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SCMP Sport

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After her historic silver medal in the 200m freestyle yesterday, Siobhan Haughey returned to the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in the semi-finals of the 100m free. The 23-year-old set two Asian records on Wednesday, including the 52.70 she swam in her 100m free heat last night, and duly aded another by shaving 0.30 seconds off that time as she stormed into the final.
Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet also took to the court in the semi-finals of the badminton mixed doubles, where they had their work cut out against top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China. The Chinese pair beat Tang and Tse 2-0, but the Hong Kong duo will still have a chance to win bronze.
Elsewhere, Winne Hung Wing-yan rowed in the C/D semi-finals of the single sculls and made D. Windsurfer Hayley Chan Hei-man qualified for the medal race, though Michael Cheng Chun-leung missed out, and sailor Stephanie Norton finished 37th in race 8 of the laser radial.
Reporting by Paul Ryding and Jonathan White (in Tokyo), Josh Ball, Patrick Blennerhassett, Chan Kin-wa, Nick Atkin, and Andrew McNicol. 


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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo Olympics: Chen Meng edges Sun Yingsha in all-China table tennis final – day 6, as it happened

China’s Chen Meng (left) and silver medallist Sun Yingsha celebrate with the national flag after their Tokyo 2020 table tennis final. Photo: AFP


Sport

Hong Kong


Chen Meng takes gold as top two seeds put on a thriller with world No 1 winning 4-2
Sunisa Lee of the USA wins gymnastics individual all-around final, China's Chen Long through to badminton quarter-finals



The top two seeds in Tokyo, Chen Meng and Sun Yingsha, put on a thrilling women's singles table tennis final, won 4-2 by the world No 1.


Live

There was only one story yesterday really. Jonathan White takes us through a scintilating day in the pool for Siobhan Haughey.




Day 5 recap

Another big day for Hong Kong, OK, a big morning, but it could mean an even bigger Friday.
Swim star Siobhan Haughey goes off at 9.53am Hong Kong time. She swan two personal bests yeterday and told the Post’s Paul Ryding she thinks she can go faster. After that stunning swim for silver in the 200m free final, whatever happens in the 100m (and the 50m to come), the Hongkonger is no longer under the radar in the rest of the world.
The badminton will be the first action of the day, with Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet taking to the court at 9.35am.   


A big morning coming up

Other highlights today include the irrepressible paddler Mima Ito, winner of mixed doubles gold over China, who hopes to snuff out the challenge of Sun Yingsha to end more Chinese table tennis dreams.
The dream final for many would be Ito and world No 1 Chen Meng. Chen is in action in the earlier semi-final against Singapore’s Yu Mengyu.
China’s women’s volleyball team – the Rio 2016 gold medalists – face Russia needing to win to keep their hopes of getting out of the group stage alive. Lang Ping’s side were better against the US but they have still played two, lost two.


Other things to watch out for on day 6


The men's golf gets under way today too. There will be a lot of interest in the fortunes of Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, Ireland's Rory McIlroy and the in-form Collin Morikawa of the US. The latter two tee off together along with Im Sung-jae of South Korea.
He and compatriot Kim Si-woo face more pressure than most in Tokyo. Win one and they avoid mandatory military service.


All eyes on Matsuyama as golf gets under way

Siobhan Haughey’s excellent day yesterday didn’t just spark feelings of pride in Hong Kong, her Irish side of the family were celebrating too.
Irish prime minister Micheál Martin also got in on the act.
I don’t think Hong Kong 🇭🇰 will mind us claiming a part of Siobhán Haughey’s stunning performance and silver medal in #Tokyo2020
  I spoke earlier to Seán to offer congratulations. He and the wider family circle are justifiably over the moon and very very proud. #Olympics pic.twitter.com/L7lKJu41tW
  — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 28, 2021


Making waves overseas

Hong Kong's medal hopes know their opponents whatever happens next. Win and they face the Chinese No 2 seeds Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping in the final. The China pair beat the Hongkongers 2-0 in the group stage.
Lose and it is bronze against the Japanese duo Arisa Higashino and Yuta Watanabe.
Wang and Huang had to come back from a game down against the Japanese, but they did just that to reach the Olympic gold medal match, collapsing to the floor after sealing it.


