Djokovic urges schedule change as players struggle with Tokyo heat

Published

3 years ago

July 24, 2021

World number one Novak Djokovic on Saturday in Tokyo called for organisers to rethink the Olympic tennis schedule because of the hot and humid conditions in the city.

Djokovic eased to a 6-2 6-2 victory over Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien on Saturday.

But tougher assignments lie between him and a much-coveted gold medal for Serbia, and the weather could yet prove his most difficult opponent.

It is well known that Djokovic struggles with heat and humidity, and he said with a wry smile: “I’m still waiting to meet the player that likes this kind of weather.

“Playing in extreme heat and humidity that is 90 per cent, or God knows how much, is very challenging.

“Obviously it’s the same for everyone and it’s something we’ve known coming into Tokyo, we expected that the conditions were going to be very tough.

“But before you come here and experience that, you don’t really know how difficult it is.

“I felt like there was trapped hot air that was absorbed by the surface. It was tough, and probably tougher for the earlier matches.”

Matches played at ATP and WTA tournaments held in similar conditions often do not start until late afternoon.

But in Tokyo all courts start at 11 a.m, meaning players are competing in the hottest part of the day.

Later starts were actually considered.

But the organisers, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), needed to plan for potential rain or extreme heat breaks, as well as a lack of infrastructure for very late finishes.

A daytime schedule was therefore deemed best.

An ITF spokesperson said: “Player health is paramount and great consideration has been given to the 11 a.m or a later start.

“The decision to retain 11 a.m was made based on data, a nine-day event and to accommodate factors such as local authority restrictions due to COVID-19 and the unpredictability of the weather.

“Extreme conditions will always put pressure on a schedule and make an optimum schedule challenging. Rainfall is as much of an issue as extreme heat. An Extreme Weather Policy is in place.

“Tokyo 2020 competition officials have set procedures to monitor the heat stress index which determine whether play should be modified and have implemented these procedures today.”

Djokovic added: “I don’t really get why ITF doesn’t want to move the matches. This was the last centre court match and it was finished before 5 p.m.

“There is hopefully some kind of an understanding from ITF on what they’ve seen.

“All the athletes train and dream of being at an Olympic Games and then playing for half an hour and retiring, you don’t want to have the Olympic experience that way.

“But we have to accept whatever the circumstances are.”

Zarina Diyas was the only player to withdraw mid-match but many struggled.

Explaining how he felt on court, Djokovic said: “You’re constantly dehydrated, you feel you have weights on your shoulders because there’s so much heat and humidity and stagnated air.”

Djokovic, who is bidding to become the first man to win a Golden Slam of all four major titles and singles gold in the same year, will next take on German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Second seed Daniil Medvedev also found the conditions tough in a 6-4 7-6 (10-8) victory over Alexander Bublik.

Medvedev said: “Like they do in Mexico, the matches maybe should start at six (p.m) because the heat actually gets much, much lighter. We all try to practise at six.

“The fact that we have only one minute between changeovers is a joke. If you ask, let’s say 200 tennis players that are here, I think 195 will tell you that one minute is a joke. It should be 1:30.”

In the women’s draw, sixth seed Iga Swiatek followed in her father’s footsteps by making her Olympic debut with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Mona Barthel.

Tomasz Swiatek competed for Poland in rowing at the Games in Seoul in 1988.

Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens played the last singles match of her career on Saturday, losing 4-6 6-3 4-6 to Marketa Vondrousova.

But there were wins for French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and ninth seed Belinda Bencic.

dpa/NAN

Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA

Published

1 month ago

November 22, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, has handed over illicit drugs worth N117.59 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Comptroller of the command, Mr James Ojo, disclosed this during the handing over of the drugs to Mr Olusegun Adeyeye, the Commander of NDLEA, Idiroko Special Area Command, in Abeokuta, Ogun, on Friday.

Ojo said the customs handed over the seized cannabis and tramadol tablets to the Idiroko Special Command for further investigation in line with the standard operating procedures and inter-agency collaboration.

He said the illicit drugs were seized in various strategic locations between January and November 21, 2024, in Ogun State.

He added that the illicit drugs were abandoned at various locations, including the Abeokuta axis, the Agbawo/Igankoto area of Yewa North Local Government Area, and Imeko Afton axis.

Ojo said that the seizure of the cannabis sativa and tramaling tablets, another brand of tramadol, was made possible through credible intelligence and strategic operations of the customs personnel.

“The successful interception of these dangerous substances would not have been possible without the robust collaboration and support from our intelligence units, local informants and sister agencies.

“These landmark operations are testament to the unwavering dedication of the NCS to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens and uphold the rule of law,” he said.

