Nigeria ranked highest African country as Onaolapo claims fourth gold medal

More cheery news from the ongoing London Paralympic games as Team Nigeria athletes has increased their gold medals tally to 4.
Joy Onaolapo won gold in the 52 kilogram powerlifting women’s category thereby increase the country’s total medal haul to 7.
Nigeria remains the highest ranked African country on the overall medal table in seventh position.

Powerlifter Esther Oyema claims third gold medal for Nigeria

It is gold medal number three for Team Nigeria at the on-going London Paralympic games as the global sporting showpiece enters its third day.
Esther oyema lifted 135kg to set a new world record in the women’s 48kg powerlifting category.
Oyema’s feat means Nigeria now has 3 gold,2 sliver to sustain its position among the top ten on the overall medal table.
Lafina olesya of Russia picked silver medal while Shi Shanshan of China settled for bronze.

History boy: Pistorius secures his place in the record books after setting new T44 200m time

Oscar Pistorius returned to London and to Paralympic competition with a new world record on Saturday night.
The South African, who last month became the first amputee sprinter to compete in an Olympics, clocked 21.30 seconds to win his heat of the T44 200m with effortless ease.
His crossover into able-bodied competition has made the Blade Runner is a Paralympic icon and he received a huge ovation from the capacity crowd at the Olympic Stadium.

In a league of his own: Oscar Pistorius breaks the world record with a time of 21.30 as he competes in the Men's 200m

Speed king: Pistorius set the record in the heats

Out in front: Pistorius is the face of the Paralympics

'I just wanted to come out tonight and have a good race,' he told Channel 4.
'It makes me so happy to be here. I'm happy with the time.
'Tomorrow's the big race (the final) and I am looking forward to it. To run in front of such an amazing stadium is mind-blowing.'

Manchester City 3 QPR 1: Head boy Dzeko to the rescue again as Tevez hits 50th as champions shrug off gritty R's

Edin Dzeko is not the most popular or exciting member of Manchester City’s super-squad but he will always be selected by Roberto  Mancini to play QPR.
Less than four months ago, Dzeko, who was linked with Liverpool in one of the more bizarre transfer deadline-day rumours on Friday, headed an injury-time equaliser against Rangers that rescued City’s fading title challenge with seconds to spare.
And on Saturday the Bosnian beanpole was at it again, nodding in at exactly the same end of the ground to safeguard an important City  victory just 98 seconds after the  Etihad Stadium had been rocked by a Rangers equaliser.

Going ahead: Manchester City's Yaya Toure scored for City in the first half

MATCH FACTS:

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta (Toure 74), Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Silva (Milner 81), Toure, Rodwell, Nasri (Razak 89), Tevez, Dzeko.
Subs Not Used: Pantilimon, Sinclair, Clichy, Balotelli.
Booked: Kolarov, Rodwell.
Goals: Toure 16, Dzeko 61, Tevez 90.
QPR: Green, Bosingwa, Ferdinand (Onuoha 67), Nelsen, Da Silva, Wright-Phillips, Granero (Cisse 85), Park, Faurlin (Dyer 72), Zamora, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Derry, Mackie, Hoilett.
Booked: Zamora.
Goals: Zamora 59.
Referee: Chris Foy

With Sergio Aguero injured and Mario Balotelli about to face eye surgery, Dzeko’s importance has never been higher.
He even broke into a rare smile when his shot was diverted past Robert Green by partner-in-crime Carlos Tevez for a third City goal in injury time that maintained their unbeaten start to the season and left QPR’s much-changed team still seeking their first win.
Along the way, there were plenty of milestones for the home team against their former manager Mark Hughes. Mancini won in his 100th Premier League game, Dzeko’s goal was City’s 200th in that time and Tevez’s late strike was his 50th  Premier League goal for the club.
Not that the hard-to-please Italian was jumping with joy. ‘We played well in the first half but we have one problem at the moment, we aren’t taking our chances,’ he said. ‘It is important we improve because we can’t concede a goal in every match. But it was important we got the three points.’
Coach David Platt backed up his manager’s view. ‘We weren’t ruthless enough,’ he complained. ‘Last season we closed games off really early. When you go 3-0 up you gain confidence and deflate teams. But we aren’t getting that second goal.’

