Much has been already said about the World Games – the ‘Olympic Games’ for non-Olympic sports. Yesterday, the World Games 2009 were officially opened with an impressive, more than 3 hours long, opening ceremony held in a newly built 40’000 spectator stadium in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei. Today, the first orienteering event was held in the territory of Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. The first gold medals went to Minna Kauppi and Andrey Khramov.
The first one in! Two more to go!
“My goal? That is to win all three gold medals. What else should I go for?” Minna said to the international orienteering federation with a smile on her face just a day before the first start. She has won three last World Cup races this year and today she continued to strike with another important victory. Looks like even the over 30 degrees heat and 5 hours difference is not a barrier for this Finnish girl. Now, only a title of the total World Cup victory is missing in Minna’s collection. Australian Johanna Allston, who has made her comeback after a year break from world’s orienteering, was among the early starters and was in the lead throughout the day, but eventually was overtaken by Minna Kauppi, 23 seconds separating them in the finish. Elise Egseth of Norway took the last podium place and the first Norwegian medal of the World Games edition 2009.
Results
1. Minna Kauppi FIN 14:17,7
2. Johanna Allston AUS 14:40,0
3. Elise Egseth NOR 14:53,8
One second victory!
Andrey Khramov did it again – by a mere second he once again edged out Daniel Hubamann to the ‘annoying’ second place. Andrey is one of those runners, who have taken the World Games as the main goal this year, even above the World Championships. So far, it has paid off. It definitely wasn’t an easy victory and the battle for the gold continued till the very end. After a decisive long leg and at the first TV control Andrey was whole 10 seconds behind Daniel, however, the flawless last loop and Peter Öberg of Sweden (7th place in the finish) in the eyesight helped to close the gap and take the lead. The last starter Daniel Hubmann of Switzerland once again had to settle for the silver position, just a tiny bit behind the gold. No wonder Daniel looked disappointed the moment he heard the final result after crossing the finish line – at the WOC 2006 in Denmark he was mere second behind the gold and at the WOC 2008 in Czech Republic it was 2.4 seconds that separated him from the victory. After a nerve-racking waiting it was Tero Föhr of Finland who could celebrate the bronze medal.
Results
1. Andrey Khramov RUS 13 :11,2
2. Daniel Hubmann SUI 13:12,8
3. Tero F öhr FIN 13:46,5
Tomorrow, the World Games 2009 continue with the individual middle distance at Chengcing Lake. The mixed-relay on Sunday will conclude the Taiwanese adventure.
Everything you need to know about the World Games 2009
World Games 2009
IOF page World Games 2009
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Please revise the name to Kaohsiung,Taiwan. “Chinese Taipei” is a tool by the Chinese to coerce the world to co-operate with it in its goal of re-unification with (a democratic) Taiwan