Olympic rugby sevens: five takeaways going into semi-finals 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 […]
Kamala Harris moves the dial on Gaza after ‘frank’ talks with Netanyahu on July 27, 2024Speaking to the press on Thursday, Kamala Harris insisted she would “not be silent” on the ongoing suffering in the Gaza Strip after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Her remarks signal a major shift in US policy on the war in Gaza. While outgoing President Joe Biden has for the most part maintained […]
Nigeria’s army, security agency warn against Kenya-style protests on July 27, 2024President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria’s armed forces on Thursday warned against Kenya-style violence in protests planned for next week over soaring living costs, with the military saying it would head off “anarchy”. Kenya was rocked by deadly protests that forced the government to repeal new taxes. Nigeria’s economic reforms have seen a 40 percent […]