Yaroslava Mahuchikh delivered an emotional end to the World Athletics Championships by securing war-afflicted Ukraine’s first gold medal of the event, while Jakob Ingebrigtsen showed huge character to retain his 5,000m title.
An engrossing final night in Budapest also saw Mary Moraa of Kenya end Athing Mu of the US’ run of global titles in the women’s 800m.
Just as Ingebrigtsen showed mettle after the crushing disappointment of being pipped to silver in the 1,500m for the second world championships in a row, so did the Netherlands’ Femke Bol.
Photo: Reuters
Just over a week after she fell with the line and gold beckoning in the mixed 4x400m relay, she produced a jaw-dropping final leg to pass the British and Jamaican runners and secure the title for the Netherlands women’s 4x400m team. In the field events, India’s Neeraj Chopra took men’s javelin honors to add the world crown to his Olympic title.
Mahuchikh cleared a winning height of 2.01m as Australia’s defending champion Eleanor Patterson finished second.
Although it was not the greatest of finals, there was potent symbolism in Mahuchikh taking gold with Russian soldiers still in her country’s territory more than a year and a half after they invaded.
“I [had] to win this gold for my country and all Ukrainian people who are still fighting for peace in Ukraine and for our independence,” Mahuchikh said. “Thanks to them we have this unique possibility to compete at the international arena and to rise our flag.”
In the 5,000m, Ingebrigtsen had to battle hard to get past Spaniard Mohamed Katir, but once he crossed the line he punched the air and put a finger to his temple.
“This title means a lot to me after losing again in the 1,500m,” the Norwegian said. “I haven’t been at my best, but I had the motivation and I had great support.”
“It is a bit bitter sweet this week overall. I am not happy to have been ill, of course, I haven’t experienced that before, but this is a good way to end,” he said.
Katir took his last-gasp defeat well, as he improved on his bronze last year.
“I gave it all today. I gave all that I have, but you know, Jakob is Jakob,” he said.
While Ingebrigtsen’s celebrations were muted, Moraa skipped over the line in pure joy after she ended Olympic champion Mu’s reign in the two-lap event. Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson — second to Moraa in the Commonwealth Games last year — once again had to make do with silver just as she did in the Tokyo Olympics and last year’s world final.
“After bronze last year I wanted to improve and I have,” Moraa said. “Everyone in the final was so fast I knew I would have to have a fast finish. I came from a long way behind but I managed to do it.”
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
RSS