Fairing home: Toure gets the ball past Rob Green through a crowded penalty area

Hughes was just disappointed his team had not kept the score at 1-1 for longer. ‘I could sense apprehension in the stadium at that point. It was a real body blow to concede so quickly after scoring ourselves,’ he admitted. ‘But we can take a lot of positives from the game. We were in the backyard of the champions.’
Rangers have so many players, having signed 12 in the summer window, there was no room for Adel Taraabt or Clint Hill on the bench, while DJ Campbell cannot be fitted into the 25-man Premier League squad and will be sent out on loan.
They were not overly ambitious yesterday but were solid enough to suggest they will not be involved in another relegation ding-dong this season.

Ouch! Pablo Zabaleta challenges Queens Park Rangers' Park Ji-Sung

Esteban Granero, a £9 million  capture from Real Madrid, looked good in the middle of the park and goalkeeper Green was his usual mix of decent and dodgy. This could be his last game for a while, however, following the arrival of Brazil’s Julio Cesar from Inter Milan.
None of the five players signed by Mancini on deadline day, including £16m midfielder Javi Garcia featured, but there were things for the Italian to enjoy, including the Yaya Toure-Jack Rodwell partnership in midfield. But there also much for Jose Mourinho, the coach of Real Madrid, to work on as he watched on ahead of their Champions League showdown in 16 days’ time.

Free header: Bobby Zamora heads QPR level

City’s defending at set pieces was poor and veteran Rangers defender Ryan Nelsen twice had chances to equalise at 2-1.
City rattled up six corners in the opening 16 minutes. From the sixth, they scored after Tevez’s shot was blocked by Bobby Zamora and Toure connecting with a rising shot past Green from the rebound.
City fans were aware they had also led 1-0 at half-time of their title-decider in May but were then shocked by two QPR goals to trail 2-1 before the late drama. So there was plenty of anxiety when Tevez was denied by Green, Pablo Zabaleta hit the underside of the crossbar and then Rangers levelled when Andy Johnson dispossessed David Silva and his shot was parried by Joe Hart into the path of Zamora to score.

Jumping for joy: Andy Johnson celebrates with Zamora after his goal

Take that! Zamora celebrates his goal in front of the QPR fans

Any nerves were settled when Dzeko scored almost immediately. Aleksandr Koloarov sped down the left and from his cut-back, Tevez nipped in before Anton Ferdinand and crossed for his strike partner. With Green rooted to his line, the  6ft 3in striker easily converted with his forehead.
Nelsen then screwed a shot wide from Nedum Onuoha’s knockdown as City, unbeaten at home in the league since December 2010, began to creak.
But in virtually the final attack, Dzeko shot, Tevez stuck out a leg and the ball shot past a startled Green to give the final scoreline an unjust gloss.
Champions sometimes get what they don’t completely deserve.

Winner: Edin Dzeko celebrates scoring his side's winning goal

Making sure: Carlos Tevez celebrates his goal in stoppage time

Nelsen then screwed a shot wide from Nedum Onuoha’s knockdown as City, unbeaten at home in the league since December 2010, began to creak.
But in virtually the final attack, Dzeko shot, Tevez stuck out a leg and the ball shot past a startled Green to give the final scoreline an unjust gloss.
Champions sometimes get what they don’t completely deserve.

Ellie Simmonds smashes world record to claim 400m freestyle gold in thrilling clash

• Simmonds smashed old record by five seconds to defend her Paralympics title in a time of 5:19.17
• The 17-year-old powered past U.S. swimmer Victoria Arlen with blistering surge in the closing stages of the race
• Ecstatic and emotional Ellie said: 'I just went out there and gave it my all.'
• Oscar Pistorius clocked a world record 21.30 seconds to win his heat of the T44 200m on his return to London and Paralympic competition tonight
• Great Britain now third on Paralympic medal table with nine golds, 16 silvers, and 11 bronzes

Swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds smashed the world record to defended her 400m freestyle Paralympics title in a thrilling clash with U.S. rival Victoria Arlen.
The double-gold winner from Beijing four years ago wept as she realised she had powered to victory in a time of 5:19.17 - roared on by the jubilant crowd at the aquatics centre.
Ellie, 17, made her decisive move for glory in the closing stages of the race, having trailed Arlen for more than 300 metres.

