Sports News

Manchester Giants have returned their local core of North West talent as Jack Hudson, David Ulph, and Jordan Whelan have all agreed contract extensions for the 2021-22 British Basketball League (BBL) campaign.

All three made strong contributions last season, starting a combined 54 games, playing a total of over 2400 minutes, and combing for 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists for the team per outing. That chemistry was evident as the group of local stars go way back, with Hudson and Whelan having played alongside each other for North West teams as juniors; while Hudson and Ulph have played on the same teams progressing through the divisions in the last five years for both Liverpool Basketball Club and Lancashire Spinners.

Up to 10 thletes from Nigeria will not be allowed to take part in the Tokyo Olympic Games, for failing to meet the minimum testing requirements under Rule 15 of the Anti-doping Rules. Another 10 athletes from Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco and Ukraine were also disqualified.

In a statemen released by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), athletes from ‘Category A’ countries grouped as ‘high risk’ because of deficiencies in their testing programmes were required to undergone at least three no-notice out-of-competition tests (urine and blood) in the 10 months leading to a major event.

It’s a sell out at Edgbaston for Birmingham Phoenix on Sunday 1 August as the women’s and men’s team return home to play their second home games in The Hundred versus Midlands’ rivals Trent Rockets.

Having welcomed more than 12,000 spectators for the first back-to-back games at Edgbaston one week ago, ticket sales have soared with Sunday sold out and limited space available for the subsequent home games against Oval Invincibles (Wednesday August 4) and Welsh Fire (Monday August 9).

As the one-year countdown began, a festival of sport was showcased as many of the events that will be part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games programme – including a boxing ring, basketball court, netball court, squash court and sprint track - was on show in Centenary Square in the city.

Former footballers from seven Midlands clubs will try their hand at a different sport in aid of a mental health charity.

Leicester City’s Alan Smith, Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock and West Bromwich Albion’s Chris Brunt are just some of the names who will be playing in The Midlands Legends Charity Golf Day in support of The Kaleidoscope Plus Group. Event organisers Watson Metters Golf have organised the event in aid of the charity which supports people living with mental ill health and are encouraging keen golfers and football fans alike to join in the fun and form a team.

Gary Wheway, Head of Business Development and Fundraising said: “We’re excited to be clubbing together with Watson Metters Golf to launch the first Midlands Legends Charity Golf Day in support of Kaleidoscope.

“It’s going to be a great day and we’ve got some big names involved. You could be teeing off in a team of four alongside one of your favourite footballing legends in a bid to be crowned champion team of the Midlands.

“There will be prizes for closest to the pin and fines for anyone that goes in the bunkers. We’ve also got a live interactive scoreboard so no matter where you are on the course, you’ll know who you’ve got to beat to reach the top of the board.” The event will be held at the Forest of Arden Golf Club, an 18-hole course, in Birmingham, on October 29 and compered by Talksport’s Tom Ross.

Mike Watson from Watson Metters added: “With household names taking part representing Wolves, West Brom, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Derby County and Nottingham Forest the day is shaping up to be one to remember.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to work alongside the Kaleidoscope Plus Group. We have no doubt the day will be the springboard for a fantastic relationship for years to come and we can't wait to see the benefits the day will bring to those that need it most.”

All players will receive breakfast before the action on the course begins. This will then be followed by a dinner reception in the evening which includes a live auction, prize giving and entertainment. Golf and Dinner Tickets are £199pp+VAT with dinner-only tickets and sponsorship packages also available.

India's Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan have been ruled out of the Test series against England because of injury.

Opening batsman Gill returned home to India after suffering a shin injury in June's World Test Championship final defeat by New Zealand. All-rounder Sundar misses out with a finger injury, while fast bowler Khan fractured his thumb in a warm-up match.

Batsmen Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav have been named as replacements. The pair have been called up from India's second-string squad which is currently playing Twenty20 series in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has linked up with the squad in England after recovering from Covid-19, while bowling coach Bharat Arun and Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Easwaran have completed their period of isolation. The first Test in the five-match series begins on August 4 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

India's squad: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav.

The Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) - Promoter of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - is launching the opening of ticket sales for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Formula 1 race weekend, taking place on the newly constructed Jeddah Corniche Circuit this coming December 3^rd- 5^th.

