Posts Tagged ‘Jamaica’
Written by admin on 14 November 2012
Kingtson (Jamaica), Nov 14 (IANS/CMC) All-rounder Marlon Samuels is predicting a cricket revival in the Caribbean as a result of the West Indies’ recent title triumph at the ICC World Twenty/20 tournament in Sri Lanka.
Samuels, who played a leading role in the Windies victory over Sri Lanka in the finals, says he believes his side’s success, will magnify cricket’s appeal in the region, CMC reports.
Samuels’s comments have echoed the views of many officials and cricket enthusiasts alike in the wake of the West Indies inspiring 36-run win over the home side to claim the trophy.
“That’s why I play so hard because I know that having a world title will bring back a lot of things,” said Samuels in an exclusive interview with the Gleaner Tuesday.
“My role is to take it as serious as possible and work as hard as possible so that I can inspire others to the game and to reach to my level because cricket has its own superstars as well.”
Some analysts believe cricket in the Caribbean is on the brink of resurgence after years in the doldrums.
Samuels says his side’s latest success will serve to rekindled interest in the sport especially among kids.
“I think kids lost a lot of interest in the game because there wasn’t enough hope,” Samuels said before going on tour with West Indies.
“They had lost all hope, the West Indies team wasn’t doing too well.”
The 31-year-old Jamaican also lamented the earning potential of cricketers who compete in the domestic season in the region.
He pointed to Australia as an example of a regional where cricketers who do not make the national side can earn a living playing in the domestic league.
“In the West Indies, you are taking a chance with your life coming out of high school and saying that you are going to play cricket. There are no guarantees and if you look at the countless players who come in for one game and get thrown out, it’s amazing,” said Samuels, one of several West Indies cricketers drafted into the most lucrative Twenty20 competitions around the world such as the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash in Australia.
“I have seen more than 50 players come and go; some may come on a one tour, fail and never make it back, while others play two games and that’s it.”
Samuels is currently on tour with the West Indies team, which begun the first of two Tests against Bangladesh Tuesday.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingtson
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Written by admin on 10 November 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Nov 10 (IANS/CMC) Reigning 100 metres World champion Yohan Blake says he feels under no pressure as he prepares to defend his title in Moscow next August.
The 22-year-old Jamaican, widely viewed as the heir apparent to his peerless countryman Usain Bolt, stormed to gold in Daegu last year after Bolt was disqualified for a false start, reports CMC.
Blake, who recently resumed training for the new season, said having gathered precious experience since his Daegu triumph, he was just working hard to ensure a good showing at the Aug 10-18, 2013, showpiece in the Russian capital.
“I’ve been through the Olympics and I have been through the World Championships before so I have got the pressure off my back,” the Jamaica Gleaner quoted Blake as saying.
“Coach (Glen) Mills is also working with me, and also Usain Bolt is there with me every day encouraging me, so next year is not about pressure for me but it’s all about just training hard and going to the World Championships and defending my title.”
Since his Daegu success, Blake has gone on to establish himself among the top tier of world sprinters with a series of outstanding performances.
He captured silver in both the 100 and 200m at the London Olympics earlier this year and is the second fastest man in history in both events, behind Bolt.
Blake, nicknamed ‘the Beast’ for his unrelenting approach to training, said he was already working hard to correct some technical issues as he readied himself for the international circuit.
“I started training last Monday and it has been progressing well. I am just in the background part of it, of course, but it’s going according to plan so far,” said Blake who along with Bolt are members of Mills’s Kingston-based Racers Track Club.
“My start has improved, but technically, what I am looking to work on is getting more stride length. If I get that, I will be able to shave a lot off my times.
“Also, my hand comes across my body and I tend to run sideways, and so we are working on that a lot this year, so next season should be a cracker.”
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 07 November 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Nov 7 (IANS/CMC) Some football officials in Jamaica say they are disappointed with the decision by England based striker Marlon King to end his international career.
President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Horace Burrell and former national coach Carl Browne are among officials lamenting king’s decision to quit, reports CMC.
Birmingham City player, King was being targeted by a JFF delegation visiting England to recruit players to bolster the team’s chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
“I am sorry to hear how it has ended because Marlon, then, was a very committed national player and the performances that we got from him were just unbelievable,” said Brown, who also coached King.
“It is really sad to see that a career that offered a whole lot has ended the way it has now. I hope it is a lesson to all of us that in the future we can prevent endings like these.”
