not qualified and I can see a huge battle emerging for the three remaining places.
“But we have been very, very successful all year in the Superleague and Ireland is again ranked fourth in the world at the highest level.”
To ensure the team lines up at the Olympics, Ireland must finish in the top three of those countries not already qualified. Germany, Belgium and France qualified at last year’s World Equestrian Games in Kentucky while Britain are automatically through as hosts.
Ireland, drawn fifth of the 16 teams, will line out in the following order for this afternoon’s speed class: Shane Sweetnam (Amaretto Darco), Nicola FitzGibbon (Puissance), Denis Lynch (Lantinus) and Billy Twomey (Tinka’s Serenade.
The team competition runs over three days, ending on Friday evening, and the top 25 riders then go through to Sunday’s individual final.
Niland drops out of top 200
TENNIS:Conor Niland has received an unwelcome early birthday present by losing his place in the top 200 of the world rankings for the first time in 16 months.
Niland, who turns 30 on Monday, has dropped 10 places from 197 to 207 in the ATP singles ladder which was updated yesterday on the conclusion of the US Open.
The Irish number one had occupied a top 200 position since May 10th, 2010, when he dipped below the barrier for the first time at 165 after picking up 100 points for winning the ATP Challenger Tour Israel Open in Ramat Hasharon.
On December 6th, Niland peaked at 129 – a position he held for four weeks – after netting 80 points for coming up trumps in the ATP Challenger Tour Austrian Open in Salzburg.
On the plus side, Louk Sorensen has improved 138 places from 618 to 480, due to picking up 35 points for qualifying for the main draw of the US Open and James McGee is at 441.
Morgan awarded England contract
CRICKET:Eoin Morgan has been awarded a central contract with England. Morgan, Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett have been awarded 12-month l contracts for the first time, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced yesterday.
Paul Collingwood, who retired from Test cricket after the successful Ashes series in Australia, did not have his contract renewed.