Tickets to the most exciting sporting and entertainment event to ever be staged in Saudi Arabia will be on sale to fans at home and abroad who want to get in pole position and secure their front row seats for the newest addition to the F1 calendar, which will host the penultimate race of this nail-biting season. With the ongoing Covid pandemic in mind, the host of Saudi Arabia’s first ever F1 Grand Prix will initially be releasing 40% of available tickets, with a view to increasing this to full capacity over the coming weeks and months as the global vaccine response to the epidemic continues to improve.

At all times, the main priority of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will continue to be the health and safety of all fans, staff, stakeholders & participants, and any and all decisions relating to a further capacity increase will be taken with this in mind.

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is currently offering fans a choice of three different, 3-day ticket types: Paddock Club, Premium Hospitality & Grandstand, with prices starting at 1800SAR (approx. US$480) for Grandstand packages.

Grandstand tickets are currently for the Main and Southern Grandstands and will allow F1 fans to take their seats in comfort while being treated to some fantastic views of the start/finish lane, as well as the hyper-fast final section of the track at Turns 26/27 where speeds are expected to reach 322km/h before cars will enter the widest section of the track for a perfect overtaking opportunity into the home straight - right in front of your eyes!

Hospitality tickets are the premium ticket type issued by the 2021 FORMULA 1 SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX, offering guests the most luxurious and glamorous experience possible. Not only will you be provided with the best views of the racing action on the stunning Jeddah Corniche Circuit but your hospitality ticket will also function as a great networking, client entertainment and B2B opportunity for you and your organisation given the high level of business guests that will be present.

F1 fans can also choose to visit the legendary F1 Paddock Club to enjoy the race weekend in style in the Jeddah Corniche Circuit’s state-of-the-art Pit & Team Building overlooking the magnificent Red Sea coastline. No other sports hospitality event has the luxury of a whole weekend like Paddock Club, so there's more than enough time to enjoy all the F1 experiences on offer here. On one side you can look down into the Paddock where drivers, celebrities and F1 legends will mingle. On the other, you will look down onto the pit lane and the starting grid with a breathtaking view of the Jeddah waterfront on the horizon.

In addition to the F1 racing itself, all ticket holders will also be able to enjoy watching the all-action Formula 2 support series as well as participate in and witness the many entertainment activities, fan festivals and live concerts that will be taking place across the circuit and F1 Fanzone all weekend.

In keeping with the ultramodern circuit being developed to host the first ever F1 race weekend in the Kingdom, the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix also revealed its inspirational Overtake The Future race identity today to accompany its ticket launch. Designed to showcase the power of the fusion between the pinnacle of motorsport and Saudi Arabia’s illustrious culture, heritage and hospitality, which together will help to shape a new and exciting tomorrow for all Saudis, Overtake The Future feeds directly into the Saudi government’s transformative Vision 2030 initiative, whose aim is to maximise the country’s vast human potential to create a better future for the whole Kingdom.

Speaking after tickets went on sale earlier today, the Saudi Arabian Minister for Sport, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Al Saud commented: “It is a source of enormous pride to announce the launch of ticket sales for the inaugural Formula 1 race weekend in Saudi Arabia this coming December. We are confident that Jeddah and the magnificent circuit we are constructing will prove to be a wonderful new home for the world’s premier motor racing series. It is our aim to deliver a first-class, ground-breaking and unforgettable weekend of sports and entertainment for all fans – whether they are attending or watching from home - to enjoy and one that will bring great happiness and pride to the people of Saudi Arabia. We are excited to make our debut in a few short months’ time, when we can guarantee drama, high-speeds and excitement when F1 finally arrives in Jeddah!”

HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) also welcomed today’s announcement: “Today marks another very important milestone on our road to hosting the first ever F1 race in Saudi Arabia. With tickets now officially on sale, we are entering the most exciting phase of the build-up to the pinnacle of motorsport’s arrival in Jeddah in December. We can’t wait to welcome the whole world to experience a spectacular race on F1’s newest, fastest and longest street circuit as well as three days of world class off-track entertainment. Moreover, your ticket to our race will also provide you with the opportunity to discover the beautiful city of Jeddah and all it has to offer. We invite you all to join us and Overtake the Future together in Saudi Arabia this December!”

Bradly Sinden claimed taekwondo silver on day two of the Tokyo Olympics after Chelsie Giles won Team GB's first medal of the Games with judo bronze.

