A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Australia at top of medals table
COMMONWEALTH GAMES:Australia dominated the pool as they shot to the top of the medals table on day one of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
They ended with four golds and two silvers on a day where no other nation managed more than a single gold. Alicia Coutts led the way as she shot to the top of the world rankings with victory in the 200 metres individual medley.
The spotlight had been on Coutts’ fellow Australian Emily Seebohm before the race with the 18-year-old expected to be in contention for up to eight medals in India.
However, Coutts was fastest through this morning and she returned in the afternoon, producing a dominant performance from the halfway point to overhaul Seebohm and eventually finish more than a second ahead in two minutes 9.70 seconds. Coutts became only the second woman this year to dip under 2:10 along with Seebohm.
India left reeling by Hilfenhaus
CRICKET: Ben Hilfenhaus took three wickets in the final session on the fourth day to leave India reeling at 55 for four in pursuit of 216 to win the first Test against Australia yesterday.
Hilfenhaus dismissed Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina in taking three for 22 in seven overs to turn the match on its head after Indian pacers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan skittled the tourists for 192 in their second innings.
Barry earns place in Naples event
TENNIS: Sam Barry has made a highly promising start to his career on the adult world ranking tournament scene.
Barry, who won three matches at the US Junior Open, yesterday took a brace of scalps in the ITF Men’s Futures event in Naples, Italy. As a result he earned a place in the main draw of the outdoor hardcourt event.
Barry overwhelmed Italian teenager Matteo Donati, on a 6-1 6-2 scoreline. He then pulled off a shock 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory over 25-year-old Italian Francesco Borgi, who has an ATP singles world ranking of 1,043.
Today, Barry takes on Italian wild card Stefano Napolitano with a place in the second round at stake.
Dubliner Barry King and Mayo man Daniel Glancy face Italian opponents in the first round of the main draw – King against Danielle Pepe and Glancy against Davide Melchiorre.
Underwhelming start for Irish riders in Kentucky
EQUESTRIAN: The show jumping championships of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games commenced yesterday in the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington with two sessions of the opening speed class.
Ireland had two riders competing in the morning and both had eight faults. Dermott Lennon fared the better on Woods Rosbotham’s Hallmark Elite, lying 19th in a time of 83.49 seconds, with Denis Lynch and Lantinus in 30th position on 86.10. The lead at that stage was held by Mario Deslauriers of the United States who, riding the Dutch Warmblood gelding Urico, was the fastest of five clear rounds in 71.25.
The para-dressage championships start today and Ireland is represented by James Dwyer, a native of Mooncoin who has been living in Unionville, Pennysylvania since 2004. He rides the Dutch Warmblood gelding Orlando which he purchased from The Netherlands in 2006.
