OLYMPIC 2012 | Confident Croatia overcome Serbia

Croatia put one foot into the quarter-finals of the men's Handball competition after a comfortable 31-23 victory over eastern European neighbours Serbia in the Copper Box this afternoon.

Zlatko Horvat of Croatia shoots

Zlatko Horvat of Croatia shoots during the men's Handball match against Serbia on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Having won their first Group B encounter against South Korea on Sunday, Slavko Goluza's side began with confidence and set themselves up for victory with four successive goals to lead 5-2 after 12 minutes.
Serbia, who were beaten by Spain in their opening game, were never able to claw back the deficit and trailed 13-9 at the break.
Two-time gold medallists Croatia, enjoyed the best of it in the second half as well and made the most of some excellent defending to score an impressive nine fast breaks.
Ivan Cupic inspired the win, repeating his tally of eight goals from the opening match, while Marko Vujin was Serbia's most prolific player with six goals.
Croatia move onto four points to top Group B, while Serbia are yet to register a point.
VIA LONDON2012

CONTINUE

OLYMPIC 2012: Netherlands make Eights final

The Netherlands won a thrilling women's Eight repechage at Eton Dorney today to qualify for the Olympic final, while the men's Four final line-up was also decided.

They held off a strong challenge from Romania to take the win as Australia came in third.
Great Britain finished fourth, a length behind Australia, to claim the last available place in Thursday's final.
The Great Britain men's Lightweight Four underlined their Olympic gold medal potential with a commanding semi-final victory.
They unleashed a powerful sprint for the line to surge clear of Switzerland in the final 500m.
The British crew won in 5:59.68 seconds, just quicker than the time posted by chief gold medal rivals Denmark in winning the second semi-final.
Elsewhere, the men's Double Scull of Bill Lucas and Sam Townsend finished third in their semi-final behind the Slovenian crew, who were Olympic champions 12 years ago, and Lithuania.
There was a shock in the first heat with reigning Olympic champions Australia and world silver medallists Germany failing to qualify.

I feel in very good form, but I've got to keep a lid on it, I don't want to get too over excited or anything else

Alan Campbell

Alan Campbell moved smoothly into the semi-finals of the Single Sculls with a length victory over Germany's Marcel Hacker to underline further Great Britain podium credentials.
He said: 'I feel in very good form, but I've got to keep a lid on it, I don't want to get too over excited or anything else and when it comes to the final the gloves are off and we'll go out fighting.'
New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale remains the favourite to add Olympic gold to his five world titles and he won the first heat, ahead of Belgium's Tim Maeyens.
Lassi Karonen of Sweden is hitting form at the right time and he won the third quarter-final, while Ondrej Synek won his heat with reigning Olympic champion Olaf Tufte scraping through in third place.

CONTINUE

OLYMPIC 2012 | GOLDEN DAY FOR MANESA

Maiya Maneza turned the women's 63kg into a personal pursuit for Olympic and world records after clinching Weightlifting gold for Kazakhstan.

Maiya Maneza of Kazakhstan

Weightlifter Maiya Maneza celebrates on the podium with her gold medal on Day 4 of London 2012.

All the talk going into the competition was of a duel between Maneza and Russia's Svetlana Tsarukaeva, with the two lifters going head-to-head for the previous three world championships.
Tsarukaeva led at the interval after a snatch of 112kg compared to Maneza's 110kg, but the Russian's clean and jerk predictably let her down and 125kg (total 237kg) was only enough for silver.
Maneza clinched gold with her first clean and jerk attempt at 135kg - equalling the Olympic record - before she set about trying to take her own world record of 143kg.
Two failed lifts at 144kg meant it was not to be, but a 245kg total was enough for another Olympic record.
Canada's Christine Girard (236kg) edged bronze ahead of Turkey's Sibel Simsek, making up for her agonising fourth place at the 2008 Beijing Games.
via London2012

CONTINUE

OLYMPIC 2012 | China claim another Diving gold

Chen Ruolin and Wang Hao claimed China's third gold medal in as many Diving events at the Aquatics Centre as they prevailed in the women's Synchronised 10m Platform final.

Olympics Day 4 - Diving

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: (L-R) Gold Medallists Chen Roulin and Wang Hao of China pose on the podium during the Victory Ceremony for the women's Synchronised 10m Platform Diving on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre

Mexico's Alejandra Orozco Loza and Paolo Espinosa Sanchez claimed silver, with Canadian duo Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion finishing in the bronze medal position.
Great Britian duo Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow, the European champions, finished in fifth place.
via london2012

CONTINUE

Germany Bag Team Eventing gold

Great Britain won the silver medal and New Zealand clinched bronze.
The British medal is their 18th Olympic post-war Eventing medal and was secured by Tina Cook's Jumping round in which she had just one time fault.

The Germans were led by world champion Michael Jung,  who admitted: 'I was quite nervous. It is a long way from the warm-up area to the ring, and the nearer you get to the ring the more nervous you become. But once I am in there, I am focused.'

Team-mate Ingrid Klimke added: 'I am so proud, but most of all I am proud of my horse (Butts Abraxas).
'He showed all his qualities here in London and to have just two fences down was not too bad.
'Jumping is not his strongest phase and it wasn't a catastrophe.'
via London2012 

CONTINUE