Global Networks: Commonwealth Games

Showing posts with label Commonwealth Games. Show all posts

10:26 am

Champion Feng Tianwei in winning start - #Commonwealth_Games

#GNN - #GLASGOW: Reigning #champion Feng Tianwei got off to a winning start in the Commonwealth Games women´s table tennis singles with a 4-0 win over Nigerian Cecilia Akpan.

Having already progressed through to the fourth round of the mixed doubles alongside Zhan Jian, Singapore´s world number four, Feng beat Akpan, ranked 320 in the world, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 in the second round.

Feng, 27, who has already won gold in the women´s team event, now faces Australia´s Zhenhua Dederko in the third round on Thursday, when she begins her women´s doubles campaign alongside Yu Mengyu.

Second seed Yu, ranked 10 in the world, needed five games to beat England´s Tin-Tin Ho, 15, while third seed Lin Ye won by the same margin against Megan Phillips of Wales, to progress to the third round. (AFP)

10:22 am

England ease past Canada to reach hockey semis - #Commonwealth_Games

#GNN - #GLASGOW: #England will almost certainly face reigning champions Australia in the semi-finals of the men´s hockey event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after a routine 3-1 win over Canada on Thursday.

Just needing to avoid a heavy defeat to seal their passage into the last four, two goals from Ashley Jackson and another from captain Barry Middleton put England 3-0 up before Canadian captain Scott Tupper fired home a late consolation.

New Zealand will ensure they finish top of Group B by avoiding defeat against Malaysia later on Thursday, whilst Australia can also round off a 100 percent record from Group A when they face hosts Scotland. (AFP)

10:19 am

Villumsen takes gold for New Zealand - #Commonwealth_Games

#GNN - #GLASGOW: Linda Villumsen won gold for New Zealand in the women´s individual cycling time trial at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday.

The 29-year-old finished in a time of 42 minutes 25.46 seconds to make up for the heartache she suffered in Dehli four years ago when she finished second.

England´s Emma Pooley, in her final race before retirement, had to settle for silver while Australia´s Katrin Garfoot took the bronze. (AFP)

8:56 am

Pakistani wrestler qualifies for final in Commonwealth Games

#GNN - #GLASGOW: Pakistani wrestler, Qamar Abbas emerged victorious in today’s 74 kg Wrestling semi finals in the Commonwealth Games and he is now all set to take on the Indian contestant in final.

Qamar Abbas defeated England’s Mike Grundy in the semi finals of Men’s 74 kg Wrestling. Abbas is now only one step away from claiming the gold medal.

Qamar Abbas will face India’s Sushil Kumar in the final that is scheduled to be held tonight.

1:11 pm

Commonwealth Games open today in Glasgow

#GNN - #GLASGOW: The 2014 #Commonwealth #Games in #Glasgow kick off on Wednesday with the much-anticipated opening ceremony at Celtic Park.

Ahead of 11 days of competition in 17 different sporting disciplines, the ceremony in Glasgow will feature an array of Scottish performing talent as well as the parading of the athletes set to take part in the Games.

The host nation's flag will be carried by judo veteran Euan Burton, as confirmed by Team Scotland:

Glasgow plays host to the Commonwealth Games for the first ever time with Edinburgh having brought the event to Scotland on two previous occasions.

For its 20th edition, the Games will be participated in by 4,500 athletes from the 71 participating nations, all of whom will be on display in Wednesday's event at Celtic Park, with each country being introduced by a different citizen of Glasgow.

A reported 40,000 spectators will take their seats at the home of the Scottish Premier League champions as 3,000 volunteer cast members put on a show aimed at celebrating "the commonality and shared qualities of the Commonwealth – the true spirit of unity and diversity,"

A variety of Scottish musical acts and icons will take to the stage to perform at the event, including Rod Stewart, Susan Boyle and Amy McDonald.

Glasgow 2014 head of ceremonies David Zolkwer has promised that the show will reflect the nature of the host city.

The overall aim of the event is, of course, to officially open the Games ahead of the coming days in which athletes will compete in everything form lawn bowls and judo to cycling and athletics.

And indeed, the Queen herself will declare the opening of the Games by reading a message contained in the baton which has been at the centre of the 190,000 kilometre, 288-day relay through each competing nation.

It is sure to be a spectacular show and a fitting opening to the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. After the success of London 2012, there is a positive feeling that the same kind of excitement can be generated for this event.

With some top-quality competitors set to be on show in the coming days, including the likes of Mo Farah and Usain Bolt, there is much to be excited about, and it all gets under way in Glasgow on Wednesday.