Latest news with #TokyoOlympic
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Malaysia couldn't stop China juggernaut in Sudirman Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's hopes of securing a third consecutive Sudirman Cup bronze came to an end after they were outclassed 3-0 by hosts and 13-time champions China in the quarter-finals in Xiamen on Friday. The national team were simply no match for the tournament favourites, with Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Leong Jun Hao and K. Letshanaa all falling in straight games to their vastly superior opponents. World No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei were first on court, tasked with delivering a crucial opening point to give Malaysia a glimmer of hope against the powerful Chinese squad. But the pair couldn't reproduce the magic of their earlier Paris Olympics group-stage win over Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping, losing 21-17, 21-17. That defeat proved to be the beginning of the end. Next up, Leong Jun Hao — in his first-ever meeting with world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi — struggled to impose himself and was comprehensively beaten 21-6, 21-14 in the men's singles. Letshanaa then faced Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Chen Yu Fei in the women's singles, but could not mount any resistance, falling 21-8, 21-7 as China sealed the tie. With the outcome decided at 3-0, the remaining two matches — Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani vs Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang (men's doubles) and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah vs Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning (women's doubles) — were not played. The result also means Malaysia have now lost all five of their Sudirman Cup encounters against China since the competition began.
NZ Herald
22-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Olivia Podmore coronial inquiry: Forensic psychiatrist grilled on Rio Olympian's final message and accusations of ‘weighting' Cycling NZ issues
Podmore died in a suspected suicide the day after the Tokyo Olympics ended, August 9, 2021, after the track cyclist failed to qualify for that event following a Covid-19-interrupted selection process complicated by several controversies. The lawyer representing HPSNZ, Stephanie Grieve KC, narrowed in on comments by Monasterio in the witness stand last November, and in his witness brief, in which she said he placed 'causality' on distressing incidents within Cycling NZ. Grieve said Monasterio did not put equivalent causality on personal factors outside cycling when 'it was not possible to determine precisely' what led to her depressive episodes. One of the 'traumatic' cycling events was in 2016, when Podmore unwittingly exposed an intimate relationship between a CNZ teammate and a coach, after she reported the athlete had not returned home to their hotel after a night out during a training camp in Bordeaux, six weeks out from the Rio Olympics. Podmore was seen as a 'whistleblower' within Cycling NZ following this incident and allegedly subject to intense bullying and marginalisation within the organisation. The other defining disappointment and source of mental distress was Podmore's exclusion from the Tokyo Olympic team. Grieve began by scrutinising Monasterio's interpretation of Podmore's last social media post before her death in which she references the teen abortion 'so that I could follow my Olympic dream'. Podmore referenced a 'cover up' from Cycling NZ and HPSNZ. Grieve argues that Monasterio 'weighted' these cycling incidents over the then 24-year-old's past personal and family issues. 'You refer to the cycling issues, as impacting her, and of course those are clearly present in that post, no dispute about that, but she also refers to not meeting society's expectations, doesn't she, in terms of house, marriage, kids, because she'd given everything to her sport and termination of pregnancy,' Grieve said. 'Friends Thea Lyle and Eric Murray, talked about many things playing on her upbringing, the abortion and separation, the religious school, thinking she was supposed to be married and have children by the time she was 24.' Monasterio said it was evident from that post she felt 'she had sacrificed so much for her sport and that weighed heavy on her'. 'Her words would suggest to me 'I've sacrificed everything to do well in the sport',' he said today. 'And this is a matter for the coroner and the inquiry to determine. I feel that I've been unfairly dealt with. So what I had a sense from that post is that she feels angry and disempowered and feels that she sacrificed so much from her perspective, she's been excluded unfairly.' Monasterio said the extent to which 'not meeting society's expectations' and past relationships are 'interconnected' in Podmore's mental state 'could be subject to some debate'. 'The impression I get is of a young woman who had given so much of her energy and time to succeed at sport. And felt that to some extent she'd been treated unfairly. So she put all her eggs in one basket. And that basket didn't get her to the Olympics. It didn't get her to where she wanted to go. And it seems that that led to despair.' Continuing on the same line of argument, Grieve highlighted that police in summarising witness interviews referred to a number of surrounding circumstances contributing to Podmore's mental deterioration, including the teenage pregnancy, abortion, parental separation, and the cycling high performance issues. 'I'm putting to you that you've... [singled] out the cycling issues but haven't weighted as much the personal issues,' Grieve said. But Monasterio refused to concede to Grieve that it's very hard to rank the stresses and events that influenced Podmore's trials and mental distress. 'Not sure I agree with that… you can weigh to varying degrees the varying factors', Monasterio said. 'Look, all these factors are important. But the timing of events to my mind strongly support the proposition that the Bordeaux incident and the Heron inquiry [in 2018 into the Cycling NZ athlete coach relationship] is very significant,' Monasterio said. 