FOOTBALL: NANTES SACK DER ZAKARIAN AND HIS ASSISTANT
Agence France Presse
August 26, 2008 Tuesday 5:02 PM GMT
French first division side Nantes have sacked coach Michel Der
Zakarian and his assistant Patrice Gentil, according to a club
spokesman Tuesday.
Nantes are anchored in the second-bottom slot after a bad start to
their league campaign, losing twice and drawing once.
Armenian Der Zakarian, 45, is a former Nantes player. He has been in
charge of the club since 2006.
AZERBAIJAN REITERATES SUPPORT FOR GEORGIA’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
Turan news agency
Aug 25 2008
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan has reiterated its support for Georgia’s territorial
integrity and said that the conflict with this country’s separatist
regions should be resolved on the basis of international law.
"The conflicts in the South Caucasus, including the Karabakh conflict,
should be resolved in keeping with the norms of international law,
and within the framework of the territorial integrity [of states],"
the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Xazar Ibrahim, told reporters on 25
August, the Turan news agency said.
Asked if Azerbaijan was going to seek foreign military aid following
the Russian invasion of Georgia, Ibrahim said that this was not on
the government’s agenda. He added that every state should rely on
its own military might, Turan reported.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman was also quoted as saying that
Azerbaijan was going to hold security consultations with the USA
later this year.
BBCM Note: Such consultations are routine. They are held twice a year.
JUNIORS TO TEST THE WATERS BEFORE CRUCIAL GAME
Turkish Daily News
Aug 20 2008
Turkey
Two weeks before an eagerly anticipated football match between Armenia
and Turkey, the junior teams from the two countries with troubled
relations are set to take to the pitch tonight, in what some consider
a test of whether sports and politics can really be separated.
Turkey is set to play in Armenia in a World Cup qualifying round
game Sept. 6, which will be the first time that the two countries’
national football teams play at the highest level. Doubts were
expressed late last year when the two countries were drawn to play
each other, but politicians from both countries and national team
members gave assurances that the game would go ahead. Å~^enes Erzik
was one of the first names to play down the tension. A former chairman
of the Turkish Football Federation, and the vice president of European
football’s governing body, UEFA, Erzik drew attention to the fact that
both countries were already playing football against one another at
youth levels.
Mahmut Ozgener, who was elected as the new chairman of the federation
yesterday succeeding the late Hasan Dogan, agreed with Erzik, recalling
past occasions where no problems were experienced.
"Our U-19 team played a tournament in Armenia in May, and now the
U-21 team is heading there," said Ozgener. "Football is a global game,
you should go anywhere to play. So, we will go to Armenia to play."
The Armenia game on Sept. 6 will be Ozgener’s first important game
as the federation chairman, but he is not making a big deal of it.
"Just because our relations with Armenia are not good, it is not right
to talk about other things before a football game," said Ozgener. "The
tension may be high but at the end we are going there to play ball."
Armenian President Serj Sarkisyan also played his part to reduce
the pressure before the game, as he sent an invitation to Turkish
President Abdullah Gul in mid-July to watch the game together.
The Armenian press hailed the president’s invitation, calling it
an early goal, and saying Armenia took the first step, and now the
decision was up to Turkey. Gul has yet to issue a response, but it is
a near certain that the game will be a stage where Armenian-Turkish
relations will be tested, albeit on a smaller scale.
Meanwhile, the Turkish national team plays its last friendly fixture
before the Armenian game against Chile tonight in Kocaeli.
Coach Fatih Terim said Chile is a serious contender on the South
American stage.
"Chile is playing for the World Cup currently," said Terim. "It is now
ahead of Brazil in the qualifying group, which is something for us."
The game at the Kocaeli Ataturk Stadium kicks off at 9:00 p.m, while
the Armenia-Turkey U21 game starts at 7:00 p.m.
