Tokyo 2020 Olympics

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      in Boxing

      Team GB boxers Frazer Clarke and Pat McCormack confirm they will turn pro after winning Tokyo Olympic medals

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      TEAM GB boxers Frazer Clarke and Pat McCormack have announced they will turn professional after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.The duo have both medalled in Japan, with super-heavyweight star Clarke claiming the bronze after suffering a semi-final defeat against Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov.
      Super-heavyweight Frazer Clarke won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 OlympicsCredit: Getty
      Team GB star Pat McCormack (left) came up short in his gold medal bout against Roniel Iglesias
      Meanwhile welterweight Pat McCormack scooped the silver medal after being outpointed by Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias.
      And the pair, who both won the gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, are now set to enter the paid ranks.
      Speaking to talkSPORT, Clarke, who missed out on London 2012 and Rio 2016 to Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce, said: “The next step I think everyone knows.
      “People have been waiting for me to go professional for a few years I think.
      “It’s come a year later than I would’ve liked it to, maybe a couple, but the next step on the journey is definitely the professional route.
      “I’m experienced now, I’ve been at the pinnacle of amateur boxing, I’ve got three of the four major medals. I can look back on my amateur career with a lot of pride.
      “And I can go into the next step, start again at the bottom and work my way up.”
      McCormack, 26, has also declared his amateur days are now behind him as he looks to challenge for major honours as a professional.
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      He told Sky Sports: “A bit disappointing it wasn’t the gold medal, that’s what I’ve come for, but now the dust has settled, I’m happy with my silver, I’m proud of it.
      “I’ve medalled at World Championships, European Championships, Commonwealths, Olympics. I’ve medalled at them all. So this was the last medal to add to the list, and I’m ready for what’s next.
      “I’ve come here for gold, I just missed out, but in the pros I’ll definitely be in for a world title further down the line.
      “I know it’s going to take a few years to build into, but if you’re not in for a world title then there’s no point of being in the game.”
      In a separate interview with the Scotsman, he remarked: “I’m ready for the pro ranks now.
      “It’s been a long time coming. Obviously with the lockdown and everything, it got pushed back a year.
      “I was hoping to be professional now but I’m an Olympic silver medallist. It’s a good platform to turn pro.”
      Lauren Price edges into final and stays on course for gold as Britain’s boxers deliver Tokyo 2020 medal rush More

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      in Boxing

      Lauren Price edges into final and stays on course for gold as Britain’s boxers deliver Tokyo 2020 medal rush

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      LAUREN Price booked her appointment with Olympic middleweight destiny – but was given the fight of her life by Dutch rival Nouchka Fontijn.Welsh wonder Price and Fontijn have been fighting for supremacy for five years, with the former part-time cabbie from Newport holding a narrow edge.
      Team GB’s Lauren Price tries to get a read on Nouchka FontijnCredit: PA
      Price walks Fontijn on to a beautiful straight right handCredit: AFP
      An elated Price celebrates after winning via split-decisionCredit: Reuters
      An emotional Price celebrates with her cornerCredit: Getty
      And after three gruelling rounds at the Kokugican Arena, the 27-year-old – who lost a point in round two – got through by the skin of her teeth on a 3-2 majority after two judges gave it to her on the tie-break when their cards were level.
      Britain’s boxers have delivered six medals at Tokyo 2020 with Price and Galal Yafai both still in with a chance of gold.
      Price had just outpointed Fontijn to lift the world and European belts in 2019.
      Yet despite the southpaw Brit seeming to have used her speed to edge the first, ducking inside Fontijn’s orthodox lead to land her own shots, it was the Dutch fighter who shaded it with three of the five judges.
      That put the pressure on, increased even more when Price was deducted a point for holding.
      Even though she took the round with three of the judges, it meant she was behind on four of the cards after two, having to dominate the last to get through.
      She did not do that in another three minutes which could have been decided either way but was shaded by the Welsh fighter according to four of them.
      I’m just over the moon that I got the winLauren Price
      That left Fontijn ahead on two cards, Price on one and level with the Argentine and Moroccan judges.
      Both gave their tie break vote to Price, who howled in sheer delight as the verdict came in to confirm her passage to Sunday’s final.
      A thrilled Price thanked her fans as she left the ring, adding: “It means the world.”
      She told the BBC: “It’s pretty mad, to be honest.
      “Obviously, I knew I was up against it today, we’re the best two in the world.
      “We’ve faced each other a number of times and we know each other inside out. So it was whoever was better on the day.
      “I started a little bit slow, but I suppose that’s where your experience comes into it and listening to my corner I went out in the second and third round to win the fight.
      “I’m just over the moon that I got the win. But I take my hat off to her.
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      “Obviously, she’s been around a while as well, Olympic silver medallist and she’s world-class as well.
      “So I’m just really pleased that I got the decision today.”
      Price’s opponent with be Qian Li of China, who has yet to drop a single round with any judge in her three contests.
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      Team GB boxer Galal Yafai into Olympics FINAL and guarantees silver medal after hard-fought war with Kazakh opponent More

