I Dig Sports
by Ian Marshall, Editor
After having accounted for Peru’s Jasmin Colque (11-8, 11-6, 11-6), Maybelline Menendez overcame doubles partner from the previous day, Anie Rubio (11-8, 11-6, 11-6) to secure the title; in the penultimate round Anie Rubio having also halted the progress of Peru. She had beaten Luciana Granados (11-8, 11-4, 12-10).
Gold for Maybelline Menendez; for Juan Gonzalez, with whom she had won the mixed doubles title the previous day, it was under 11 boys’ singles silver. Following success in opposition to Colombia’s Sebastian Bedoya (11-9, 11-8, 12-10), the hopes boys’ singles winner at the start of the week, the young Ecuadorian was beaten by Emanuel Otalvaro, also from Colombia (14-12, 11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 11-4). In the counterpart semi-final, Emanuel Otalvaro had ousted Brazil’s Felipe de Lara (8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6).
The third step of the podium for Brazil, in the under 13 boys’ singles event it was both the second and third steps. Leonardo Ilzuka, after enjoying success against colleague Abimail Menezes (11-7, 11-7, 11-7) was beaten by Venezuela’s Yeifrer Soteldo (11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7). In the penultimate round Yeifrev Soteldo had ended the hopes of Chile’s Mariano Perea (11-7, 11-5, 11-7).
Silver and bronze, in the under 13 girls’ singles event, for Brazil it was gold; the full set was completed. Beatrix Kanashiro beat Ecuador’s Maria Borja to claim the top prize (11-4, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6), having at the semi-final stage overcome Peru’s Valentina Zea (11-9,8-11, 3-11, 11-2, 11-5). In the adjacent half of the draw, Maria Borja had ousted Chile’s Constanza Mesas (12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6).
A busy week concluded in the Andes Mountain Range, a host of promising young players; one wonders who in the next decade will climb the heights, who may ascend to the highest peak?
2019 South American Under 11 and Under 13 Championships: Full Results Book (Sunday 26th May)
A total of 32 China Open tournaments have been staged since 1996, the year in which the ITTF World Tour was inaugurated.
In that period of time, on no less than 29 occasions the men’s singles title has been won by a player from China; furthermore, a total of 28 times, the final has been an all Chinese affair. Some records may show that in 1996 in X’ian, Bulgaria’s Feng Zhe was the runner up beaten by Kong Linghui in the final; the fact he was the silver medallist is correct but at the time he was a member of the Chinese national team.
Moreover, only once has a Chinese player lost in the final to a player from foreign shores, the occasion was in 2006 when Wang Liqin was beaten by Germany’s Timo Boll.
Furthermore, Timo Boll is the only player not from China to have appeared in the men’s singles final on more than one occasion. The one other instance was in 2017 in Chengdu when he was beaten by colleague Dimitrij Ovtcharov in one of the strangest finals he must have ever witnessed. In the deciding seventh game, Timo Boll led 10-6, Dimitrij Ovtcharov threw caution to the wind, shut he eyes and promptly won the next six points (17-15, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 12-10).
Now in 2019 both are on duty. Timo Boll is the no.5 seed and notably partners Patrick Franziska in the doubles, surely a clue to German thinking with doubles being the opening match in the men’s team event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; meanwhile, Dimitrij Ovtcharov is the men’s singles no.12 seed and is Ricardo Walther’s men’s doubles partner.
Both have impressive comparatively recent performances. In February at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux, Dimitrij Ovtcharov beat Timo Boll in the semi-finals, before progressing to secure the title at the final expense of Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, also on duty in Shenzhen. Conversely last October at the Liebherr 2018 Men’s World Cup in Paris, Timo Boll overcame Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the penultimate round, before losing to China’s Fan Zhendong.
Fine performances but neither brought the house down at the recent Liebherr 2019 World Championships. Worthy efforts but we might have expected more; Dimitrij Ovtcharov was beaten in the third round by Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar, one round later when due to face Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin, Timo Boll was forced to withdraw through illness.
Read what you wish but both are vastly experienced, past results count for little, Shenzhen is a new challenge, a new venture. The next match is the most important, both are well aware of that fact.
Heming Hu and Jian Fang Lay book World Cup places
Arresting performances, after accounting for Tahiti’s Ocean Belrose (11-6, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3), Heming Hu overcame colleague Rohan Dhooria (11-6, 6-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8) to seal the title, sinking to his knees in both delight and relief after securing the final point.