–Boundary_(ID_9cEnYplMBQ+lWoI2uTcZ4g)–
IRAN, ARMENIA DISCUSSED BILATERAL TIES
Moj News Agency
August 19, 2008 Tuesday
Iran
At the meeting the two sides reviewed bilateral ties, as well as the
Caucasus region`s recent developments. Referring to the depth and
wide span of the bilateral ties, Sheikh Attar emphasized that the two
countries` relations are still in need of further development. The
Armenian side, for his part, announced of Yerevan`s determination to
expand the level of its cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran
in various fields. "Iran`s role in the region is quite significant and
your country enjoys a unique geographical status," he added. 2008/08/19
Panorama.am
18:41 15/08/2008
EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC: JAZZ & ROCK ENSEMBLE
On 19 August Armenian-French jazz-rock concert is to take place in
Yerevan with the participation of guitarist Marcello Cordova, pianist
Wensan Buig, percussion instruments Ando Parseghyan and Armenian
musician guitarist Boris Andreasyan, said Boris Andreasyan in a press
conference.
`The concert is separated into several parts. Jazz and rock will be
presented ensemble, which is an extraordinary thing,’ he said.
The musicians said that they have had two experimental meetings but
they have felt they understand each other though they do have a
language problem.
Source: Panorama.am
KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IS A SECONDARY TYPE OF ACTIVITY FOR MATTHEW BRYZA, ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT THINKS
arminfo
2008-08-15 11:46:00
ArmInfo. Karabakh conflict settlement is a secondary type of
activity for the American co-chair of the OSCE MG Matthew Bryza,
Armenian political expert Levon Melik-Shakhnazaryan told ArmInfo
correspondent. ‘The main direction of Bryza’s activity is to supervise
oil and gas pipelines running from region to region; and the main task
is to do everything for the pipelines to bypass Russia’, – he said.
At the same the political expert did not rule out that in his priority
activity Bryza might gain serious success, but in the inter-ethnic
American co-chair "failed" and one cannot say he is a serious expert.
‘I have repeatedly said that M. Bryza acts as cowboy that throws a
lasso. If he succeeds, it is good. If he didn’t, he will pretend
like not throwing it at all. Geopolitical power of the state he
represents at OSCE MG gives him confidence in it. M.Bryza is not a
serious politician and apparently it seems to him that if he states
something in Baku, they in Yerevan will not know about it and vice
versa’, L. Melik-Shakhnazaryan said. To recall, earlier M. Bryza
stated that the residents of Nagorny Karabakh will decide if the
country will be transferred under jurisdiction of Azerbaijan or it
will get independence. Karabakh residents will determine their will
at a referendum, he told media. Later Bryza refuted his statement.
OLYMPICS SCOREBOARD: FIRST EDITION
Winston-Salem Journal
The Associated Press
August 13, 2008
NC
Synchronized 10-m Platform
Women’s final
1. China (Wang Xin; Chen Ruolin), 363.54. 2. Australia (Briony
Cole; Melissa Wu), 335.16. 3. Mexico (Paola Espinosa; Tatiana
Ortiz), 330.06. 4. Germany (Annett Gamm; Nora Subschinski),
310.29. 5. United States (Mary Beth Dunnichay, Indianapolis; Haley
Ishimatsu, Indianapolis), 309.12. 6. North Korea (Choe Kum Hui; Kim
Un Hyang), 308.10. 7. Canada (Meaghan Benfeito; Roseline Filion),
305.91. 8. Britain (Tonia Couch; Stacie Powell), 303.48.
