News

 Ring exploits

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

British boxer Tony Jeffries said he would immortalize his exploits in poetry after clinching an Olympic light heavyweight bronze. Jeffries, who runs a burger van in his native Sunderland, is known for his poetry and said he would "definitely" write an ode to his Olympics experience. He said he had been writing poems since he arrived in Beijing but mostly for his girlfriend. "I've been doing a few poems," he said. "I've jotted a few poems down they were a bit soppy. They're for my girlfriend."

 Extra sparkle

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

Spain's synchronized swimmers have been banned from wearing a swimsuit with embedded waterproof lights which they had hoped would give an extra sparkle to their routine. "It got very sophisticated because obviously the battery doesn't last long and then we had to look at circuits and interrupters, so we have been working on it around two months with a crack team," swimmer Andrea Fuentes said. "It looks a bit like Christmas lights," added the Spaniard. Swimming's world governing body, which sets swimsuit rules for a sport where sequins are almost obligatory, said the lights were an accessory but Fuentes still hoped they might back down. "This is a very conservative sport ... their excuse that is you cannot have accessories on your swimsuit, but they are sewn in. If you use those standards, sequins are a type of accessory."

 Do paddlers need a makeover?

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

Table tennis is desperate to attract more viewers and some in the sport believe a simple enough solution exists: get the women to wear skirts and shirts with "curves."

 Americans leave it late to deny Brazil

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

Defending champion United States produced an extra-time winner to claim the Olympic gold after a 1-0 win over Brazil in the women's tournament yesterday.

 Li Ning rates gymnasts as China's best

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

"Prince of Gymnasts" Li Ning gave the ultimate compliment to China's current crop of competitors, saying the men's gymnastics team was even better than his own.

 Nightmare evening for US

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

Jamaica made a clean sweep of Olympic sprint golds yesterday with victory in the women's 200 meters humbling the United States, the traditional track and field superpower.

 Greats in awe of Bolt

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

Australian cricketing great Steve Waugh had trouble finding enough superlatives to describe Usain Bolt's sprinting feats.

 China beach duos snare silver, bronze in the rain

Ma Yue | 2008-8-22

Chinese beach volleyball pairs picked up silver and bronze medals yesterday to join the list of first-time successes for China in Olympic events.

 Hot Chen rallies on last dive

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

Chen Ruolin rallied on her last dive to earn four 10s, winning the gold medal in women's 10-meter platform yesterday and making China 7-for-7 with one event remaining at the Beijing Olympics.

 Leukemia fails to halt ace Dutchman

(Agencies) | 2008-8-22

Dutch swimmer Maarten van der Weijden skirted just inside the final red buoy to grab gold in the men's 10-kilometer open water race yesterday, completing a comeback after recovering from leukemia.