In the corresponding semi-final Rohan Dhooria had beaten New Zealand’s Nathan Xu (11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8), the 15 year old eventually finishing in third place; in the bronze medal contest he accounted for Ocean Belrose in six games (11-3, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-2).
Authority imposed, authority was even more commandingly imposed by the yesteryear pen-hold grip style of Jian Fang Lay.
After recording a semi-final win against New Zealand’s Zhou Jiayi (11-3, 11-3, 11-1, 11-8), she overcame compatriot Parleen Kaur (11-6, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5) to secure her passport to Chengdu. Third place finished in the hands of Zhou Jiayi, she beat Chen Zhiying, also from New Zealand (5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4), the latter having lost to Parleen Kaur in the penultimate round (11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7).
Meanwhile, in the contests to decide the Pacific Cup champions, the event for which players from Australia and New Zealand are not eligible, Tahiti struck gold. Ocean Belrose won the men’s singles title beating Vanuatu’s Yoshua Shing (3-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8), in the counterpart women’s singles event Sally Yee overcame sister Grace Rosi Yee (11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9, 15-13) to claim the top prize.
BARRE, Vt. – Derek Griffith grabbed his first victory at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl during Sunday’s PASS North super late model event.
The defending PASS National Champion took the top spot for the first time from early leader Derek Ramstrom on lap 71. However, defending PASS North champion and current point leader D.J. Shaw wasn’t far behind.
Griffith and Shaw then went tooth and nail during the race’s middle stages. Shaw got underneath Griffith to put the bumper in front on lap 88, but Griffith used a lap car as a pick two circuits later to get the lead back.
Following the race’s third caution on lap 111 of the 150-lap event, Shaw used a crossover move to get inside for the lead once again. Griffith pulled a similar move a few laps later and pulled away before surviving a five-lap sprint to the finish after one final yellow.
Shaw and Joey Polewarcyk Jr. went back-and-forth following the final restart for the runner-up spot after Northfield’s Evan Hallstrom shut down during the caution while running third. After Polewarczyk initially grabbed the position, Shaw got back by with two laps to go, leaving Polewarczyk in third.
They were chased to the line by Travis Benjamin, Garrett Hall, Gabe Brown, Nick Sweet, Ben Rowe, Reid Lanpher, and Ramstrom.
The finish:
Derek Griffith, D.J. Shaw, Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Travis Benjamin, Garrett Hall, Gabe Brown, Nick Sweet, Ben Rowe, Reid Lanpher, Derek Ramstrom, Evan Hallstrom, Bobby Therrien.
CONCORD, N.C. – Brad Keselowski kept Roger Penske’s strong Sunday going with another convincing stage victory during the second stage of the 60th annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Keselowski used fresh tires to power from 11th to first on a seven-lap sprint to the stage break, taking the top spot away from Alex Bowman on lap 199 and running out to a four car-length win in the stage.
The 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion has now won both stages so far in Sunday night’s race, leading 73 of the first 200 laps on NASCAR’s longest night.
Bowman, who has finished second in the last three Cup Series races, finished second to Keselowski and hopes to break his bridesmaid curse with a victory at the checkered flag that really counts later on.
“We started off pretty bad tonight; we were way too tight,” Bowman admitted. “Greg and the guys have made some really good adjustments to make it better, though, and we’re closer to where we need to be. Right now, we’re a bit free in and a little tight off, but we’re much better and I think we have a shot.”
Kyle Busch crossed the stripe in third, followed by Chase Elliott and polesitter William Byron, giving Hendrick Motorsports three of the top five positions in the stage.
Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Kyle Larson completed the points-scoring drivers inside the top 10 at the second stage break of the night.
Three cautions, all for tire failures, dotted the second stage. Chris Buescher hit the wall in turn four on lap 127, Denny Hamlin tagged the barrier in turn two at lap 161 and Ryan Preece made contact in turn one with 12 laps to go before the second stage break of the night.
Following the caution flag being displayed, the field was brought down pit road and parked on pit road – just before the start/finish line – on lap 201 for a 30-second moment of remembrance in honor of Memorial Day and the armed service members who have given their lives in service to the United States.
Stage 1 Sidebar: Blown Tire Forces Early Charlotte Exit For Jones
Stage 1 Report: Keselowski Tops Opening Stage Of Coca-Cola 600
SPEED SPORT IndyCar Correspondent Bruce Martin recaps all the action from the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
CONCORD, N.C. – After hitting the wall during the first quarter of Sunday’s 60th annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. rallied back to win the third stage of NASCAR’s longest race.
