Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-08-22

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] OLYMPIC MEDALS AND GREAT PERFORMANCES

[02] BRONZE MEDAL TAKEN AWAY

[03] BIG SUCCESS FOR THE GREEK ROWING TEAM

[04] GREECE QUALIFIED FOR THE QUARTERFINALS IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

[05] GREEK WRESTLER STAVROULA ZYGOURI TO THE SEMIFINALS

[06] GREECE'S DIMOSTHENIS TAMPAKOS BATTLES FOR THE GOLD

[01] OLYMPIC MEDALS AND GREAT PERFORMANCES

Yesterday was the most successful day for Greece in terms of Olympic medals won. The Greek athletes won three medals in one day. A gold, a silver and a bronze, and given the fact that Greece is no sports superpower the Greek athletes deserve a big thank you from the Greek people.

The Greek pair in sailing Sophia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa won the gold in the women's 470 class, while Tasoula Kelesidou won the silver in women's discus throwing.

Pirros Dimas won the bronze medal in the men's weightlifting (85 kg), while his successor Giorgos Markoulas came fourth.

Great performances were recorded in the track and field events with Greek records by Chrisopigi Devetzi in the women's triple jump (13.52 m) and Fani Chalkia in the women's 400 m hurdles (53.85).

[02] BRONZE MEDAL TAKEN AWAY

The International Olympic Committee Executive Board punished Greek weightlifter Leonidas Sampanis by taking away from him the bronze medal he won in the Athens Olympic Games in the 62 kg category after a drug test showed traces of testosterone in his urine. Sampanis tested positive for twice the allowed amount of testosterone (12 with an allowed limit of 6.5).

According to the decision, the athlete is excluded from the games, will have to return his accreditation and the participation diploma, while his case will be judged by the International Weightlifting Federation.

Sampanis remains for us an Olympic bronze medal winner, stated his coach Christos Iakovou who stressed that his athlete is clean.

I swear to God and my children that I've never used something like that. Believe me, stated Sampanis on Saturday with tears in his eyes.

[03] BIG SUCCESS FOR THE GREEK ROWING TEAM

Greek rowing crew Vasilis Polimeros and Nikos Skiathitis wrote history this morning after winning the bronze medal in the Men's Lightweight Double Sculls in the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Center.

The Greek pair was impressive in the final and finished 3rd after the crews of Poland that won the gold medal and France that won the silver.

The medal won today by Polimeros and Skiathitis is the 7th Greek medal in the Athens Olympic Games.

[04] GREECE QUALIFIED FOR THE QUARTERFINALS IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

A record crowd for Women's Basketball in Greece raised the roof at Helliniko Indoor Arena as the Greek national team claimed the last quarterfinal Olympics berth with an absolutely thrilling 93-91 victory over valiant Japan.

The Greek team only qualified for the Olympics because Greece is the host country. Its highest international finish was ninth place in the 2003 European Championships.

Greek player Evanthia Maltsi played a leading role in the game and finished with 33 points, the most by any female player in a preliminary-round game, and 11 rebounds.

[05] GREEK WRESTLER STAVROULA ZYGOURI TO THE SEMIFINALS

Greek wrestler Stavroula Zygouri qualified for the semifinals in the Women's Freestyle 63 kg category after defeating Sweden's Sara Eriksson (5-3).

The Greek champion fought hard even when she was behind with a score 3-0 and stated that she hopes for a good result tomorrow.

[06] GREECE'S DIMOSTHENIS TAMPAKOS BATTLES FOR THE GOLD

The participation of Greece's Dimosthenis Tampakos in the Rings final is the most notable Greek participation on the 9th day of the 28th Olympic Games in Athens.

Gymnastics athlete Dimosthenis Tampakos is the favorite for a medal in the Rings and will have to compete against great Ring masters.

The competition will take place in the Athens Olympic Stadium at 10:15 pm this evening and is expected to be sensational.

In the track and field, Greek athlete Christos Meletoglou will do his best in the men's triple jump final at 8:10 pm this evening.

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