'Then in evidence, I heard that the extent to which Olivia was allegedly bullied and excluded, and in my opinion for a young woman around the ages of 18 and 20 to meet that adversity, that's a very dominant feature. That's why I've weighted it heavily.' Monasterio went on to highlight the contrast with Podmore's mental health in her initial years at the Cambridge High Performance base prior to 2016 were 'actually pretty good'. 'She did really well. She performed well. She went to the junior champs. She got on the podium and that is after her parents' separation and after the abortion. She was described as being gregarious and the kind of person that could light up a room.' 'Remarkably high' depression, anxiety scores Just as he was in November 2024, Monasterio was also asked to give his perspective on the identification of severe to very severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in Podmore via structured psychological screening tools, called the DASS-21, in February 2020 - a time period in which she was attempting to qualify for the Tokyo Games. Monasterio had been critical of the lack of action from health professionals treating Podmore in the 18 months before her death. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. 'Do you think it's sufficient that she's screened this remarkably high result to simply ask 'are you OK?'... [given] this evaluative process you talk about?' Coroner Louella Dunn asked. Monasterio said the 'severe nature of elevated scores' did strike him in his review. 'So there's a real disconnect between what Olivia is identifying, on the screening tool as severe distress, and the information that's being accessed in what seems to be a relatively informal setting,' Monasterio said. 'How you conduct an interview or an assessment is often key to what you find. Now where does this assessment occur? How does it occur? Is it fitted in between training sessions? Is it occurring before or after a sports performance? The scores are very high.' Monasterio said he was not being critical of other clinicians, but that in his opinion, the severity of Podmore's scores would suggest that a formal assessment should have occurred in an environment that would facilitate a reasonable assessment to occur. 'Well, I can't say if I was a clinician because I'm a mental health expert, but if I was faced with this information, I would approach [the athlete]... It's tricky because you're in the middle of a competition... you're about to compete or you've just competed or you're trying to qualify for the Olympics and you've got these extreme scores for depression, anxiety and distress.' But Monasterio said questions should have been asked in a more formalised setting after competition. 'In my opinion, that would be required. These are not mildly elevated scores. These are really, really high scores.' 'There is no dispute' At the outset of the coronial inquest in November 2024 Coroner Dunn said 'there is no dispute' Podmore died by suicide. 'The focus of this inquest will be the mental health challenges Olivia faced and the care she received.' Dunn said the issues the inquest was attempting to answer were:
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
As a first-round draft pick by the Sky, how will Hailey Van Lith adapt to the WNBA?
As a first-round draft pick by the Sky, how will Hailey Van Lith adapt to the WNBA? As a first-round draft pick by the Sky, how will Hailey Van Lith adapt to the WNBA? NEW YORK — No matter which team Hailey Van Lith was playing for during her five-year college career, her seasons always ended similarly. Earlier this month, Van Lith competed in the Elite Eight for the fifth time in as many years. Over her first three seasons at Louisville, her 2023-24 season at LSU, and most recent year at TCU, she became the first player in NCAA history — men's or women's — to reach that point of the tournament with three different teams. Advertisement The Chicago Sky took notice. No matter what system Van Lith competed in, she helped the program succeed. 'I'd say her biggest skill is her ability to adjust, adapt and still come out on top,' Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. The Sky hope Van Lith can replicate her college successes in the pros, after she was selected No. 11 in Monday's WNBA Draft. Although she was a college star, Van Lith will likely be part of Chicago's supporting cast, especially in the short term. Veterans will be playing in front of her, and she will need to adjust to the WNBA's size and physicality. How well Van Lith adapts to the professional ranks will determine her career path — her longevity in the league, what role she ends up playing, and whether, over time, she can grow into a W star. Van Lith is the latest addition to Chicago's retooled backcourt. The franchise brought back five-time All-Star Courtney Vandersloot in free agency this offseason after her two-year stint with the New York Liberty. The Sky later traded for two-time All-Star and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Ariel Atkins. Advertisement Atkins, 28, has developed into one of the best defensive guards in the WNBA. Chicago coach Tyler Marsh noted that the Sky want players in their backcourt who are willing to pressure the basketball and compete defensively. Van Lith checks that box, though one WNBA general manager told that Van Lith will need to learn to 'be strategic' when guarding players who are bigger and faster than her. Vandersloot, a seven-time WNBA assist leader, has found success slivering around screens to find open teammates. Van Lith aims to replicate that on the next level, too. Thriving in TCU's pro-style system should help Van Lith acclimate. The Horned Frogs utilize a pick-and-roll heavy offense, which allowed Van Lith to create in space. A three-level scorer, she routinely showcased her craftiness in getting to the rim and proved she could finish above bigger players. Van Lith shot 65.6 percent around the basket last season, well above the national average, according to CBB Analytics. She also proved effective on drives that stopped short of the rim, shooting nearly 52 percent