All-conquering Beijing Olympic gold medalists Brazil brushed aside Japan to romp to a record eighth title at the World Grand Prix women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday.
The Brazilians, who did not lose a single match in the three qualifying weeks, chalked up a 25-21, 25-27, 25-19, 25-19 victory to complete five straight wins out of five in the six-team round robin final tournament.
Welissa Gonzaga scored the team’s best haul of 19 points, while Sheilla Castro chipped in with 16 points, leading Brazil to win the top prize of US$200,000.
“We struggled in the beginning, especially against Japanese serves, because they are different from our usual opponents. But in the end, we were able to clinch the title,” Brazilian captain Danielle Lins said. “I’m really happy that we, with these new players, made it.”
Brazil coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes said it was important for his “new generation” team to play tough matches.
It was a double victory for Castro, who received the most valuable player’s award and an extra prize of US$15,000.
“This is a victory that everybody — players, coaches and staff — fought for it together,” Castro said.
Earlier, world champions Russia saw off the Netherlands 25-20, 25-23, 25-21 to secure second place with a 4-1 win-loss record, while Germany defeated China 25-14, 23-25, 25-21, 25-14.
“Basically, today’s match doesn’t mean a lot for us, but I’m very satisfied that my players performed very well,” Russian coach Vladimir Kuzyutkin said.
“We missed the gold medal after losing to Brazil, but I’m satisfied with the runners-up place in the World Grand Prix. I’m also satisfied that my players did an excellent job,” he said.
The Netherlands missed out on a medal with a 2-3 record, the same as Germany, who took third place thanks to a better points ratio. China and Japan both ended with 1-4, with the hosts finishing bottom of the pile.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
PREDICTION: Last week, when Yu’s father made a wrong turn to the former champions’ parking lot, he said that his son could park there after this year With back-to-back birdies on the 18th hole, Kevin Yu fulfilled his driving range-owning dad’s prediction that he would win the Sanderson Farms Championship and become Taiwan’s third golfer to claim a US PGA Tour title. The Taoyuan-born 26-year-old, who represented Taiwan in the Olympic golf at Paris, saw off Californian Beau Hossler in a playoff at the Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday. Having drained a 15-foot putt to claw his way into the playoff, Yu rolled in from five feet on the first extra hole, ensuring he joined Chen Tze-chung (LA Open in 1987) and Pan Cheng-tsung (RBC
LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers. The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason defeat to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles. While LeBron James impressed with 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds on court before sitting out the second half, Bronny found the going harder with zero points in just over 13 minutes on court. The younger James attempted just one