Japan’s Oly swim hope Ikee detected with leukaemia
TOKYO: Japanese star swimmer Rikako Ikee, who won six titles at last year’s Asian Games and was considered a strong medal contender for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, said on Tuesday she had been diagnosed with leukaemia.
The 18-year-old was named Japanese Swimmer of the Year last month after her recordbreaking exploits in the Jakarta pool. “I was feeling ill and urgently came home from Australia, underwent testing and the diagnosis was leukaemia,” Ikee wrote on Twitter.
“I can’t believe it, it’s a confusing situation. But with treatment this is a disease that can be cured,” she added.
The diagnosis will deprive the world junior 50 metres freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly champion of the chance to race at the senior world championships in Gwangju, South Korea later this year. Ikee, who swam the fastest time in the world in the 100m butterfly and second fastest in the 50m butterfly last year, said she would miss Japan’s swimming trials to focus on treatment.
“I am going to take some time off and focus on treatment and as soon as possible I want to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee,” she added. Ikee’s coach Jiro Miki held out hope she could compete in Tokyo, saying the “possibility was not zero”, Kyodo News Agency reported.
“I’m told we wouldn’t have been able to discover the disease in ordinary circumstances,” Kyodo quoted Japan Swimming Federation Vice Chairman Koji Ueno as saying at a news conference. “We were able to find her irregularities because she was swimming. In that sense, we were able to find the disease early.”
Only North Korean shooter So Gin Man, who won seven golds and a silver at New Delhi in 1982, has won more titles at one Asian Games than Ikee.
LEE DELAYS CANCER COMEBACK TILL APRIL
KUALA LUMPUR : Badminton great Lee Chong Wei aims to make his comeback in April at the Malaysia Open after a cancer battle, a month later than he originally hoped, an official confirmed on Tuesday.
The three-time Olympic silver medallist and former world number has been on the sidelines since July last year when he was diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer. The Malaysian star underwent a gruelling pro- gramme of specialist treatment in Taiwan but pledged not to retire and resumed training last month.
The 36-year-old had previously said he wanted to make a return to competitive play at the All England Open in March.
But on Monday Lee told local media he was targeting a return to action on home soil at the Malaysia Open, which he has won 12 times, from April 2 to 7.
“I have got another appointment with my doctor in Taiwan next month. Once I get the green light from him, then I will make a full comeback, hopefully at the Malaysia Open,” he told the New Straits Times newspaper.
WESTBROOK SETS NEW NBA RECORD
NEW YORK: Paul George had a 47-point triple-double, and Russell Westbrook set an NBA record for consecutive triple-doubles as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 120-111 on Monday night.
George’s 3-pointer with 3:52 to play came on the 10th assist by Westbrook, who clinched his 10th consecutive triple-double. Westbrook finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Wilt Chamberlain had nine consecutive triple-doubles in 1968.
Westbrook termed breaking the record “an unbelievable moment.” “Each moment for me is a blessing. Each time I walk in this locker room and see my name up there is a blessing,” he told reporters after the match.
HYDERABAD RALLY TO BEAT U-MUMBA IN PVL
KOCHI : Black Hawks Hyderabad scripted a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over U Mumba Volley in a Pro Volleyball League (PVL) match here on Tuesday.
The Hyderabad oufit beat U Mumba 13-15, 15-11, 7-15, 15-14 15-11 to keep their play-off chances alive. Rohit Kumar led the scoring for Hyderabad with 10 points (six spikes, four blocks) whereas Pankaj Sharma scored 15 points (14 spikes and one block) for U Mumba.