Truex had a back-and-forth battle with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch just past the midpoint of the 100-lap segment, but took the lead at lap 260 and paced the final 41 laps for his second stage win of the season.
The Mayetta, N.J., veteran and 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion is seeking his second Coca-Cola 600 victory in the last four years.
“It’s kind of amazing, really,” said Truex of his stage win. “I don’t know what this thing looks like, but it was pretty bad after (hitting the wall), so I wasn’t sure what we’d have. I feel like we have a pretty good car now, though, so I guess that’s why you never give up on it. We’ve worked hard, the guys have done a good job and now we’re in position to make something happen.
“We’ll see where this last 100 laps goes, but it’s a special night and hopefully we can get a special win.”
After caution-laden stages to kick off the night, the only yellow flag of stage three waved at lap 251, when Truex tagged Bayley Currey around and sent the No. 52 Chevrolet into the inside wall off turn two.
Truex received no damage, however, and continued on to take the lead shortly thereafter.
Busch finished second at the stage break, 4.239 seconds back, followed by Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Kurt Busch.
Alex Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin completed the points-scoring drivers in the top 10 at the third and final stage break of the night.
Brad Keselowski, who topped the first two stages, found himself mired in traffic after pit stops and ended up a distant 14th with 100 laps still to run.
Stage 1 Sidebar: Blown Tire Forces Early Charlotte Exit For Jones
Stage 1 Report: Keselowski Tops Opening Stage Of Coca-Cola 600
Stage 2 Report: Keselowski Edges Bowman In Second Stage At CMS
INDIANAPOLIS – The winner of the Indianapolis 500 is often the best driver with the strongest car.
On Sunday, Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud had both.
His victory in Sunday’s 103rd Indianapolis 500 completed a month of May sweep at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second-straight year. He joins teammate Will Power as the only drivers to win the IndyCar Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 in the same season.
The victory was the 18th Indianapolis 500 win for Team Penske and his third in the last five years.
Pagenaud led 116 laps – the most of any driver in an Indianapolis 500 since Dario Franchitti led 155 laps in 2010.
However, the Frenchman had another driver that was fighting for the title of best in the field. That was Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport, who turned Sunday’s race into an epic duel to the checkered flag.
Because of that, the 2019 Indianapolis 500 will go down as another great race in a long line of fantastic finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
There were 29 lead changes in the race, an impressive number with the current Dallara chassis, although below the drafting days of the Dallara DW 12 chassis with the rear wheel pods.
Pagenaud pitted on lap 169 with a flawless final stop. Rossi pitted one lap later and was in and out after just nine seconds.
On lap 178, Rossi passed Pagenaud for the lead. Moments later, a huge crash in turn three involving Graham Rahal, Bourdais, Charlie Kimball, Felix Rosenqvist and Zach Veach brought out the red flag for 18 minutes.
During the red flag, Rossi radioed to his crew that he was, “Angrier than any other driver.”
When green flag racing resumed, there were 13 laps left and Rossi was determined to win. The battle between Rossi and Pagenaud was epic.
On lap 187 Rossi was the leader and Pagenaud passed him for the lead on the frontstretch. Rossi returned the favor to regain the lead in turn one on the next lap. One lap later, Pagenaud passed Rossi on the frontstretch.
At that point, Rossi decided to stay as close to Pagenaud’s rear as he could, waiting for the right moment to make what he hoped would be the race-winning pass.
With two laps remaining in the race, Rossi made the pass for the lead in turn one. But he couldn’t build a large enough gap over Pagenaud.
On lap 199, Pagenaud passed Rossi for the win in turn three. Next time by was the white flag and the lap after that, Pagenaud took the checkered flag in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in his career by just .2086 of a second.
“We were able to get him back,” Pagenaud said. “Quite frankly I wasn’t really worried about getting back, I was just worried about the rhythm, when to get him back to finish first. There was a lot of planning, a lot of brake drafting, as well. It was a lot of fun, and obviously my teammates,
“I think about Juan Montoya, I think about Helio Castroneves, I think about Josef and Will (Power), and I think about Gil de Ferran, especially Rick Mears, as well, they’ve been teaching me so well the intricacy of driving on an oval, and I applied it today, and it worked.”
