Tag: 2018

Indian trail-blazer Kom finally bags Commonwealth gold

    by Peter Stebbings © Agence France-Presse GOLD COAST, Australia (AFP) — Indian boxing star Mary Kom opened up on the heartache she faced returning to competition after having children as she captured her first Commonwealth Games title on Saturday at the age of 35. Mother-of-three Kom, the subject of a Bollywood film in 2014, won a unanimous points decision over Northern Ireland’s Kristina O’Hara in their light-flyweight final on Australia’s Gold Coast. It is […]

Farmer’s son tops PMA Class of 2018

(Eagle News) – The 25-year-old son of a farmer from the province of Iloilo has topped the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduating Class of 2018. Cadet 1st Class Jaywardene Galilea Hontoria, also a registered nurse, was declared the valedictorian of the 285-strong PMA Alab Tala (Alagad ng Lahing Binigkis ng Tapang at Lakas), becoming only the fourth graduate in the history of the PMA to be a  valedictorian and class baron at the same time. […]

NBA: Player-captain James claims All-Star Game MVP

by Greg Heakes © Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to capture his third career NBA All-Star Game MVP as Team LeBron stormed from behind to beat Team Stephen 148-145. James, who was also MVP in 2006 and 2008, made 12 of 17 field goal attempts in 31 minutes of playing time at Staples Center arena in downtown Los Angeles. “I need to continue […]

NBA: LeBron James fires back at conservative critics

by Greg Heakes © Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A defiant LeBron James said Saturday he would continue to speak up about social issues and racism in America despite criticism this week from conservative commentators. The NBA superstar says it is his duty as a parent and role model to use his platform to come to the defense of those that don’t have a voice. “To be an African-American kid and growing up in […]

Ice Prince’ Hanyu defies injury to retain skate crown

by Nick Reeves  © Agence France-Presse GANGNEUNG, South Korea  (AFP) — Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu disclosed he had never “fully healed” from the serious injury that almost scuppered his Olympics after clinching the first back-to-back men’s figure skating title in more than six decades on Saturday. The 23-year-old cemented his status as the modern day ‘ice prince’ when overcoming a three-month injury hiatus to add Pyeongchang gold to his Sochi 2014 success and emulate American Dick Button, Olympic […]

NBA: World trounces USA to jump start all-star weekend

by Greg Heakes © Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Team World attacked the rim and dominated from three-point range as the internationals kicked off the NBA 2018 All-Star Weekend festivities with a 155-124 victory over Team USA on Friday. Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 26 points and drained seven of 13 from beyond the arc and his Sacramento Kings teammate Buddy Hield tallied a team-high 29 points in the Rising Stars Game at Staples […]

Oh my quad! US skater Chen makes history with six quads

GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AFP) — American prodigy Nathan Chen became the first figure skater to land six quads as he set an Olympic record in the free skate at the Pyeongchang Winter Games on Saturday. Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu clinched the title with compatriot Shoma Uno second and Javier Fernandez of Spain third. Chen, 18, was out of contention for a medal after bombing on Friday in a nervy short programme that left him languishing in 17th place […]

Imperious Hanyu on brink Olympic title

by Nick Reeves © Agence France-Presse GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AFP) — Japan’s  Yuzuru Hanyu took a giant step towards retaining his Olympic figure skating title with a flawless short program on Friday as arch-rival Nathan Chen’s challenge came disastrously unstuck. The Japanese star showed no ill effects from the right ankle injury that sidelined him for three months as he surged into a four-point lead with a score of 111.68. Six-time European champion Javier Fernandez of Spain […]

Filipino skate pioneer in ‘miracle’ Olympic bid after late call-up

by Nick Reeves © Agence France-Presse GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AFP) — Filipino skating pioneer Michael Christian Martinez took to the Olympic ice on Friday — barely three weeks after coming out of retirement. The 21-year-old, who at Sochi 2014 became the first skater from the Philippines to compete at a Winter Games, had been resigned to missing out on South Korea. “I was sixth of seven at the qualifying event in Germany so I said to myself, it’s […]

North Korean skaters made dream Olympic debut

GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean skaters Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik produced the performance of their lives to qualify for the pairs final at the Olympic Games on Wednesday. The Pyeongyang-born duo smashed their personal best score to reach the free skate showdown on Saturday. Supported by the 200-plus strong band of North Korean cheerleaders, Ryom and Kim seduced the crowd with an excellent execution of their short program to the Beatles classic A Day […]

Earthquake, wind and fire: extreme conditions hit Olympics

by Peter Stebbings © Agence France-Presse PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AFP) — An earthquake triggered an alert and high winds disrupted competition at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Sunday, as officials warned of a severe freeze and urged fans to wrap up warm. After a bitterly cold first night of competition, a shallow 4.6-magnitude earthquake jolted the eastern portion of South Korea overnight, prompting warnings on mobile phones. Early on Sunday, ski officials were forced to postpone the showpiece […]

Russian medalist’s drug suspension ‘special issue’ says IOC

  by Talek Harris © Agence France-Presse PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AFP) — Russian athletes are a “major focus” for anti-doping tests, a senior Olympic official said on Sunday, as it emerged that the first Russian medallist in Pyeongchang served a drugs suspension. Semen Elistratov, who took bronze in the men’s 1,500m short track speed skating on Saturday, was briefly suspended in 2016 after testing positive for meldonium — the same substance that saw Maria Sharapova banned. The […]