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      Olympic boxing: Galal Yafai vs Carlo Paalam UK start time, TV channel, live stream FREE for Tokyo 2020 gold medal bout

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      GALAL YAFAI goes for gold in the men’s flyweight boxing final against Carlo Paalam.The Commonwealth champion from 2018 is looking to win the biggest title of his amateur career with Games gold in Tokyo.
      Galal Yafai won a tense boxing semi-final against Saken BibossinovCredit: AFP
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      Yafai, 28, reached the last 16 of the Rio Olympics boxing tournament five years ago.
      But he has developed in that time, clinching the gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealths three years ago and building on that experience to make it to Tokyo.
      When does Galal Yafai face Carlo Paalam and what time is the bout?

      The Tokyo Olympic men’s flyweight gold medal bout takes place on Saturday August 7.
      The bout starts at 6am UK time, which is 2pm in Tokyo.
      The fight will last three rounds, each lasting three minutes

      Is the bout on TV and can I live stream it?

      The gold medal match will be live on BBC One with the BBC breakfast team and is also on Eurosport.
      You can live stream the bout on BBC iPlayer.
      You can also stream the entire Olympics on Discovery+
      Stay up to date with every punch from the final in our live Tokyo Olympics blog

      What is Galal Yafai’s record at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

      Round of 32: Beat Koryun Soghomonyan (Armenia) – stoppage
      Round of 16: Beat Patrick Chinyemba (Zambia) – points
      Quarter finals: Beat Yosbany Veitia (Cuba) – points
      Semi finals: Beat Saken Bibossinov (Kazakhstan) – points

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      What has he said?
      The Brit said: “It’s Olympic gold man – and Olympic gold is crazy.
      “Being in an Olympic final is something I never thought I could do – and now I’m in it.” More

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      in Athletics

      Meet the Australian Olympic runner with NO sponsors who had to work in Woolworths to fund her Tokyo Games dream

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      THE OLYMPICS brings together athletes from all over the world and many different walks of life – but few work a day job in a supermarket.That is, apart from Riley Day, the Australian sprinter who has funded her dream by running the aisles of her local Woolworths grocery store.
      Riley Day earned thousands of fans with a personal-best in the 200m semi-finalsCredit: AFP
      The Aussie works part-time in a Woolworths store, helping customers such as John (left)Credit: Linkedin
      The Aussie chain, which bears no relation to the defunct British retailer, wished one of their own well via social media as Day began her Tokyo 2020 quest.
      Having competed in the 200-metres at the 2017 World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 21-year-old is no stranger to the big stage.
      Day qualified out of her heats in Tokyo but was reportedly physically sick afterwards, due to her huge exertion to clock in a time of 22.94.
      She admitted to nerves post-race, and said: “I was trying to just remember that it is just a race.
      “The Olympics isn’t going to change how fit I am, how fast I am and how well I run. If anything it can make me lift even more, so I feel a lot more relaxed now that the first run is over.”
      But it was in the semi-finals where she shot to fame.
      A personal-best time of 22.56 may not have been enough to earn a spot in the final, having come home fourth behind Jamaican star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, but it stunned the Aussie for her television interview.
      Day remarked on Australia’s Channel Seven: “Holy s**t! That was a much better race than this morning.
      “I’ve got my groove. Now I hope it’s the fastest heat so I can get in the final. Because that is a massive PB. That’s awesome.
      “I want to be the best and nothing is going to stop me from being the best.”
      INSTA FAMOUS
      Day is refusing to let her humble day job dampen her dreams and, without a sponsor to plug, she urged new fans to follow her online.
      She added: “I mean, if you do want to follow my journey, My Instagram is @_rileyday.
      “That’s where I post most of my stuff, so. If you wanna follow along, that’s where it is.”
      It certainly had the desired effect, as her following leapt by 25,000, up from 21,000, in just half an hour.
      At time of writing, three days after the semi-final, Day now has a hefty 89,000 fans on Instagram.
      Supporters have called for a sponsor to step in and provide Queensland native Day with better funding to hunt down a medal.
      But she has reportedly vowed to stay on at Woolworths while studying for a business degree in sports management at Griffith University.
      The shop wrote ahead of her race: “Our very own team member, Riley Day, is proudly representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics. We’ll be cheering her on in the 200-meter sprint today.
      “Riley is an adored team member of our Beaudesert store in regional Queensland and is known for going the extra mile for our customers.
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      Day impressed as she qualified from her heats in the 200mCredit: AP
      The sprinter cheekily plugged her Instagram after the raceCredit: Reuters