Jubilation: Ellie Simmonds celebrates smashing a world record to win gold in the women's 400m Freestyle S6 final swimming competition at the Aquatics Center

Triumph: Ellie Simmonds waves to the crowd which had packed into the aquatics centre to cheer her to a thrilling victory

Simmonds struggled to keep her emotions in check as she came to terms with her achievement.
'I need to sort myself out because I don't want to cry again,' she told Channel 4. 'I just went out there and gave it my all.
'I'm exhausted but I can't wait to see my coach (Billy Pye).
'I'm exhausted. I can't believe I did it.
'It was so tough. I saw her (Arlen) on the last 100 and I was like, 'I'm going to have to put my head down' and I thought, "I'm going to do it for for everyone who's supported me".'
She added: 'I knew that she was on it tonight, I knew I had to go there and give it everything, but 5.19 - my coach said it was going to be won in a 5.19 but I didn't believe him.
'I just put my head down and gave it everything. I was exhausted but I just put my head down and went for it.
'Everyone was wishing me good luck which was so nice. I did it for myself, I did it for my family.'

Pride and joy: A beaming Ellie Simmonds receives the cheers from the crowd after collecting her gold medal for the women's 400-meter freestyle S6

Glory: Ellie Simmonds, right, celebrates her victory alongside Victoria Arlen of the United States who pushed her all the way in a thrilling 400 freestyle final

With the medley still to come, she added: 'I'm on form. I've just done a six-second PB so everything's going really well so I'm just going to go back, enjoy this moment, enjoy my medal and my presentation. I'm excited.'
But she did not have an easy route to the top of the podium.
Arlen - who was equally dominant in her heat earlier today, logging a time just half a second behind Simmonds - had carved out a commanding lead by half distance.
But with 75 metres to go, Ellie surged into the lead with a sensational burst of speed.
Hitting the last turn just 0.08seconds in front, Ellie never looked like running out of steam, steadily drawing clear.
She finally touched the wall more than a second ahead of Arlen, who finished in 5:20.18.
Both swimmers had earlier today set up a thrilling head-to-head clash having dominated their heats.

Favourites: Ellie Simmonds and Victoria Arlen went head-to-head in the 400m freestyle final (S6)

Red, white and blue: Ellie Simmonds in action in her heat this morning

Close behind: American Victoria Arlen won her heat just half a second slower than Simmonds

Rivalry: British swimmer Ellie Simmonds (left) looks set to take on Victoria Arlen (right) after the American competitor was reinstated in her category following an appeal

But Arlen, 17, only made the final following a last minute reprieve granted her permission to take part in the S6 category.

The former world record holder was originally ruled ‘ineligible’ because her impairment was not deemed severe enough.

Arlen appealed the decision by the International Paralympic Committee's on Monday - and won.

Arlen was paralysed in 2006 by a virus which affected her spinal cord and left her in a vegetative state for two years.
Simmonds became as the darling of the pool at Beijing in 2008, when she won golds in the 100m and 400m freestyle at the age of just 13.
Now 17, Simmonds, who has dwarfism, has defended one of those titles against Arlen, who broke both of her world records at the U.S. trials in June.

Champion: Ellie Simmonds, Britain's youngest ever gold medallist, in action in the pool. She is hoping to defend the two medals she won in Beijing in 2008, when she was just 13

World-beater: Ellie Simmonds, who has dwarfism, won golds in the 100m and 400m freestyle in Beijing

Before the Games, Simmonds named Arlen as her greatest rival, telling the BBC: ‘It’s given me a bit of a buzz really, a bit of determination.

‘I’m a very competitive person and being behind the blocks, knowing that she is the world record holder and that I have to beat her, is really exciting.’

Simmonds is competing for four medals, in the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle and the 200m individual medley.

And the pressure is on – following her double gold in Beijing, she was named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, and became the youngest person ever to be awarded the MBE.
Speaking about this year’s Games, she said: ‘Four years ago it was all new for me.
'Now I know coming into the Games what a Paralympics is like, how big an event it is.
'It’s definitely going to be a big event being at a home Games.
'It’s exciting, but it’s quite scary.’
Ellie's victory was not the only home medal in the pool today.
Moments before she took to the water Team GB's Matt Whorwood won bronze in the men's 400m Freestyle S6. Gold went to Ireland's Darragh McDonald and silver to Anders Olsson of Sweden.
Simmonds' remarkable victory capped a memorable Super Saturday for ParalympicsGB which left Britain in their targeted position of second in the table with a 34-medal haul.

