Sela joins Israel’s largest Olympic squad

JACK MILNER

During the week Dudi Sela became the first Israeli tennis player since 1992 to take part in the men’s singles event at the Olympics in Rio this summer despite falling six places to No 68 in the world on Monday.

Only the top 56 in Monday’s decisive ATP rankings receive direct acceptance to the 2016 Rio Games, but Sela made the cut as each country is only allowed to send four representatives.

The last Israeli male to represent the country at the Olympic singles tournament was Gilad Bloom at Barcelona in 1992.

Anna Smashnova (2004), Tzipi Obziler (2004) and Shahar Pe’er (2008, 2012) have all taken part in the women’s singles since, with Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich playing in the doubles tournament in each of the past three Olympics.

The 31-year-old Sela became the 45th member of Israel’s biggest delegation, two more than the previous record set in Beijing in 2008. The delegation could still grow further over the next few weeks, with golfer Laetitia Beck almost certain to qualify. Beck is ranked 42nd on the Olympic listings, with all players who are in the top 59 on July 11, guaranteed a berth in Rio.

Israel’s swimmers also have until July 3 to set a qualifying time in a sanctioned event.

Sela, who lost to Dustin Brown in the first round of Roland Garros in Paris, will be in action next week at the grass tournament in Den Bosch, Holland.

There are also massive rewards on offer for Israeli medallists this time. The Israeli Olympic Committee announced during the week that every Israeli gold medal winner will be awarded a NIS 500 000 bonus, as well as an apartment worth NIS 1 million from one of the committee’s sponsors. His/her coach will receive NIS 250 000, the coaching staff NIS 50 000 with his association and club to get NIS 25 000.

Any Israeli silver medallist will be awarded NIS 400 000, with his/her coach to get half the sum, coaching staff 10 per cent and association and club five per cent. Bronze medallists will receive NIS 250 000, with the coach to get half the sum, coaching staff 10 per cent and the association and club five per cent.

Athletes from Israel who finish between fourth and 12th place will also be awarded performance bonuses.

But they will all have to be wary as health authorities warned on Tuesday about the Zika virus and other ailments that could strike athletes and visitors.

The risk assessment has been updated in light of further information on the ongoing Zika outbreak in Brazil. Visitors to both the Olympics and Paralympics will be most at risk of gastrointestinal illness and vector-borne infections. People at the Games need to pay attention to standard hygiene measures to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal illness and protect themselves against mosquito and/or other insect bites using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers.

That sounds like a load of fun!

 —————————————————————————————————-

Promotion for KDHL rugby team

JACK MILNER

The 2016 rugby season ended in celebration for King David High School Linksfield as they won their section of the league and have now been promoted to the A section of the Pirates Schools Challenge. The school topped their table on 70 points.    

As far as the individual teams at the school are concerned, the school’s 1st XV and the under-15 A sides finished third while the under 14 A and under-16 A sides were second.

It is amazing how things have changed over the years. Once considered a bunch of no-hopers (certainly in my days at the school) the rugby department shows an improvement on the scoreboard year on year. This season the school played a cumulative 66 games, winning 52 of them, drawing three and losing 11.

The under-14 A team was the most successful, winning 90,9 per cent of their matches. The schools participating in the league are Northcliff High School, Randpark High School, Fourways High School – all a lot bigger co-educational schools than KDHSL – as well as Heronbridge. King David also played friendlies against CBC Boksburg, St Johns College, St Benedict’s and Edenglen High School.