■EQUESTRIAN
Germany in pole position
Germany moved into pole position in the team event, getting set to establish dominance of the sport and the equestrian events. The Germans are already riding high with two gold medals, in the team and individual eventing, and the country’s great dressage rivalry with the Netherlands is the pivot of the competition. Heike Kemmer, riding Bonaparte, scored 72.250 percent in the Grand Prix, the first of two components of the dressage competition. The big surprise of the first session, however, was Britain’s second place, earned by Emma Hindle who rode Lancet to a score of 71.125 percent.
■JUDO
Naidan wins Mongolia gold
Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia won his nation’s first ever gold medal, defeating Askhat Zhitkeyev of Kazakhstan in the men’s 100kg class. Naidan, who upset Athens Olympic champion Keiji Suzuki of Japan in his opening bout, scored a waza ari with just under two minutes remaining, then added on two yuko to seal the victory. Movlud Miraliyev of Azerbaijan took bronze by scoring a waza ari over Poland’s Przemyslaw Matyjaszek. The second bronze went to Henk Grol of the Netherlands, who defeated Georgia’s Levan Zhorzholiani. In the women’s 78kg division China’s Yang Xiuli flipped her first four opponents then won in an overtime decision over Cuba’s Yalennis Castillo to take the gold medal, her country’s second in judo.
■HANDBALL
Germany bounce back
Germany’s handballers bounced back from a humiliating defeat by Iceland, gaining confidence by beating Egypt 25-23 in a preliminary match yesterday despite the absence of injured top player Pascal Hens. Iceland lost 21-22 to South Korea later yesterday after missing several chances for a goal and losing their focus during the game. In other games, Poland won 28-25 against Brazil, who were overwhelmed by the taller, stronger Poles. Spain smothered hosts China 36-22.
■FENCING
Ukraine stun the hosts
Olga Kharlan scored nine of the bout’s last 13 points, leading the Ukrainian women’s sabre team to a shock Olympic gold medal, 45-44 over China. Ukraine trailed 40-36 when Kharlan entered the strip for the final round against China’s Tan Xue. The first team to 45 points wins and after Kharlan rallied to a 44-all tie, everything was riding on the final point. After both fencers attacked, the official checked video replay, but awarded neither athlete a point. Kharlan then scored the winning touch to complete a remarkable comeback.
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