Next opponents no strangers for Hong Kong


China’s Ma Long is also in action in the men’s singles semi-final at the table tennis. Considering he is a superstar, he has a lot of time for his opponents.
Here’s the love-in from last night after he beat Egypt’s African champion Omar Assar.
“We’ve played twice before – at the 2015 and 2017 World Cups, both times in the first round. He’s always improving. To be at the World Cup means he’s an African champion. He’s maintained his level as Africa’s best. Every year he’s at the World Cup. In his last two matches here, he won 4-3 under very difficult circumstances. They were no mean feats,” Ma said of the Egyptian.
Assar was as kind back, and has already penciled in Ma as the role model for his 16-month old son. “I will tell my son to look at how Ma Long plays, so he can learn from him and from all of Team China because I'm very big fan of Team China, I like all of them.”
Ma takes on Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the last four, with China’s Fan Zhendong facing Hugo Calderano of Brazil in the other semi-final.


Nothing but love for rival

Is Eurmir Marcial the next Manny Pacquiao? Probably not, but the Filipino boxer has a legitimate shot at gold, and following in the footsteps of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who snagged gold and congratulations from Pacquiao himself on Twitter.
Marcial kicks off his medal run this morning at 10.48am against Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi in the men’s middleweight division (69-75kgs) in the round of 16. Marcial, 25, has one professional fight under his belt and is expected to go completely pro after these Olympics.


Philippines boxer chases gold

Michelle Li of Canada - who was born in Hong Kong and lived in the city until she was six - has it all to do in her round of 16 game against Japan's Nozomi Okuhara. She just lost game one 21-9.
That's the only action in the Musashino Forest Sports Park Plaza right now as we wait on the semi-finals of the mixed doubles, which is the game we’re really interested in.


The Hong Kong connection


Siobhan Haughey is making her way poolside. She’s in Lane 4 for this race. In Lane 3 is Penny Oleksiak from Canada, and Lane 5 is Cate Campbell of Australia. 


Moments away from Haughey semi-final

Siobhan Haughey is on fire! She’s smashed her own Asian record to finish first in her semi-final in 52.40, all but guaranteeing her a spot in the final.
Cate Campbell was second in 52.71, and Penny Oleksiak in 52.86.


Haughey storms to semi-final win


Jonathan White in Tokyo
“Another statement swim from Siobhan Haughey there. Storms into the 100m free final in 52.40, and only Emma McKeon, who has won the second semi-final, is faster in 52.32.
“That's the same position Haughey went into the 200m free final in, as the second fastest and it bodes well for the Hongkonger.
“With the first part of Friday now in place - her 100m final - it is finally time for Tang and Tse to try to upset the world No 1 mixed doubles pair at the badminton. Come on.”


Another statement win

Japan's world No 1 Kento Momota was upset last night, and Hong Kong's No 8 seed Angus Ng Ka-long went out too but this is not going to go the same way, I fear.
Tang and Tse are 11-4 down in game one at the first break in play. They are not playing badly by any stretch, but they are against the No 1 mixed doubles pair in the world.
With that said, Tang just smashes the first point home after the restart - and another: 11-7


Not looking good for Tang and Tse


This is a thriller between China and Hong Kong but the first game goes to the favourites 21-16.
There was a brief time there where Tse and Tang appeared to have gained the momentum having forced their way to within a point but Tse's serve into the net opened it up again for Zheng and Huang. Game two. Needless to say that this is must win for our pair.


Thriller in Tokyo

TIme for a break in game two, Hopefully it serves the same purpose as it did in game one, with Hong Kong coming back stronger. They need to. It's 11-3.


Hong Kong struggling

Twenty-four people connected to the Games have been tested positive for the coronavirus today, the highest daily cases increase since July 1. Today's count includes three athletes from outside Japan.


