BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Ozeki Baruto honored in Estonia

TALLINN — Ozeki Baruto received an award from Estonia President Toomas Ilves on Wednesday in the nation's capital.

Baruto, whose real name is Kaido Hoovelson, was presented with the Order of the White Star, third class in a ceremony attended by Japan's ambassador to Estonia Hideaki Hoshi. The award is in recognition of services to the Estonian state.

In 2004, Baruto became the first sumo wrestler from the Baltic state. He was promoted to ozeki in 2010. After winning this year's New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, Baruto was a candidate for promotion to yokozuna, the sport's highest rank, but his 10-5 record in the Spring tourney ended that storyline. He had a 9-6 record at the recently completed Summer Grand Tournament.

Although there are no sumo broadcasts in Estonia, the 27-year-old wrestler's progress in each tournament is followed intently through the print media and the Internet.

Tallinn bike marathon challenges racers with bonus speed trials

Over a thousand cyclists are set to start at the 15th Tallinn Bicycle Marathon today, with over 450 in the half-marathon distance.

The second stage of the Estonian Cup, the event is being held on off-season ski trails and bike paths just outside Aegviidu, in a forested region 60 km southeast of the capital. The main distance is 58 km, where 1,170 are registered,  and the half-marathon is 28 km.

Staggered starts were introduced as a new feature this year because of the large number of competitors.

"We'll try and see if the staggered starts will work for a cycling marathon in Estonia, it's an ordinary thing elsewhere in the world for large races," said organizer Jüri Voodla. The clock starts ticking on competitors as they cross the start line.

This year there are also a few bonuses - a 16 km lap time will be taken, giving the four fastest the possibility of earning additional points. And 14 km before the end is the Everest kilometer, basically a time trial on a hilly stretch.

The yellow jersey after one stage of the Estonian Cup belongs to Caspar Austa, while Nissan ProShop Team leads the teams.

Kristopher Rikken

Kanter carries Estonia’s hopes in London

Estonia erupted with joy when Gerd Kanter became the first athlete to give them an Olympic gold when he won the discus throw in Beijing in 2008. Four years down the line, expectations have risen even more. And as the clock ticks towards London 2012, Estonians are hoping for a repeat from their favourite son.
 
 “As the Olympics is coming closer, people are more curious and they really want to see me succeed again. I also want to live up to their expectations and do really well at the Games in London,” said a confident Kanter after a training session at the Aspire Academy yesterday.
 
 Winning your country’s first Olympic medal could be a life-altering experience but Kanter feels things haven’t changed much.
 
 “I don’t think life has changed much but whatever little has changed is only in a positive way. We are a small country and if something big like this happens, you become a hero overnight. Everyone knows you when you walk on the street. I think it’s been a positive change and I’m enjoying it. So I want to do it again,” said the 33-yr-old, who is looking to defend his Diamond League title in Doha. “I have been training here for the past two weeks. Doha was the part of my final preparatory camp for the beginning of the season. The facilities at Aspire are great and so far so good.  No injuries and come Friday, is my first competition of the season so I will look to open with 65-66 metres.

Kanepi rallies past Suarez Navarro in Estoril final

Estoril –  Kaia Kanepi of Estonia overcame a dropped set to beat unseeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro in Saturday's final at the $220,000 Estoril Open tennis event.

The sixth-seeded Kanepi, coming off a semifinal victory over top seed Roberta Vinci, lost the first set in nine games and survived a tiebreak (8-6) before taking the third set 6-4 to secure her second title of the year and third of her career. She titled in Brisbane back in January and captured her maiden championship in Palermo in 2010.

Suarez Navarro competed in her third career final and first since Marbella in 2010. She is still seeking a first title.

Kanepi, who took home $37,000 with Saturday's triumph, improved to 2-1 lifetime against Suarez Navarro.

Estonia back to Division I

REYKJAVIK – Estonia will try once again to establish its team in the Division I Group B next year after getting promoted from the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division II Group A in Iceland.

Estonia won all its five games against Serbia, Croatia, Iceland, New Zealand and Spain. Estonia got relegated from Division I last year and now gets another chance to stay there.

Estonia defeated Serbia, Iceland and New Zealand with pretty comfortable scores: 5-2 against Serbia, 7-2 against Iceland and even 19-2 versus New Zealand, which lost all games and got relegated to the Division II Group B. The Kiwis were missing nine players from the team that surprisingly won Division II silver one year ago.

In the end Estonia had to battle through two tight and difficult games. Against Croatia in the second round Estonia won 3-2 with the game-winning goal from Roman Andrejev with just two minutes left on the clock.

