World champion Ilchenko wins women’s 10km swim gold

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from China

Russia and Italy won their respective quarter finals to advance into the semi finals of the men’s volleyball tournament while world champion Larisa Ilchenko bagged the gold medal in women’s 10km swimming marathon on day 12 of the XX1Xth Olympic Games continued here today.

In the quarter finals of the men’s volleyball tournament, Italy registered an exciting three sets to two win over Poland to reach the last four. Having lost the third set 18-25, Italy came back strongly to win the next two sets to book a place in Saturday’s semi finals at the Capital Gymnasium.

The second volleyball quarter final saw Russia beating Bulgaria by three sets to one. Even then, the Russians had an early scare when they lost theecond set to make it one-all but the Moscow lads bounced back to win the next two sets in style.

Meanwhile, Russian pre-race favorite and three-time world champion Ilchenko put in a withering finishing burst with only 50ms remaining to win the gold medal in women’s 10km marathon at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.

Better known for her race tactics of sitting just off the feet of the leaders and moving past them in the final stages, Ilchenko won in one hour, 59 minutes and 27.7 seconds to survive a close finish. She was just one and a half seconds ahead of Britain’s Keri-Anne Payne, who won the silver.

Yin Jian nearly caused a riot today when she won the host nation’s first ever Olympic gold medal in sailing. It was a heart-stopping performance by the Chinese lass which had spectators screaming and waving flags.

A roar went up from the fans lining the viewing wall just outside the venue when they realised Yin had won gold by finishing third in the medal race after fighting back from fifth and out of contention for the title. Italian Alessandra Sensini won the silver.

In the Olympic basketball arena, Spain became the first semi finalist of the Being Games when they beat Croatia 72-59 in their quarter final match.

Ranked 20th in the world, Croatia was not expected to bring too much trouble to reigning world champion Spain, even though the Croatians won their previous encounter with a last second three-pointer.

It was a disappointing day for the Chinese basketball fans when their national team went down to Lithuania 68-94 in their quarter final match. Lithuania will now meet Spain in the first semi final of the men’s basketball tournament to be played on Friday.

BEIJING, Wednesday.