SPORTS DIGEST:ATHLETICS: Caster Semenya, the women's 800 metres world champion, has been named in South Africa's Commonwealth Games squad.
Semenya has made just three competitive appearances since being cleared to race by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after a series of gender verification tests.
The 19-year-old has won each of her comeback races, although her best time – one minute 59.90 seconds at a World Challenge event in Berlin on Sunday – was still short of her 1:55.45 at the world championships on the same track last year.
“I’m very happy to see the return of Caster Semenya to duty for South Africa,” said Gideon Sam, president of the South African Olympic Committee.
The Commonwealth Games take place in New Delhi in October.
Bertrand takes control in Howth
SAILING:America's Cup legend John Bertrand moved into the overall lead of the Etchells World Championships at Howth yesterday after the Australian scored two wins off Ireland's Eye, reports David Branigan.
Because Tuesday’s programme was disrupted by gales on the Irish Sea, two more races will be sailed today, which will allow the single discard to come into force.
That may close up the leaderboard once more.
Bertrand holds an 11-point lead overnight from Ante Rasmillovic of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, who could finish only in 12th place yesterday to help the Australian to build his lead.
Best of the Irish boats in the 42-boat fleet was double-Olympic veteran David Burrows in 11th overall after an eighth yesterday.
That was the next-best result by the local boats after a third by Jay Bourke in race three.
Carter to make grand slam tour
RUGBY:Outhalf Daniel Carter should be fit for New Zealand's end-of-season grand slam tour after surgery on his injured right ankle, team doctor Deb Robinson said.
The 28-year-old had the operation in Christchurch on Tuesday after suffering pain throughout the Tri-Nations.
He was earlier ruled out of the final Tri-Nations clash with Australia on September 11th in Sydney after the All Blacks wrapped up the title last week with a 29-22 victory over South Africa in Johannesburg.
“I’ve spoken to both the surgeon and to Dan, and the surgeon was really happy with the way things went,” Robinson said.
“He removed loose bodies from the back of the ankle, and he also had one on the inside of the ankle which came out easily as well. He was certainly happy with the way the rest of the joint looked.”
Ireland face the All Blacks on Saturday, October 20th, at the Aviva Stadium.
Brazilian stands in Niland’s way
TENNIS:Conor Niland will have to overcome the player he lost to in this year's Australian Open qualifying to advance to the third and final round at the US Open qualifying event.
After his 6-0 6-4 win over Spain’s David Marrero in the first round at Flushing Meadows event on Monday, the Irish No 1 today takes on Brazil’s Ricardo Hocevar.
Back in January, the South American deprived Niland of a place in the main draw by recording a 1-6 6-4 6-3 victory over the Limerick man.
At the time Niland was ranked at 285, while Hocevar was at 194. In the meantime the Irish player has improved a whopping 131 places in the world ladder to his career-high mark of 154, while today’s opponent has dropped 59 places to 253.
Hocevar has also crashed out in the first and second round of his last two tournaments, while Niland advanced to the quarter-finals of his two most recent events in Russia and China.
Burnett settles score to take gold in Singapore
YOUTH OLYMPICS:Ryan Burnett, from the Holy Family club in Belfast, claimed an historic gold medal for Ireland at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore yesterday with a 13-6 light-flyweight victory over Salman Alizida of Azerbaijan.
The 48kg decider was the curtain-raiser for yesterday’s finals programme, making Burnett the first Youth Olympics boxing champion.
The duel was also a repeat of May’s AIBA World Youth final in Baku, Azerbaijan, which Alizida won. He also controversially beat Burnett on a count-back following a 3-3 tie in the President’s Cup in Azerbaijan last December.
However, Burnett exacted sweet revenge, dropping Alizida with a sweet left in a neutral corner in the third en route to victory.
“I couldn’t believe the support I got, it was a great boost as it was very tough in there,” said the 18-year-old.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the win. It’s a dream come true for me.”
