Londres — En una jornada aciaga para el deporte de Argentina en los Juegos Olímpicos, las selecciones de básquetbol masculino y hockey sobre césped —las dos que cargan las principales esperanzas de podios en Londres— sufrieron el martes derrotas que prendieron dudas sobre sus posibilidades.

Los reveses también alcanzaron a los equipos masculinos de vóleibol y handbol, mientras que el tenista Juan Mónaco sucumbió en la segunda ronda.

Por segundo día seguido, la plataforma de clavados alegró a México con una nueva medalla de plata. Paola Espinosa y Alejandra Orozco quedaron segundas en los saltos sincronizados, emulando la actuación de Germán Sánchez e Iván García el día previo. Ambas parejas quedaron detrás de rivales de China, que ejerce un dominio dictatorial en la disciplina.

Espinosa hizo historia al convertirse en apenas la segunda atleta mexicana que gana preseas olímpicas en justas consecutivas.

Medallista de bronce hace cuatro años en Beijing, Espinosa se unió al clavadista Joaquín Capilla como los únicos mexicanos que suben al podio en olimpiadas consecutivas. Capilla embolsó bronce en Londres 1948, luego plata en Helsinki 1952 y finalmente oro en Melbourne 1956.

Espinosa se colgó la plata en el día de su 26to cumpleaños y manifestó su deseo de poder competir en la próxima justa, la de Río de Janeiro 2016.

"Si Dios quiere y mi cuerpo y mi mente lo permiten, voy a prepararme para los próximos Juegos", dijo Espinosa.

La medalla fue la única que un país de Latinoamérica pudo conseguir en la cuarta jornada de Londres 2012. Brasil es, por ahora, el más laureado con una cosecha de una medalla de oro, otra de plata y un bronce. México y Colombia cuentan con dos platas y Cuba tiene una plata.

El martes se disputaron las semifinales de los 100 metros libres. El brasileño César Cielo, bronce en la distancia en Beijing 2008, y el cubano Hanser García avanzaron a la final que se disputará el miércoles.

Cielo se clasificó con el quinto mejor tiempo, 48.17. Fue un registro muy pero muy lejos del récord mundial de 46.91 que estableció en el Mundial de 2009, en pleno apogeo de la era de los trajes de alta tecnología y que luego fueron prohibidos. García figuró tercero con 48.04 en una competencia en la que el gran favorito es el australiano James Magnussen.

Cuatro equipos argentinos salieron a jugar, y los cuatro salieron cabizbajos.

—Manu Ginóbili, Luis Scola y compañía cayeron 71-64 ante Francia y quedaron con foja de 1-1 en el torneo de básquetbol, en el que ganaron bronce en Beijing.

—Luciana Aymar y las "Leonas" del hockey perdieron 1-0 ante Estados Unidos, esas necias oponentes que en los Juegos Panamericanos de Guadalajara fueron responsables de que no pudiesen conquistar un oro que consideraban suyo. Argentina, terceras en Beijing, ahora tiene foja de 1-1.

—El conjunto de vóleibol sucumbió 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-17, 25-23) ante Italia y tiene marca de 1-1.

—Y el hándbol sufrió su segunda caída en igual número de salidas tras perder 32-20 ante Francia.

"No sé qué pasó, lo intentamos por todas las formas, en córner, en jugadas, pero el gol no cayó", se lamentó Aymar tras la primera derrota de Argentina ante Estados Unidos en un torneo olímpico, después de cuatro triunfos previos.

La mala racha argentina se extendió hasta el césped de Wimbledon, donde Mónaco se despidió al perder 6-4, 6-4 ante el español Feliciano López. Juan Martín Del Potro, último argentino en carrera en individuales, se medirá el miércoles con el francés Gilles Simon y también jugará en doble mixto con Gisela Dulko.

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  • TRAVIS STEVENS INJURY

    Germany's Ole Bischof, right, controls United State's Travis Stevens during the men's 81-kg judo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

  • WINNERS!!

    Judo winners.

  • SILVER AZTEC

    Alejandra Orozco Loza, Paola Espinosa Sanchez

  • GLORY FOR MEXICO

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  • Perfect Form

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  • Racers Start

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  • Clearing A Jump

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  • Eye On The Ball

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  • Defending The Ball

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  • Head In Hand

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  • Stroke, Stroke, Stroke

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  • Take Aim And Fire

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  • It's All The Wrist

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  • Awaiting An Appeal

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  • Point To Bulgaria

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  • Eyes To The Sky

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  • Row, Row, Row

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  • Winning Behavior

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  • Fencing Advance

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  • Making The Jump

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  • Slam Dunk

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  • Winning Reaction

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  • Judo Injury

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  • Missing The Shot

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  • Georgia Tackels U.S.

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  • Taking The Shot

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  • Doubles Celebration

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  • Powered Hands

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  • Perfect Layup

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  • Battling For Possession

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  • Airtime

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  • Underwater

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  • Singapore Serving Japan

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  • Digging For The Ball

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  • Composed Face

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  • Screams Of Victory

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  • Leaning Into It

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  • Must Be Heavy

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  • Strained Face

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  • Hands To The Sky

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  • On The Return

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  • Fist Pump

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  • Victory Pose

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  • Taking A Bow

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  • Pointed Toes

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  • Point!

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  • Good Match

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  • Firm Congrats

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  • Catching The Wind

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  • Germany Gets The Gold

    Germany's Michael Jung, left, receives a medal from Princess Anne, right, after Germany won the gold in the team equestrian eventing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at Greenwich Park in London. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

  • French Pride

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