Covid-19 update

Four-time Olympic gymnastics gold medallist SImone Biles thanked supporters for the "outpouring love" she received after withdrawing from her second consecutive event to protect her mental health.
The 24-year-old American shocked the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with her withdrawal from the team event on Tuesday, and later announced she would not participate in the all-around on Wednesday, leaving young debuting trio Sunisa Lee, Grace McCallum and Jordan Chiles to represent Team USA.
the outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before. 🤍
  — Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 29, 2021
She later said "we have to protect our body and mind" while relaying how much pressure elite athletes feel in competition."The oupouring [of] love & support I've received has made me realize I'm more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before," Biles tweeted alongside a heart emoji.
Biles has since told reporters she had been suffering from "the twisties" in which the athlete faces a mental block during their performance. The phenomenon can cause an athlete to lose their sense of space mid-air and struggle to control their movement as desired, according to the BBC. The consequences are dire as one wrong loss of control or extra flip or twist can cause bad landings and potential injuries.


Biles overwhelmed by ourtpouring of support


So, China will win the gold medal in the mixed doubles badminton where the No 1 seed from China will play the No 2 seed from China in tomorrow's final.
Hong Kong will need to beat Japan for bronze after Tang/Tse lost to Zheng/Huang 2-0 (21-16, 21-12). Just too good.


It’s going to be gold for China, can Hong Kong win bronze?


China won its first swimming gold medal in Tokyo this morning, when Zhang Yufei came first in the women’s 200m butterfly with an Olympic record 2:03.86.
Zhang, who narrowly lost to Maggie MacNeil of Canada in the 100m butterfly final, dominated proceedings, clocking the fastest time of the year. Regan Smith of the United States came second in 2:05.3, while another American Hali Flickinger was third in 2:05.65.
“Today Zhang Yufei steadily took the lead all the way and won the gold despite the impressive strength of her American competitors,” said China’s state-backed Xinhua news agency.


Swimming gold for China


Well that was fast.
Filipino boxing sensation Eumir Marcial makes quick work of his first opponent, Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi, knocking him down and cutting him open multiple times in the first round, which led to a referee’s stoppage.
Marcial is now onto the round of 16 in the men’s middleweight competition. Read Patrick Blennerhassett’s full report here.


Marcial the mauler

Pre-tournament favourites Australia and New Zealand flexed their muscles with comprehensive victories in the opening matches in the women’s competition of the Olympic Rugby Sevens at the Tokyo Stadium this morning.
Defending champions Australia ran in eight tries as they defeated hosts Japan 48-0 in Pool C, with Emma Tonegato scoring a hat-trick. There were also two each for Demi Hayes and exciting teenager Maddison Levi.
In the other match in the pool, the United States eased past China 28-14 as Kristi Kirshe bagged a brace of tries in the second period after a tight first half.
New Zealand cruised to a 29-7 victory over physical Kenya in Pool A, while Britain needed an Abbie Brown try after the hooter to beat Russia 14-12.
In other matches, Canada beat Brazil 33-0 in pool B and France got past Fiji 12-5.


Women’s sevens under way

Wondering why China and Hong Kong were playing each other earlier when the city is part of China?
Confused as to why Taiwan is competing as Chinese Taipei? 
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Nick Atkin takes a look at the history behind the separate entries.


One China, three teams

There’s bad news for China in the badminton. Well, there’s bad news for China’s No 1 mixed doubles badminton pair as the No 2 team want gold. Huang Dongping was asked if she was happy reaching the final at her first Games and she made it clear that she is here for gold.
“It doesn’t mean anything yet,” she said. “Our journey is not finished. We’re feeling great [and] we are on track to get there.”
She and Wang Yilyu beat Japan’s Arisha Higashino and Yutai Watanabe in the semi after coming from a game behind. “They played really well (and) we faced a lot of difficulties. We stayed calm after losing the first game and changed our mindset. It was a great match,” Huang said.
They face Chinese top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, who beat Hong Kong’s Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet. The final is tomorrow evening with the bronze medal match between Hong Kong and Japan set for the morning session.


