The coconut discus
Goal Coast: A Cook Islands athlete set to compete at the Commonwealth Games has revealed her unorthodox method for learning shot put and discus — she used to lob coconuts. Tereapii Tapoki, a police officer from Rarotonga, the largest of the 15 palm-fringed Pacific islands that make up the country, hit on the solution after finding throwing sports a tough nut to crack with no equipment available. “We didn't have a shot or discus, so we threw coconuts,” the 33-year-old told reporters in Gold Coast. “It was quite different -- a discus is flat and a coconut is round.” Tapoki, who previously competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Games, will contest both the discus and shot put at the Commonwealth Games. She placed 11th in discus at the 2006 Melbourne Games but pregnancies sidelined the mother-of-two from competition in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow four years ago. “I'm not in as good a shape as perhaps I would like to be but I will give it my best,” said Tapoki, who has been training in Australia under the tutelage of Italian coach Gus Puopolo.
Indecent assault
Goal Coast: The Games were hit by an indecent assault case on Wednesday as police investigated a Mauritian athlete's complaint of “inappropriate touching” by a team official. Just hours before the opening ceremony, Australian police launched a criminal probe after a complaint was made overnight. Mauritian media said chef de mission Kaysee Teeroovengadum had been accused of the offence and had stepped down, but that he remained in Gold Coast, the Games' host city. “The Queensland Police Service is investigating a complaint in relation to an allegation of assault of an aggravated nature involving an athlete and an official from the Mauritius team,” Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters. “This is a criminal investigation that is under way. We are giving it absolute priority and anticipate being able to resolve the issue over the coming days,” he added. Gollschewski told AFP that the complaint related to "inappropriate touching", adding that there were no travel restrictions in place against the alleged offender.
good wishes from pm
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended his best wishes to the Indian contingent for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, saying the whole country is behind the athletes. "All the best to the athletes representing India at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games! Our sportspersons have worked tremendously hard and the Games will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talent. Every Indian is cheering for our contingent," Modi twitted.
England in AfricaIJ
gold coast: Brexit appears to have come early for England at the Commonwealth Games as it was listed as an African country with a population of two million in the official programme. Australian organisers sought to make light of the embarrassing gaffe after England were somehow confused with Gambia, a West African nation which rejoined the Commonwealth in February after leaving in 2013. "There was an overprint," said Mark Peters, chief executive of the Gold Coast Games. "We found out about it maybe 10 days ago. We went and spoke to England and said, 'Congratulations, the Commonwealth's changing and it has since Brexit, and you are now a part of Africa'. Sometimes you make mistakes and we copped it." The official guide to the Games, which profiles the 71 participating nations and territories and was published ahead of Wednesday's opening ceremony, claims England's capital is Banjul.
pool sharks ready
gold coast: England's swimmers are ready to fight fire with fire at the Commonwealth Games when they clash with a fearsome Australia team revved up by their home crowd. The English, spearheaded by Olympic breaststroke champion Adam Peaty, expect a rude reception from the Australians when the competition begins Friday, but their swimming boss promised they will rise to the occasion. "Australia are a powerhouse, they're the team to beat," team leader Grant Robins said. "They're strong across pretty much all the events and have a production line of swimming quality. It's going to be a hostile crowd," added the former Commonwealth Games competitor. Aussie swimmers are no shrinking violets either, but Robins insisted there would be "mutual respect" between the home team and their English rivals on the pool deck.