Other sports news in brief
Shock win for Korean skater
WINTER OLYMPICS: Lee Seung-hoon of South Korea scored a shock victory in the Olympic mens 10,000 metres speed skating competition last night at the Richmond Olympic Oval after favourite and world champion Sven Kramer was disqualified.
Kramer crossed the finish line and appeared to have won his second gold of the Games but the Dutch skater was disqualified for a lane violation midway through the race, giving the gold to Lee.
Lee, who took silver behind Kramer in the mens 5,000 metres, slashed more than 22 seconds off his personal best to win in 12 minutes 58.55 seconds.
Ivan Skobrev of Russia took the silver medal in 13:02.07, while Bob de Jong of the Netherlands claimed bronze in 13:06.73.
Russia took advantage of the absence of Germany’s double gold medal winner Magdalena Neuner to win the Olympic 4x6km biathlon relay last night. France took silver while Germany grabbed bronze.
Russia took command of the race in the third leg when Olga Medvedtseva turned a slight deficit into a 45-second advantage heading into the final round.
Vancouver so far so clean
WINTER OLYMPICS: An absence of positive doping tests in Vancouver is proof the Games are gradually getting rid of cheats who have fewer places to hide, the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) medical chief has said.
There have been no positive tests since the Games opened, with more than two-thirds of the 2,100 tests already conducted.
The only case was a Russian athlete reprimanded for using a light stimulant.
“Surely, we are having cleaner and cleaner Games,” IOC medical commission chief Arne Ljungqvist said. “The pattern seems to be fairly clear. . . people are being caught more before they become Olympians and we find less and less (doping) during the Games.”
Irish get better at the back
WOMEN’S HOCKEY: Ireland lost the second of their uncapped challenge matches to Britain at Bisham Abbey yesterday, but an improved defensive display saw them concede just one goal, scored from a penalty corner 20 minutes into the game.
Bridget Cleland was particularly impressive in a defence that had shipped four goals on Monday.
But at the other end Ireland failed to trouble their hosts.
The teams play their final game at noon today.
– Mary Hannigan
Davydenko recovers
TENNIS: Fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko overcame a first-set loss to beat France’s Florent Serra 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 in an error-strewn first-round battle at the Dubai championships.
Sixth seed Marin Cilic had an easier time, thriving in the sweltering heat to power past Arnaud Clement 6-2. 6-4.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had just won the first set 7-6 when his opponent, last week’s Marseille Open winner Michael Llodra, pulled out with a hamstring injury.
Davydenko, still struggling with a wrist injury, admitted he had been below par.
“Too many mistakes from me,” Davydenko (28), said. “I had so many chances (to) make a break in the second set and win more easily.”