No love lost between teammates


China won its second gold medal in the pool when the women’s 4x200m freestyle team set a world record in 7mins 40.33 secs in the last event of the morning session.
Led by Zhang Yufei, who won a gold in the 200m butterfly an hour ago, the Chinese ladies were in tremendous form beating the United States into second place. The Americans clocked 7:40.73, an American record while Australia came third in 7:41.29.
China had a flying start in the race when Yang Junxuan, who came fourth in the 200m freestyle final, beat Australian’s 200m freestyle champion Ariarne Titmus by 0.14 second in the opening leg with a time 1:54.37.
In the final leg, America’s Katie Ledecky made a last ditch effort to challenge the Chinese but was held off Li Bingjie. The previous world record was set by Australia when they clocked 7:41.50 at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.


World record and gold for China

Paul Ryding in Tokyo
“We were all looking forward to a clash of the world's best in the final of the women's table tennis.
“China's Chen Meng, conqueror of Hong Kong's Doo Hoi-kem yesterday, held up her end of the bargain, thrashing Singapore's Yu Mengyu 4-0 to book her place in the final.
“Mima Ito, however, took her own licking - crushed 0-4 by, you guessed it, another Chinese - Sun Yingsha. China is guaranteed gold and silver in the women's table tennis and all is right again in the world again. Massive disappointment for Japan as Ito falls well short.”


No clash of the titans


Two-time world pole vault champion Sam Kendricks was ruled out of the Tokyo Games on Thursday after testing positive for coronavirus, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee confirmed.
“We are saddened to confirm that Sam Kendricks tested positive for Covid-19 and will not compete in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” the USOPC said in a statement on Twitter.
Kendricks won back-to-back gold medals at the 2017 and 2019 world championships and was one of the main contenders for the title in Tokyo, along with Swedish world record holder Armand Duplantis.
The charismatic 28-year-old, a bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is now in isolation, the USOPC added. (AFP)


World pole vault champion out of Games

Hong Kong's sole rowing entrant Winne Hung Wing-yan finished sixth of six, 20.39 seconds behind the group leader, in her C/D semi-final at the Sea Forest Waterway, setting up a spot in the D final scheduled for Friday.
The top three finishers, Lovisia Claesson (Sweden), Jovana Arsic (Serbia) and Maike Diekmann (Namibia) join the C final, which is also scheduled for tomorrow.


Hung into rowing D final

Japan faces its most serious situation since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the country’s top medical adviser warned today, urging the government to send a “clearer, stronger message” about growing risks, including to the medical system.
Tokyo recorded 3,177 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, hitting a daily record high for a second straight day as a spike in infections puts pressure on hospitals. Nationwide new infections topped 9,500 for the first time, media reported.
Olympic organisers on Thursday announced 24 new Covid-19 cases associated with the Games, including three athletes, bringing the total to 193 since July 1.


Top Japanese doctor in Covid warning

Multiple members of Australia’s Olympic track and field team were placed in isolation on Thursday after a positive coronavirus case involving US pole vault world champion Sam Kendricks, Athletics Australia said.
“Members of Australia’s track and field team at the Tokyo Olympic Games are isolating in their rooms as a precautionary measure following news of a Covid-positive finding with a member of the US track and field team,” Athletics Australia said. “Members of the Australian track and field team are now undergoing testing procedures in line with Australian Olympic team protocols.”
The development came shortly after US Olympic chiefs said Kendricks was out of the Olympics after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on its website that the entire 63-strong Australian track and field team had been told to isolate.


Australia athletes isolating

She’s set three new Asian records, already won a silver medal, and has another shot at gold tomorrow morning.




Get to know silver medallist Siobhan Haughey

Will lighting strike twice? Singapore’s Joseph Schooling begins his quest tonight to defend his amazing 100m butterfly title, in which he beat his childhood idol Michael Phelps at Rio 2016.
Schooling kicks off in heat 5 at 6:54pm, however hasn’t been up to form lately as his qualifying time for the Olympics (51.84) is a bit off the Olympic record he set (50.39) back in Brazil.
USA’s Caeleb Dressel holds the world record with a time of 49.50 (his qualifying time for Tokyo 2020) and is seen as one of the favourites this time around.