King announced his resignation Monday, a day ahead of a proposed meeting with the Burrell led delegation aimed at mending fences with the striker who seems to have been alienated from the team.
The 32-year-old has not participated in any of Jamaica’s CONCACAF semi-final round matches since serving a two-match ban for breaching “curfew rules” on a friendly assignment in Panama in May.
King has scored 12 goals from 21 appearances since making his debut for Jamaica in 2004.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 07 November 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Nov 7 (IANS/CMC) Jamaica’s Usain Bolt has inched within sight of capturing the IAAF’s Male Athlete of the Year award for the fourth time.
Bolt, who won three gold medals at London 2012, was one of three candidates still standing after the 10-man shortlist named last month was whittled down to three, reports CMC.
The other two athletes challenging Bolt for the prestigious award are 110 m hurdler American Aries Merritt and Kenya’s middle distance runner David Rudisha.
Rudisha is the current Olympic champion and world record holder over 800 metres while Merritt won gold in London and at the world indoors in Istanbul.
The initial list of ten athletes which also included Olympic sprint doubles silver medallist Yohan Blake was narrowed following a three week poll where votes are cast for the athletes.
Bolt’s retention of his sprint titles at the 2012 London Olympics could make him the top contender for the award.
Bolt who previously won the IAAF award in 2008, 2009 and 2011 also helped Jamaica to defend the sprint relay title in a world record 36.84 seconds in London.
The winner will be announced Nov 24 at the IAAF centenary gala in Barcelona, Spain.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 30 October 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Oct 30 (IANS/CMC) Out of favour West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan and attorney Dave Kissoon have resigned from the board of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA).
Sarwan’s decision to quit the WIPA board appears to coincide with his effort to return to the senior team while Kissoon seems to be at loggerheads with the WIPA over fees.
A WIPA statement has said that the positions made vacant by both men will be filled at the next annual general meeting in January, CMC reports.
“Both Ramnaresh and Dave have in their own ways contributed to WIPA’s progress,” said a statement from WIPA’s chief executive officer Michael Hall.
“We certainly wish Ramnaresh all the very best in his future cricket career as we are certain that he still has a great deal to contribute to West Indies cricket.”
Sarwan’s resignation from the WIPA executive may be part of his strategy to play for the West Indies cricket team again, the Jamaica Gleaner reported citing sources.
He last played test for the West Indies in the summer of 2011 against India but has since then declared that he would never represent the regional side again.
However, the 32-year-old right handed batsman recently had a change of heart and has been lobbying WICB president Julian Hunte and chairman of selectors Clyde Butts to regain his place.
Kissoon, who became a director of WIPA in 2010, has also withdrawn his services from the players’ association.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 15 October 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Oct 15 (IANS/CMC) Veteran opening batsman Chris Gayle believes the forthcoming West Indies tour to Bangladesh of Test and limited overs matches will be challenging.
Gayle, who is in a 15-man squad named Saturday for the Nov 3 to Dec 12 tour which includes two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 International, cautioned against complacency, CMC reports.
“It is going to be a very challenging one. We know how dangerous Bangladesh can be at home. It’s not a team where you want to go there and take lightly,” Gayle said.
A veteran of 93 Tests, 234 ODIs and 30 T20Is, Gayle noted, however, that the majority of the squad would have had a taste of conditions in Bangladesh.
“Most of the guys have been there before in Test series and in ODIs so most of the guys have experience, so it should be an interesting series.
“It’s not the easiest place to tour and get runs so you’ve got to be mindful of the conditions and try and add up as quickly as possible and settle as much and whenever you get a chance, just try and maintain it and take it from there,” the 33-year-old former West Indies captain said.
Nine members of the team — captain Darren Sammy, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieran Powell, Marlon Samuels, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Denesh Ramdin — toured Bangladesh last year when the West Indies won the three-match ODI series 2-1 and the two-Test rubber 1-0.
The squad includes one uncapped player in 23-year-old Guyana left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul.
Full squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Denesh Ramdin (vice-captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Assad Fudadin, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 22 September 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Sep 22 (IANS/CMC) Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says athletes who represented the country in last month’s London Olympics will be rewarded for their efforts.
The Jamaican prime minister made her disclosure in Kingston following reports that the government was considering making cash donations to the athletes, CMC reports.
Prime Minister Simpson Miller says a special committee was set up to address this matter and she is currently awaiting its report.
“Yes but that will have to be signed off by cabinet before I can speak about it,” Prime Minister Simpson-Miller told TVJ sports.
