https://stionicgeodist.com/itcjczROp2HgIzm/101939

US

US beats France for Olympic basketball gold

by


PARIS:

There was no “Miracle on the Seine” at the Paris Olympics on Saturday as the United States men’s basketball team did as expected by grinding out a 98-87 win over France to claim a fifth consecutive gold medal.

With the French sporting spotlight locked on the Bercy Arena, the American showmen crushed Gallic hearts led by Stephen Curry and a fired up LeBron James, the “King” wearing shiny golden sneakers to mark the occasion.

“I’m just living in the moment,” said 39-year-old James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. “I’m super humbled that I can still play this game.

“Play it at a high level.

“Play with 11 other great players with a great coaching staff and then and go out and do it for our country.

“It was a great moment.”

The result was the same as three years ago in the Tokyo Olympic gold medal game but for the French this loss cut a little deeper coming on home hardwood in front of a captivated nation.

“It’s their incredible talent that ended up marking the difference,” said France coach Vincent Collet. “It’s a final against the Americans, in Paris, you can say it as much as you want, each player has his emotions, we tried to use them but it wasn’t possible here.”

France will get another shot at hoops glory on Sunday but the women’s team will be even bigger underdogs against the mighty Americans who have not lost in the Olympics since 1992 and are chasing an eighth straight gold.

Just downstream from Notre Dame cathedral on the banks of the Seine the French faithful, including President Emmanuel Macron, gathered at the Bercy like pilgrims to Lourdes believing anything is possible and so it seemed until the final moments of an enthralling final.

As you would expect from a gold medal game there was jaw-dropping skill, raw emotion, tension and a touch of nastiness to provide spice.

James got the show started with a thundering dunk to kick-start a fast-paced affair that the Americans controlled behind a workmanlike effort building a 14-point third-quarter lead.

But the US. would need nearly all of that advantage as Les Bleus, turbo-charged by a rafter-rattling home crowd, clawed their way back chopping the deficit to 82-79 with three minutes to play.

Then with the crowd on their feet and France poised to do the unthinkable, Curry – as he did in a nail-biting semi-final win over Serbia – came to the rescue for the US

With the Dream Team teetering, the US captain drained three long-range three-pointers in the final two minutes to ease the pressure.

Curry would finish with 24 points, including eight three-pointers, while a defiant, scowling James had 14 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.

While the Americans celebrated, there were tears from a shattered French team that Victor Wembanyama said was ready to leave blood on court in their quest for gold.

Wembanyama, the first French player taken number one overall in the NBA draft, covered his face and wept before searching out his mother, who comforted her 7-foot, 3-inch (2.22 metres) son.

The 20-year-old power forward finished with a game high 26- points playing with flair and passion that marked him out as a future leader of the French squad.

“I’m proud having done what we’ve done here in France, in front of our fans,” said Wembanyama. “I’m going to let it all soak in and realize what’s going on.

“I always try to help my team whenever it’s needed. I’m ready to make any sacrifice.

“I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years.”

Source link

2 Indian-American Lawmakers Urge US To Help End “Coordinated Attacks” On Hindus In Bangladesh

by

2 Indian-American Lawmakers Urge US To Help End 'Coordinated Attacks' On Hindus In Bangladesh

Mr Thanedar underlined that Muhammad Yunus has called for an end to the violence.

Washington:

Two prominent Indian-American lawmakers have sought the US’ direct intervention to stop the “coordinated attacks” against minority Hindus in Bangladesh, underlining that instability in the region, “fuelled by religious intolerance and violence”, is not in the interest of America or its allies.

Members of minority communities in Bangladesh faced at least 205 incidents of attacks in 52 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, according to two Hindu organisations — Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad — in the violence-hit nation.

Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have been trying to flee to neighbouring India to escape the violence.

In a letter dated August 9 to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Congressman Shri Thanedar said he is not alone in his stance against the atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh. Many in the international community, including some from his own district, have condemned the violent actions being committed against minority groups in Bangladesh.

“With Muhammad Yunus stepping up as the interim Prime Minister for Bangladesh, the United States has an obligation to assist this new government, to ensure that violence and civil unrest comes to an end. I urge the Biden administration to grant persecuted Bangladesh Hindus and other religious minorities temporary protected status as refugees,” the Congressman from Michigan wrote to Blinken.

Mr Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel laureate, was sworn in on Thursday as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh.

A number of Hindu temples, households and businesses were vandalised, women assaulted and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League party headed by Hasina were killed in the violence in Bangladesh after she fled the country, according to community leaders in Dhaka.

Mr Thanedar urged Mr Blinken to work closely with Yunus and his government to bring “an end to the coordinated attacks against the Bangladesh Hindus”.

He underlined that Mr Yunus has called for an end to the violence and welcomed his willingness to rebuild the country.

“This is a critical time for Bangladesh, and we must do everything we can to support them in their efforts to bring an end to the violent actions and rhetoric being targeted towards Hindus in the country,” said the Indian-American lawmaker.