Equestrian
Eventing
Individual Final Ranking
1. Hinrich Romeike (MARIUS), Germany (7, 37.40; 3, 12.80; 19, 4.00; 1,
0.00), 54.20. 2. Gina Miles (MCKINLAIGH), Creston, Calif. (10, 39.30;
12, 16.80; 1, 0.00; 1, 0.00), 56.10. 3. Kristina Cook (MINERS FROLIC),
Britain (13, 40.20; 13, 17.20; 1, 0.00; 1, 0.00), 57.40. 4. Megan Jones
(IRISH JESTER), Australia (4, 35.40; 9, 15.60; 19, 4.00; 11, 4.00),
59.00. 5. Ingrid Klimke (ABRAXXAS), Germany (3, 33.50; 13, 17.20;
19, 4.00; 18, 5.00), 59.70. 6. Didier Dhennin (ISMENE DU TEMPLE),
France (17, 42.80; 8, 14.00; 18, 3.00; 1, 0.00), 59.80. 7. Clayton
Fredericks (BEN ALONG TIME), Australia (6, 37.00; 11, 16.40; 19,
4.00; 11, 4.00), 61.40. 8. Andreas Dibowski (BUTTS LEON), Germany
(11, 39.60; 16, 17.60; 1, 0.00; 19, 8.00), 65.20.
U.S. Finishers: 42. Becky Holder (COURAGEOUS COMET), Mendota Heights,
Minn. (5, 35.70; 58, 82.00; 32, 8.00), 125.70. 44. Karen O’Connor
(MANDIBA), The Plains, Va. (16, 41.90; 59, 84.80; 30, 5.00),
131.70. NR. Amy Tryon (POGGIO II), Redmond, Wash. (24, 46.50; , EL),
EL. NR. Phillip Dutton (CONNAUGHT), Avondale, Pa. (14, 40.60; 20,
19.60; 32, 8.00), DQ.
Team Final Ranking
1. Germany (Hinrich Romeike; Ingrid Klimke; Andreas Dibowski;
Frank Ostholt; Peter Thomsen), 166.10. 2. Australia (Megan Jones;
Clayton Fredericks; Sonja Johnson; Lucinda Fredericks; Shane Rose),
171.20. 3. Britain (Kristina Cook; Mary King; William Fox-Pitt; Daisy
Dick; Sharon Hunt), 185.70. 4. Sweden (Linda Algotsson; Katrin Norling;
Dag Albert; Viktoria Carlerback; Magnus Gallerdal), 230.50. 5. New
Zealand (Caroline Powell; Mark Todd; Joe Meyer; Heelan Tompkins; Andrew
Nicholson), 240.90. 6. Italy (Vittoria Panizzon; Susanna Bordone;
Roberto Rotatori; Stefano Brecciaroli; Fabio Magni), 246.40. 7. United
States (Gina Miles, Creston, Calif.; Phillip Dutton, Avondale, Pa.;
Becky Holder, Mendota Heights, Minn.; Karen O’Connor, The Plains,
Va.; Amy Tryon, Redmond, Wash.), 250.00. 8. Ireland (Austin O’Connor;
Geoffrey Curran; Louise Lyons; Niall Griffin; Patricia Ryan), 276.10.
Fencing
Men’s Individual Sabre
Bronze Medal: Mihai Covaliu, Romania, def. Julien Pillet, France,
15-11.
Gold Medal: Zhong Man, China, def. Nicolas Lopez, France, 15-9.
Gymnastics
Men’s Team
Final Ranking
1. China (Chen Yibing; Huang Xu; Li Xiaopeng; Xiao Qin; Yang Wei;
Zou Kai), 286.125. 2. Japan (Takehiro Kashima; Takuya Nakase;
Makoto Okiguchi; Koki Sakamoto; Hiroyuki Tomita; Kohei Uchimura),
278.875. 3. United States (Sasha Artemev, Highlands Ranch, Colo.;
Raj Bhavsar, Houston; Joey Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M.; Jonathan
Horton, Houston; Justin Spring, Burke, Va.; Kevin Tan, Fremont,
Calif.), 275.850. 4. Germany (Thomas Andergassen; Philipp Boy;
Fabian Hambuechen; Robert Juckel; Marcel Nguyen; Evgenij Spiridonov),
274.600. 5. South Korea (Kim Daeeun; Kim Jihoon; Kim Seungil; Kim
Soomyun; Yang Taeyoung; Yoo Wonchul), 274.375. 6. Russia (Maxim
Devyatovskiy; Anton Golotsutskov; Sergey Khorokhordin; Nikolay
Kryukov; Konstantin Pluzhnikov; Yury Ryazanov), 274.300. 7. Romania
(Adrian Bucur; Marian Dragulescu; Flavius Koczi; Daniel Popescu;
Razvan Selariu; Robert Stanescu), 274.175. 8. France (Thomas Bouhail;
Benoit Caranobe; Yann Cucherat; Dimitri Karbanenko; Danny Pinheiro
Rodrigues; Hamilton Sabot), 272.875.