Schooling’s quest begins

Irish Magno becomes the first of the Philippines’ dream boxing team to depart the Games, well beaten in a surprise reversal by Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong in the last-16 of the flyweight competition.
The Filipino delegation had high hopes for medals from its four-strong boxing team. They’ll be limited to chasing three now.
Read Paul Ryding’s full report here.   


Magno well beaten

Sportswear maker Fila may be under fire over the Angus Ng Ka-long jersey controversy, but Hong Kong's Tokyo Olympics medal winners are coming to their rescue with demand for the city's official ceremonial outfits outstripping supply.
On its online store Hot Sellers, Fila's Road to Tokyo Collection Logo Cotton Jacket for men and women, each costing HK1,280, have sold out. Below the "sold out" label, it says "pre-order coming soon".

The Fila saga started on Saturday when badminton player Ng wore a black jersey missing the Hong Kong logo in his opening victory over Mexican Lino Munoz.
Ng was criticised by pro-establishment politician Nicholas Muk, before Ng explained that he is without a sponsor and needed to wear his own clothers. He said he was not authorised to place the Hong Kong logo by himself.
The Hong Kong Olympic Committee worked with Fila to provide Ng with another jersey for his second group match against Kevin Cordon - a defeat that knocked him out of the men's singles competition. Fila was then accused of giving him an uncomfortable jersey, though Ng - who admitted during the height of the controversy that the attention was affecting him psychologically - refused to blame the shirt for his loss.
Fans seem to have forgotten, though, with fencer Cheung Ka-long's gold and swimmer Siobhan Haughey's silver stirring emotions of pride among Hongkongers as they snap up the tracksuit-type outfits. The Post reached out to Fila on how many pieces were sold online and how many are available at their retail stores. They have yet to respond.


Fans can’t get enough of Hong Kong kit


Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet play their final Olympics match as a pair tomorrow, and they want to go out with a bang in their bronze medal match with Japan.
Their coach, Chen Kang, is also leaving the Hong Kong set-up after the Games, and Tang and Tse want to send him off in style.
“I want to present him with the best gift before his departure,” said Tse who has been with Kang since her first Olympics in 2008.
Jonathan White looks ahead to tomorrow’s encounter.


Badminton star seeks perfect end to Olympics career


Zhang Yufei set an Olympic record to win gold in the 200m butterfly, and then jumped back into the pool and led her country to a world-record triumph in the 4x200m freestyle.
One of China’s rising stars, Zhang has been praised on social media on the mainland, with netziens flocking to congratulate her.
“In 2015 I was a newborn and didn’t know anything,” she said. “In 2016 at Rio I wanted to come in the top three but I didn’t expect it to be so tough.”
She added that in 2015 “many netizens said I might be the next butterfly queen, but the expectations were not met... but over the last year I thought it was time to shoulder that responsibility.”


China’s ‘butterfly queen’ more than meets expectations


The China-Japan rivalry is being played out in all its form on mainland social media, some grudging, some humourous and others not so nice. Activity on Weibo was intense in the aftermath of Japan's Daiki Hashimoto's victory in the men's gymnastics all-around competition.
Hashimoto needed a superhuman performance to pip China's Xiao Ruoteng for the gold, and he did just that, scoring 14.933 points for a total of 88.465. Xiao finished on 88.065 with Russia's Nikita Nagornyy third on 88.031. One Weibo user, referring to Hashimito's flourish of a landing that told the fans he knew he had won, made a joke out of it. It was mildly funny but we'll let you decide if it was meant as a backhanded compliment or a jibe.
"When China landed on Mars, the astronauts were shocked to find a clear human footprint on the surface," the user wrote. "Scientists all the world were baffled. After much sampling and analysing, they discovered the footprint was made by [Japanese] gymnast Daiki Hashimoto when he landed during his high bar routine at the Tokyo Olympics."


Life on Mars

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has arrived home in the Philippines after winning gold at the Olympics in Tokyo.