      “For the past 18 months, she’s helped 90-year-old local John, who is visually impaired, with his weekly shop. She’s even memorised his grocery list and calls him on Sundays if he doesn’t turn up for his weekly shop.
      “When the ambitious 21-year-old, nicknamed the Beaudesert Bullet is not replenishing stock or helping our customers, she’s working tirelessly on the track, training for at least three hours a day, six days a week.
      “We’re proud to see one of our team members represent Australia on the world stage. Good luck Riley, we can’t wait to see you on the track!”
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      Tokyo 2020: Watch skateboarder Kieran Woolley take out cameraman before sharing fist bump in hilarious incident More

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      in Soccer

      Canada and Sweden get new venue and kick-off time for Tokyo Olympics football final following USA bronze win

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      CANADA and Sweden’s gold medal clash in the Olympic women’s football final has been moved to the evening due to worries over Tokyo’s scorching midday heat. The duel which was due to commence on Friday in Japan’s capital at 11:00 local time will start at the later slot of 9:00 pm – which is 1:00 pm UK time. 
      Bev Priestman’s Canada side will play Sweden in the Tokyo Olympics women’s football finalCredit: Rex
      And the encounter will be held in Yokohama amid concerns about the quality of the pitch at Tokyo’s National Stadium where the match was expected to take place. 
      The Guardian reports that high temperatures expected around the early kick-off time had prompted worries from both teams regarding the health of their players. 
      It is claimed that the early kick-off slot was chosen as a result of broadcasters in the USA wanting to show the match on television if their women’s national side reached the finals. 
      The time change for the game, reportedly approved by the International Olympic Committee and Fifa has been welcomed by Sweden boss Peter Gerhardsson who described it as a “very good decision”. 
      And via her Twitter account, Sweden and Chelsea goalkeeper Zecira Musovic said: “To even consider playing a final at 11:00 local time in Japan is a direct danger to the players’ health due to extreme weather conditions.
      “Once again money talks way too much in a discussion that should not be a discussion.”
      At a press conference, Canada head coach Bev Priestman added: “I think the (kick-off time) change makes absolute sense in terms of the spectacle of the game and what it can be. 
      “For anyone tuning in around the world it will be a much better game because of it and I can’t wait to get going.”  
      The clash will see Sweden and Priestman’s Canadian side battle for their first Gold medal Olympic win a day after the USA’s 4-2 bronze triumph against Australia. 
      And it could potentially see Priestman, 35, who is a former Lionesses’ number two, claim her first major tournament win ten months after becoming head coach of the world’s eighth-best women’s football team. 
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      Her side, which includes Chelsea’s Jessie Fleming, Tottenham’s Shelina Zadorksky and Man City’s and West Ham’s Janine Beckie and Adriana Leon,  claimed a major scalp in beating the USA in the contest’s semis. 
      The 1-0 victory under the Durham-born coach was Canada’s first win against their neighbours in 20 years. 
      Priestman added: “I feel really excited and very privileged.”
      Chelsea and Sweden star Magda Eriksson could end up going head-to-head with her Blues team-mate Jessie FlemingCredit: Rex

      “I knew going into our game against that if we just believed it would go our way and it did.   
      “There is a feeling that I get from this group, this hunger and desire. 
      “I have got no doubt that they see Gold and they want to get Gold.”
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      Sampdoria’s Mikkel Damsgaard shows his skills on the training pitch More

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      ‘World’s sexiest athlete’ Alica Schmidt has one last chance to feature at Tokyo Olympics after being benched in relay

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      ALICA SCHMIDT may well be many people’s favourite German athlete at Tokyo 2020.But unfortunately, she hasn’t actually seen any action yet.
      Fans are hoping to see Alica Schmidt compete at the GamesCredit: Instagram / @alicasmd / Puma
      The German is in Tokyo for the Games
      However she is yet to competeCredit: Instagram / @alicasmd
      The German could compete in the 4x400m women’s relayCredit: Rex
      The 22-year-old has 2.3million Instagram followersCredit: Refer to Caption
      The 22-year-old, dubbed by some as the ‘world’s sexiest athlete’, is in Japan after qualifying for her nation’s 400m relay squad.
      She has so far been limited to supporting from the sidelines, however, after being benched for Germany’s botched mixed 4x400m attempt last weekend.
      Without Schmidt, Germany qualified for the final – only to be disqualified for making contact with the Jamaican team.
      She could still feature at the Games, however, in the 4x400m women’s relay.
      Germany take on the likes of Australia and France among others in their heat later today.
      And if they go through, they will compete for medals in tomorrow’s final.
      Schmidt has still been making the most of her Games experience from the sidelines, keeping her hordes of social media followers updated.
      She has been a regular poster on TikTok.
      And she has also made sure not to neglect her 2.3million Instagram followers.
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      In her most recent post, she wrote: “Day ✌🏼 in the Olympic village.
      “Preparation is going well and the food is delicioussss 😋.
      “So many new impressions here and I’m so grateful to be part of @teamdeutschland.”
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      Fans are eager to see Schmidt competeCredit: Rex
      She has been dubbed the ‘world’s sexiest athlete’Credit: Instagram / @alicasmd
      The world’s sexiest athlete: Germany’s Alica Schmidt More

