RIO DE JANEIRO -- To win a taekwondo gold medal without doing much fighting is an accomplishment.And that is largely how Chinas Zheng Shuyin took the womens heavyweight division title in a slow-paced final against Mexicos Maria Espinoza at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Saturday night.Both fighters often appeared unwilling to spar and were penalized by the referee for passivity.But Zhengs cautious, defensive approach ultimately allowed her to defeat Espinoza by a score of 5 to 0. Her considerable height advantage -- she is six inches taller -- also kept Espinoza at a distance while she used her longer legs to score quick points.I had this goal to become the Olympic champion but I knew it would not be easy, she said. Zheng said she hadnt yet decided how she would celebrate and would consult with her coach and the team.The match was devoid of any of the more spectacular spinning techniques that taekwondo is known for; Espinoza attempted to score mainly by punching.Zheng said she fights defensively because she worries that her opponents will be faster than her and have adopted strategies to counter her spinning kicks.Maybe I need to change my strategy to improve my score in the future, she said.Espinoza previously won two Olympic medals: a gold at Beijing and bronze in London.Zheng, 22, won a bronze at the Asian championships in April. Her Olympic gold medal is Chinas second in taekwondo at the Rio Games; Zhengs boyfriend Zhao Shuai took the mens 58-kilogram division on Wednesday.The womens bronze medals were won by Britains Bianca Walkden and Jackie Galloway of the U.S.In the mens 80-kilogram plus division, Azerbaijans Radik Isaev won the gold medal after defeating Nigers Abdoulrazak Issoufou in a cagey final where both fighters struggled with their timing and distance.Isaev won by a score of 6-2.Isaev, 26, is the current world champion and was the only fighter able to challenge Issoufou on the mat on Saturday. Although Issoufou stands at six feet nine inches tall, Isaev is just two inches shorter and was able to find ways to counter Issoufous long reach and swinging head kicks.Isaev was ultimately able to land two head shots on the hulking Issoufou that proved enough to secure victory.Earlier in the day, Isaev defeated South Koreas Cha Dong-Min, a gold medalist at the Beijing Games.The mens bronze medals were won by Brazils Maicon Siqueira and South Koreas Cha Dong-Min.Wholesale Hockey Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Hockey Jerseys . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. https://www.fakehockeyjerseys.com/ . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Hockey Jerseys China . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Cheap Hockey Jerseys China . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.MONTREAL -- The heat is on the Montreal Impact. Coming off an embarrassing 4-0 loss in New York on the weekend, coach Marco Schallibaum took the team to a park across the street from Saputo Stadium on Tuesday and made them run for an hour in the sweltering humidity. Schallibaum said it was not punishment and that it had been planned even before Saturdays debacle in New York, a performance that prompted an angry tweet from owner Joey Saputo that the players needed a talking-to. The Impact (9-5-4) are without a win and have conceded 12 goals in their last four games, dropping from top spot in Major League Soccers Eastern Conference to a tie for second place, although they have two games in hand on first-place Kansas City. The slump happened amidst a midsummer rise in temperatures, which the coach said was no coincidence. "Ive learned that certain players cant play when its hot and humid," said Schallibaum. "Weve seen that the last three or four games." That may affect his decisions on who will be in the line-up on Saturday night when the Impact play host to slumping Dallas, who have gone six games without a win. It would be hard to find a player who didnt wilt in the New York heat, but it seemed especially to hit the back line. Ineffective midfilder Andres Romero was subbed out in the first half. Midfielder Patrice Bernier said its matter of adapting to the heat. "We just got summer here, while most of the teams have been playing in 30 degrees with humidity for the last month or two," he said. "You can say it shouldnt be a factor, but it is. "When its 90 per cent humidity and youre drained just after warm-up, you come into the game and youre not as fresh as you usually are. Now we have weather that puts us on a level playing field because were training in the heat. Houston trains in this every day." Added fullback Hassoun Camara: "The weather is hot, but it is good to suffer together." Even the post-practice media session got a little hot when Schallibaum was asked about a report on the Spanish-language side of the MLS website that he was about to be sacked. The Impact denied the report, which quoted a radio station in Colombia. Schallibaum called it "unprofesssional," and said it "hurt a little" to see some people taking it seriously.dddddddddddd "People have short memories these days," he said. "They seem to have forgotten that we are (near) the top of the standings, that we won the Canadian Championship and that, by winning the cup, we made it to the (CONCACAF) champions league. "We know we didnt play well in New York. We conceded four goals. But we know we have to bounce back." Saputo had scheduled a news conference for Monday, but postponed it until Wednesday after the loss so he could talk to the players first. Schallibaum said he and sporting director Nick De Santis already met with Saputo and came away reassured. "Like us, hes not happy with the results," said Schallibaum. "We met and it was very constructive, no panic. "They recognize what the club has done up to now. The message was that we have to bounce back. Thats normal." Schallibaum confirmed that, rather than being fired, he is in talks for an extension to the one-year contract he signed for this season. Saputo was to speak to the players Tuesday afternoon. What he will say to the media is uncertain. He is to review the first half of the season and make announcements regarding the 2014 season. It was not known if there will be player signings or releases. The one bit of positive news this week was that Bernier was selected for the MLS all-star game. The all-stars will play a friendly against Italian club AS Roma in Kansas City on July 31. Striker Marco Di Vaio had already made the starting 11 through a video game promotion. Bernier said he got the news on Monday while visiting a zoo with a family. "It was a nice surprise," he said. "You get to meet the other players who are stars on their teams in a relaxed atmosphere. "And the next day, we are adversaries again. But to get to play a team like Roma doesnt happen every day." Bernier thanked Schallibaum, who has the 33-year-old playing in a more defensive position at the back of the midfield this season, where he has excelled. A team spokesman said Di Vaio has returned to Italy to attend to a family matter but is expected back by the end of the week. ' ' '
