Scotland skip Jackson 'excited' at Olympic prospects
Scotland skip Sophie Jackson believes her rink can be "excited" about their Winter Olympic prospects despite being knocked out in the play-off round at the World Women's Curling Championship in South Korea.Sophie Jackson's rink, ranked 19th in the world, had beaten Rachel Homan's Canadians in their opening round-robin game before the world number ones gained revenge on their way to retaining their title by beating Switzerland in Sunday's final.Finishing sixth in the round robin was enough to ensure that a Great Britain rink will be represented at next year's Olympics in Milan-Cortina and Jackson is hoping her team have done enough to be selected to defend the title."Looking at where we are now compared to where we were this time last year is so encouraging and just shows us where we can be in another year's time," Jackson said."We are all excited by the prospect of where we can get to."Scotland second Sophie Sinclair was included in the LGT World Women's Championship All Star team, picked annually on the basis of the player in each position who has the best playing statistics over 12 round-robin matches."Every single one of the team had multiple stellar performances this week and it's fantastic to have Sophie sitting at the top of the stats for seconds," Jackson said."I'm super proud of the whole team for how we approached this week and the quality performances that we were able to put together."Sinclair was quick to share the credit with Jackson, who has skipped the team while playing lead stones, third Jen Dodds and Rebecca Morrison, who plays last stones."It's a huge achievement because, as a team, we have worked so hard on the placement of the second stones and how we have improved our tactical game, so it has just been so nice to see those shots coming off," Sinclair said."It's been a really good week and we're now looking forward to working hard next year. It shows what potential we have as a team, which is super exciting."Homan went on to gain revenge for Canada's round-robin defeat by beating South Korea in the semi-final before securing her fourth world gold with a 7-3 victory over Switzerland.Canada had been the only side to defeat Silvana Tirinzoni's rink as the Swiss topped the round-robin, but the second seeds were unable to turn the tables and secure their skip a fifth world title despite leading 3-2 after six ends.Meanwhile, Rui Wang's China beat Eunji Gim's hosts 9-4 to take bronze.
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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
New £34m Man City hothead Rayan Cherki riled Man Utd fans with crude gesture and demanded to be sent back to youth team
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RAYAN CHERKI has never been afraid of giving two fingers – and sometimes even more – to his haters on and off the pitch. Manchester City's new £34m midfielder is a maverick with a history of making headlines with his football and his attitude. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Manchester City-bound Rayan Cherki is used to making headlines Credit: AFP On the surface, City's deal to sign the Lyon talent looks like a coup for one of the brightest young sparks in European football. But Pep Guardiola will be faced with the challenge of moulding Cherki's attitude as well as his game, with the Frenchman's reputation preceding him. Back in April, having scored in extra-time to give Lyon a second leg aggregate lead against Manchester United in the Europa League quarter finals, the Old Trafford fans gave the young Frenchman a right earful. The 21-year-old responded first by shaking his fist and then by grabbing his crotch with the wry smile of someone who embraces being the pantomime villain – no matter how crude. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL COULD DO WIRTZ Grealish lined up as Wirtz replacement and accepts Man City career is over It's that bold confidence that is one of Cherki's biggest strengths, making him ready to take the Premier League by storm, but others have suggested it is a weakness of the rising star. It's the first time Cherki has been involved in controversy either. 6 Cherki grabbed his crotch after scoring against Manchester United in the Europa League this season PAST ISSUES The Lyon academy graduate caused a stir when he demanded he was sent back to the youth team to protest being benched for a first team fixture. His strop, which even left his father questioning his behaviour, was another example of behaviour that has left managers questioning his mindset in the past. