‘MIRACLE IN GLASGOW’: Japan was euphoric yesterday after their Blue Samurai scored a stunning 1-0 victory over champions Spain in one of the greatest upsets in Olympic football history. Newspapers hailed the win as the “Miracle in Glasgow”, reviving memories of their famous “Miracle in Miami” victory over Brazil at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The Sports Nippon said: “In a shock to the mother nation and to the world, the ‘Miracle in Glasgow’ happened in the opening match of the Olympics.”
CHECKS ON PANTS: A top official has said lawyers worried about ambush marketing undermining Olympic sponsors will not instigate checks on players’ underwear prior to games. Denis Oswald, a senior member of the IOC, said examining pants and vests for illicit logos would be impractical. But he warned that players would face fines from sporting authorities if they lifted shirts or dropped shorts to reveal unauthorised advertisements. In June, Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner was fined £80,000 by UEFA after exposing underpants bearing the name of bookmaker Paddy Power during the European Championships.
CYCLING: Bradley Wiggins said he is still coming to terms with the reaction to his historic Tour de France victory after receiving applause from Queen Elizabeth II as well as a number of celebrities. Having spent nearly a week soaking up applause for his feat, he is glad he can focus on the Olympics. “With the focus of the Olympics, it’s been a good excuse to get back down to what you do best,” Wiggins said. “I never realised or imagined it would be this big, coming back from the Tour.”
SWIMMING: Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe says fellow Australian James “Missile” Magnussen is the best swimmer to emerge on the international scene in a decade. Thorpe, who failed in his comeback bid to make the London Games, said he was confident Magnussen could smash Cesar Cielo’s 46.91-second 100m freestyle world record as early as the semi-finals. “For me, watching him, I see a new era of sprinting,” Thorpe said. “He’s the most impressive swimmer I’ve seen, probably over the past decade, that’s new to the sport. He’s exciting to watch.”
POOR QUALITY APPAREL: Indian medal hopefuls at the London Olympics are upset with their “poor quality” kit and uniforms. “To be honest, this is the worst kit I have seen,” Indian boxer Jai Bhagwan, who is to compete in the men’s lightweight (60-kg) category, was quoted as saying. “It’s of poor quality, lacks durability and some of it does not even fit right. Reports also said that Indian hockey ace Sandeep Singh had been spotted playing in ill-fitting shorts which were “bursting at the seams”. Singh later trained in an old pair of torn shorts “as a mark of protest”. The kits were supplied by a local firm Dida.
JUDO HIJAB COMPLAINT: Saudi Arabia have complained to the IOC after judo fighter Wojdan Shaherkani was banned from wearing the hijab head scarf during competition. The 18-year-old heavyweight, a member of a two-woman team who are the first female competitors sent from the conservative kingdom to an Olympics, was ordered by the International Judo Federation to fight with her head uncovered. But the Saudis have lodged a complaint over the ban. “At the moment we are discussing ways to find a solution for her to compete,” an IOC spokesman said.