导出博客文章RIO DE JANEIRO -- Majlinda Kelmendi stood on the podium with a wide smile on her
face.A gold medal hung around her neck, and not just any gold medal -- the first
one ever for Kosovo. Kelmendi went to Rio with Kosovos first Olympic team, and
she knew she had to deliver in the womens 52-kg judo competition to make sure
her nation didnt go home empty-handed.I was really ready for this competition,
Kelmendi said. It was the first time that Kosovo was in the Olympics. I wanted
so badly to win.While so much attention is paid to the top of the medals table
at the Olympics, where the athletic powerhouses like the United States and China
practically need to charter another plane to bring home all the gold, silver and
bronze they accumulate, there is an equally spirited competition at the bottom,
where dozens of smaller countries hold out hopes of just getting their hands on
one.Newspapers back home praised Kelmendis historic achievement Sunday. Hidilyn
Diaz, whose weightlifting silver ended a 20-year medal drought for the
Philippines, received a personal message of congratulations from President
Rodrigo Duterte, who told her she brought honor to the country.They are not
global stars on par with Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt. But to the
success-starved countries they represent, they may be even more important.Coming
into the Rio Games, more than 70 nations with National Olympic Committees had
never won a medal of any kind. Others, like India, very rarely reach the podium.
So they come to these Olympics with very few chances for glory, their collective
focus pinned on one team, or one athlete, to break through.Fiji plays in the
rugby semifinals Thursday in a sport that has returned to the Olympics after a
92-year absence.We need pressure. Island life is a nice, chilled and laid-back
one so if we take things too easy the boys just drop off, said Fiji rugby coach
Ben Ryan, who represents a country that has never won a medal of any color. We
are embracing that pressure at the moment. The more the better. This is the
strongest 12 Ive ever had. There are absolutely no excuses not to perform.India
has won just two medals since 1964, including one for mens field hockey in
Moscow in 1980. This years team is looking to restore the countrys standing as
one of the worlds elite.Thats my life. Its a dream, captain Sreejesh Parattu
said. If you look at the Indian history, it is a very prestigious thing for our
country.And when they finally do make it happen, the emotions can be
overwhelming. Diaz openly wept after winning the silver medal in the 58kg class
of weightlifting. It was the countrys first medal in any sport since the Atlanta
Games in 1996 and helped her overcome failures in Beijing and London.I have
tried so hard. I have stumbled many times, Diaz said. I wanted to quit, but now
all of my sacrifices have paid off.The Associated Press issued predictions prior
to the beginning of the games for the medal winners in each competition. The
Philippines didnt have an athlete listed, but Diaz came through. In return,
shell receive nearly $53,000, per a law enacted in 2001 that rewards successful
Olympians.Others predicted to medal win from nations that rarely reach the
podium include Ghirmay Ghebreslassie from Eritrea in the mens marathon and
Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi in the womens 800 meters. Both nations have just
one medal in their histories.Thats the feeling so many others are chasing. They
dont have vast financial resources to help pave their ways to gold. They also
dont have dozens of other teammates with prime chances for the podium to reduce
the pressure.Its all on them to deliver.For me the Olympic Games is all about
winning, nothing else, said India mens field hockey coach Roelant Wouter
Oltmans. Many years ago someone else said something different, its about
participation. But nowadays in the modern Olympic Games its all about winning
and thats also why I went to India and accepted the challenge when they offered
me to see if there is any possibility to come close to the history of Indian
hockey.
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. "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2
victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home.
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Jordan 3 Retro .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while
freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition.The
race for the Premier League title is approaching what looks set to be a dramatic
conclusion, and weve got all the twists and turns covered over the next week.
Tottenham cut the gap to leaders Leicester to five points with victory over
Stoke on Monday Night Football - but a host of other crunch encounters will take
place in front of the Sky Sports cameras this week.From the title chase to the
race to fourth and the bid to beat the drop, heres what could happen across a
further seven live games... Newcastle v Man City - Tuesday, 7.45pm, Sky Sports
1 HD Rafa Benitez secured his first win as Newcastle manager against Swansea A
game with repercussions at each end of the table, both teams will be looking to
follow up impressive 3-0 victories when they meet at St James Park.Rafa Benitezs
first win was crucial to Newcastles survival bid, and they could jump out of the
relegation zone with another on Tuesday night. A 1-0 victory would put them on
31 points and -25 goal difference, level with Norwich, but Newcastle would have
36 goals scored versus 35 for Norwich.City will be keen to consolidate their
top-four position, and a victory would give them a seven-point cushion over Man
Utd, who play Crystal Palace on Wednesday.Liverpool v Everton - Wednesday, 8pm,
Sky Sports 1 HD Liverpool and Everton go head-to-head in the Merseyside derby on
Wednesday Crucial cup fixtures for both teams means this Merseyside derby may
not have important consequences as far as the league is concerned.But a win for
Roberto Martinezs side could do plenty to alleviate the pressure on his
shoulders, with three points potentially taking Everton back into the top
half.Arsenal v West Brom - Thursday, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1 HD Arsenal were held
to a draw against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Dropped points against West Ham
and Crystal Palace has all but ended Arsenals title challenge, and they will be
looking back nervously to Man Utd in fifth.If United beat Palace on Wednesday,
Arsenal will be just one point clear at kick-off at the Emirates in the final
match of our seven games in six days.Man City v Stoke - Saturday, 12.45pm, Sky
Sports 1 HD Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-0 and are looking to finish in the
top four Saturdays early game offers Manuel Pellegrinis team another chance to
put pressure on Tottenham, and a third win in a week could put them into second
place.ddddddddddddWith games to come against Southampton, Arsenal and Swansea, a
strong end to the season for City will clinch a Champions League spot ahead of
Pep Guardiolas arrival.Sunderland v Arsenal - Super Sunday, 2.05pm, Sky Sports 1
HD Sunderland could escape the relegation zone over the next week Arsenal face a
quick turnaround from Thursdays match against West Brom, as theyre live on Sky
Sports again three days later.Sunderland will be scrapping, but with Man Utd in
FA Cup semi-final action, Arsenal will get the chance to establish breathing
space in the race for Champions League qualification.Regardless of Newcastles
result against City, Sunderland know a win at home to Arsenal will take them out
of the relegation zone with four games to play.Leicester v Swansea - Super
Sunday, 4.15pm, Sky Sports 1 HD Leicester are in action again on Super Sunday
Leicester, who will be without Jamie Vardy after his red card against West Ham,
will be five points ahead of Tottenham at kick-off.Victory over Swansea will put
them onto 76 points, piling the pressure on Spurs again ahead of their second
Monday Night Football match in as many weeks.Tottenham v West Brom - Monday
Night Football, 8pm, Sky Sports 1 HD Tottenham are on Monday Night Football
again, this time against West Brom Tottenham return to White Hart Lane, and
depending on results, may have the opportunity to close to within two points of
Leicester with three games to go.Its all set up for a dramatic finish, and you
can see it live on Sky Sports. Also See: Merse predicts seven in six WATCH:
Seven in six Race for the top four Live on Sky
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