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Nearly nine years ago, a roar erupted inside Osakas Nagai stadium as three exhausted runners stormed into the last 10 metres desperate to be 400m world champion. Nicola Sanders lurched towards the line ahead of Jamaican Novlene Williams, who had led for most of the race, and although GB team-mate Christine Ohuruogu won gold, it was still an incredibly gutsy show from the former Sky Academy Sports Scholar. Injuries were a source of frustration for Sanders for the rest of her career and she reluctantly retired in October 2014.As well as that silver in Japan, the High Wycombe-born athlete, coached by Scholarship boss Tony Lester, can boast a load of other medals including European Indoor 400m gold at Birmingham in 2007, clocking 50.02 seconds which is still a British record.So 16 months after hanging up her spikes and now running around changing nappies, how does Sanders reflect on her career, being a mum and how the Sky Scholarship (2010-2012) boosted her?I was looking at my phone the other day and one of my Facebook Memories popped up. It was a photo of me and my running group on a hill session in the rain. And I thought - do we really miss this?I dont miss athletics when its freezing cold. By the end of my career, I was fed up with being away, but at the same time I miss going to South Africa and being in the sunshine and training with people doing what I love. Christine Ohuruogu pips Sanders to gold in Japan in 2007 So I have mixed feelings. Overall though, I dont miss it - which is good because it means I retired at the right time. I knew I was ready. I was chosen for the relay in London 2012 but they didnt end up picking me, so I lost all my funding. After the Games, I decided to change event and try the 800m.I did that for a year and competed a few times in 2013 and then I got injured again. I thought Id give it one more year but got so injured, I couldnt even compete. I got more and more frustrated. There are only so many times you can say if I wasnt injured, I could have.... I knew it was time to stop.The good part of my career was a long time ago and it feels like I was a separate person. My peak was in 2007. Thats nine years ago, which is crazy. Even when I was doing my best times with silver in Osaka, I thought I could have won that final. I was disappointed and I couldnt appreciate it then. At the start of my career, to say Id be the British indoor record holder and have all the medals I won, I wouldnt have believed it. It did become frustrating but over time, Ive learned to appreciate it. With all the injuries, I feel I could have got more out of it but over time, I feel Ive had a pretty good career and one that many would kill for - even those that arent injured. It was an amazing one-two for GB in that 400m world final in 2007 At the moment, Im very happy being a mum. I will start some different work and eventually I will get back into coaching. Ive always wanted to go into physio because of my injuries but not at the moment. Im very happy looking after Oliver [6 months old]. It wasnt that long ago I was training, but as soon as I started being a mum, it felt like I had been doing it for years. The transition from athlete to parent has been pretty comfortable. You do have to be self-centred as an athlete with your body, where everything is geared towards training and competing. But I was ready to change that part of my life so it all happened and my life is now all about Oliver. That all happened quite naturally and it doesnt seem such a change because its so normal now - although I obviously have less sleep than I used to! Looking back, being on the Scholarship scheme was brilliant. Tony was my coach and it really assisted in so many ways.It helped me buy essential equipment and I was given the opportunity to learn from some of the mentors, who were Sky presenters where I worked in the studios.It also enabled me to have warm weather training. It helped so much with the injuries being in the sun and doing quality training. Sanders (second from right) won gold in the 400m relay in Istanbul at the 2012 World Indoor Championships In the build-up to the 2012 season, we went to Florida for five weeks. The whole of our group went and Tony also managed to get out for most of that time. The training was great and that just wouldnt have happened without the Scholarship. I will always be very grateful for that.In the build-up to London, being a Scholar also helped with our profiles and the sports profile. I remember seeing a poster of me running in the middle alongside Sir Chris Hoy and Andy Murray.It was so weird thinking people were seeing it all around the country. I was in a shopping centre and these guys were trying to sell me Sky TV in front of the poster and I was saying hold on... thats me!For any new Scholar starting the scheme, I would say grab it with both hands. Its such an amazing opportunity. Plus having the chance to see the Sky set-up was amazing. It gave me exposure to some great training with media and it gives you money to do the sport you love. I recommend taking every opportunity it gives you.So whats next for me? Before having Oliver, I did some sports massage and personal training. I might go back to that when my son is old enough and maybe some coaching but I dont have definite plans. Sanders just missed out on a spot in the 400m final at the 2008 Olympics As for Oliver, my partner and I were joking about him becoming an athlete recently! We will definitely encourage him to do sport. When he was born, he was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome so we were chatting about signing him up for the Special Olympics and deciding what events hed do! Hes very active though, so hell be into all of this as it is. Also See: Sanders retires in 2014 Nicola Sanders biography Nicola Sanders on Twitter About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Videos Galleries Off White Blazer Mid .