In the last round Estonia faced Spain in a game that decided about the tournament win as both teams went into the last round with a 4-0 record. Estonia controlled the game in the beginning and earned a 4-1 lead, but Spain fought back and the score was cut to 4-3 after 40 minutes. A shot hit the post on the Estonian goal early in the last period, but the only goal was scored on the other side when Maksim Ivanov’s marker after seven minutes sealed the victory for his team.

Veerpalu denied champion's stipend

Although support is still strong for him in many quarters in Estonia, disgraced two-time skiing gold medalist Andrus Veerpalu will lose out on state funding for a while - the stipend that the Cultural Endowment pays all living Olympic champions.

Veerpalu, who tested positive for doping last year, is not among this year's recipients of the benefit, which consists of semi-annual payments of 1,150 euros each.

Secretary General of the Olympic Committee Toomas Tõnise said Veerpalu's name could not be proposed this time as it would have gone against international anti-doping rules, which forbid sanctioned athletes from receiving public sector money.

Tõnise said his name would be reinstated once his ban expired.

On January 29, 2011, Veerpalu tested positive for excess level of growth hormone following a training run in Otepää.

FIS, the international ski federation, made its final ruling on Veerpalu's appeal last August, upholding the positive test results and increasing the punishment. It stated that the banned substance could not have been introduced accidentally, but required methodological administration and assistance from medical personnel.

Veerpalu, whose team have claimed he has a genetic mutation that puts his body's production of GH into overdrive, has appealed the FIS decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, which will rule in June.

Kristopher Rikken

Estonian hockey team crushes New Zealand 19-2

Estonia crushed Division II Group A rival New Zealand 19-2 at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Reykjavik on April 17.

Estonia’s Roman Andrejev opened the scoring five minutes into the game, while New Zealand didn't shoot its first puck into the goal until the 31st minute, Postimees reported.

Both of New Zealand's goals were delivered by Andrew Cox in the second period.

So far, New Zealand has lost all four of its matches at the event, scoring a total of five goals and letting in 42.

Estonia, which by contrast has won all four of its games so far, is vying with Spain for the Group A top spot. The two teams face each other in their final games on April 18.

Ingrid Teesalu

Eva-Lotta Raat to join Marquette in 2012

MILWAUKEE – Estonian-import Eva-Lotta Raat has signed a National Letter of Intent with Marquette University and will join the women’s volleyball program in the fall of 2012. The native of Parnumaa, Estonia will have four years of collegiate eligibility remaining with the Golden Eagles. 

“I was fortunate to see Eva train last year when I was recruiting in Europe,” Marquette head coach Bond Shymansky said. “At that time she had potential, but didn’t have a complete game yet.  When I saw her play again this season, she had become longer, stronger, smarter and better.  She is now a smooth and rangy hitter with power and directional control, as well as good ball control skills in the back row, which is rare for a player of her height. Eva will certainly provide us with a new look in our lineup as we look to replace two impact outside hitters from last year.”

European indoor archers compete in Pärnu

The three-day European Indoor Archery Championship, which began in Pärnu on Thursday, has brought over 200 marksmen from 15 countries to Estonia.

This is the third time for Estonia to host the EIAC after 2005 and 2008, said Siim Talmar, head organizer of the event.

Triin Kent, longbow world champion and participant of the event said that although indoor archery is not yet an Olympic event, it enjoys great popularity in Estonia - a proof of which is the success of the nation's archers at international competitions.

The championship also includes a National Teams Event for 3-member teams of  junior, adult or veteran archers, where every archer has to shoot different bow-style.

Ingrid Teesalu

Estonian Golf & Country Club to host international amateur event

Estonian Golf & Country Club will play host to some of Europe's leading amateurs this summer as it stages the International European Mid-Amateur Championship.

The competition, held by the European Golf Association (EGA), was inaugurated in 1991 and attracts the top amateurs over the age of 35 from across the continent, and the three-day event will come to Estonian Golf & Country Club from June 7-9.

This will be the EGA's first competition to be held in Estonia and players, officials and spectators can expect a warm welcome to the country and in particular from the Estonian Golf Union and Estonian Golf & Country Club, part of the European Tour Courses network.

The highly acclaimed Sea Course at Estonian Golf & C.C. -- ranked in Golf World's Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe -- will provide a stern but enjoyable test as it winds its way through forest before opening up alongside the coastline of the Gulf of Finland and Jägala River Delta.

Along the way golfers negotiate trees, well placed water, cunningly situated bunkers and a number of ancient granite boulders left dotted around the venue following the last ice age.