Showdown: Ellie Simmonds, pictured with her coach Billy Pye (left), has named Victoria Arlen (right) as her greatest rival. Arlen broke both of the British swimmer's world records at the US trials in June

The tally includes nine golds, 16 silvers and 11 bronze medals.
Earlier in the day, Richard Whitehead sent the Olympic Stadium into a frenzy as he powered back from way down the field to take gold in the T24 200m in world record time.
Whitehead, 36, from Nottingham, dedicated the win to his family, including pregnant fiancee Valerie Davies.
'It's all about guts and determination,' said Whitehead, a double amputee from birth, who has the words 'cometh the hour cometh the man' tattooed on his arm.
'Today I came, I saw, I conquered.
'That was what the two-gun salute was all about - in honour of my hero Chris Hoy.'
Seconds after the win, Valerie tweeted: 'Love u baby. At finish line! We are all so proud of u! Love val, bump, mum & dad!!! £proudmoment.'

Double gun salute: Richard Whitehead celebrates winning gold in the Men's 200m T42 final

Golden couple Sarah and Barney Storey both won golds in their respective events in the Velodrome.
Former swimmer Storey had the crowd roaring from the start as she won her second gold of the Games in the C4/5 500m time-trial.
And husband Barney picked up gold as a pilot when he guided Neil Fachie to victory in the tandem one-kilometre time-trial.
Sarah's win came two days after she landed gold in the C5 three-kilometre individual pursuit.
Speaking after today's win, she paid tribute to the 'amazing' Velodrome crowd, saying: 'It's just incredible. If you move, everyone cheers. It feels like your own family has grown by 6,000 people. It was amazing.
'It's an incredible venue and I feel so lucky to have won in front of these fans.'
Natasha Baker became the first to win a gold medal in the equestrian event at Greenwich Park.

Glory: Great Britain's Natasha Baker celebrates with her gold medal after winning the Dressage Individual Championship Test Grade II at Greenwich Park, London

Baker, 22, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, contracted transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spine which affects the nerve endings, at 14 months.
The 22-year-old fought back emotion as she triumphed in the Grade II individual championship on her Games debut.
There was huge disappointment in the dressage for Lee Pearson, who has arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, after he narrowly missed out on his 10th gold medal in a stellar career.
Australian Joann Formosa, 13 years Pearson's senior, beat him to the gold medal in the dressage Grade Ib individual championship.
In the Olympic Stadium, Gemma Prescott, 28, won bronze in the F32 club throw, with Rob Womack, 41, matching the feat in the shot put.
Jody Cundy bounced back from disappointment in his favoured event to claim bronze in the men's C4 4km individual pursuit.
Yesterday, he was forced to apologise after launching a foul-mouthed tirade after being refused a re-start in the one-kilometre time-trial.
Jon-Allan Butterworth matched his silver from yesterday by coming second in the men's C5 four-kilometres individual pursuit.
Meanwhile, Oscar Pistorius told his doubters to 'look at the clock' after running a world record on his return to London and Paralympic competition tonight.

Superstar: South Africa's Oscar Pistorius celebrates winning and setting in a new world record in his Men's 200 metre T44 heat during the London 2012 Paralympic Game

The South African, who last month became the first amputee sprinter to compete in an Olympics, clocked 21.30 seconds to win his heat of the T44 200m with effortless ease.
His crossover into non-disabled competition has made the Blade Runner a Paralympic icon and he received a huge ovation from the capacity crowd at the Olympic Stadium.
His time was a personal best and Pistorius admitted it took him by surprise.
'I couldn't have hoped for a better return here,' he said.

Lightning quick: Oscar Pistorius of South Africa powers down the track to win and set in a new world record in his Men's 200 metre T44 heat during the London 2012 Paralympic Games

'I didn't expect to run a time like this tonight. I've run my fastest time and I eased off about 20 metres from the end because I knew I was comfortable and I wanted to conserve energy for (the final) tomorrow.
'Everybody was saying, 'how can you peak for both (the Olympics and Paralympics)?'
'I've proved everybody wrong tonight, running a world record. If there were people that doubted by goals then go and look at the clock, it says 21.30.'

Tomorrow sees the finals in the rowing at Eton Dorney, where former Army captain Nick Beighton goes for gold in the TA mixed double sculls.

