w for six months. As the first Palestinian to play in Chile, I opened the gate and I hope others will follow.While the P

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Aleksander Lesun had four years to get over his disappointment in London, four years to prepare for his next opportunity.When it came, he was ready.No missed shots. No missed medals. Only gold.Calm and collected on a stage he had once failed on before, Lesun captured gold in mens modern pentathlon at the Rio de Janeiro Games on Saturday for his first Olympic medal.Pavlo Tymoschenko of Ukraine earned silver and Ismael Hernandez Uscanga bronze for Mexicos first modern pentathlon medal.I really upset (about London), but I tried to be calm and do the same thing, said Lesun, who won Russias fourth modern pentathlon gold in the past five Olympics.Lesun has been one of the most consistent pentathletes in the world.The 28-year-old who was born in Belarus and now lives Moscow won world titles in 2012 and 2014, never finishing worse than third in seven world championships. He also came to Rio as the world record holder in overall points (1,534) and fencing (586).The glaring omission on Lesuns resume was an Olympic medal. He was in position for one at the 2012 London Games, entering the final round in third place, but needed 10 shots to hit five targets and fell to fourth.Lesun and Tymoschenko were the favorites heading into the Rio Games and lived up to expectations.Lesun set an Olympic record in the opening fencing with 268 points, finished 22nd in swimming and had a 23-point lead after the one-touch fencing bonus round. He maintained his lead after the equestrian event and stayed through the final event, a combination of running and shooting.Despite Tymoschenko charging through the field, Lesun was far enough ahead that he could miss 10 shots in the final event. With Tymoschenko well behind, Lesun waved to the crowd about 30 yards from the finish line and collapsed to the ground shortly after taking the tape.I did my job, Lesun said.Tymoschenko made a huge jump to the medal stand. The 29-year-old from Kiev is the reigning world champion and ran like it in Rio, moving up from eighth to second in the running/shooting combination for his countrys second Olympic medal in modern pentathlon.I came here not just participate, I came here for a medal, Tymoschenko said. There was some pressure, but last year I had my biggest achievement winning the world championship, so it was OK here in the Olympic Games.Hernandez Uscanga moved up to sixth after a clean equestrian ride and made up ground in the final event, edging Frances Valetin Prades by a second to capture the bronze medal. Wil Myers Padres Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Manuel Margot Padres Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. http://www.padressale.com/padres-austin-hedges-jersey/ . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Dave Winfield Padres Jersey . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Matt Strahm Jersey . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. HEBRON, West Bank -- For over a week, Palestinian soccer fans have been enjoying a special Christmas-season present: the first visit by Chilean soccer club Deportivo Palestino to the West Bank.Two-time winners of Chiles Premier Division and quarter finalists in this years Copa Sudamerica, Palestino was founded in 1920 in the capital city Santiago by Palestinian immigrants. The team has a huge following among Palestinians and President Mahmoud Abbas once described the club as a second national team for the Palestinian people.The main purpose of this visit is to reconnect the team to our origins in Palestine, said team general manager Christian Elben Nazal, whose father immigrated to Chile from the town of Beit Jala.Chile is believed to be the home of the largest Palestinian community outside the Arab world, most from the historically Christian towns of Beit Jala, Bethlehem and Beit Sahur. The teams red, white, black and green jersey represents the colors of the Palestinian flag and the communitys attachment to their ancestral land.During the week-long visit, Palestino has visited historical sites and played two matches, one with the Palestinian national team, and another with an all-star team from the Hebron area. It also conducted training sessions with children and young players.Soccer fans braved the rain and chilly weather as they sat in the small stadium waiting for the beginning of the Hebron match last Thursday.The events announcer practiced introductions in Arabic and Spanish. Long banners on the side of the field read: From Santiago to Jerusalem you are in our heart.Palestinian national songs played over speakers, followed by the visiting teams Spanish Hymno de Club Deportivo Palestino as the competing squads entered the stadium to the crowds cheers.I dont care who wins, said Osama Montasir, 54, a local fan. We are witnessing an athletic carnival between Palestinians of the motherland and the diaspora.Palestinian sports officials are hoping the visit will push the game of soccer forward here.They will see how sports here suffer, said Hisham Abu Shekhidem, a team manager and a former player for Hebrons Al-Ahli soccer club. We will gain experience from them and this will help our national team.Like so many other aspects of Palestinian life, soccer is clouded by the rocky relationship with Israel. The Palestinian soccer federation has repeateedly attempted -- unsuccessfully -- to have Israel expelled from the FIFA world soccer federation on various grounds, accusing Israel of blocking the movement of athletes and saying that teams in West Bank settlements are illegal.ddddddddddddChilean players of Palestinian descent have come to play with local teams and the national squad in recent years. Now, Palestino is eyeing Palestinian players to come play in Chiles soccer leagues.Shadi Shaban, 24, a midfielder and former player in both the Palestinian and Israeli leagues, is now on loan to Palestino after being spotted during a training camp for Hebrons Al-Ahli in Santiago last year.Playing in Chile has been a great experience, its a higher level of soccer, said Shaban, who has been playing in Chile now for six months. As the first Palestinian to play in Chile, I opened the gate and I hope others will follow.While the Palestinian national soccer team currently ranks far behind at 133, according to this months FIFA rankings, Roberto Tito Bishara, a former player for Palestino and the Palestinian national team, is optimistic that the team will improve.I know how much they are trying to develop soccer here. Im sure Palestine will be in a World Cup soon, Bishara said.Palestino hasnt escaped controversy. In 2014, the Chilean Football Federation forced the club to alter its jersey that carried the number one in the shape of historical Palestine, including all of what is now Israel, after complaints from local Jewish organizations.On the current visit, the team had hoped to travel to Gaza but was unable to arrange the trip.While touring Jerusalems Old City last week, the players were also slightly startled by the sound of gunshots and the scene of soldiers running following the shooting of a Palestinian youth who stabbed and lightly wounded two Israeli police officers with a screwdriver.We were not surprised, its what we read about, but it was the first time to live the experience, said manager Nazal.The fast-paced match between Palestino and the Hebron all-stars team ended with a 1-1 draw.Carrying a cardboard sign that read Cheer for Palestine, Muhammad Netcha, 28, found the result to his liking.I support both teams, he said. Its a match between Palestine and Palestine. ' ' '