Sports News

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.

Warwickshire CCC and Sandwell College have announced a new partnership that will see a new two-year further education course delivered in collaboration with the club’s official charity the Edgbaston Foundation.

As cricket’s new 100-ball competition The Hundred launches later this month, aiming to open the game up to more families, research shows that nearly half of Brummy parents think playing cricket is a great way to get active – but 38% have never played the game as a family.

With just days to go before the start of the Olympic Games, six athletes and two staff members from Team GB's athletics team are self-isolating after being identified as close contacts of an individual who tested positive after their arrival into Tokyo.

The British team wrapped up the European Athletics U20 Championships by winning a trio of relay medals in majestic fashion to end the event top of the medal table with 12 overall; six gold, one silver and five bronze medals.

Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in Morocco to become the first side in history to be crowned African champions ten times.

Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading logistics companies that offers highly specialised solutions for worldwide industries, has been appointed as the Official Event Logistics Provider for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Five medals were won by the British team on day three of the European Athletics U20 Championships with Derek Kinlock taking the men’s 200m title in phenomenal style at the Kadriorg Stadium in Estonia.