Canadian swimmer Josh Liendo advanced to a pair of finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on Friday, but will only race in one of them on Saturday.
The Markham, Ont., native won his men’s 100-metre butterfly semifinal heat in a time of 50.75 seconds. Liendo won bronze at last year’s worlds and is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion in the distance.
The final scheduled for Saturday at 7:42 a.m. ET.
Not long after he wrapped up his butterfly heat, Liendo was back in the pool for his semifinal heat in the men’s 50m freestyle. The 20-year-old’s time of 21.88 was the eighth-fastest time in the heats, and just enough to qualify for Saturday’s final.
However, according to CBC Sports reporter Devin Heroux, Liendo will not race in the 50m freestyle final, instead focusing on the butterfly final.
“I’ve done doubles multiple times and want to keep getting better at it as my career progresses,” said Liendo. “I’m just having fun and racing hard. Obviously I’m in the fight with those guys, that’s what I like and that’s what I did.”
WATCH | Liendo wins 100m butterfly semifinal heat:
Canada’s Josh Liendo wins 100 metre butterfly semifinal, advances to final
12 hours ago
Duration 4:34
Toronto’s Josh Liendo won the second semifinal of the day in the 100 metre butterfly, advancing to the final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Fellow Canadian Ilya Kharun, of Montreal, finished the 100m butterfly semi in a personal best 51.22, but the 18-year-old did not advance to the final.
“I guess it was fine because I dropped [my time], but definitely disappointing getting ninth place,” said Kharun. “I’ve definitely got to get faster.”
Kelsey Wog was the only Canadian in an individual medal final on Friday. The 24-year-old Winnipeg native finished eighth in the women’s 200m breaststroke, posting a time of 2:25.21.
“I definitely would have liked to be a bit faster but it’s always a good experience being in a final,” said Wog, in her third straight worlds final in the event. “I definitely want to be placing higher in the final in the future.”
The gold medal was won by South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker in 2:20.80.
WATCH | Wog 8th in women’s 200m breaststroke:
Kelsey Wog finishes in 8th place in 200 metre breaststroke
11 hours ago
Duration 6:45
Winnipeg, Man., Kelsey Wog swam to an eighth place finish in the 200 metre breaststroke final at the world aquatic championships.
Masse advances to 200m backstroke final
Kylie Masse, of LaSalle, Ont., secured her spot in the women’s 200m backstroke finals on Friday.
Calgary’s Ingrid Wilm failed to advance to the semifinals after finishing just outside the top-16 in the preliminary heats.
Masse won silver in the event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The 27-year-old fell just short of the 100m backstroke podium in Fukuoka with a fourth-place finish in the final on Day 3.
“I’m just taking it day by day, making sure I get the proper recovery and rest that I need to set myself up well for the next race,” said Masse.
WATCH | Masse makes it to 200m backstroke final:
Kylie Masse advances to 200 metre backstroke final
12 hours ago
Duration 6:25
Kylie Masse of LaSalle, Ont., qualified for the final of the 200 metre backstroke final with a fourth place finish in her semifinal race at the World Aquatics Championships.
The final will take place Saturday at 7:57 a.m. ET.
Watch live coverage of the World Aquatics Championships on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