Video: hero’s welcome for Diaz


Zhang Yufei had some morning in the pool. Gold in the 200m butterfly in an Olympic record time and then another gold as part of the 4x200m free relay, where they swam a world record.
She didn't know that she was going to race the relay, either.
"I didn't know I was doing it until I'd finished the 200 butterfly and our coach told me, 'you're in the relay.'" Zhang said. "I didn't even know how to swim the 200 free, although I have the training qualities and levels for the 200m distances.
"At the Chinese National Championships I went very fast, so maybe that's why the coaches asked me to join the relay."


Golden girl Zhang didn’t know she was swimming relay


You may have noticed a distinct lack of updates from the tennis today. That is because the start of play has been delayed until this afternoon after the oppressive heat in downtown Tokyo took its toll on too many players. A sensible decision.
Local favourite Kei Nishikori against the Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic is second on Centre Court at the Ariake Tennis Park. Djokovic is out for a “Golden Slam” (all four majors and Olympic gold). Steffi Graf did it in 1988 and we’ve not seen another.
A quandary then – Nishikori to win to keep the hosts’ hopes of a medal alive after Naomi Osaka crashed out, or a chance of a once-in-a-generation achievement for Djokovic, a player much beloved by his fans?


Too hot to handle


Hayley Chan Hei-man has qualified in eighth position in the women’s RS:X windsurfing event after a strong showing in today’s final three races.
Chan placed 4th, 8th, and 3rd to finish inside the top 10, but her teammate, Michael Cheng Chun-leung, is struggling and is 12th with one race remaining. 


Windsurfer qualifies for medal race


China have lost their seventh consecutive set at these Games - the first six to Turkey and the US combined to leave them without a win after two matches. They need to beat Russia. They are 1-0 down, after it went 25-17 to Russia.
It's hard to see what Lang Ping can do here with her team. They were so successful and Zhu Ting was so strong that plan A was always enough, and plan B was to stick with plan A.
Now, their already uphill struggle has got a little more vertical. Let's see what set two brings.


China in trouble in volleyball


Jonathan White in Tokyo
“Not sure what anyone is seeing on TV or if they are even watching but the volleyball is much the same production values as the FIVB Nations League volleyball fiesta that rolls into town.
“That means we are being bombarded with the type of music that should be getting a crowd of 20,000 or so pumped up. Sample playlist so far:
  	
 “Whiskey in the Jar” by Thin Lizzy
 “Still D.R.E” by Dr Dre
“I’m Still Standing” by Elton John

 “As well as the certified stadium anthems we also get the patented ‘Monster Block, Monster Block’ chant when there is a, you guessed it, monster block.
“It is 6-5 in the second set, by the way. The Russians were just punished for thinking a point was won. Play to the whistle, assuming you can hear it.”


Party started

A German cycling coach is being sent home from the Tokyo Olympics a day after he was caught on camera making racist comments during the men’s time trial, the German Olympic Sports Confederation said today.
Patrick Moster, the sporting director of the German cycling federation, was urging on rider Nikias Arndt during the race as Arndt rode behind Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier of Eritrea and Azzedine Lagab of Algeria.
Moster used a racial slur that was heard on the television broadcast. “If I’ve really understood what he was shouting, that was totally wrong,” Florian Nass, the commentator, said. “Something like that has no place in sport.”
The 54-year-old coach apologised after the race, saying he had spoken “in the heat of the moment”.


German coach booted over racial slur


Jonathan White in Tokyo
“A well-deserved sit down at 11-9 to China.
“It is very even, no quarter given or asked from either the Rio 2016 champions or the Russian Olympic Committee. It’s 12-11 to Russia, who have a very vocal contingent in the stands. Their voices are getting as much of a workout as my Shazam.”


Titanic tussle


Confirmation of bad news and good news from Enoshima where the sailing is taking place. After a slow start in the women's RS:X windsurfing, Hayley Chan Hei-man has qualified for the medal race. But, after a strong start in the men's, Michael Cheng Chun-leung has missed out on the final. Narrowly.
Chan has waited a long time for the chance to shine at the Olympics. She suffered a horrific injury before the 2012 Games in London, but soldiered back to finish 12th. She then missed out on the Hong Kong team for Rio four years later. Now, with another year added for the pandemic, Chan has the chance to push for the podium.