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Nike Epic React Flyknit Black .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. http://www.nike270-airmax.com/ . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. Nike Off White Blazer For Sale . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Air Max 270 Triple Black .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. It will be great to be busy on a SundayPullela Gopichand allows a mild chuckle to chase that sentence before it arrives at a full stop. He isnt just a man of a few words but even those that leave his mouth are carefully chosen. Gopi, as he is universally called, is already acclaimed as one of Indias most celebrated sports coaches. On Saturday, two of his wards added luster to his aura by producing compelling performances in Hong Kong.Watching from home in Hyderabad as he has chosen not to travel for this tournament, all Gopi would say was excited and pleased to see what unfolded.P V Sindhu bossed her semifinal against local girl Cheung Ngan Yi in straight games to enter her second straight Superseries final. But then, after her exploits in Rio, Sindhu producing strong performances is no longer a surprise. It was the 22-year old that preceded her on court- Sameer Verma - another product of the now famed Gopichand stable in Hyderabad, who captivated the arena and those watching on TV with a jaw dropping effort.With a world ranking of 43, Verma quelled a man ranked 40 places above him in Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark. He walked on to court as a virtual unknown, but after 46 minutes, when he walked off it, Verma had become the latest addition to Indias emerging sporting stars.The last few weeks I have been working with Sameer and it feels so good to see him perform, Gopichand told ESPN. It is always good to see your players perform when it really matters, on the big stage in a semifinal and give themselves a chance to play the final.Jan has been playing well but having said that he looked a bit vulnerable today. He made a few mistakes, he looked a little nervous in the end game which is what Sameer capitalised on. Also, lots of credit to Sameer for retrieving the way he did and he was able to pull out those pressure points which was very important.Sameer has the strokes and capabilities. He is a tricky player with some quick short action strokes that makes him very effective. I think some of the strokes that he played in the end were risky in the sense he really hit the lines. It was very good for us to watch but on another day had they gone out he would have said I shouldnt have played that. It was very brave of him to play the strokes that he played in end, thats the way he is. He is somebody who I believe with maturity will get stronger.Gopi first came across Verma as a 15-year old in 2009. He remembers his elder brother Sourabh, a badminton pro himself who is ranked 45 at the moment asking Gopi, Bhaiya, I have my brother with me and he wants to join, can I bring him along? Gopi agreed and the younger Verma didnt take longg to catch his eye.ddddddddddddHe had an unorthodox game and a knack of smartly seeing angles that Gopi believes can be effective at the top level of the sport.There were challenges too as young Sameer would often get homesick and want to go to his family in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. However, Gopi persisted and that inherent ability he spotted in the shy teenager has now burst on to the world stage. In Sundays final he will be confronted by local player NG Ka Long Angus, ranked 14 in the world. Verma has won both the previous encounters between them but those came at the junior level in 2011 & 2012. Gopi expects Angus to provide much stiffer opposition on Sunday.The match wont be as fast paced as it was in the semifinal, he predicts. It will be tricky because Angus has been performing well. He has the local pressure but can also count on the support. Sameer also has no expectations but it is also a big match for him, so we will have to see who holds their nerve.While Vermas breakthrough over the course of the week has been a matter of immense pride, the rapid development in P V Sindhus craft has given Gopi great satisfaction too. Sindhu has won three of her four matches in Hong Kong this week in straight games and has a visible swagger on court as she oozes with confidence. Not only is she moving fluidly, making the most of her intimidating wingspan, Sindhus expanding her arsenal of shots.For instance, on match point in her semifinal Sindhu jumped and executed the reverse drop, a shot Gopi says they have practiced but never used before in a match situation. Another stroke that his caught his eye in the course of the match against Yi was a retrieving move from the backhand lane that Sindhu pulled crosscourt. To Gopis ever observant eyes these are sure signs of Sindhus evolution as a player as she adds muscle and variety to her game.Although she trails 3-4 in the head to head against her opponent in Sundays final - Taiwans Tai Tzu Ying - the last time the two met, Sindhu dismantled Ying in straight games at the Rio Olympics. Gopi expects another fierce clash, though he anoints Sindhu as the favourite on current form.It is going to be interesting because back then Sindhu was the underdog but here in a way the roles are reversed, he says. Tai is a very tricky player and she has beaten Carolina Marin (World Number One and Olympic champion) to reach the final. The match at the Olympics will be at the back of the minds of both players. Tai will want revenge and Sindhu will want to stamp her authority. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys 2018 Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Authentic Jerseys ' ' '