Monday, 12th September
The loss of a star
Last week the sad news came through of Kenya's star cyclist Suleman Kangangi losing his life in a gravel race in Vermont. An integral member of the East African based Team Amani, Kangangi previously achieved third place at the Tour of Rwanda in 2017 while racing for the German UCI Continental team, Bike Aid. Kangangi switched to gravel racing not long after that. Cycling is a growing sport in Africa and earlier this year Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay won a stage on the Giro d'Italia. Kenya has lost a major sportsman, but Suleman Kangangi's legacy will remain to inspire more and more in Africa to take up the sport of cycling and follow in his footsteps.
Estonia's Andres Kuusk recently became the 2022 Pentamind World Champion held in London. It was the Estonian's fifth success of the event. Staying with mind sports and Poland's Monika Socko has claimed the European Women's Chess Championship in Prague. Constanta in Romania hosted the U17 and U20 Wrestling World Championship where Romania dominated all the women's categories, while the men's categories were all claimed by Azerbaijan. Italy have won the 2022 Eisenhower Trophy in France, the men's golf Amateur Team Championships. It was their first medal in 32 years of the tournament. Israel's Andrea Roccatti and Marika Odikadze are the World Dance Sport Federation Ten Dance World Champions. The competition was held in Bratislava.
The USA's Pro Motocross season completed the final race of 2022 over the weekend. Local star Eli Tomac won the 450 Class, while the 250 Class was claimed by Australia's Jett Lawrence. Only 0.034s separated first and second place on Sunday at the FIM MotoGP's San Marino Grand Prix. Italy's Francesco Bagnaia became the first Ducati rider to win four races in a row. In Formula One Max Verstappen completed his ninth victory of the 2022 season and further strengthens his defense of his title. The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series began the Playoffs over the weekend. The Round of 16 has three race weekends to determine the Round of 12. Sunday was also the penultimate race of the 2022 IndyCar Series, with New Zealand's Scott McLaughlin claiming the win. Only twenty points separate Australia's Will Power from second place Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon as the series moves to Monterey, California, to conclude next weekend.
Canada have won the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship gold for the third straight occasion beating USA 2-1 in the final in Herning, Denmark. The Czech Republic claimed bronze. England's women and Spain's men have won the ANOC World Beach Games European Qualifier. The beach soccer tournament was held in Catania, Italy. Sweden beat the Czech Republic to claim the Women's U19 World Floorball Championship 2022 hosted in Katowice, Poland. Rugby Union news is South Africa beat the hosts Australia for the first time in nine years on Australian soil. The match formed part of the Rugby Championship. USA topped Cuba to claim the Baseball U15 World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico. The bronze medal went to Taiwan as Japan was forced to forfeit the match. Over to Switzerland where local star Melanie Maurer and France's Matthieu Bourgeois won the 2022 World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships.
Until next time, have a great week in sport.