“There is a particular committee dealing with that and they will be giving us a report for cabinet and then we will discuss and see how we can assist.”
Jamaica achieved its best ever performance at the Olympics capturing a record 12 medals – four gold, four silver, and four bronze.
Fifty athletes represented the country in four sporting disciplines — track and field, swimming, taikwondo and equestrian.
“I am expecting it (the report) not Monday coming because I will be going to the UN meeting and have some bilaterals on the margins there,” said the Jamaican prime minister.
“Yes we should be hearing something by then. I don’t want to tie myself to a particular date. I know the minister will be taking something for me before cabinet.”
Earlier, this month Sports Minister Natalie Neita-Headley announced plans to stage celebrations in honour of the athletes on the weekend of national heroes’ day around the middle of October.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 21 September 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Sep 21 (IANS/CMC) Reigning 100 metres world champion Yohan Blake has sent out an early warning that he will be hard to beat when the new track and field season starts next year.
Blake, the Olympic silver medallist in the 100 and 200 metres after finishing behind Usain bolt, says he will fix his flaws and be ready in time for the new season, reports CMC.
Addressing a news conference in Kingston Thursday the Jamaican, 22, signalled his intention to replace his 26-year-old team mate as the fastest man on the planet.
“I am feeling confident more than ever and I think next year it’s going to be really hard for anybody coming up against me because I will be stronger, I will be much fitter and I will be much faster. Each year I grow day by day,” said Blake, nicknamed the beast for his work ethic.
“Mentally I am good. I have a wonderful coach in Glen Mills. I am not pressured. Looking forward to next year. What I am supposed to fix I will fix it because I am starting really well now, am still running strong at the end of the race around 9.69.”
During an interview on Jamaican television in late 2008, Bolt named Blake as “a potential threat” to his reign.
Blake won the world championship in Daegu, South Korea, last year after Bolt was disqualified from the final for a false start.
He also went on to beat Bolt in the 100m and 200m Olympic trials in June.
Blake, who will be 23 in December, says he did not reach his full potential during the sprint finals at the London Olympics.
“My true potential was not at the Olympics because if you look back at my races after the Olympics I was running really fast. I was really nervous. If you touch me I would have fallen. That’s how nervous I was but I covered it up pretty well,” said Blake.
“It was not an easy stage with thousands of people watching but I performed really well. I know I was not at my best but I learned even if it was my first time and I got two silver and a gold and I am happy.”
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 13 September 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Sep 13 (IANS/CMC) Sprint legend Usain Bolt has hailed coach Glen Mills as the key to his recent success at the London Olympics.
The 26-year-old swept both sprints to become the first athlete to win back-to-back 100 metres and 200 metres titles at an Olympic Games, following his success in the Beijing Olympics four years ago.
“I want to give thanks to Glen Mills. He is the greatest person; he has been a father figure, my mentor, he’s been a coach and for me he is the person that makes me laugh,” Bolt was quoted as saying by CMC Wednesday.
“He’s truly a great person overall. He is the greatest coach ever.”
Bolt returned to the island Saturday with little fanfare, following the conclusion of the lucrative Diamond League campaign with the last meet in Brussels.
He went unbeaten on the international circuit and his only losses during the season came at the National Trials here in June when he suffered two shock defeats to training partner Yohan Blake.
That sparked mad speculation over Bolt’s form and raised serious doubt over his ability to defend his Olympic title.
Bolt praised his “true fans” for standing by him during that testing period.
“I just have one thing to say. Never doubt a champion,” Bolt said.
“I want to thank my real, true fans. There were a lot of doubters and a lot of people were happy that I lost (trials) and were saying a lot of things. But my true fans, my coach, my team gave me that support and were 100 per cent behind me.”
He joked: “I want everybody to continue supporting Usain Bolt, Doctor, the Honourable.”
Bolt won the 100 metres at the London Olympics in a meet record 9.63 seconds before also re-capturing the 200 metres in a season-best time of 19.32 seconds.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 10 September 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Sep 10 (IANS/CMC) Two-time Olympic 100 metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has called on the Jamaican government to provide more support, especially for the country’s junior athletes.
Fraser-Pryce, also Olympic 200 metre silver medallist, made the call on her return to Jamaica after the conclusion of her professional track and field season, reports CMC.
She touched touchdown at the Norman Manley International Airport Saturday to be greeted by an official welcome involving government officials, sponsors and heads of sporting associations.