Shooting
Men’s Double Trap
Final
1. Glenn Eller, Katy, Texas (145, 45), 190. 2. Francesco D Aniello,
Italy (141, 46), 187. 3. Hu Binyuan, China (138, 46), 184. 4. Jeff
Holguin, Yorba Linda, Calif. (140, 42), 182. 5. Russell Mark, Australia
(136, 45), 181. 6. Richard Faulds, Britain (137, 43), 180. 7. Ahmed
Almaktoum, United Arab Emirates (136), 136. 8. William Chetcuti,
Malta (136), 136.
Tennis
U.S. Men’s results
Second-round singles: James Blake (8), Tampa, Fla., def. Dominik
Hrbaty, Slovakia, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3.
First-round doubles: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan (1), Wesley Chapel,
Fla., def. Mark Knowles and Devin Mullings, Bahamas, 6-2, 6-1.
U.S. Women’s results
Second-round singles: Serena Williams (4), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.,
def. Samantha Stosur, Australia, 6-2, 6-0. Venus Williams (7), Palm
Beach Gardens, Fla., def. Iveta Benesova, Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-4.
First-round doubles: Lindsay Davenport and Liezel Huber (5), Newport
Beach, Calif., def. Klaudia Jans and Alicja Rosolska, Poland, 6-2,
6-1. Serena Williams and Venus Williams (2), Palm Beach Gardens,
Fla. def. Iveta Benesova and Nicole Vaidisova, Czech Republic, 4-6,
7-5, 6-1.
Weightlifting
Men’s 69kg
Final
1. Liao Hui, China (1, 158-347.6; 1, 190-418), 348 kg.-765.6
pounds. 2. Vencelas Dabaya-Tientcheu, France (5, 151-332.2; 2,
187-411.4), 338-743.6. 3. Tigran Gevorg Martirosyan, Armenia (3,
153-336.6; 3, 185-407), 338-743.6. 4. Yordanis Borrero, Cuba (6,
148-325.6; 6, 180-396), 328-721.6. 5. Turan Mirzayev, Azerbaijan (9,
146-321.2; 4, 181-398.2), 327-719.4. 6. Kim Chol Jin, North Korea
(8, 146-321.2; 5, 180-396), 326-717.2. 7. Afgan Bayramov, Azerbaijan
(10, 145-319; 7, 175-385), 320-704. 8. Sitthisak Suphalak, Thailand
(7, 147-323.4; 12, 171-376.2), 318-699.6.
Women’s 63kg
Final
1. Pak Hyon Suk, North Korea (2, 106-233.2; 1, 135-297), 241
kg.-530.2 pounds. 2. Irina Nekrassova, Kazakhstan (1, 110-242;
2, 130-286), 240-528. 3. Lu Ying-Chi, Taiwan (3, 104-228.8; 3,
127-279.4), 231-508.2. 4. Christine Girard, Canada (6, 102-224.4; 5,
126-277.2), 228-501.6. 5. Thi Thiet Nguyen, Vietnam (7, 100-220; 6,
125-275), 225-495.
Wrestling
Greco-Roman
Men’s Under 55g
Bronze Medal Final 1: Roman Amoyan, Armenia, def. Yagnier Hernandez,
Cuba, 3-0, 5-0.
Bronze Medal Final 2: Park Eunchol, South Korea, def. Hamid Soryan,
Iran, 1-1, 2-2.
Gold Medal Final: Nazyr Mankiev, Russia, def. Rovshan Bayramov,
Azerbaijan, 4-3, 2-2.
