Liu Xiang Hurdles To New Mark; Anju Finishes Sixth

Liu Xiang hurdles to new mark; Anju finishes sixth

By S. Thyagarajan

ATHENS,

AUG. 27.

An Olympic medal in athletics continues to be a mirage for India. The expectations of Anju George creating history in the long jump here tonight was belied when she began to falter after a splendid 6.83m in the opening effort for a National record. But progressively she lost the momentum even touching 6.61m on the fifth attempt and fouled the last try to leave her dreams in a shambles, finishing sixth.

Tatyana Lebedeva won the gold at 7.07m. Both Marion Jones, bronze medallist at Sydney, and Lebedeva, credited with seven plus metre jumps this year, fouled their first attempts. The two Russians, Irina Simagina and Tatyana Kotova, fourth in the last Olympics, had an identical 7.05m.

Anju had a splendid start with a fluent 6.83m that smashed her National record of 6.74m. At the end of the first round, Anju was third on the chart.

Lebedeva picked up her rhythm with a splendid 7.07m, even as Irina Simagina had 7.02.

Marion Jones cautious after the first foul cleared 6.85m, but Anju had a poor jump at 6.75m, and slipped to the fifth place.

Anju missed the rhythm and fouled the third attempt as Bronwyn Thompson of Australia surged ahead with a jump of 6.92m in the round where Lebedeva, Simagina also fouled. Anju was pushed to the sixth place at the end of the third round, behind Lebedeva (7.07m), Simagina (7.05m), Kotova (7.05m), Thompson (6.92m) and Jones (6.85m).

Anju’s fourth effort measured only 6.68m putting her under tremendous pressure and the next went further down to 6.61m, while the leader Lebedeva had a 7.05m jump.

Meanwhile, there was something to cheer about for India when Rajwinder Kaur, Beenamol, Chitra K. Soman and Manjeet Kaur qualified for the final of the 4×400m relay after smashing the National record of 3:27.35. The Indians timed 3:26.89s, with Greece (3:26.70s) and the United States (2:23.79s) ahead of them.

Manjeet Kaur did a splendid anchor to put the team in the third spot.

An American sweep in the 200 metres, with Shawn Crawford etching the best time of 19.79s this season, a thunderous leap by Dwight Phillips writing another American script in long jump, and the triumph of Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic in 400m hurdles, all contributed to a fascinating night in the Olympic Games on Thursday.

What prevented one from anticipating an American assault in the 200m was the presence of three potential medallists — Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, the silver medallist in 100m, the 37-year-old veteran, Frank Fredericks of Namibia and Asafa Powell of Jamaica.

But the combination of Crawford, Gatlin, the 100m winner, and Bernard Williams was awesome.

Tense moments

Quite predictably, there were tense moments before the start. The huge crowd booed the competitors, understandably disappointed over the absence of the defending champion, Kostas Kenteris, who was forced to withdraw from the Games in a drug-related controversy.

Crawford was on lane four, flanked on the right by Gatlin and Williams on the left. Obikwelu was on six and Fredericks on eight. Off the blocks first, Crawford set a scorching pace even at the first bend. Gatlin was closing in and when the field neared the second bend. Obikwelu seemed to be forcing his way up briefly even as Williams began closing the gap. But Crawford sprinting with the power and elegance of a cheetah — he calls himself the Cheetah man — after having raced with a zebra and a giraffe for a Fox TV show — was almost on the verge of obliterating the Olympic record of 19.32 by Michael Johnson set at Atlanta. But he could cross the finish line in 19.79s.

Peerless Sanchez

Is competitive athletics finding another Ed Moses in Felix Sanchez, the unconquered hero in the 400m hurdles since 2001? A U.S. based athlete running for the Dominican Republic, where he joined his father 16 years after their parents had separated, is a living legend in that country.

Twice World champion, the 26-year-old Sanchez emerged a predictable winner, unaffected by a false start. First to explode from lane six, Sanchez was oozing power and surged ahead even at the end of the first bend. The only likely challenge for him was from the American James Carter, who had the best time of 47.68s this season ahead of Sanchez’s mark of 47.86s achieved on July 6 in Lausanne. But Sanchez went one better clocking 47.63s.

What more, James Carter was shocked by two more, Danny McFarlane of Jamaica (48.11s) and Naman Keita (48.26s) of France. Carter finished fourth in 48.58s.