As Pagenaud celebrated the victory to the cheers of the huge crowd, Rossi spoke about his determined battle.
“We had the superior car, we just didn’t have it at the end,” Rossi said. “It’s going to be hard to get over, but it was a great day. Earlier in the race, there were a lot of lapped cars that wouldn’t move over. Fortunately, it didn’t make a difference in the end result.
“Blocking is disrespectful, but we will take care of that another day.”
Pagenaud kept his cool and knew he had better straight-line speed and horsepower when it mattered the most at the end of the race.
“Today was about attacking,” Pagenaud said. “We had our strategy meeting this morning, and we decided we were going to attack, we were going to control the day, and we were going to take our fate in our own hands. Destiny is what we decided to control.
“It was pretty cool. Obviously, everything played for us really well. The stars, like I’ve been saying, have aligned this month, incredibly, but especially today.”
Takuma Sato, the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500 in 2017, was third followed by Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Power.
After a winless and woeful 2018 season, Pagenaud has turned into a fighter this month of May at Indianapolis. It’s like someone flipped the switch and the driver from France is racing like a champion again.
“I think it’s fate, quite frankly,” Pagenaud said. “Obviously in racing you need a little bit of luck on your side. You need everything to go your way. So, it did today. I could do nothing wrong, quite frankly. Sometimes I can’t do anything right.
“That doesn’t mean I lost my talent, that doesn’t mean my team is not doing a good job. It’s just you have to accept that there’s a little bit of mystery out there that you can’t control. All you can do is the best you can and extract the best out of yourself in every situation. “
“The rest, it sorts itself out.”
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies beat the Halifax Mooseheads one last time to win their first Memorial Cup.
Peter Abbandonato scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Rouyn-Noranda beat Halifax 4-2 on Sunday night in the winner-take-all major junior hockey finale.
Felix Bibeau, Joel Teasdale and Vincent Marleau also scored for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Huskies, and Samuel Harvey stopped 23 shots. Samuel Asselin and Raphael Lavoie scored for the Mooseheads.
Rouyn-Noranda beat Halifax in six games in the QMJHL final to win the President's Cup and edged the Mooseheads 4-3 on Wednesday night in the final round-robin game in the four-team tournament.
In the semifinal Friday night, Rouyn-Noranda beat the Ontario Hockey League champion Guelph Storm 6-4.
Kevin Na drew a line in the sand, and ultimately that proved to be the best recipe for success at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Here's how things ended at Colonial, where Na won by four shots for his second win in less than a year:
Leaderboard: Kevin Na (-13), Tony Finau (-9), Andrew Putnam (-8), C.T. Pan (-8), Jonas Blixt (-7)
What it means: Na started the final round with a two-shot lead, and he estimated after the third round that he needed to reach 12 under to put the tournament away. That prediction proved prophetic, as Na walked up the final fairway at 12 under with a victory assured before adding a final birdie putt for a little extra style. It's the third career victory for Na, but his second in less than a year after halting a lengthy victory drought last summer at The Greenbrier.
Round of the day: Na rocketed up the leaderboard with an 8-under 62 in the second round, but it was a clinical dissection of a historic venue Sunday that made the difference. Na made six birdies against two bogeys en route to a 4-under 66, widening his lead with four birdies over his first seven holes to signal to the other contenders that he had no plans to come back to the field.
Best of the rest: Putnam got his first career victory last summer in Reno, and he added another top finish with a closing 66 that gave him the clubhouse lead at one point. Putnam got off to a hot start, playing his first seven holes in 4 under, and added two more birdies coming home to notch his best result since a runner-up at the Sony Open in January.
Biggest disappointment: The putting magic ran out for Jordan Spieth. After riding a historic hot streak on the greens en route to a tie for second through three rounds, Spieth nearly went birdie-free before rolling in a 15-footer on the final green. Spieth shot a 2-over 72 that dropped him into a tie for eighth, eight shots behind Na's winning total, as his search for his first win since the 2017 Open continues.
Shot of the day: The Horrible Horseshoe of Nos. 3-5 has derailed many rounds at Colonial, but Na played it in under par thanks to a 32-foot make on the par-3 fourth. After stuffing a wedge on his second hole, Na made the lengthy putt to reach 2 under on his round and put a little distance between himself and the other players trying to chase him down.
Quote of the day: "When I was standing on the first tee, I looked at that wall and in my head I engraved my name on it." Na, who now joins the wall of champions that sits next to the first tee at Colonial.
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