B17CYG: Success on day one

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While you were sleeping…

 

Australia has commenced its Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in style, with strong performances across judo and beach volleyball on the opening day of competition.

Though the formal opening ceremony will commence later this evening, competition has commenced in The Bahamas, with the judo program already finalised.

Best laid plans have been thrown out for many athletes due to significant travel delays, caused by a late arrival into Los Angeles.

But the Australian team showed its resilience at the opening day of competition, headlined by the judo team who collected the team’s first gold medal of the games and added a further three silver by the close of competition.

Judo coach and team manager Alex Vallentine was full of praise for his athletes, who were forced to juggle the challenge of meeting weigh-in conditions while in transit to The Bahamas.

The start of the beach volleyball program also yielded some encouraging results with both the male and female teams winning their opening pool games.

Here’s the full wrap of what you missed while you were asleep….

 

JUDO

 

Four Judokas will be among the only athletes with medals hanging around their neck at the opening ceremony tonight after kicking the Games off with one gold and three silver.

The Australian Judo team were in impressive form this morning with Tim Hollingbery defeating Mozambique’s Helder Martins and local teen Daleon Sweeting to take home the gold.

Second placed Connor Smith grabbed the silver with two from three wins by ippon in a round robin, while Francis Newman and Uros Nikolic followed suit.

Saskia Brothers, Daniel Villani and Sophie Robins all shone in stand-out performances, but just fell short of podium positions.

 

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

 

Australia’s female beach volleyball team of Carrie Van Rensburg and Bec Ingram were the first Australian’s to compete in the Bahamas and the Victorian duo made it a winning start.

Taking on the strong Team England pairing, the Australian’s won in two sets (21-14; 21-19).

Following on from the early success of their female counterparts, Australia’s male team of Mark Nicolaidis and James Takken opened their games campaign in winning style against St Lucia.

Hot and humid conditions greeted all players at the beach volleyball venue, located in the shadows of The Bahamas towering Atlantis complex.

Beach Volleyball coach Kerri Pottarst believed both team’s would be improved in their next pool games after gaining their first look at the venue and conditions during today’s competition.

 

 

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