Cottage Grove sentinel., August 03, 2016, Page pg 4, Image 29

ARCHERY
BADMINTON
Arrows FLY on the archery course
As much as technology has crept
into the equipment used in Olympic
archery, it still remains as simple as
using a stick and a string, and requires
superior hand-eye coordination. Men
and women competitors shoot recurve
bows in both individual and team for-
mats at a distance of 70 meters
(approximately 230 feet). Since
archery returned to Olympic competi-
tion in 1972 (Munich), medals have
been won by numerous countries, but
South Korea has been the most con-
sistent in recent history, including tak-
ing three of four gold medals in
London in 2012. U.S. hopefuls include
Mackenzie Brown of Flint, Texas.
8/5 Q; 8/6-7 M; 8/8-10 Q; 8/11-12 M
Badminton: advantage China
Badminton falls into three categories: men’s and women’s singles and dou-
bles, and mixed doubles. In men’s singles, look for Lin Dan of China, the
reigning gold medalist, to be in the mix against players such as Lee Chong
Wei, the defending silver medalist from Malaysia, and bronze medalist Chen
Long of China. On the women’s side, China’s Li Xuerui is favored to defend
her gold medal from fellow countrywoman Wang Yihan and Saina Nehwal of
India. Men’s doubles should see the Chinese tandem of Fu Haifeng and
Zhang Nan and the South Korean duo of Lee Yong-Dae and Yoo Yeon-Seong
on the podium, while Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei of China are odds-on favor-
ites to repeat as gold medalists in the women’s event. In mixed doubles,
China’s Zhang and Zhao are the pick.
8/11-15 Q; 8/16-20 M
-Basketball: America’s golden game
BASKETBALL
Carmelo Anthony
Traditionally one of America’s best events at the Summer Games, both men’s
and women’s basketball are played throughout the two weeks of the Olympics.
Each tournament features 12 teams, divided into two pools of six, with 12 players
on each roster. In a slight change to NBA rules, games have four 10-minute quar-
ters. If there’s a tie at the end of regulation, a five-minute overtime period is played
with more overtimes taking place until a winner is determined.
As the U.S. teams look to continue their gold-medal streaks – the men have fin-
ished first in the last two Summer Olympics and the women are going for a sixth-
straight gold – they have two of the best coaches in the sport leading them. Duke
coach Mike Krzyzewski leads the men for the third time while University of
Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma is at the helm of the wom-
en’s squad again after earning gold in 2012 (and in 2000 as an assistant coach).
With names like Curry, Westbrook and Harden off the team, it’ll be harder for
Team USA to snag gold against the likes of perennial contender Spain on the
men’s side. Australia should challenge Team USA for gold in the women’s tourney.
8/6-19 Q; 8/20-21 M
Full Name: Carmelo Kyam Anthony
Country: USA
CARMELO AN-
THONY
Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Birth date: May 29, 1984
Height/Weight: 6 feet, 8 inches/240 pounds
Events: men’s basketball
Credentials: Olympic gold medalist, 2008, 2012; Olympic bronze medalist, 2004;
NCAA national champion, 2003 (Syracuse)
Factoids: Anthony was the 2006 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year, which
is awarded annually for international competition
pg 4 2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS VIEWER’S GUIDE