Games briefs
Folau signals end
Gold, silver, bronze or empty handed — this will be star New Zealand goal shooter Maria Folau’s last Commonwealth Games. The 31-yearold netballer says after four Commonwealth Games, her body has had enough. “There is definitely no coming back to this,” Folau said yesterday. “To be honest, I also don’t know if this is my last international tournament. I still feel great and I am enjoying my netball with these girls — but another four-year cycle, I am no chance.”
Athlete has malaria
A Commonwealth Games athlete has been hospitalised after contracting malaria before the event in the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) confirmed a 23-year-old athlete was admitted to Gold Coast University Hospital yesterday, suffering from the tropical disease. “The patient received immediate treatment for malaria on arrival at GCUH,” games organisers said in a statement to the Gold Coast Bulletin. “The patient remains admitted to GCUH in a serious condition and continues to be closely monitored.” Because of patient confidentiality, the athlete’s nationality was not disclosed.
Second gold for India
Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham has won India’s second gold medal, finishing first in the women’s 53kg weightlifting final. Khumukcham, who won gold in the 48-kilogram class at Glasgow in 2014, had a total of 192 kilograms (84 snatch/108 clean and jerk). The silver went to Loa Dika Toua of Papua New Guinea (182) and Rachel LeblancBazinet of Canada took the bronze (181).
Beach boys get win
Competition in beach volleyball, making its debut at the Commonwealth Games, began with New Zealand brothers Ben and Sam O’Dea beating Dimitris Apostolou and Georgios Chrysostomou of Cyprus. The Australian women’s team, goldmedal favourites Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar, beat Mariota Angelopoulou and Manolina Konstantinou of Cyprus 21-14, 21-9. Beach volleyball was one of the most popular sports at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and that enthusiasm has continued at the Commonwealth Games 18 years later, with the stadium sold out for all its games through to the finals on April 12.
Mauritius chief charged
The former chef de mission of the Mauritius Commonwealth Games team has been charged with sexually assaulting an athlete. Queensland state police confirmed Kaysee Teeroovengadum had been charged with one count of sexual assault following a complaint from a 26-yearold woman in the athletes village last week. The 52-year-old Teeroovengadum will face the Southport Magistrates Court on April
17. A spokesman for Mauritius Sports Minister Stephan Toussaint earlier confirmed Teeroovengadum had stepped down from his role and left the village.
Court appearance awaits
A Canadian weightlifter at the Games is facing court when he returns from Australia. Boady Santavy, 20, has been charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident, which has left a man seriously injured in Ontario.
Tall Blacks dominant
The Tall Blacks have started in dominant fashion at the Commonwealth Games, thrashing Nigeria 110-65 in their opener.