Men’s Under 60kg
Bronze Medal Final 1: Ruslan Tiumenbaev, Kyrgyzstan, def. Roberto
Monzon, Cuba, 8-0, 1-0.
Bronze Medal Final 2: Nurbakyt Tengizbayev, Kazakhstan, def. Sheng
Jiang, China, 4-1, 1-2, 3-0.
Gold Medal Final: Islam-Beka Albiev, Russia, def. Vitaliy Rahimov,
Azerbaijan, 2-0, 4-0.
Yesterday’s team scores
BASKETBALL (Men)
Lithuania 99, Iran 67
Croatia 85, Russia 78
Greece 87, Germany 64
Spain 85, China 75, OT
United States 97, Angola 76
Argentina 85, Australia 68
BASKETBALL (Women)
Russia 71, Belarus 65
Spain vs. Czech Republic, late
FIELD HOCKEY (Women)
Argentina 2, Britain 2, tie
Australia 6, Spain 1
United States 1, Japan 1, tie
China 3, South Africa 0
Netherlands 3, South Korea 2
Germany 2, New Zealand 1
FIELD HOCKEY (Men)
Australia 10, South Africa 0
China vs. South Korea, late
SOCCER (Women)
Germany 1, North Korea 0
Brazil 3, Nigeria 1
China 2, Argentina 0
Sweden 2, Canada 1
United States 4, New Zealand 0
Japan 5, Norway 1
SOFTBALL
Canada 6, Taiwan 1
United States 11, Venezuela 0 (5)
China 10, Netherlands 2
Japan 4, Australia 3
China vs. Venezuela, late
TEAM HANDBALL (Men)
Croatia 33, Brazil 14
Russia 28, Egypt 27
France 33, China 19
Spain 30, Poland 29
South Korea 31, Denmark 30
Iceland 33, Germany 29
TEAM HANDBALL (Women)
Russia 28, Brazil 19
Romania vs. France, late
VOLLEYBALL (Men)
Russia 3, Germany 2 (25-27, 25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 16-14)
United States 3, Italy 1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21)
Poland 3, Egypt 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-10)
Brazil 3, Serbia 1 (25-27, 25-20, 25-17, 25-21)
China 3, Venezuela 2 (25-21, 21-25, 16-25, 25-21, 16-14)
Bulgaria 3, Japan 1 (27-29, 25-23, 21-25, 19-25)
WATER POLO (Men)
Montenegro 12, Canada 0
Spain 9, Australia 8
United States 12, Italy 11
Hungary 17, Greece 6
Croatia 11, Serbia 8
Germany 6, China 5
WATER POLO (Women)
Italy vs. Algeria, late
Medals
(Through 53 medal events)
Country G S B Tot
United States 7 7 8 22
China 13 3 4 20
South Korea 5 6 1 12
Australia 3 2 5 10
Italy 3 4 2 9
Russia 2 4 3 9
France 0 7 2 9
North Korea 1 2 4 7
Germany 4 1 1 6
Japan 3 1 2 6
Britain 2 1 3 6
Netherlands 1 1 2 4
Azerbaijan 1 2 0 3
Brazil 0 0 3 3
Czech Republic 2 0 0 2
Slovakia 1 1 0 2
Finland 1 0 1 2
Romania 1 0 1 2
Spain 1 0 1 2
Zimbabwe 0 2 0 2
Austria 0 1 1 2
Cuba 0 1 1 2
Kazakhstan 0 1 1 2
Armenia 0 0 2 2
Indonesia 0 0 2 2
Taiwan 0 0 2 2
India 1 0 0 1
Thailand 1 0 0 1
Colombia 0 1 0 1
Hungary 0 1 0 1
Norway 0 1 0 1
Sweden 0 1 0 1
Turkey 0 1 0 1
Vietnam 0 1 0 1
Algeria 0 0 1 1
Argentina 0 0 1 1
Belarus 0 0 1 1
Croatia 0 0 1 1
Georgia 0 0 1 1
Kyrgyzstan 0 0 1 1
Mexico 0 0 1 1
Switzerland 0 0 1 1
Tajikistan 0 0 1 1
Togo 0 0 1 1
Ukraine 0 0 1 1
Uzbekistan 0 0 1 1
HAFIZ PASHAYEV: "GEORGIA HAS A RIGHT TO SETTLE THE ISSUE OF ITS CIS WALKOUT INDEPENDENTLY"
Today.Az
13 August 2008
Azerbaijan
Decision to leave CIS is Georgia’s own business, said deputy
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Hafiz Pashayev, according to
Interfax-Azerbaijan.