“I am a professional athlete and, yes, I might have money, but there are things that are needed for our younger athletes,” said Fraser-Pryce.
“What about our younger athletes who are coming up and are not financially stable now, those are the persons who need the support.”
Fraser-Pryce ended her season Aug 30 with an impressive 10.83 seconds victory in the 100 metres at the Zurich Diamond League meet in Switzerland.
“I am coming from the doctor in Miami and I can tell you that treatment is expensive, especially in sports medicine,” Fraser-Pryce said Sunday.
“We represent our country and we would love our country to represent us, in the sense that we need the support because support is a huge part of who we are.”
The top Jamaican sprinter also called on the public to show a lot more respect for the country’s athletes, since she said, they have earned it.
“We represent our country and we would love our country to represent us, in the sense that we need the support because support is a huge part of who we are.”
In last month’s 100 metres final at the Olympics, Fraser-Pryce edged the American Carmelita Jeter at the finish line to become the first woman to win back-to-back medals since Gail Devers of the US in 1992 and 1996.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 22 August 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Aug 22 (IANS/CMC) Legendary Jamaican sprinter Donald Quarrie says team support played a significant part in his country’s record medal haul at the London Olympics.
Quarrie, regarded as one of the finest sprinters in the history of track and field, has applauded the athletes for the way they supported each other during the Games, reports CMC
Jamaica won a record 12 medals — four gold, four silver and four bronze — eclipsing the 11 medals won four years ago in Beijing.
“They supported each other, even those who did not make it were available to support, cheer and were very happy when we were successful,” said Quarrie, technical director of the Jamaican contingent at the Games.
“The team I think, had great support from each other… the camaraderie at the training camp was superb, the fact that we had great security helped us.”
Jamaica’s medals tally at the Olympics includes two individual gold medals from star sprinter Usain Bolt in the 100 and 200 metres as well as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who defended her 100m title and also took silver in the women’s 200m.
Quarrie, who competed in five Olympic games, says he will continue to encourage the country’s young athletes such as Warren Weir, Hansel Parchment, Shermaine Williams and Traves Smikle who represented Jamaica for the first time at the international stage.
“The young athletes who did quite well, who came here got great experience, and they are our future” said Quarrie whose career reached a high point in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal when he captured the gold in the 200m and the silver in the 100m.
“This is the beginning, now you have to get going to make a name for yourself, work harder and get ready for the next Olympic” Quarrie told Jamaica’s young athletes.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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Written by admin on 18 August 2012
Kingston (Jamaica), Aug 18 (IANS/CMC) The Jamaica Anti Doping Commission (JADCO) has rejected claims by the former chief of the world anti doping agency (WADA), Dick Pound who suggested that the country’s athletes are not being properly tested for drugs.
JADCO has strongly defended Jamaica’s anti-doping programme after Pound said on an international television station that Jamaican athletes belonged to a group that was difficult to test, reports CMC.
The international spotlight has fallen directly on Jamaican athletes after they dominated the sprint events at the London Olympics.
“There is no way that anyone could dare talk about JADCO being a third world organization versus a first world organization,” declared Winston Davidson, vice-chairman JADCO.
“As far as I am concerned we adhere to the same international standards and are as good or even better than those who call themselves first world.”
Usain Bolt stormed to victory in both the 100 and 200 metres with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce snatching gold in the women’s 100m as the Caribbean island consolidated its domination.
Pound, now a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said Jamaica should now expect more visits from drugs testers.
However, Davidson has insisted that nothing is wrong with JADCO’s anti-doping programme.
“As such everything must be done that’s transparent and that can stand any kind of scrutiny or any rigour from any quarter at home and abroad.”
Jamaica won a clean sweep in the men’s 200m with Yohan Blake and Warren Weir winning silver and bronze behind Bolt.
“No, they are one of the groups that are hard to test, it is (hard) to get in and find them and so forth,” Pound said when asked whether he was happy with the way Jamaica tested its athletes.
“I think they can expect, with the extraordinary results that they have had, that they will be on everybody’s radar.”
More than 100 athletes were caught using banned substances in the months leading up to the Games following increased testing by national and international anti-doping agencies
WADA has indicated it has no concerns about the operations of Jamaica’s anti-doping authorities.
WADA said the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission was deemed compliant in the compliance report passed by WADA’s foundation board last November.
–IANS/CMC
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Tags: Jamaica, Kingston, United Kingdom
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