Taku Takeuchi of Japan in action during the training session for the ski Jumping event at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Centre at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Krasnaya Polyana on Sunday. Valdrin Xhemaj / EPA
Taku Takeuchi of Japan in action during the training session for the ski Jumping event at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Centre at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Krasnaya Polyana on Sunday. Valdrin XhemaShow more

Japan’s Taku Takeuchi overcame illness to win Olympic medal - ‘I thought I might even die’



KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia // Two weeks in hospital in January with a life-threatening illness, and an Olympic bronze medal less than a month later at the Sochi Games. It’s been quite a turnaround for Japanese ski jumper Taku Takeuchi.

Takeuchi broke down moments after collecting his third-place medal with the rest of his Japanese teammates as he spoke of his fight against Churg-Strausse Syndrome, a disorder that causes his blood vessels to become inflamed.

“I thought I might even die,” Takeuchi said. “But with support from my family, support from people at the hospital, so many different people helped me.”

On Monday night, Takeuchi was far from his best, finishing fifth and seventh with his jumps. But as usual, 41-year-old veteran Noriaki Kasai helped the Japanese team, finishing third in all of his jumps to help them secure a medal.

Takeuchi credited Kasai with helping him away from the competition jumps, too.

“Even if he is not doing so well, he still gives us a lot of support,” Takeuchi said. “He is really nice to us, really considerate to us and seeing that we feel really safe.”

His parents were worried about Takeuchi’s safety when he decided to pursue his dream of coming to Sochi, despite the illness. But Takeuchi had been jumping well this season – a win with the Japanese team on the normal hill at Lillehammer, Norway, where he also placed second individually. He was in 14th place in the World Cup standings.

And he wanted to make up for a lackluster performance in his first Olympic appearance at Vancouver in 2010, where although finishing fifth with the Japanese team, he could only manage 34th place in the normal hill and 37th in the large hill in the individual events.

Despite his illness, he improved to 24th in the normal hill at Sochi and 13th on the large. Not bad for somebody who is dealing with an illness that could end his career at the age of 26.

“My father told me I could do it but my mother was more worried,” Takeuchi said. “He enlarged my picture from Lillehammer and wrote ‘gold’ on the picture in my hospital room.

“My muscles and weight dropped and I didn’t look like myself, but I trained even in the hospital and I had positivity in mind.”

That effort was not lost on Kasai, the team leader.

“It chokes me up,” Kasai said. “I tear up thinking about his sickness, so I really wanted him to get the medal.”

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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if you go

The flights 

Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning. 

The trains

Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.

The hotels

Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The bio:

Favourite film:

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Favourite holiday destination:

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Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.


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