on non-rim paint attempts. Whether she can find similar success in Chicago will help determine her impact. Her ability to hit open 3s will also be important. Van Lith was a high-usage scorer in college, but she's likely to get fewer touches as a rookie. That could put even more weight on each open jumper. At TCU last season, she shot just 30.8 percent on left-wing 3s and 29.4 percent on top-of-the-key 3s. There's room for improvement there, too. Advertisement It should help that Van Lith has experience playing with — and against — pros. She played on Team USA's 3×3 team at the Paris Olympics, competing alongside WNBA All-Stars Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby. Although the format is different from the WNBA, Van Lith didn't look out of place. Familiarity with one of Chicago's stars is also a benefit. Van Lith will reunite with All-Star forward Angel Reese, with whom she was an LSU teammate during the 2023-24 season. Even after she transferred to TCU and Reese was drafted, they have kept in touch. Van Lith said they share a similar mindset and regularly turn up the intensity. 'She's a dog,' Van Lith said. 'I'm excited to be in that environment with her again, where she can pull more out of me than I think I have.' Advertisement Shortly after Van Lith was selected, Reese re-shared a photo of them celebrating together. Their one season together at LSU ended in the Elite Eight, with Van Lith averaging her fewest points (11.6) since her freshman season on a career-low 37.8 percent shooting from the field. The move to TCU provided Van Lith with a reset under coach Mark Campbell. She set single-season school records for assists and points while raising her draft stock in Fort Worth, Texas. Marsh's player development background could prove helpful to Van Lith's pro career. 'She has a winning mindset,' he said. 'She has a toughness about her. There's no complacency there in terms of what her improvement and potential can be. And that's part of the culture we want to build here in Chicago.' Advertisement Chicago has other veteran guards in Moriah Jefferson and Rachel Banham. But Pagliocca said he can foresee Van Lith playing either on- or off-ball. Her versatility should help her find a way onto the floor, even if she is only the team's fourth guard. With a likely smaller role — at least to start — than she served in college, the franchise appears excited about her future. 'Her ability to adjust gives me confidence that adjusting to that on the W level is something that she'll be able to do, and she's going to give us 110 percent in doing so,' Marsh said. On Monday night, Van Lith didn't seem to dwell on her potential role. Perhaps, in time, she'll develop into a franchise cornerstone, or she'll just be a key contributor off the bench. That all seemed unimportant on draft night. 'All I have asked for is an opportunity my whole career, and I couldn't be more honored and blessed that they were the team that gave me the opportunity,' Van Lith said. Advertisement Added Marsh: 'There's a lot to like about where she is now as a player. And a whole lot to love about where she can be moving forward.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Chicago Sky, TCU Horned Frogs, LSU Lady Tigers, WNBA, Women's College Basketball 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Japan Times
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Police say they are ready to ensure security for six-month Osaka Expo
Led by the Osaka Prefectural Police, authorities have thoroughly prepared security systems for the World Expo, which opens on Osaka's human-made Yumeshima island on Sunday. The authorities will deploy up to 10,000 personnel for Saturday's opening ceremony, including special units from police departments across the country. During the 184-day event, police will have to step up security for this summer's Upper House election, while also preparing in the event of a natural disaster. Security for the expo is seen as particularly difficult, due largely to its extended length compared to other recent international events. The 2019 summit of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies in Osaka and the 2023 summit of the Group of Seven rich nations in Hiroshima were each held over just a handful of days. The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, held in 2021, were held over a period of 45 days. "It's possible to respond to events lasting several days with 24-hour security systems by a small number of leaders who understand the situation well," Tsuyoshi Iwashita, head of the Osaka Prefectural Police, said at a symposium in February. "Riot police can make elaborate responses" to events of more than a month, added Iwashita, who has been involved in large-scale security operations for the Tokyo Games and international conferences. For the security during the six-month expo period, however, he emphasized, "It will be necessary to rotate the post of commander among many members." "The important thing is to make the appropriate initial response to an emergency, whoever is in command," he added. Compared with the 2005 World Expo in Aichi Prefecture, which also lasted half a year, there are significantly added challenges for the Osaka Expo. Police may have to counter terrorism threats against the backdrop of an unstable international situation, while also be on guard against threats using cutting-edge technology, like drones and cyberattacks. "We moved forward with preparations for security at the expo by assuming various threats and responses to them," said a senior Osaka police official. During the expo, the Upper House election is due to be held. In last year's election campaign for the House of Representatives, police had to provide security for many people giving stump speeches at more than 1,200 locations across the country. This year, police will be required to conduct security activities for the campaign period in parallel with protocols for the expo. The overall strength of the police organization could be tested further as it may also have to respond to torrential rains and other natural disasters that occur almost every year in the country, experts said.