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Lyon bosses of old have repeatedly voiced concern over Cherki's attitude. Rudi Garcia, who was the first Lyon manager to give Cherki a shot in the first-team, previously warned: "We all tell him that he'll have the career he deserves, provided that he keeps working. Arsenal legend Thierry Henry's wild dancing after guiding France to Olympics 2024 final "The danger is making him believe he is already one of the world's best players." Peter Bosz didn't hold back in his assessment of Cherki when he was playing him less than most fans would have liked after replacing Garcia. He said: "I choose my players to win. If I think I can win with Rayan, he'll play. It not, it will be someone else". While Fabio Grosso, Lyon boss in 2023, bluntly called out Cherki during his time in France. He slammed: "He's not an exceptional player. He has enormous technical talent but needs to work on the rest." Cherki has always been highly rated in his home country of France, and he finally announced himself on the National team scene with a stunning debut volley during France's 5-4 Nations League semi-final loss to Spain last week. 6 Cherki scored a stunning volley on his senior France debut last week Credit: AFP A LONG-STANDING REPUTATION At club level, his talent has always been known. Described as one of Lyon's most talented ever academy products, at the age of 16 years and 102 days he made his senior debut in the Champions League in November 2019. Two months later, he scored two and assisted two in a 4-3 Coupe de France win over Nantes. Not even Kylian Mbappe had announced himself so emphatically, and Cherki did so while still a schoolboy. Such inexperience but also such flare, individuality and showmanship. He had outgrown the youth system, playing with the U17s aged 14, and described it as being 'too easy' for him. Lyon's former academy director Jean-Francois Vulliez said: 'Every day, every training session, he would be dribbling past opponents and wanting to score. It was just in his DNA. 'We still do not know if his best foot is his right or left. At seven, eight, nine, it was the same. He could always play with both.' Physically, he was ready for the biggest of stages, but psychologically, he was not, struggling mentally to comprehend the spotlight he was now constantly in. His mentality was questioned, as was his physique, with cruel trolls mocking his stockier build, likened to a young, raw Wayne Rooney. As a result, his form became patchy. Vulliez added: 'Everything happened so fast and at the age of 16 he did not know what professional football was. He was a kid. 'There were a lot of people who were trying to smash him, but the fans did not understand when he lost the ball many times during games. 'He was always respectful but he could be emotional. 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Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘We wanted to do it' – Usain Bolt names world record holder among three stars he was gutted not to race against
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The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
‘We wanted to do it' – Usain Bolt names world record holder among three stars he was gutted not to race against
USAIN BOLT has revealed the three stars he would have loved to have raced against - including a world record holder. Bolt, 38, opened up about the athletes that he regrets not facing up against, having retired from the track in 2017. 5 5 There's few sprinters that could come close to Bolt in his prime, with the Jamaican winning an astonishing eight Olympic gold medals over the years. Bolt still holds the world record for the 100m sprint, set at 9.58 seconds in 2009, but would have loved to push himself further against other greats from the past and present. Speaking to Colin Jackson on the PUMA Go Wild Podcast, Bolt listed legends Don Quarrie and Michael Johnson alongside current world record holder Wayde van Niekerk as his dream race opponents. He said: "It would definitely be Michael Johnson, and Don Quarrie. "And I'm very sad that I didn't get to compete against van Niekerk, we wanted to do a 200m and I was not fit enough. "That's one thing, I was like, 'You know what? I wish I was fit enough to compete against him.' "He's the world record holder and I was like, 'You know what? To run a 200m with him, who would be the best?' "It would have been great to compete with him." 5 Van Niekerk, 32, currently holds the world record for the 400m sprint after winning gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics at 43.03 seconds. While he is also the first sprinter in the history of track and field to record a sub 10-second 100m, a sub 20-second 200m and a sub-44 second 400m. 'I'm ready, let's go' - Usain Bolt teases sensational comeback to race THREE big-name rivals.. but Justin Gatlin snubbed Van Niekerk isn't the only current sprinter that Bolt has suggested he would like to race against either. Earlier this year he revealed he would love to give current Olympic champion Noah Lyles a run for his money. Legend Michael Johnson, 57, won four Olympic gold medals for Team USA. While Don Quarrie, 74, represented Jamaica at three Olympic Games, winning gold for the 200m in 1976 5 5
