The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Bolt aims for four more years of dominance

Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:48 AM PDT

June 04, 2013

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt looks on during a news conference in Rome June 4, 2013. — Reuters picROME, June 4 — Jamaica's Usain Bolt aims to preserve his sprint dominance and add to his collection of six Olympic gold medals before he ends his glittering athletics career after the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.

"I have pretty much four more years I think personally, in the sport, so now it is all about dominating for those four years," Bolt, 26, told a news conference in Rome where he was preparing to make his European season debut at Thursday's Golden Gala meeting.

"I am looking forward to the next Olympics to do something that has never been done before so that is one of my biggest things right now," he said.

Bolt, Olympic champion and world record holder over 100 and 200 metres, has struggled with a slight hamstring strain this year and last competed in a meeting in the Cayman Islands last month where he ran the 100 at a relatively pedestrian 10.09 seconds.

As well as Bolt, Thursday's field includes American Justin Gatlin, bronze medallist at the London Olympics, and 2003 world champion Kim Collins from St Kitts and Nevis.

The Jamaican was confident that he had overcome the injury problems which dogged the start of his year and said he would not relax his hold over a sport he has dominated since his triumph at the Beijing Olympics of 2008.

"It is going to take hard work and I really look forward to the competition because it drives me and it helps the sport. I am going to do as much as possible and enjoy it and help to develop the sport over the years," he said. — Reuters

Italy’s Buffon wary of nasty surprise from Czechs

Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:44 AM PDT

June 04, 2013

ROME, June 4 — Italy must go all out to try to beat Czech Republic in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Prague or risk coming a cropper, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (picture) said today.

Italy lead Group B by three points after four wins in five games but with the Confederations Cup on the horizon, Buffon wants minds to be focused on the clash against the third-placed Czechs.

"We are enjoying qualification for the World Cup in a serene manner, up to now there haven't been any nasty surprises partly because of how we have played," he told reporters.

"The Czechs are one of those teams you have to go out and beat because they don't give you anything.

"You play a below-par game then you risk losing, if you play only normally then you might be able to grab a point but we want to play a great game to increase our lead at the top of the group."

Buffon's wife is Czech and the keeper shared his sympathies with those affected by floods in Prague.

"They are experiencing a real drama," he said.

Italy head to Brazil for the Confederations Cup on Sunday where they first face Mexico in Group A on June 16 in Rio de Janeiro.

Confederations Cup Squad:

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St Germain)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Christian Maggio (Napoli)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Bologna), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus) — Reuters

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Selasa, 4 Jun 2013

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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