Olympic rugby sevens: five takeaways going into semi-finals By: AFP on July 27, 2024Antoine Dupont helped France to a semi-final showdown against South Africa on Saturday while Fiji survived an Irish scare to set up a last-four match-up against Australia in the Olympic rugby sevens tournament. AFP Sport looks at five takeaways from Thursday’s high-octane quarter-finals going into the semis, with no play on Friday because of the […]
Hashimoto’s Japan face Chinese threat at Paris Olympics By: AFP on July 27, 2024Daiki Hashimoto believes Japan’s “explosive” men’s gymnastics team have the edge on a veteran Chinese side for Olympic gold but warned other countries could surprise. Hashimoto, 22, opens his all-around title defence starting with men’s qualifying on Saturday, with the team final on Monday. The individual all-around final takes place on Wednesday. Reigning champions Russia […]
Smooth apparatus: Guide to gymnastics at Paris Olympics By: AFP on July 27, 2024Don’t know your pommel horse from your uneven bars? AFP Sport takes a look at the ins and outs of the artistic gymnastics competition which springs into life at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. The men compete on six apparatus: floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal/high bar. It’s four for women: vault, […]
‘We’re not cheats’, insist Canada after Olympic football spying scandal By: AFP on July 27, 2024Canada defender Vanessa Gilles insisted her team were “not cheats” despite a spying scandal before their 2-1 opening win over New Zealand in the Olympic women’s football competition on Thursday. Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi were sent home from the Games in Paris on Wednesday. Lombardi was also given a suspended eight-month […]
Nadal injury doubt for Olympics, says coach Moya By: AFP on July 27, 2024Rafael Nadal has suffered a thigh injury to put his participation at the Paris Olympics in doubt, his coach Carlos Moya said on Thursday. The 14-time French Open champion is scheduled to play in the singles and in the men’s doubles alongside rising star and fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros. “He had some […]
England captain Stokes backs Wood to break 100mph barrier in Test cricket By: AFP on July 27, 2024England captain Ben Stokes believes Mark Wood can become the first bowler to be clocked in excess of 100mph (161kmh) during a Test match following his Durham team-mate’s thrilling display at Trent Bridge. Wood hit a top speed of 97.1mph as England won the second Test against the West Indies by 241 runs to take […]
Russia fail in bid to regain 2022 Olympic skating gold By: AFP on July 27, 2024Russia’s attempt to be restored to the gold medal position in team figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Olympics has been rejected, sport’s top court said on Thursday. The Russians had appealed against the decision to strip them of the gold that they won largely thanks to the points scored by then 15-year-old Kamila Valieva, […]
Gauff ‘concerned’ about height difference with fellow flagbearer LeBron By: AFP on July 27, 2024Coco Gauff joked on Thursday that she is worried about the height difference with her fellow Team USA flagbearer LeBron James, ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Gauff was selected alongside NBA superstar James by her fellow US athletes to carry the flag during Friday’s ceremony along the river Seine. James is a foot […]
33rd Olympiad explodes into action in La Ville Lumière — The City of Light — today: Pakistan hoping to end 32-year medal drought with seven athletes at Paris Olympics By: Muhammad Ali on July 26, 2024PARIS: When the 33rd Summer Olympic Games explode into action with a colourful and vibrant opening ceremony here on Friday, July 26, (today), Pakistan will be participating in the quadrennial event with a small 18-member contingent — only seven athletes (athletics, swimming and shooting) and 11 officials. We should not be comparing ourselves with our […]
Physicality and endurance win the World Series of perhaps the oldest game in North America By: AP on July 25, 2024As the drummers walk onto the field, the players behind them smack their hickory sticks to the beat. The rhythm envelops the stands and a palpable sense of anticipation flows through the crowd. Indigenous peoples have been playing stickball for hundreds of years, and every summer since 1975, teams have competed in Mississippi to become […]