Iniesta wins Best Player in Europe Award

Published: Thursday 30 August 2012, 18.59CET

Andrés Iniesta has been voted the winner of the 2011/12 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, the FC Barcelona and Spain midfielder finishing ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Andrés Iniesta has been voted the 2011/12 winner of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award in Monaco.
The FC Barcelona midfielder, who helped Spain defend their UEFA European Championship title this summer, finished ahead of club-mate Lionel Messi, last year's inaugural winner, and Real Madrid CF's Cristiano Ronaldo in a poll of sports journalists representing each of UEFA's member national associations.
Iniesta collected his prize following today's UEFA Champions League group stage draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco and said: "I'm very happy to receive such recognition. As I always say, such awards for one individual can't be achieved without the whole team. So it's a sensation that I want to share with my team-mates at the club, and in the national team. It's recognition for the work that you have done well, and that people are proud and have faith in what you do."
The 28-year-old was in inspired form for Spain at UEFA EURO 2012: he was named Best Player of the Tournament after starting all six games and was also included in the Team of the Tournament. Iniesta also broke Emilio Butragueño's record of 50 Liga matches without defeat last term. He finally ended up on the losing side in game 56 when Real Madrid CF triumphed 2-1 at the Camp Nou in April.
How the journalists voted:
1  Andrés Iniesta (ESP) – FC Barcelona (19 votes)
2  Lionel Messi (ARG) – FC Barcelona (17 votes)
    Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) – Real Madrid CF (17 votes)
The UEFA Best Player in Europe Award was born out of an initiative by UEFA President Michel Platini and has the intention of reviving the spirit of the old European Footballer of the Year award. For the vote, players were judged by their performances during the 2011/12 campaign in all competitions, both domestic and international, and at club and national team levels.

Manchester City pull off biggest deal of deadline day with £16m swoop for Garcia

Manchester City have signed Javi Garcia from Benfica for an initial fee of £15.8million.
Garcia, 25, underwent a medical at Bridgewater Hospital before completing his move to the Etihad Stadium.
The defensive midfielder has been capped once by Spain and will wear the No 14 shirt.

Medical: Javi Garcia (left) arrives at Manchester City ahead of his proposed deal

Garcia began his career with Real Madrid before leaving for Osasuna only for the capital club to exercise a buy-back clause.
He made a further 15 appearances before moving to Benfica in 2009, helping the Eagles to the league title a year later.
Garcia is the cousin of former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia and hopes to make his City debut against Stoke after the international break.
The Premier League champions had already embarked on a frantic deadline day by signing Swansea winger Scott Sinclair, Inter Milan’s Brazil defender Maicon, Fiorentina centre back Matija Nastasic and goalkeeper Richard Wright.

Blue is the colour: Manchester City new boy Javi Garcia

Mancini has been critical of the club, and in particular football administrator Brian Marwood, for not building on last season’s title  success by being more active in the transfer market this summer.
Notably, they have failed to land four of his main targets in Robin van Persie, Eden Hazard, Javi Martinez and Daniele De Rossi.
But the Italian was in more conciliatory mood on Friday as he blamed City’s problems on the prohibitive valuations other clubs have put on their players.
‘I was frustrated because it’s difficult to do everything in a week or 10 days,’ said Mancini. ‘Now I think they have worked very well in the last two weeks.

City slicker: Scott Sinclair holds the Manchester City shirt after completing his move from Swansea

‘It’s a problem that every time you go to buy one player the other club can ask £20m. This is not  correct from the other club.
‘Sometimes it’s not possible to take all the players you want. You should have a different choice. But if I get these  players, I’m happy.’
Although Garcia can also play at centre back, the defensive midfielder has been signed to replace Nigel de Jong, who joined AC Milan for £4m yesterday. Like De Jong,  Maicon was in the last year of his contract at Inter and  therefore the 31-year-old Brazil right back was also available for a relatively low price of £3.1m.
Although neither Maicon nor Nastasic are expected in Manchester until after the forthcoming international break, Sinclair could be in the squad to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday after moving from Swansea for £6.2m plus add-ons.
Meanwhile, Dedryck Boyata joined Dutch side FC Twente on loan.

First day: Scott Sinclair (centre) joins his new Manchester City team-mates in training on Friday morning

Welcome aboard: City boss Roberto Mancini shakes Sinclair's hand on arrival at training, while new goalkeeper Richard Wright (right) was also on show after completing his free transfer to the Premier League champions