In a letter dated August 8 to Mr Blinken, a copy of which was released to the press on Friday, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said credible eyewitness reports of the anti-Hindu attacks in various media reports demonstrate the scale of the attacks.

“I am writing to you regarding the fluid situation in Bangladesh and the rise of coordinated anti-Hindu violence in the wake of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. Now that Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as Chief Adviser for the interim government, it is of utmost urgency that the United States engage with his government for both bringing the violence to an end and the perpetrators to justice,” Mr Krishnamoorthi wrote.

“Sadly, this is not the first time that anti-government protests in Bangladesh have metastasised into anti-Hindu violence. The anti-Hindu riots in October 2021 left nine people dead amidst the destruction of hundreds of homes, businesses and temples…In 2017, more than 107 Hindus were killed and 37 ‘disappeared’…following the International Crimes Tribunal conviction of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Sayeedi for war crimes,” he said.

Mr Krishnamoorthi underlined that instability in the region, “fuelled by religious intolerance and violence, is clearly not in the interest of the United States or our allies”.

He urged Mr Blinken to engage “directly” with the interim government and exert US influence to help his administration end the violence and “bring those responsible to justice”.

Mr Thanedar in his letter noted that political violence in Bangladesh is not a new phenomenon and that the country has experienced many coups and leadership changes since its inception in 1971.

Targeting of its Hindu population is also not new. Hindus only make up eight per cent of Bangladesh’s population, exposing this minority to risk of discrimination and violence, the Congressman said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Source link

American Jordan Chiles loses Olympic bronze after CAS ruling

by

Listen to article


PARIS:

American gymnast Jordan Chiles is set to lose her bronze medal in the women’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise competition after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of an appeal by Romania’s Ana Barbosu, who will move up to third place, it said on Saturday.

Barbosu and her team had appealed to CAS that an inquiry filed over the results in that event was done so past the one-minute deadline and that Chiles should not be awarded the score of 13.766 that lifted her to third place behind winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil and silver medallist Simone Biles of the United States.

Chiles had initially been awarded a score of 13.666, while Barbosu scored 13.700.

“The inquiry submitted on behalf of Ms Jordan Chiles in the final of the women’s floor exercise was raised after the conclusion of the one-minute deadline,” CAS said.

“The initial score of 13.666 given to Ms Jordan Chiles in the final of the women’s floor exercise shall be reinstated.”

CAS also ordered the international gymnastics federation FIG to determine the ranking of the final and “assign the medal(s) in accordance with the above decision.”

The decision does not affect either Andrade or Biles, who scored 14.166 and 14.133 respectively.

In a joint statement, US Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said they were devastated by the decision.

“The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring,” they said.

It also said Chiles had received online abuse during her appeal and condemned those who engaged in it.

“Throughout the appeal process, Jordan has been subject to consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks on social media. No athlete should be subject to such treatment.”

“We condemn the attacks and those who engage, support or instigate them. We commend Jordan for conducting herself with integrity both on and off the competition floor, and we continue to stand by and support her.”

Source link

US women secure football gold with victory over Brazil at Paris Olympics

by

Listen to article


PARIS:

The United States claimed a record-extending fifth Olympic gold medal in women’s soccer after Mallory Swanson earned them a 1-0 win over Brazil in the final at Parc des Princes on Saturday.

Following a goalless first half, Swanson broke the deadlock 12 minutes after the break to earn the US their first Olympic title since London 2012 after a perfect run in the tournament.

US coach Emma Hayes enjoyed almost instant success as she secured the title only two months after taking the job.

“I’m very emotional, it’s a dream of mine to be in this position,” a tearful Hayes told Eurosport. “I have to thank my dad for pushing me to this point, to be able to come and coach an incredible group of players that have received me so well.

“(They have) taken on everything I asked, they are tremendous people, players and role models. I love them.”

Brazil were dangerous in the opening stages and came close to scoring when Gabi Portilho drew a great save from Alyssa Naeher shortly before halftime. Naeher did well again in injury time to claw away Adriana’s header from point-blank range.

Brazil great Marta returned after a two-match ban handed down for a red card, coming on as a substitute after the hour mark, but did not have much impact as Brazil were beaten by the Americans in an Olympic final for the third time.

Germany beat Spain 1-0 to win the bronze medal on Friday.

Swanson, making her 100th international appearance, found the net with a low finish after a solo run and a great pass from Korbin Albert to cut through the Brazilian backline.

It was her fourth goal of the tournament.

Brazil could not capitalise on the three big chances they created to send the match to extra time, but received a huge ovation from their fans after the final whistle.

It was an intense and evenly fought duel cheered by a huge crowd at Paris St Germain’s stadium, with the likes of American former Ballon d’Or winner Megan Rapinoe, ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Tom Cruise also in attendance.

“The crowd was tremendous, Brazil was tremendous, I’m speechless,” former Chelsea manager Hayes added.

Source link