AP reports

Garcia finishes third

Liu Xiang of China equalled the world record to win the 110m hurdles gold on Friday in a time of 12.91s. Liu, who just turned 21, powered home in a smooth, virtually error-free race to match the record set by Colin Jackson of Britain at the 1993 World championship in Stuttgart.

Liu’s previous personal best was 13.06, which he ran in May. He won the bronze medal at last year’s World championship in Paris.

Terrence Trammell of the United States won the silver in 13.18 and defending champion Anier Garcia of Cuba settled for bronze in 13.20.

Allen Johnson of the United States, the four-time World champion who fell in the second round and did not make the final, lost the 12.95 Olympic record he set in Atlanta.

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Opening Ceremony — A Melange Of The Ancient And Modern

Opening Ceremony — a melange of the ancient and modern

By S. Thyagarajan

HOMECOMING: The 28th edition of the Olympic Games returned to the land of its birth and the inaugural ceremony encapsulated the Greek mythology, civilisation and culture. — AP

ATHENS,

AUG. 13.

Like a rose blossoming on a fresh December dawn it unfolded, setting the mood for a great sporting carnival. The Opening Ceremony of the 28th Olympics at the aesthetically-designed Olympic Stadium, immersed in the incandescence of arc lights on a humid, starless night, conveyed to the huge audience across the globe the realisation of a dream for the people of Greece.

The presentation projected an enchanting vista of the varied and rich tapestry of the ancient Greek culture, art, folklore, philosophy and mythology of a nation, whose contribution to civilisation is multi-dimensional and fascinating in its depth of understanding and knowledge.

More than anything, the ceremony underlined the imagination and ingenuity of those who conceptualised the ideals of Olympism, born at Mount Olympia.

Conceived to bear an emotional impact on the visitors and viewers worldwide, the ceremony was an amalgam of tradition and modernity, mirroring the ethos of Greece.

It was a kaleidoscope of colour and drama that was evocative, educational and exhilarating. Meticulously planned and methodically executed, the ceremony witnessed choreography at its very best.

Two phases

As usual, the ceremony was divided into two parts — entertainment and protocol.

The atmosphere quickly surged into a mood of gaiety when the popular singer Michalis Chatzigianis sang with verve, followed by Giannis Kotsiras whose rendition of Pass The Flame evoked spontaneous cheers.

The protocol part was solemn and matched the occasion. A nostalgic programme featured on the giant screen displayed images of the ancient stadium at Olympia.

A percussionist struck a rhythm to symbolise heartbeat.

Then came the spectacular fireball which plunged into the water filled centrestage and formed the Olympic ring in flames. Fire is said to signify purity.

It was during this phase that the IOC President Jacques Rogge, ATHOC President Ms. Gianna Angelapoulos and the President of the Hellenic Republic Constantinos Stephanopoulous arrived, followed by the hoisting of the Greek flag with the singing of its national anthem.

The programme Allegory was breathtaking, depicting the evolution of the Greek civilisation which projected the different dimensions of life, including sporting activities.

A break from tradition

The parade of athletes from 202 countries took more than an hour and a half. Long jumper Anju George carried the Indian tri-colour.

Deviating from tradition, Greece, which normally enjoys the privilege of leading the marchpast, made up the rear as the host. There were loud cheers when the athletes from Afghanisatan entered the arena.

In a brief address, the IOC President Mr. Rogge mentioned about the resilience of the Olympic Movement.

The Hellenic President Mr. Stephanopoulous declared the Games open amidst fanfare and fireworks. Hundreds of children entered the arena even as eight flag-bearers grabbed attention.

The Olympic hymn, composed by Spyros Samaras and lyrics written by Kostis Palmas in 1896, was played as the flag moved up the mast. After that the oath was read.

The torch-bearers — Dimitrios Damazos (football), Nikoas Gallis (basketball), Akakios Kakiasvili (weightlifting), Nikolaos Kaklamanakis (sailing), Ioannis Melissandis (artistic gymnastics) and Ms. Paraskevi Patoulidou (athletics) — then made an appearance, relaying the sacred flame which was ignited in the huge cauldron designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Emotions touched a new pitch as the flames rose towards the sky. The moment signalled the beginning of the 28th Olympic Games.

It was a unique ceremony as the arena was filled with water — 21,62,000 litres which took six hours to fill but with a facility to be drained out in just three minutes.

Over 2,400 artists from the age of seven to 70 figured in the Opening Ceremony that took as many as 270 hours of rehearsal.

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