Cheng fails to qualify for medal race


Paul Ryding in Tokyo
“I think we can really begin to get excited about Siobhan Haughey’s chances, not only tomorrow, but in Paris in three years’ time.
“I just got off the phone with her college coach Rick Bishop and he said he thinks she is getting faster and faster, and that they both thought she could have gone even quicker than she did when she set the Asian record this morning. 
“He says she’s improving all the time and he thinks she’s in with a real medal chance tomorrow. Then he said that thing that any coach worth his salt says – that he always knew she had the ability to be an Olympic medalist.
“Is it really possible that Hong Kong registers a third medal at these Games tomorrow? Those in the know definitely believe so.”


If you know, you know


Jonathan White in Tokyo
“The video replay just gives China a point to take them 23-22 up in this set and finally the calls of ‘Zhongguo, jiayou’ ring out from the bench and the stands, and it has to be said maybe some members of the media.
“This is a huge point on China’s serve, with Zhu serving. Russia make it 23-23 though. Silence from the Chinese support. Another China point and at 24-23 the crowd are back at it. ‘China, add oil’ they shout.
“Zhu serves – this is a player who the coach has said is injured and who fans have commented that her serves are more like passes to the opposition these days.
“Be that as it may, the Russian on the end of it whiffs the return, the ball bounces out towards the scoring table and China have finally won a set at these Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“Let’s not put the champagne on ice just yet but every comeback starts with a single act of defiance.”   


China off the mark ... finally

Time for another break in play, if not playlists. This is being belted out at a breakneck pace, with China 17-16 up at the pause. We go again. Now fans of both sides are drowning each other out. Not sure if I am in the press box or the China women's volleyball team ultras section.


A wall of noise


Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic helped Slovenia go 2-0 in Tokyo with a win over Japan in the men’s basketball.
Doncic had 25  points in a 116-81 win over 34-point Rui Hachimiura, with Slovenia’s Jaka Blazic impressed with the NBA star’s leadership.
“He’s our leader. For me best player at Olympics and also in the world. We just follow him, everybody knows his role and that’s important in a winning team.”
Blazic thinks there is more to come from the Slovenians though.
“We did it with a good approach, with good effort and we showed that in the first and also in the second game,” he said. “We have to continue in this way. We are still making some mistakes, especially on defence. On offence we don’t have problems, we score every game more than 100 points. And that’s because of our talent but we need to step together more in defence and show more toughness.”


Slovenia coach impressed by Doncic


The winning China women’s volleyball team, remember them?
The Rio 2016 champions win a second set in succession and are 2-1 up over the Russian Olympic Committee. It took three set points but they are now in the lead in a match at these Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and that is something to build from. One more of those and winless China will be winless no more.
The Russians are 2-1 down despite winning 68 total points to China’s 67. Make of that what you will.
Remember that after this China have two more matches, against 0-3 Argentina and the unbeaten Italy. Assuming Argentina are out and they win this, they need to win both of the others and hope that the Russians do not do the same against the US and Turkey.


Lift off for China volleyball side

A “lucky” hair clip worn by one of China’s gold medallists at the Tokyo Olympics has gone viral, with sales of her hair clip and other accessories she wears surging in the past week.
Athlete Yang Qian has won two gold medals for shooting, including China’s first gold medal at the games, which has made her into a major celebrity.
A yellow duck hair clip she wore has caught people’s attention. Yang, 21, said the hair accessory is her lucky charm.


Sales of ‘lucky hair clip’ soar after shooter’s success


It will be an all-Chinese final when it comes to both table tennis singles finals. 
Ma Long and Fan Zhendong will battle it out on the men’s side, while Chen Meng faces Sun Yingsha on the women’s.
The 32-year-old Ma – the greatest table tennis player off all-time – had quite the scare in his semi-final however, as he barely squeaked out a 4-3 victory against Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov, winning the seventh and final game 11-9.
Fan also needed seven games to dispatch Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju.


