Cooke serves up first gold of the Games for Britain August 11, 2008 Gritty Nicole Cooke admitted she had achieved a lifetime ambition after claiming Great Britain’s first gold medal of the Beijing Games in the women’s road race. The 25-year-old, who finished a disappointing fifth in Athens four years ago, won the 126km contest with a fiercely contested sprint finish in torrential conditions. “We did it, it [...]
Broad: ‘We’ll do it for you, KP’ August 11, 2008 Fast bowler Stuart Broad insists England will be going all out to win for captain Kevin Pietersen in today’s final day of the fourth Test at The Oval. The hosts require 197 runs to record a morale-boosting win and hand Pietersen victory in his first match as skipper. And Broad, who took a crucial 3-44 [...]
Westwood hits out after nightmare 77 August 8, 2008 British hope Lee Westwood last night launched a scathing attack on Oakland Hills after struggling to a seven-over-par 77 on the opening day of the US PGA Championship. Westwood came into this final Major of the season with high hopes of success after his third place in the US Open and second place finish at [...]
Beijing critics are mistaking fog for smog, insists Olympic president Rogge August 8, 2008 Olympic chief Jacques Rogge last night attempted to calm fears over Beijing’s air quality by insisting that athletes’ health would not be at risk at the Games. On the eve of the opening ceremony, Rogge praised China’s efforts to reduce pollution and said that competitors taking part in events lasting less than an hour would [...]
Messi green light sparks perfect start August 8, 2008 Superstar striker Lionel Messi played a starring role for Argentina in their Olympic opener with Ivory Coast after his club Barcelona gave him permission to play. The 21-year-old scored one goal and created another to hand the South Americans a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast. Messi was given the green light to play by [...]
Dismay as boxing gold hope Gavin withdraws August 8, 2008 Great Britain’s medal hopes suffered a severe blow yesterday when boxing hopeful Frankie Gavin announced his shock withdrawal on the eve of the Games. Gavin, 22, was the overall favourite to win gold in the lightweight division but pulled out after failing to make the weight. Head coach Terry Edwards said: “Frankie has been working [...]
Tottenham target Villa set to snub White Hart Lane for Valencia pay rise August 8, 2008 Tottenham look set to miss out on £25m-rated Spain Euro 2008 star David Villa after Valencia said the striker was close to signing a new contract at the club. Spurs are desperate for a forward, with Robbie Keane having joined Liverpool and his former strike partner Dimitar Berbatov wanted by Manchester United. Villa, who netted [...]
Dream debut for Pietersen as England hit back in style August 8, 2008 Harmison praises skipper as shell shocked Proteas are put to the sword Recalled Steve Harmison heaped praise on Kevin Pietersen after the new England captain enjoyed a dream debut in charge at The Oval yesterday. Fired-up England responded to a passionate Pietersen team talk with a superb bowling and fielding performance to skittle out the [...]
Ferguson won’t panic buy despite injury crisis August 7, 2008 Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is not desperate to sign anyone despite the club’s injury crisis. At least seven United first-team players are set to miss next week’s Premier League opener against Newcastle, including star duo Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. But Ferguson, who has shown interest in Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, [...]
At long last it is all over as Ronaldo says: ‘I’m staying August 7, 2008 Winger finally commits his future to Manchester United, ending Real’s chase Cristiano Ronaldo has at long last drawn a line under a summer of transfer speculation by insisting: I’m staying at Manchester United. The Portuguese winger has been a long-running target of Real Madrid, even though United have repeated stood firm, insisting he wasn’t for [...]