"Each country has a right to take a decision independently", said
Pashayev Wednesday, commenting on the decision of President Mikhail
Saakashvili to leave CIS.
According to the diplomat, such a decision is adopted on the basis
of discussions on the high political level and "probably Georgia’s
decision should also be approved by the parliament".
Commenting on the recent developments around South Ossetia, Pashayev
confirmed Azerbaijan’s support to territorial integrity of Georgia.
"As it was announced earlier, we support the territorial integrity of
Georgia. We have always considered this principle the most important
and we are confident that it should be the key one in the international
relations", noted the Deputy Minister.
The diplomat noted that events in South Ossetia should underline for
the world society the need for the soonest resolution of all conflicts
in the region, including Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
It should be noted that an international conference "Azerbaijanis
and Americans, as we see each others" opened in the capital of
Azerbaijan. It is organized by the diplomatic academy of Azerbaijan,
led by H.Pashayev. Events in Georgia are one of the main topics of
discussions at the conference.
BOXER RATNAYAKE BEATEN, VIDANAGE FINISHES 16TH
Dinesh Weerawansa
Ceylon Daily News
13 August 2008
Sri Lanka
Boxer Anuruddha Ratnayake shattered Sri Lanak’s hopes when he went
down to Latin American silver medallist Robenilson Vieira in their
men’s 51kg flyweight category first round bout of the XX1X Olympic
Games here in Beijing today.
The Brazilian, making the full use of his height and long arms, took an
upper hand from the first round of the bout worked off at the Workers’
Gymnasium ring under lights. It was a blank point sheet during the
first minute of the round one before Robenilson came to the picture
with two calculated punches to lead 2-0 at the end of the first round.
Robenilson had a big advantage with his height in evading punches
from relatively small-made Sri Lankan.
The Brazilian kept his cool and boxed to his original strategy and
extended his lead to six points to one at the end of round two. Two
powerful left hooks by the Latin American Games fly weight silver
medallist saw Ratnayake trailing 2-9 at the end of round three.
It was a tall order if Ratnayake was to make any comeback in the fourth
round, which he opened with a seven-point deficit. Though the tussle
looked even during the first one minute of the fourth round, at least
three vital punches from Ratnayake went unnoticed. If the Lankan had
caught the attention of the judges during his most aggressive moments,
he would have got into a psychologically important position.
Nevertheless, the Brazilian was far superior and deserved to win on
points 13-3. Ratnayake was not at his brilliant best and looked off
colour. The Lankan did not get the ideal start he was expecting and
that put Robenilson in the driving seat from round two.
"It was sad that I could not play my normal game. I should have
done better. Unfortunately things did not go in the manner which I
expected," Ratnayake said after his first round debacle.
He said the height and long arms of the Brazilian gave his opponent
a distinct advantage.
"He made use of his height and arms to stretch fully and escape when
I was charging.
But that is no excuse. I did not box well," Ratnayake added.
But Ratnayake said his presence at the Olympic ring under the Lion
flag should open a new era in Sri Lankan boxing. "I think my journey to
the Olympic boxing ring should be an inspiration to all Lankan boxers
and all those who intend to take to the ring sport. I am ever thankful
to all Sri Lankans who wholeheartedly supported my journey," he added.