In the men's -68kg event, 2019 world champion Sinden was beaten in a dramatic final by Uzbekistan qualifier Ulugbek Rashitov. Giles, competing at her first Olympics, finished third in the -52kg event, beating Switzerland's Fabienne Kocher to win bronze.

Earlier, Sinden's team-mate and two-time defending Olympic champion Jade Jones fell to a shock defeat in the opening round of the women's -57kg taekwondo. Jones, the gold medallist in both London and Rio, was stunned by Kimia Alizadeh of the refugee team.

That came moments after Andy Murray, also a two-time Olympic champion, pulled out of the defence of his singles title with a minor thigh strain – although he will still continue in the men's doubles, alongside Joe Salisbury, after they won their opener.

Meanwhile, Olympics organisers have cancelled two days of rowing with adverse weather conditions expected to hit Japan's capital. That news comes on the same day an extreme weather policy was activated in the tennis tournament, with temperatures reaching 32C in Tokyo, leading the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to trigger measures to give competitors more protection.

Sinden went close to becoming the first British male Olympic taekwondo champion but lost 39-24 in a topsy-turvy final. "I was unlucky with a few things, but he's a top fighter. It was my gold medal to give away - it was there for me to take," the 22-year-old from Doncaster said.

He had found himself facing defeat in his semi-final, falling 16-9 behind at one stage to Zhao Shuai of China before battling back to win 33-25. Sinden had powered into the semi-final with a 20-point victory margin over Hakan Recber and then dug in against Zhao, a Rio Olympic champion at the lighter -58kg category.

Giles had only won her first Grand Slam gold medal in Israel earlier this year but can now add Olympic bronze to her collection. She won the repechage against Kocher by ippon, an early scoring waza-ari having given her the advantage before she showed the greater composure to hold on.

The 24-year-old had lost to Japan's Uta Abe in the quarter-finals, but beat Charline van Snick of Belgium in the first repechage round to give herself a medal chance. Her bronze means Britain's judo team have won a medal at the each of the past three Olympics, following on from the bronze won by Sally Conway at Rio 2016 and the silver and bronze that Gemma Gibbons and Karina Bryant picked up at London 2012.

The double medal wins came after Jade Jones entered Tokyo 2020 as one of GB's favourites to win an Olympic title. In doing so, she would have become the first British woman to win Olympic gold at three successive Games and the first taekwondo fighter to win triple gold. Nicknamed the Headhunter, because she prefers to score points from her opponent's head rather than their body, Jones is the reigning world champion in her division and had entered the Games as number one seed.

But she met her match in Alizadeh who, five years ago in Rio, became the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic medal with -57kg bronze. Her 16-12 defeat of Jones in Tokyo was Alizadeh's first international fight since 2018 after fleeing Iran in 2020 and the Iran Taekwondo Association refusing to allow her to represent another nation.

A great opportunity is being launched to support the council’s role in welcoming VIPs and dignitaries during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Designers, manufacturers and tradespeople are invited to enter a competition via a procurement process to supply bespoke presentation items – traditionally offered by the Proud Host City to people such as Heads of State, dignitaries, representatives from sporting federations and businesses.

Items will be chosen that best reflect Birmingham and will be judged against the following criteria:

• Innovative – creating an item which is bold and advanced in its design and creation;
• Relevant – we are Birmingham and we want our item to represent our unique city;
• Compelling – we want to provoke interest and admiration in a powerful way linking back to our communities and city;
• Legacy & reputation – this will be part of the continuing legacy for our Proud Host City. We want it to be a talking point and be bold, standing apart from other items.

The items must be portable, durable, sustainable, ethically sourced and adhere to travel guidelines (e.g. no food or perishable items) as they will be given to people from across the Commonwealth and beyond during the summer of 2022.

The intellectual property rights of all winning designs will be owned by Birmingham City Council. The winning items will be displayed at a location to be confirmed in Birmingham as part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Although this is not directly related to the staging of a successful Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the presentation item programme for the Proud Host City is critical for a range of reasons.

“We want to uphold the city’s envied reputation for offering a warm welcome to guests as well as the tradition of offering an item of appreciation for them to remember their stay here. This helps develop relationships and potentially contribute to opening further opportunities for our city.