He said the seizures comprised 403 sacks and 6,504 parcels, weighing 7,217.7 kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each, with a total Duty Paid Value of N117,587,405,00.

He described the height of illicit drugs smuggling in the recent time as worrisome.

This, he said, underscores the severity of drug trafficking within the borders.

“Between Oct. 13 and Nov. 12 alone, operatives intercepted a total of 1,373 parcels of cannabis sativa, weighing 1,337kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each,” he said.

Ojo said the seizures had disrupted the supply chain of illicit drugs, thereby mitigating the risks those substances posed to the youth, families and communities.

He lauded the synergy between its command, security agencies and other stakeholders that led to the remarkable achievements.

Ojo also commended the Comptroller General of NCS for creating an enabling environment for the command to achieve the success.

Responding, Adeyeye, applauded the customs for achieving the feat.

Adeyeye pledged to continue to collaborate with the customs to fight against illicit trade and drug trafficking in the state.

Africa

Ann-Kio Briggs Faults Tinubu for Scrapping Niger Delta Ministry

Published

1 month ago

November 22, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

Prominent Niger Delta human rights activist and environmentalist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta, describing it as ill-advised and detrimental to the oil-rich region.

Briggs expressed her concerns during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.

“The Ministry of Niger Delta was created by the late (President Umaru) Yar’Adua. There was a reason for the creation. So, just removing it because the president was advised. I want to believe that he was advised because if he did it by himself, that would be terribly wrong,” she stated.

President Tinubu, in October, dissolved the Ministry of Niger Delta and replaced it with the Ministry of Regional Development, which is tasked with overseeing all regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North-West Development Commission, and North-East Development Commission.

Briggs questioned the rationale behind the restructuring, expressing concerns about its feasibility and implications. “But that’s not going to be the solution because who is going to fund the commissions? Is it the regions because it is called the Regional Development Ministry? Is it the states in the regions? What are the regions because we don’t work with regions right now; we are working with geopolitical zones,” she remarked.

She added, “Are we going back to regionalism? If we are, we have to discuss it. The president can’t decide on his own to restructure Nigeria. If we are restructuring Nigeria, the president alone can’t restructure Nigeria, he has to take my opinion and your opinion into consideration.”

Briggs also decried the longstanding neglect of the Niger Delta despite its significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy since 1958. “The Niger Delta has been developing Nigeria since 1958. We want to use our resources to develop our region; let regions use their resources to develop themselves,” she asserted.

Reflecting on the various bodies established to address the region’s development, Briggs lamented their failure to deliver meaningful progress. She highlighted the Niger Delta Basin Authority, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), and the NDDC as examples of ineffective interventions.

“NDDC was created by Olusegun Obasanjo…There was OMPADEC before NDDC. OMPADEC was an agency. Before OMPADEC, there was the Basin Authority…These authorities were created to help us. Were we helped by those authorities? No, we were not,” she said.

Briggs further described the NDDC as an “ATM for failed politicians, disgruntled politicians, and politicians that have had their electoral wins taken away from them and given to somebody else.”

Her remarks underscore the deep-seated frustrations in the Niger Delta, where residents continue to advocate for greater control over their resources and improved governance.

Sports

Nigerian-British Bodybuilder Samson Dauda Wins 2024 Mr Olympia, Secures Historic $600,000 Prize

Published

2 months ago

October 16, 2024

Matthew Eloyi

Nigerian-British Bodybuilder Samson Dauda Wins 2024 Mr Olympia, Secures Historic $600,000 Prize

Nigerian-British bodybuilder Samson Dauda has claimed the prestigious 2024 Mr Olympia title, making history with a record-breaking $600,000 prize—the largest ever awarded in the sport.

The thrilling finale of the 2024 Olympia competition took place at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, United States, where Dauda faced off against 15 of the world’s top bodybuilders.

After an intense contest, Dauda secured the top spot, surpassing runner-up Hadi Choopan and 2023 champion Derek Lunsford, who finished third.

Dauda’s journey to bodybuilding stardom began in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was born, before moving to the United Kingdom during his teenage years. Initially a rugby player, he discovered bodybuilding through the encouragement of his teammates.

In 2017, Dauda earned his IFBB Pro card after winning the overall title at the IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup in Rome, marking a turning point in his career. He made his professional debut the following year at the EVLS Prague Showdown, finishing 5th.

His first major win as an IFBB Pro came in 2021 at the EVLS Prague Pro, which earned him a qualification for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, where he placed 6th in his debut.

Now, as the 2024 Mr Olympia champion, Dauda has cemented his place among bodybuilding’s elite, achieving a landmark victory in the sport.