Briefs: Taekwondo, Baseball, Archery, Yoga, Sailing

Posted May 4, 2008 at 03:30 PM by Os Davis

Section: Beijing 2008, Events, Baseball, Other, Featured Writers, Os Davis

An item certainly near the top of any “Top 10” list of “Great Things About the Olympics”: The random sports! On this Sunday, a roundup of news and news stories on a few less-hyped corners on the Games’ playing fields.

Taekwondo. One of the many international competitions China is scheduling this year in the leadup to The Games was last week’s 18th Asian Senior Taekwondo Championship held in Zhengzhou. Home team China Taipei can certainly do a little back-patting, particularly on the women’s side with three gold medals, one silver and two bronze for the ladies.

For the men, Team Iran was downright scary in overturning the South Korean men’s 38-year domination in international competition, including all 17 prior Senior Championship. Reported the pleased-as-punch local press, “Iranian taekwondokas hoisted the country’s flag after seizing the title in the 18th Asian Senior Taekwondo Championship.” More specifically, these guys came home wearing four golds and a silver. South Korea and Chinese Taipei finished second and third in medal count.

SummerOlympian Official Prediction: Don’t bet against any Team Iran; the country appears to be enjoying a true international sports renaissance right now.

Baseball. There is, of course, only one story in Olympic baseball for Beijing 2008: its moribund state, which has seen little advancement in theory or reality. On Sunday, The New York Times offered a Cuban angle on the story, a sad tale unfortunately glossed over with snooty prose. Key quotes: “Baseball in Cuba is the culture, passion and happiness. It’s the blood of our people.” (Would that it were still so in America...)

In four Olympics, Team Cuba has taken three golds and a silver in baseball.

Archery. The US Olympic Archery Trials continue today in Phoenix, as the red, white and blue team for The Games coalesces into shape. The leader board as of this writing is here; damned if SummerOlympian knows how these score totals work (research is clearly warranted here), but clearly after day two of the competition, Brady Ellison is crushing the field at 20.00 points. Closest rival is Butch Johnson. A quick look but at past results shows that Ellison and Johnson have been set for Team USA’s 1-2 spots for awhile.

On the ladies’ side, Jenny Nichols is a favorite to make the team and leads her side at the Trials by a comfortable margin. Nichols represented the US at the 2004 Olympics; her sisters Mandy and Amanda have also competed in international archery. Jenny also dreams of becoming a two-sport star, with aspirations of getting onto Dancing with the Stars.

Yoga. Really: A bid for yoga at the Olympics.

Sailing. Northern Ireland has set its team for Olympic sailing events; the country qualified for four of the 11 events, considered a bit of a disappointment for a national specialty.

By the way, how’s your Putonghua coming along...?