Bolt expected to reign supreme in 200m too

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from China

Hosts China sailed smoothly on the top slot as records continued to tumble on day eleven of the XXIXth Olympic Games continued here in the Chinese capital today.

The Chinese extended their lead pocketing four more gold medals. The host nation has now bagged a rich haul of 43 gold medals, 14 silver and 19 bronze to take a commanding lead in the latest medals standings.

Despite dominating at the Water Cube in the swimming events, mainly through the golden boy Michael Phelps, who bagged a record eight gold, the United States still remains in the second place.

The Americans who have been dominating in the previous Olympic Games, have so far accounted for only 26 gold, 26 silver and 27 bronze. They are 17 gold medals short of table leaders China.

World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner of the USA was the easy winner in men’s 400m by finishing first in heat one of the semi finals in 44.15 seconds Wariner’s teammate Lashawn Merritt, who beat Wariner at the US Olympic trials in July, has also qualified for the final by recording the fastest time in the semifinals at 44.12 seconds.

It has been a great summer for Great Britain, which has registered its best ever Olympic performance after a century. The 16 gold, nine silver and eight bronze have been their best Olympic achievement since 1908 and are currently placed third in the latest medals standings.

Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain won the gold medal in the women’s 400m with her seasonal best time of 49.62 seconds. Jamaican Shericka Williams took silver with a time of 49.69s, whileAmerican Sanya Richards finished third in 49.93 secs.

Australia takes the fourth place with 11 gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze medals. In the fifth place is Germany, followed by Russia, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Ukraine.

Rasid Ramzi of Bahrain, the 2005 world champion in Helsinki, won gold in the men’s 1500m in three minutes and 32.94 seconds. Asbel Kipruto Kiprop of Kenya ran 3:33.11 minutes to take the silver, ahead of Nicholas Willis of New Zealand to take bronze in a time of 3:34.16 minutes.

Meanwhile, - the fastest man at Beijing Olympics, Jamaican Usain Bolt ran the fastest time of the men’s 200m semifinals, pushing him into the final as the man to beat. He has a his relaxed 20.09 second run.

The Jamaican sprint merchant Bolt goes into the final of the men’s 200m as favorite after leaving the world in awe after his phenomena l 9.69secs world record triumph in the men’s short sprint last Saturday,.

His relaxed stride carried him across the line in 20.09 seconds as he watched himself on the giant TV screen in the National Stadium. His dash and pose puts him just ahead of the 100m fourth place getter Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles who won the first semi final heat in 20.11seconds. American Crawford ran just behind Bolt in the second heat in 20.12 seconds.

Jamaican giant Bolt goes into the final of the Men’s 200m as favorite after leaving the world in awe after his phenomenal 9.69secs world record triumph in the Men’s 100m on Saturday,.

Argentina-Nigeria in football final

Argentina and Nigeria won their respective men’s football semi finals today to book a place in Saturday’s final at the National Stadium.

Argentina broke a nil-all half time deadlock to earn a creditable three goals to nil win over much fancied Brazil in the first semi final at the Workers’ Stadium here. At the Shanghai Stadium, Nigeria cut lose in the second half to score three goals and crushed giant killers Belgium 4-1 in the other semi final. The winners led 1-0 at the breather.

BEIJING, Tuesday.