Commonwealth Games: El Mais golden in boxing finale
The golden gloves of Samir El Mais brought boxing for Canada at Glasgow 2014 to an end, while the pugilist took top prize in the men’s 91 kg class.
El Mais defeated David Light of New Zealand in a closely scored bout, receiving a favourable decision from two of the three judges to win Commonwealth gold.
“Sweet Sammy” as El Mais is known, praised his opponent following the fight. “If he wasn’t that good, he wouldn’t have been here,” the Canadian said. “I am ok with the split decision, not because I had the win, but because we both fought our hearts out and it was a good battle from beginning to end.”
Canada also picked up a silver medal in the ring on Saturday, with Ariane Fortin dropping her women’s 69-75 kg final bout to Savannah Marshall of England. In total, Canada won three boxing medals in Glasgow, one of each colour.
Diving
Canada’s divers enjoyed a strong season and that carried through at Edinburgh’s Royal Commonwealth Pool, where Canadians won two medals on Saturday.
A bronze medal came from Vincent Riendeau – his first – in men’s 10m, while Jennifer Abel took home a third from the games, a silver in women’s 3m springboard. The two podium finishes brought Canada to seven diving medals at Glasgow 2014.
Athletics
Canada’s biggest medal haul in any discipline came from Hampden Park where combined with para-athletes the country secured 17 medals (five gold, two silver) in track and field events. On the final day of athletics at the Games, Alysha Newman won a bronze medal in women’s pole vault.
Table Tennis
The women’s doubles duo of Anqi Luo and Mo Zhang beat their English opponents to secure Canada’s first table tennis medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Heading into the final day of competition Canada holds 81 medals (31 gold, 16 silver) for an assertive third place in the table.