Ivan Popov Restles For Gold

 

Popov, 24, defeated Nigerian Talaram Mamman two sets at the Indira Gandhi Complex in Delhi The Siberian product, who came to Australia in 2003 but still lives and trains mostly in Russia, said the win was for his dad, who cultivated his love of the sport as a young boy.

 

"My dad used to be a world champion and Olympic gold medallist so I wanted to be like him, you know, that's how I started (wrestling)," he said, as his parents watched from the stands.

 

"Next up maybe Olympics, we'll see." The local crowd cheered furiously for Popov and begged him for photographs, which he graciously posed for again and again. He said the gold medal was the biggest wrestling accolade he'd ever received, and was overwhelmed by the fact that it also broke Australia's drought in the sport after more than three decades. "That was a long time ago, now I am a gold medallist, so I am really happy for me, for Australia, for everyone, thank you for supporting me."

 

Despite feeling weary after his clash again Dalal, Popov said he went into his final bout feeling confident. "I just had a feeling that I'd win," he said.

 

 

 

Perth gymnast Lauren Mitchell claimed a second Commonwealth Games gold as Australia made a clean sweep of the medals in the women's individual all-around. Mitchell, 19, scored a combined total of 58.2 points to win the competition ahead of fellow West Australian Emily Little (55.85) and Victorian Georgia Bonora (54.95).

The triumph follows the trio’s efforts in helping Australia to gold in the women’s team event on Tuesday night.

 

 

Cameron Meyer secures gold in the men's 40km points race at the velodrome, meaning Australia has won all but one of the golds on offer at the track so far.

Meyer beat England's George Atkins who won silver, with Mark Christian of the Isle of Man taking the bronze.

 

 

Australia's women's team has won gold in impressive style in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Australians Kylie Palmer, Blair Evans, Bronte Barratt and Meagan Nay clocked 7:53.71 to claim the major medal ahead of New Zealand (7:57.46) and England (7:58.61).

 

Teenage star Emily Seebohm won her first gold medal of her arduous Commonwealth Games campaign after taking out the 100m backstroke final in Delhi.

The 18-year-old, having already won two silver medals and a bronze, fought back late to clock 59.79 seconds and beat England’s Gemma Spofforth (1:00.02), with Canada’s Julia Wilkinson (1:00.74) taking third.

 

The medal kept alive Seebohm’s hopes of earning up to eight medals in Delhi.

"It’s just a big weight off my shoulders at the moment," Seebohm said.

"I’m really excited for it and I’m really happy and it’s good that my family get to see it back home.

"The 100 back has always been my best event but I’m learning to branch out into other events,’’ Seebohm said.

 

It was a great race in the women's 200m breaststroke with Australian Leisel Jones winning her eighth Commonwealth Games gold medal, spearheading an Australian trifecta.

 

Jones, who missed gold in the women's 50m breaststroke when upset by Australian teenager Leiston Pickett on Tuesday, clocked 2:25.38, touching the wall narrowly ahead of countrywoman Tessa Wallace (2:25.60).

Sarah Katsoulis claimed bronze with another impressive swim (2:25.92) to complete an Australian clean sweep.

 

Australian swimming has a new star. Alicia Coutts has impressively won the women's 100m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games, backing up her gold medal in the women's 200m individual medley two nights ago.

 

Coutts, 23, clocked 54.09sec to upstage teenager Emily Seebohm for the second time in Delhi, after upsetting her compatriot two nights ago.

 

Australian paralympic star Matt Cowdrey sets a new world record in the men’s S9 50m freestyle final.

 

Cowdrey won gold in 25.33 seconds to shave one-hundredth of a second off his own world record, set at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.