Maal subject to racial abuse in Estonia

The 2012/2013 Estonian Meistriliiga league football season got off to a shocking start at the Sportland Arena on Saturday when FC Levadia fans shouted racist monkey sounds at a black football player.

Former Gambia international midfielder, Yankuba “Maal” Ceesay, 27, whose signing for Estonian club JK Nõmme Kalju was reported by West Coast Radio Sports on Thursday, marked his debut for the club in its opening league game against MTÜ SK FC Levadia Tallinn.

Maal was introduced in the 46th minute as he replaced Tanel Melts. After his introduction, Levadia fans started making some monkey noises in the 65th and 73rd minutes which were directed at the Gambian player. Fireworks were lit in protest to Maal’s presence in the field of play.

Meanwhile, the disciplinary committee of the National Football Association said it will review the incident on Thursday.

The press representative of Levadia, Indrek Petersoo, said in an interview that he had been in the crowd and had witnessed the detestable situation from up close.

Lotus F1 boss seeks championship for Korjus

The Lotus Formula One team held a press conference in Tallinn on Wednesday to promote Estonia's most promising circuit racer, Kevin Korjus.

Eric Boullier, the head of the Lotus team, called 19-year-old Estonian Kevin Korjus one the team's most talented young racers, whose dedication is akin to that of champions.

Boullier said Korjus could win the championship at this year's World Series by Renault, which starts in May. But it will still take several years before Korjus is ready for Formula One. “Every aspect from marketing to fitness to sport to psychology to nutrition - any aspect as a young athlete. We will support him,” said Boullier.

Korjus's first goal for the year, Boullier said, is to outpace team mate Jules Bianchi, who has raced in Formula One as a test driver for Ferrari last year and a reserve driver for Force India.

International table tennis tourney held in Tallinn

The Butterfly Baltic Cup / Alari Lindmäe Memorial table tennis tournament is being held in Tallinn this weekend, featuring 241 players from 19 countries.

Organizer Rein Lindmäe said that this year's event will also set records for excitement. "Last year clear favorites emerged, but this year the level of the players has been very even. Several dozen players on the men's and women's side have a chance to win and it is hard to predict the a winner."

The tournament is named after a promising young talent killed in an air crash in 1985 at age 18. 


Besides regional countries, with teams led by recently crowned champions from Russia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Belarus and championship medal winners from Ukraine and Lithuania, teams from Germany, Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, Israel, Chili and Ecuador will be present. Netherlands, Bulgaria, Paraguay, Peru and Colombia entered teams for the first time.

The action will take place in the Tallinn University of Technology sports facility and admission is free.

Kristopher Rikken

Estonia tops El Salvador 2-0 in tense soccer game

LOS ANGELES — Estonia defeated El Salvador 2-0 Wednesday night in an exhibition match halted by the referee in the 89th minute because of safety concerns for the linesmen.

Referee Ricardo Salazar suspended the match when the crowd began to pelt a member of his crew with trash. Salvadorian fans were protesting an earlier decision and began throwing objects at the linesman.

In front of a heavily Salvadorian crowd of nearly 15,000 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, El Salvador controlled action early. But Estonian captain Ragnar Klavan scored in the 71st minute when a free kick by Tarmo Kink was mishandled by goalkeeper Rafael Fuentes. The rebound fell to Klavan, who finished from close range.

Estonia doubled the lead in the 86th minute when Raio Piiroja scored on a header off a free kick.

There was an MLS presence on both clubs. Portland defender Steve Purdy played 88 minutes for El Salvador, and New York midfielder Joel Lindpere played all game for Estonia.

Swedes sweep Tartu marathon

Swedes swept the podium at the windy 41st instalment of the Tartu ski marathon.

Only 5,800 skiers braved the blustery conditions to compete in the full, 63 km distance in the marathon, the premier long-distance Estonian sporting event. A total of 1,800 skied the shorter 31 km distance. The total fell short of the 10,000 capacity.

Jörgen Brink finished first with a time of 2:43:21, followed by Daniel Richardsson and Jimmie Johnsson.

For almost three whole minutes, it was Sweden vs. Norway, with one Czech and Italian, before Estonian Algo Kärp crossed the line 24th.

On the women's side, compatriot Susanne Nyström crossed the line first. Swede Jenny Hansson was second. Only Seraina Boner of Switzerland slipped in third, breaking the potential Swedish double sweep.

Kristopher Rikken

Gatineau Loppet, Canada’s largest cross-country ski race, welcomes weekend’s mild temperatures

While mild temperatures put a damper on Winterlude festivities, the balmy weather is good news for this weekend’s Gatineau Loppet.

