Canadian Update: Mark de Jonge golden, Daniel Nestor nabs another title
Canadian Update is a collection of top results from recent international competitions.
Medal haul for Canadian paddlers in Czech Republic
Canada won five medals at the second stop of the ICF World Cup tour this weekend in Racice, Czech Republic. On Saturday, London 2012 medallist Mark Oldershaw took silver in the C-1 1000m. “There was a strong side wind today but I feel that I handled it well,” said Oldershaw after the race. Ben Russell and Gabriel Beauchesne-Sevigny combined to take bronze in the men’s C-2 1000m. Michelle Russell and KC Fraser added a silver medal in the non-Olympic women’s K-2 1000m. On Sunday, Mark de Jonge sprinted to gold in his specialty, the K-1 200m, the event in which he won Olympic bronze in London. The 30-year-old beat Liam Heath of Great Britain, (2nd), and Sweden’s Petter Menning, (3rd). Also on Sunday, Russell earned his second medal of the weekend, winning bronze with an extended paddle in the non-Olympic C-1 5000m. The third and final World Cup of the season is this coming weekend in Szeged, Hungary.
Canoe/Kayak photos credit: Balint Vekassy
Canada’s hockey men finish first in Group A
Team Canada recovered from an upset shootout loss to France by winning each of their remaining six games at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. Today, Canada finished the preliminary round in Minsk with a 3-2 win over Norway. This places them first in Group A, meaning their Thursday quarterfinal will be against either Latvia or Finland.
Nestor wins second straight doubles title
Daniel Nestor kept it rolling at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in, you guessed it, Rome, Italy. Along with Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic, the pair won their second straight title after winning in Madrid last week. Sunday’s match was a 6-4, 7-6(2) triumph over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and Robin Haase of the Netherlands. Olympic gold medallist Nestor now has 85 doubles titles in his career.
A day earlier, Milos Raonic took on world no. 2 Novak Djokovic in a men’s singles semi. Raonic pushed the Serbian, but Djokovic pulled through in three sets, 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3.
Milos is back in the no. 9 spot on the ATP rankings, one behind 2013 Wimbledon champ Andy Murray. When the French Open begins this weekend, Raonic will likely be the 8th seed due to an injury to world no. 7 Juan Martin Del Potro.
Mike Weir playing ‘best golf in a long time’
Mike Weir calls his second place finish at the Byron Nelson Championship the ‘best golf I’ve played in a long time.’ Brendon Todd was the champion, his first title on the PGA Tour. But Weir isn’t exaggerating, the Texas tournament is the first time he’s been top-3 since 2009. Graham DeLaet was tied for seventh.
SEE ALSO: #RBCGolf4Kids helps golfers win for charities
Both volleyball teams bound for World Championship
Canada’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams have secured spots in 2014’s respective World Championships after a tournament in Mississauga this weekend. After the FIVB World League, the men will head to Poland August 30 to September 21. The women’s World Championship is in Italy, September 23 to October 12. It was the first time both teams have qualified on home soil.