Young Ratnayake said the battle is not lost altogether. "This is a
good beginning and I will survive to fight for another day. I will
make use of this experience and plan my strategy to work towards the
2012 Olympic Games," a determined Ratnayake said.
Chef-de-Mission of the Sri Lanka contingent and ABASL President Dian
Gomes was a dejected man after Ratnayake’s defeat.
But a determined Gomes said Raynayake’s Olympic journey should open a
new era in Lankan boxing. "He did not play well today and was beaten
by a better opponent. We have no complaints. But this should be an
inspiration to all and I would like to see a few more Ratnayakes
making it to the 2012 Olympics," Gomes said.
Minister of Sports and Public Recreation and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to
China Karunatillaka Amunugama were amongst the VVIPs at the Workers’
Gymnasium to see the Lankan boxer in action. Minister Lokuge is due
to return home tomorrow.
Vidanage finishes 16th There was a little bright spot for Sri Lanka in
the Olympic arena when star weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage finished
16th in the men’s 69kg category. Vidanage, who topped the Group C
with a total lift of 293kg yesterday, was overshadowed by 15 others
who competed under Group A and B in the men’s 69kg event today.
Having established three new Sri Lanka records to head Group C,
Vidanage was looking for a place within the top 20 lifters in
his weight category. Today, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist
fulfilled that dream when he secured the 16th place in the final
standings after the A and B group lifts.
China’s Hui Liao bagged the weightlifting gold of men’s 69kg event with
a total lift of 348kg, 55kg more than the Lankan lad from Polonnaruwa.
Last year’s World champion Liao had a snatch lift of 158kg and a clean
and jerk lift of 190kg. Vencelas Dabaya-Tientcheu of France (338kg)
and Itgran Gevorg Martirosyan of Armenia (338kg) bagged the silver
and bronze medals of this weight category.
"I felt very nervous at the very first attempt of both Snatch and Clean
and Jerk." said Liao, referring to his fail in these two attempts.
"There were unnecessary mistakes, fortunately I survived. Eventually
I got the gold medal,"
he said after his memorable feat. Favorite Lee Baeyoung of South
Korea, who took silver at Athens 2004, suffered cramps in both legs
in the Clean and Jerk and failed in all three attempts. China’s Shi
Zhiyong, defending champion in the Men’s 62kg Weightlifting category,
was another favorite who failed to make the podium.
Meanwhile, Russian Islam-Beka Albiev dominated Vitaliy Rahimov of
Azerbaijan in the final of the Men’s Greco-Roman 60kg wrestling event.
Albiev took the first period by 2-0. He then went on to win the
second period 4-0, leaving no room for Rahimov to respond. Albiev’s
best personal achievement in senior competition before this gold was
a bronze medal in the 2007 World Cup.
China’s Zhong Man claimed the gold medal in a 15-9 two-round bout in
the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Men’s Individual Sabre at
the Fencing Hall. Nicholas Lopez of France took home the silver. Thus,
Zhong became the first Chinese fencer in Olympic history to win
this event.
Hosts China continued to head the latest medals standings of the
Beijing Olympics. At the time of writing, China headed the latest
medals standings with 13 golds, three silver and four bronze medals.
USA is placed second with only seven gold, six silver and eight bronze
medals. In the third place is South Korea with five gold medals,
six silver and a bronze medal.
None of the Lankan Olympians will be seen in action on day five of
the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday.
But at the Water Cube on Thursday, Sri Lanka’s Daniel Lee will swim
in men’s 50m free style first round heats.
G. GHARIBDJANIAN: MILITARY EXPERTS DID NOT ARRIVE IN ARMENIA VIA AIRPLANES
Panorama.am
20:53 12/08/2008
According to rumors spread by the mass media an airplane with American
military experts arrived in "Zvartnots" airport, Armenia.
Gegham Gharibdjanian, the Deputy Foreign Minister, said to "Interfax"
news agency, "In these days a few special flights have been conducted
in the airports of Gyumri and Yerevan to transfer foreign citizens
from Georgia. Not a single airplane directed from Romania has made
a landing in Yerevan," said the Deputy Foreign Minister.