Ma Long survives semi-final scare

Youth Olympics hammer thrower Alegna Osorio has died from head injuries sustained in a training accident, the Cuban national sports institute said on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Osorio was struck by a hammer at a track and field stadium in Cuba in April, and passed away today.
“We share this unbearable pain with her family,” Osvaldo Vento, the president of Cuba’s national sports institute, said.
Osorio placed fourth in the girls’ event at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympics and took bronze at the Pan-American under-20 championships two years ago. (AP)


Youth Olympian dies after training accident


Hideki Matsuyama opened with a two-under par 69 in the first round of the golf in Tokyo today at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, six shots adrift of earlier leader Sepp Straka.
The Austrian had four birdies on each nine, to take a narrow one-shot lead over Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond.
“This experience could be the first and last that I ever get to play in the Olympics in my home country,” Matsuyama said. “Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to put together a better round. If I say there’s no pressure, I would be lying. Hopefully, I’ll be able to embrace the pressure - that’s upon me to try to put together a nice tournament here.”


Solid start for Matsuyama

Paul Ryding in Tokyo
“China and Russia have put on a thriller here and it is not getting any less exciting. Incredible effort from both teams and neither is giving up a point until they are face down on the floor exhausted. It is 2-1 China and 21-21 in the fourth.
“Match point secured for China. Match point saved by Russia. It is 24-24 in the fourth set and China were stopped from a first win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. China pull ahead again. Russia get one back again. 25-25.
“China think they have won the point to get another match point but the official review hands Russia a set point. They do not need asked twice.
“It is 2-2 and we go to a fifth set. This really could go either way. The Russians rallied there as it looked like China were about to celebrate a first win. Certainly the Chinese press who legged it out of the media box to get to the mixed zone thought so.”


China and Russia still battling


Jonathan White in Tokyo
“It is 14-12 to Russia in the fifth and final set. It could go absolutely either way and, as both sides have shown with their remarkable efforts on the court, it is a must win match. Time out. Lang Ping is with her players, this is the last stretch.
“Russia have rocked China. They take the final set 15-12. Both teams applaud one another, but it is a near silent huddle as the Chinese team pick up their passes. Russia rejoice. They have two wins and China need to beat Argentina and Italy to match them for a chance to get out of the groups. Sensational stuff.”


China lose volleyball thriller, drop to 0-3

Singapore’s Joseph Schooling has failed to qualify for the 100m butterfly semi-finals, and will not defend his Rio 2016 gold medal.
The 26-year-old finished last in his heat with a time of 53.12 seconds.
Schooling famously beat his childhood idol Michael Phelps back in Brazil, shocking the swimming world, however his times have lagged over the last year. Read our full report here.   


School’s out


(AFP) – Novak Djokovic said he is “getting better and better” after easing into the Tokyo Olympics men’s tennis semi-finals on Thursday with a straight-sets thrashing of Japanese hope Kei Nishikori.
The world No 1, chasing a calendar Golden Grand Slam, ended home interest in the tennis with a ruthless 6-2, 6-0 victory in only 70 minutes.
Djokovic has never won the Olympic singles title, with a bronze medal in 2008 his best result at the Games, but will face either Alexander Zverev or Jeremy Chardy in the last four.
“I’m very happy, my best performance in the tournament,” said the top seed. “Matches are not getting easier, but my level of tennis is getting better and better.
“I’ve done that many, many times in my career. I know that I’m [the] kind of player that the further the tournament goes, the better I’m feeling on the court.”


Djokovic beats Nishikori


It is 1-1 in the women’s table tennis singles gold medal match between No 1 seed Chen Meng and No 2 seed Sun Mingsha, both of China.
Sun took the first game, but Chen bounced back to level things up.


China battle

Chen again, and the world No 1 and gold medal favourite wins game two to take control. How often must these two play each other?   


Chen edges ahead


Sunisa Lee of the USA – the first Hmong-American to represent the US at the Olympics and a key reason they pushed so close in the women’s team event even without Simone Biles – leads after three of the four rotations in the all-around final.


Sunisa shining

Game four in the table tennis final goes to Sun and it is 2-2. That was a resounding comeback from the No 2 – she won 11-5 off the back of Chen taking game three 11-3.
