The action is heating up at Delhi 2010 and our modern-day gladiators – the athletes – are in the spotlight. Here’s what some stars had to say:
BOXING
“The facilities in Nauru are very basic. We have just got a shed. We have a lot to do. If possible we want to get a boxer to London 2012.”
Nauru’s Sean Oppenheimer on the difficulties of producing competitive boxers in the tiny Pacific island republic.
“I really enjoyed fighting in front of my home crowd and this support will be good for all Indian boxers.”
Jai Bhagwan appreciates home support after his 11-1 win over Colan Caleb (NRU) in the Lightweight (60kg) division.
CYCLING
“To be honest, you saw the video, he didn’t do anything. This is racing and this is how it’s done. He is a racer and we like to push around a bit and get some action. I have seen Shane Perkins (AUS) do the same. If it were me, I wouldn’t even give him a warning. He deserved to win today.”
Josiah Ng (MAS), who won the Track Cycling Gold in the Men’s Keirin, on the judges’ decision to disqualify his compatriot Azizulhasni Awang.
SHOOTING
“I was dreaming for this since yesterday. I was very nervous, my legs were shaking and I didn’t laugh since morning. But training camp worked a lot.”
Anisa Sayyed (IND) after winning the Women’s 25m Pistol Gold medal.
“Gagan Narang was incredible. He was on fire today, but I am happy. He was shooting very nicely. I am very happy he won Gold.”
Abhinav Bindra (IND), who won Silver in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle Singles.
SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING
“We are swimming to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, but a Metallica cover which is a bit unusual and angry, it should be good.”
Eloise Amberger (AUS) on the musical accompaniment for her and her partner Sarah Bombell in Thursday’s Duet event.
“It is to Metallica and we have a lot of fun. We play guitar and things like that.”
Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon (CAN) is also a heavy metal fan as she and Chloe Isaac (CAN) choose Metallica for their free routine on Thursday.
TABLE TENNIS
“A lot of practice is one factor for our monopoly in this game and I think ‘practice makes perfect’.”
Pang Xue Jie (SIN) after the 3-0 win over the Maldives in the preliminary round of the Men’s Team event.
“In Australia, people have a perception that in sports everything is easy, like it appears in swimming, but with table tennis we (Henzel and Frank Robert) started practice at the age of eight and have done a lot of hard work to reach this position.”
William Henzel (AUS) reflects on the hardships of being a Table Tennis player in Australia after the 3-0 over Ghana in the Men’s Competition
