Novak Djokovic launched his quest for Olympic gold on Saturday with a straight-sets win at the Tokyo Games as tennis stars toiled in the searing summer heat on the opening day of the tournament. World number one Djokovic, the undisputed favourite for the men’s title in Japan, easily dispatched Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien 6-2, 6-2, avoiding […]
2021
Judoka Takato wins Japan’s first gold of Tokyo Olympics
Judoka Naohisa Takato won Japan’s first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday with victory in the men’s 60kg final at the iconic Nippon Budokan. The 28-year-old made up for his disappointing bronze medal in Rio five years ago by getting the host nation up and running in the Games with a win over […]
Macron meets Japan PM on Olympic visit
French President Emmanuel Macron met his Japanese counterpart on Saturday and took in some Olympic judo action after watching Tokyo 2020’s opening ceremony in a nearly empty stadium. Macron is in Tokyo for the virus-postponed summer Games, with the 2024 edition of the sporting extravaganza set to take place in Paris. He was one of […]
China’s Hou wins weightlifting gold, India celebrates rare silver
China’s Hou Zhihui took the first weightlifting gold of Tokyo 2020 on Saturday as the Indian Prime Minister led tributes to his country’s silver medal winner Chanu Saikhom Mirabai. The 24-year-old world championship silver medallist Hou dominated the 49kg competition, opening up an early 7kg advantage over Mirabai that she never relinquished at the Tokyo […]
Uzbek man arrested over alleged rape at Tokyo Olympic Stadium
A 30-year-old Uzbek man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of raping a woman in the Tokyo Olympic Stadium last week just days before the Games begin, according to police and media reports. The man, a university student identified as Davronbek Rakhmatullaev, allegedly raped the victim in her 20s on Friday night, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police […]
Syria eyes Olympic success in Tokyo despite huge challenges
Syria is aiming to secure the war-battered country’s fourth-ever Olympic medal in Tokyo, but one of its few world-class athletes is less optimistic after struggling to access coaching and facilities for the past four years. The decade-long civil war and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic have drained Syria’s resources and left elite sport low […]
For Iraq’s Olympians, the Tokyo dream is just taking part
For the four Iraqi athletes who have made it to Tokyo, there is no realistic talk of medals. Having overcome war, politics and pandemic, their dream is simply to participate. With state financial support cut off by political infighting for most of the run-up to the Games and their locked-down foreign coaches unable to offer […]
All Blacks improving but not there yet, says Foster
New Zealand coach Ian Foster declared himself satisfied with the shape of the All Blacks after three shakedown Tests, but said they needed to improve further before facing stronger challenges ahead. With the All Blacks having set a goal of regaining the number one world ranking this year, Foster said the aim of the season-opening […]
New Zealand say ‘huge focus’ on trans trailblazer at Tokyo Olympics
New Zealand’s team said on Saturday they were helping weightlifter Laurel Hubbard cope with the “huge focus” as she prepares to become the first transgender Olympic athlete. Hubbard, who was born male but transitioned to female in her 30s, has sparked debate with her selection, which came after she met the qualification criteria for transgender […]
Ugandan weightlifter missing in Japan before Olympics
A Ugandan weightlifter has gone missing during an Olympic training camp in Japan after learning he would not be able to compete, Japanese and Ugandan officials said Friday. Authorities were searching for Julius Ssekitoleko, 20, who failed to show up for a coronavirus test and was not in his hotel room, host city Izumisano said […]