A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Macklin to face Alcine in Las Vegas
BOXING:MATTHEW MACKLIN will be aiming to hit the jackpot in Las Vegas next month to set up a world title shot against either Sergio Martinez or Julio Cesar Chavez Junior.
The Irish middleweight, who lost a tilt for Martinez’s World title at Madison Square Garden earlier this year, meets Canada-based Haitian Joachim Alcine on the Martinez/Chavez undercard in Las Vegas on September 15th.
“Regardless of how the fight (Martinez v Chavez) goes I would love a shot at the winner but obviously I have to take care of business against Alcine first, said Macklin.
“Alcine is a proven fighter. He’s a former world champion who has campaigned at the highest level. He’s coming off a great win over David Lemieux so I’m sure he will be coming into this with a lot of confidence.”
Meanwhile, Team Ireland’s Olympic boxing stars are providing the inspiration for Henry Coyle ahead of his WBF light-middleweight defence tonight at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar. Mayo-native Coyle, defends his belt against Argentinian orthodox Marcelo Rodriguez
Irish women qualify for global event
CRICKET:With no play possible on the final day of the Ireland men's clash with South Africa 'A' at Coleraine, it was left to the women's team to provide the action in the North West yesterday as they beat the Netherlands by eight wickets at Bready to claim a place in the World Twenty20 global qualifier.
The game was reduced with the Dutch restricted to 84 for six from their 17 overs thanks to some fine bowling, especially from openers Kim Garth and Louise McCarthy.
Clare Shillington has developed quite a reputation as a pinch-hitter at the top of the Ireland order and she helped knock off 23 runs from the first three overs alongside skipper Cecelia Joyce after Ireland were set a target of 77 in 15 overs.
Shillington departed for 35 from just 25 deliveries but 16-year-old Garth completed a fine all-round performance by hitting an unbeaten 26 from 22 balls as Ireland reached their target with 25 balls to spare.
The Netherlands later claimed the second qualification spot when they beat Scotland by seven runs.
EMMET RIORDAN
Australian team admits pressure got to them
SWIMMING:Australia's swimmers have admitted they buckled under pressure and underestimated how much their rivals had improved at the London Games after the squad picked up just a solitary gold as part of a 10-medal haul in the pool.
“As much as you think you’re ready for it, the difference between world championships and the Olympics is a hundred times more pressure,” freestyle specialist Eamon Sullivan said yesterday. “We under-prepared for the expectations of the pressure and the experience of the Olympics and, unfortunately, it’s a bad time to learn lessons,” he added.
The lone success, in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, was considered a catastrophe for a team which won six golds and 20 medals in Beijing.
Blake confident he will claim Bolt's mantle in Rio in 2016
ATHLETICS:Olympic gold medallist Yohan Blake believes his time will come to take over from fellow countryman and the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt.
Blake joined Bolt as part of the Jamaican team which won the men’s 100m relay gold medal at the London Olympics after finishing runner-up to his training partner in the 100m and 200m.
Blake, who had beaten Bolt in the Jamaican Olympic trials, has set his sights on being number one by the next Games at Rio in Brazil in 2016.
Blake, who has remained in London following the Games, said: “When I beat him at the Jamaican trials that gave me a lot of confidence.”
Bolt was carrying an injury when he arrived in London but was able to defend his 100m and 200m titles, beating Blake into second place in both races.
“When I came into London I knew when he got a bit of fitness he was going to be great. I think this is his time and I’m going to get my time.” Blake added he could have played cricket – but was steered towards athletics by friends who saw how fast he ran when bowling.
Hernandez pitch-perfect in Seattle Mariners' triumph
BASEBALL:Felix Hernandez pitched the third perfect game of the season and 23rd in major league history in leading the Seattle Mariners to a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Hernandez, a Venezuelan right-hander who won the Cy Young Award in 2010, struck out 12 in his 113-pitch gem before 21,889 at Safeco Field in Seattle.
“I had more command as the game was going on,” said Hernandez after tossing the first perfect game in Mariners history. “Breaking balls, curve balls, sliders, change-ups. Everything was good today.”
When Rays third baseman Sean Rodriguez struck out looking to end the game, Hernandez raised both arms to the sky before being mobbed by his team-mates.
Hernandez, who struck out five of the last six batters he faced, has won eight straight decisions, including four shutouts since June 28.
Known as “King Felix,” Hernandez said he approaches each start like he is ready to toss a perfect game. “Today it happened. It’s something special. This is pretty amazing.”