“This is a very clear way in which we can demonstrate the Games are more than 11 days of fantastic sporting action. Birmingham’s creative and innovative businesses now have a wonderful opportunity to have their work showcased to an influential international audience at a time when the sector needs our support following the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I hope we receive many proposals as I know the talent is out there to develop something that tells our city’s story and shows what it means to be bold and be Birmingham.” To apply, please visit the council’s portal for advertising tender opportunities www.finditinbirmingham.com.

The closing date is noon on Friday 10 September 2021.

Alice Dearing is set to become the first Black woman to represent Great Britain in an Olympic swimming event after finishing fourth at the Tokyo 2020 marathon swimming qualification event in Setubal, Portugal.

The top nine finishers - with a one athlete per nation qualifying rule - were guaranteed places at the Games. Dearing finished the 10km course in two hours two minutes one second.

In accordance with British Swimming's Tokyo Olympic selection criteria, Dearing, 24, was nominated for a place in the Team GB squad for the Games, following ratified by the British Olympic Association in the coming days.

In addition to becoming the first Black women to represent Britain in a swimming event at an Olympic Games, Alice is set to become only the third Black Team GB swimmer. Kevin Burns competed at the 1976 Games, with Paul Marshall taking bronze at the 1980 Moscow Olympics after competing in the heats of the men's 4x100m medley relay event.

"Achieving this is beyond my dreams," said Dearing, 24. "I'm so thrilled to be representing GB on the highest stage of my sport."

Team GB chef de mission Mark England, said: "This marks a significant moment in British Olympic history as Alice becomes the first Black female swimmer to compete for Team GB - something that she should feel extremely proud of, as it is an important moment in the 125-year history of British Olympians going to the Games.”

Dearing is competing in the open-water event.

Team GB star Dina Asher-Smith has condemned the Tokyo Olympics 2020 organisers of preventing athletes from protesting during the games. It following the IOC (International Olympic Committee) reversing their decision on originally reinforcing Rule 50 which states that no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.

The Olympics sprit hope said that they (the IOC) had no choice in regards of changing their decision. Organisers attempted to ban athletes from ‘taking the knee’ during the Games.

Set to compete in the 100 and 200 metres in Japan, Dina said she believes that the decision would have brought the Tokyo Games bad publicity. She also said; “If you were to penalise someone for standing up against racial inequality, how on earth would that go? Just how on earth are you going to enforce it?”

“Would you revoke someone’s medal for saying racism is wrong? But I think it’s good they have lifted it. How would you police that, particularly when people feel so strongly about that right now?

“Also, if you were to penalise someone or revoke a medal, how would that go optically?” she continued: “I did see it as completely unenforceable and I think they had no choice but to lift it otherwise they would have been faced with loads of athlete protests at the Games and it would have been very embarrassing for them,” she said.

“Unless they want to say they are against people being against racism I didn’t see how that was going to happen. One of the Olympics’ most iconic moments included the Black Power salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968.

“That is something people remember the Olympics for, something they’re very proud to see at the Olympic Games. So, to think they’re suddenly going to get up and say ‘absolutely not’ – I think they’d be shooting themselves in the foot.”

Busy Birmingham parents looking for activities to keep their youngsters entertained during the summer holidays are encouraged to take advantage of a series of Sports Camps during the next six weeks. Delivered by Digbeth-based charity Sport 4 Life UK, children aged between 11 and 16, including those who are eligible for free school meals, will be targeted to participate in sports including football, golf, dodgeball and tennis.

The camps run throughout the day Monday to Thursday at sites including Hodge Hill College, the Muath Trust and Fox Hollies Leisure Centre in Acocks Green. People are advised to book in advance via the StreetGames website, as some events have limited availability. The sessions are being funded by the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme and are part of the Bring it on Brum initiative aimed at keeping young people active and entertained during the break.

At the camps, Sport 4 Life UK, will distribute food and refreshments among participants. There is also an ‘enrichment’ element to the sessions covering personal responsibility and skills development opportunities. Commenting on the Sports Camp initiative, Sport 4 Life UK CEO and founder Tom Clarke-Forrest said: “The summer holidays can be a stressful time for families, with parents juggling work commitments while trying to keep children entertained.

“The Sports Camps can help to alleviate those pressures by providing fun sports activities alongside mentoring and skills development.” He added: “We’ve been delivering Sports Camps for a number of years and they are a great way to engage youngsters who perhaps wouldn’t have been reached by our programmes, which can make a real difference in terms of enhancing someone’s life chances.

