Brazil Presidential Runoff; India Awaits First Commonwealth Gold; FIBA Women's WC

Brazilian Presidential Run-Off, Rio Governor Reelected, Olympic Holiday

Brazilians will return to the polls on Oct. 31 to vote for a new president.

Neither of the two leading candidates, Dilma Rousseff or Jose Serra, captured more than 50 percent of the vote on Sunday.

Rousseff, a protégé of outgoing president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva secured just under 47 percent of the vote, while Serra, a former governor of Sao Paulo won 32.6 percent of the vote.

Third party candidate Marina Silva was third with around 19 percent of the vote.

It is believed Rousseff will win the runoff vote at the end of the month. Under Lula’s watch, Brazil was prosperous and peaceful.

The Brazilian constitution has term limits preventing Lula from running for a third term.

Organizers of the Rio Olympics said they are satisfied with both candidates for president.

Governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro Sergio Cabral was reelected Sunday, with 66 percent of the vote.

Cabral, was an active participant in Rio’s bid for the Olympics.

He told the Brazilian sports media outlet Lancenet that it was important not to "reinvent the wheel" by electing a different governor.

He added that the Olympics allowed the state to accelerate infrastructure upgrades for Rio and pledged the Games would have a strong and lasting legacy in the city.

"The increased self esteem" of Cariocas he said, is "the greatest legacy of these great events".

Cabral’s Democratic Movement Party is aligned with Lula’s Workers’ Party.

On Sunday, Rio mayor Eduardo Paes said Oct. 2 would become a holiday in Rio.

That’s the date Rio won the right to stage the 2016 Olympics.

Paes said the selection marked "the rebirth" of the city and is a "landmark" in its history.

Paes was not up for reelection this year.

The new Olympic holiday will be the third for Rio de Janeiro. The other city holidays are Mar. 1, the founding of the city, and Jan. 20, the feast day of Saint Sebastian, the Patron Saint of Rio.

India Misses Out On Weightlifting Gold

India’s best shot at an early Commonwealth gold was snatched away by a Nigerian schoolgirl.

Weightlifter Augustina Nwaokolo shocked the Delhi crowds Monday as well as home favorite Soniya Chanu by winning the 48kg title in record-setting fashion.

The 17-year-old followed a snatch lift of 77kg with a clean and jerk attempt of 98kg, totaling a new Commonwealth high of 175kg.

Chanu had her chance with a 103kg lift but failed on both attempts, salvaging silver and the host country’s first medal.

Australia is the dominant country so far with four gold and two silver. Canada is a ways behind with one gold and three bronze, and England ranks third with three silver and a bronze.

South Africa, Malaysia, Wales and Scotland round out the leader board as medals were awarded in swimming, gymnastics and weightlifting.

Archery, badminton, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, squash, table tennis and tennis also opened competition Monday amidst reports of poor attendance acrossa number of Games venues.

Field hockey is India’s second most popular sport, but the AP reported that only 100 spectators showed for the tournament’s opening match in a 19,118-capacity stadium.

Only 58 fans saw Australia beat Samoa in netball later Monday.

India’s own athletes aren’t immune to the apparent lack of interest. Rohan Bopanna won his opening round match in the 5,015-seat tennis venue as mere dozens looked on.

These figures come five days after reports of slow ticket sales in Delhi made headlines worldwide.

More than 5,000 athletes from 71 nations and territories will vie for 272 gold medals over the next 10 days.

Medals will be awarded Tuesday in swimming, track cycling, gymnastics, shooting, weightlifting and wrestling. Boxing will also open competition.

U.S. Wins FIBA Worlds; Sport Eyes Lower Rim, Slam Dunk

Team USA has a habit of playing the spoilsport.

The squad of WNBA stars beat host nation Czech Republic on Sunday for the FIBA Women’s World Championship.

Thetitle came three weeks after the U.S. men’s team beat Turkey for FIBA gold.

Both followed unexpected runs to the title game by the home teams, and both ended with comfortable wins for Team USA in front of raucous and heavily partisan crowds.

Former University of Connecticut standout Diana Taurasi led the U.S. with 16 points en route to an 89-69 victory in Karlovy Vary, site of the final weekend for the 11-day competition.

Czech guard Hana Horakova earned MVP honors and top billing on the all-tournament team, also featuring teammate Eva Viteckova, Taurasi, Sancho Lyttle of Spain and Yelena Leuchanka of Belarus.

Czech Republic entered the event ranked sixth but will surely jump a few spots after its silver medal campaign.

Spain, Belarus and Australia rounded out the top five finishers.

Also Sunday, top coaches, players and federation officials convened for FIBA’s inaugural women’s basketball conference in an effort to improve competition and appeal.

"We need to change the rules if we want to make the game a bit more attractive," secretary general and IOC member Patrick Baumann told FIBA.com after the proceedings.

"We have the smaller ball and now it’s time to lower the rim."

The women’s ball is an inch smaller in diameter than the men’s, but their goal height and three-point distance is the same in international play.

Baumann said the federation is seriously considering a 4-6 inch tweak and will soon select certain countries and competitions to pilot the lower rim.

The suggestion comes amidst an ongoing push to make women’s basketball more appealing to fans and media as well as more accessible to smaller players.

"There are questions whether the game is as attractive as it really could be if you were able to play over the basket rather than under the basket," Baumann said Sunday, clearly coveting the slam dunk.

One retired and three active WNBA players have dunked in league play.

Written by Ed Hula III and Matthew Grayson.