More than 2,000 cross-country skiers from 22 countries were expected to the Gatineau Park hills for the 34th annual Gatineau Loppet on Saturday and today. The event is Canada’s largest cross-country ski race and one of 15 stops on the World Loppet circuit.

The temperatures hovered around the freezing point Saturday morning as seasoned skiers took off for the 31-kilometre and 51-km classic events. It was the first time in five years that co-ordinators did not have to change the routes due to a lack of snow.

“It’s great out there. Warm weather sometimes makes it a little harder for your skis to grip, but I had great skis,” says Michelle Workun-Hill, winner of the women’s 31-km classic. “It’s such a nice experience when it’s sunny like this.”

The 19-year-old Chelsea native normally races anywhere from 1.4-km sprints to 20-km routes, so Saturday’s race was a challenge for her ........

....... Amongst the 51-km racers was the prime minister of Estonia, Andrus Ansip, who finished in just less than four hours.

UEFA schedules Tallinn round table

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) plans to hold a round table in Tallinn next November.

As part of the Top Executive Program (TEP), leaders from the football associations of eight countries - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden - will meet with the heads of the UEFA.

TEP was created to support individual country associations, including in funding support, such as television-rights revenue. Through TEP, national associations have succeeded in changing important policies, including the enlargement of the final round of the European Championship from 16 to 24 nations.

The last major UEFA events to be held in Tallinn were a licensing and media seminar in 2009, and the annual congress in 2005.

New contract inked, Lindpere sets sights on hardware

There is unfinished business left for New York Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere as he enters his third year in MLS.

The Estonian international signed a new, deal multi-year deal in January that will keep him in New York for the next two years. Now, as the team looks to build on two successful years, Lindpere sees potential to lift some hardware for the first time in franchise history.

“If me as a player, if I don’t see potential in this team, why should I sign a new contract?” Lindpere told MLSsoccer.com. “I think from last year we can say we started good, in the middle we were not so good and in the end finished strong. We lost to the best team. I’ve said it many times, if we had beaten LA, we would have won.”

Lindpere was part of the resurgent Red Bulls in 2010, scoring the first goal of the season as the team went from worst in the league the year before to top of the Eastern Conference. Then last year he was a consistent and clutch performer, and is clearly one of the team leaders heading into year three.

“Now I think we can make it and we need to show we can make it,” Lindpere explained. “I think it’s going to be an interesting two years for the fans, for me also. It’s definitely harder this year with new teams, more players, new stadiums and a lot of changes in the league and with the schedule.”

Luxembourg arrives for 1st round of Davis Cup

Luxembourg's team is in town for the first round of the Davis Cup, the premier international team event in men's tennis, from February 10 to 12.

Luxembourg arrived in Tallinn on Wednesday with a modest if courageous line-up, reported ETV. The visiting team doesn't have any players who are currently in the world's top 1,000, whereas Estonia's team includes all of the country's best players, led by Jürgen Zopp, currently ranked 121th in the world.

Luxembourg's best player, Gilles Müller, currently 63rd in the world, couldn't make the event.

"It's an Olympic year and he's trying to make as many points as possible,” said Jacques Radoux, Luxembourg's team captain.

“He has 50 now but he needs to get [more] to make sure that he has enough points to be in the main draw at the Olympics in London. So he put priority to his personal career.”

Luxembourg's team consists of one competitive player, ranked at 1,019th, a tennis coach, an athletics official and a fireman.

"You are definitely the favorites to win this time, which is an advantage for us because we haven't got anything to lose," said Radoux.

Ott Tammik

Kanepi withdraw from Open GDF Suez

PARIS - Sabine Lisicki of Germany and Kaia Kanepi of Estonia withdrew on Monday from the Open GDF Suez.
Lisicki is suffering from a viral illness while Kanepi is still recovering from a right shoulder injury.

Kanepi won the Brisbane International last month before losing in the second round of the Australian Open.

"I have been suffering with inflammation in my neck and shoulder since my last match at the Australian Open and have tried to get ready to play but have not been able to," Kanepi said.
Lisicki was seeded fifth at the Parisian tournament and lost her singles matches last weekend in Germany's 4-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup.

"I don't feel well and have (a) viral illness so I am going to go home and get better," the Wimbledon semifinalist said. "It would have been my first time playing Open GDF Suez, but I promise to be back next year."
As a result of those withdrawals, Alberta Brianti of Italy and Varvara Lepchenko of the United States were promoted to the main draw as lucky losers.