“Our teams of trained sports coaches are really excited about welcoming youngsters along in the next few weeks.”

Established in 2006, Sport 4 Life UK exists to provide sports-themed personal development programmes to people aged between 11 and 29 years old and who are not in education, employment or training. In the year to June 2021, the charity supported a total of 1015 youngsters with on and offline mentoring, qualifications, and training programmes, in addition to structured sports sessions.

That figure is expected to grow over the next 12 months, as a result of the impact of the pandemic on the economy. Sport 4 Life UK will be delivering Sports Camps at the following locations during the summer holidays:

List of venues where Sport 4 Life UK is hosting Sports Camps:

Hodge Hill

Hodge Hill Academy,
AstroTurf & Sports Hall,
Bromford Road, B36 8HB

Week one: Monday 26th – Thursday 29th July
Week two: Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th August
Week three: Monday 9th – Thursday 12th August
Week four: Monday 16th – Thursday 19th August
Week five: Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th August

All camps run 11am – 4pm

The Muath Trust

Muath Trust,
Stratford Road, B11 1AR

Week one: Monday 26th – Thursday 29th July
Week two: Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th August
Week three: Monday 9th – Thursday 12th August
Week four: Monday 16th – Thursday 19th August
Week five: Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th August

All camps run 2pm – 7pm

Acocks Green

Fox Hollies Leisure Centre,
Shirley Rd, Acocks Green,
Birmingham B27 7NS

Week one: Monday 26th – Thursday 29th July
Week two: Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th August
Week three: Monday 9th – Thursday 12th August
Week four: Monday 16th – Thursday 19th August
Week five: Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th August

All camps run 11am – 4pm

Sandwell

Action For Children,
Greets Green Children’s Centre (off Claypit Ln),
West Bromwich, B70 9EZ

Week one: Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th August
Week two: Monday 9th – Thursday 12th August
Week three: Monday 16th – Thursday 19th August
Week four: Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th August

All camps run 11am – 3pm

Tennis legend, Naomi Osaka, had the honour of lighting the flame to mark the official opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games - a year later than planned, and in the midst of a global pandemic. A more sombre tone than previous opening ceremonies, it was a reminder that this is a Games taking place in a world still facing its toughest challenge.

"Today is a moment of hope," said Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "Yes, it is very different from what all of us had imagined. But let us cherish this moment because finally we are all here together."

This Games is going to be different, dampened by masks, positive tests and the absence of fans. But it is still the Olympics; still the greatest show on Earth, still faster, higher, stronger and now together.

As for the ceremony itself, it was modest, a reminder of all the world has gone through yet offered hope for what is to come. But the lack of a crowd was stark as socially distanced and masked athletes - though some went without - waved to empty stands, no roar accompanying their march into the stadium.

The build-up to Tokyo 2020 was long – with some strong opposition from some Japanese people, outside the stadium, made their voices heard – with the stadium, itself, empty - but for a select number of dignitaries and Olympics officials.

For the world No.3, Naomi, she said that she was fit, rearing to go and ready to represent Japan – after saying that she will give up her US citizenship.

Born in Japan, to Japanese and Haitian parents, the family moved to New York when she was three and she represents Japan on the WTA Tour and in the Fed Cup. “I think that playing with the pride of the country will make me feel more emotional," she said.

The ‘poster girl’ for the Games, at every bus stop in Tokyo, she stared down from an advert, greeting passengers local and international. She is decked out in a neon pink jacket over black activewear with the slogan written half in English, half in Japanese.

Osaka, who renounced her US citizenship in 2019 in favour of her Japanese heritage, will make her return to tennis after two months out at the Olympics. It is from Florida, where the world's best young tennis players congregated and compete and she was the face of Tokyo 2020.

She is bringing change to what is said, by some, to be one of the least diverse countries in the world.

Birmingham’s Spark Green Park has been transformed as part of an initiative to celebrate the launch of the Birmingham Phoenix team and the men’s team captain Moeen Ali.

Australia and New Zealand have pulled out of the Rugby League World Cup because of "player welfare and safety concerns" related to Covid-19. The men's, women's and wheelchair events are scheduled to take place in England this autumn.

The Tokyo Olympics officially get under way today after a year-long delay due to the impact of Covid-19. With the Japanese capital entering a fourth state of emergency as a result of the pandemic, it was declared this month that spectators will not be able to attend the summer Games.