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      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua unfazed that coach McCracken is with Team GB at Olympics and says ‘it’s been good having a wider team’

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA is unfazed by the absence of Team GB’s Olympics coach Rob McCracken and said: ‘It’s been good having a wider team’. Joshua is trained by McCracken – the man who led him to Olympic gold in 2012 – with the two stationed at Team GB’s Sheffield HQ.
      Anthony Joshua is unfazed by the absence of Team GB’s Olympics coach Rob McCracken
      Team GB’s Olympics head coach Rob McCracken in TokyoCredit: Getty
      But AJ has started preparations to fight Oleksandr Usyk on September 25 without his head trainer, who is in Tokyo with the GB boxing squad.
      The unified heavyweight champion still has assistant trainers Angel Fernandez and Joby Clayton as part of his camp.
      And Joshua believes he has been left in safe hands, despite the loss of McCracken.
      He told Sky Sports: “Everyone brings something different to the table. Usyk will bring in Vasiliy Lomachenko’s dad. He works with Russ Anber.
      “I have a list of different nutritionists and strength and conditioning coaches that he will bring in for this fight.
      “He is changing his team because people have a wealth of knowledge. It’s been good having a wider team and working collectively.”
      AJ’s preparation is 365 days per day, not just an eight-week camp. Rob will be missing for a couple of weeks.Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua’s training
      AJ was faced with the possibility of fighting without McCracken for the first time since 2016 when he was in talks with Tyson Fury.
      Joshua, 31, and Fury, 32, had agreed terms for a historic first-ever, four-belt undisputed title decider on August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
      But it would have meant McCracken was in Japan for the Games – something AJ was willing to go through with.
      His promoter Eddie Hearn said: “He has a good training team that is led by McCracken, but with other good trainers.
      “AJ’s preparation is 365 days per day, not just an eight-week camp. Rob will be missing for a couple of weeks.
      “Actually, we made a decision that whatever the date for the Tyson Fury fight, AJ would take it. Even if Rob had to pop to Tokyo.
      “Rob is a massive part of AJ’s corner and his life.”
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      McCracken has helped GB to a record six medals, with Joshua proudly cheering on his gym-mates from home.
      He was ordered by the WBO to face Usyk, 34, in a mandatory defence after Fury lost his arbitration case with Deontay Wilder.
      Wilder, 35, won the right to a trilogy bout against the Brit after his rematch loss in February 2020, which included a contracted third fight.
      Anthony Joshua shows off immense power as Brit star DESTROYS medicine ball while training for Oleksandr Usyk fight More

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      Team GB boxer Galal Yafai into Olympics FINAL and guarantees silver medal after hard-fought war with Kazakh opponent

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      GALAL YAFAI will fight for Olympics gold after a hard-fought and entertaining semi-final display at the Tokyo Olympics.The 28-year-old from Birmingham reached the final on Saturday after beating Kazak Saken Bibossinov by a split decision at the Kokugikan Arena.
      Galal Yafai celebrates his victory over Kazakhstan’s Saken BibossinovCredit: PA
      Birmingham’s Yafai made a blistering start to the fight and dominated round oneCredit: PA
      But Bibossinov came roaring back in the second to force a final-round shootoutCredit: PA
      Yafai wheels away to celebrate while a heartbroken Bibossinov breaks into tearsCredit: PA
      He will fight the Philippines’ Carlo Paalam for gold, aiming to win the first title for Team GB at these Games.
      The southpaw will now try to go one better than his elder brothers Khalid Yafai and Gamal Yafai, who have both boxed professionally.
      Khalid, 32, represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing but was unable to make it past the Last-16 stage.
      Yafai is a much better fighter than the one everyone saw at the 2016 Rio Olympics when he was eliminated in the Last 16 by Cuban boxer Joahnys Argilagos.
      The Brummie went to Brazil having quit his job at a Land Rover car factory in Solihull that same year and had only trained for those Games for six months.
      It was a lively first round with both flyweights on the front foot and throwing plenty of punches.
      Yafai led on the scorecards of all five judges, thanks in part to one brilliant left punch which hit the Kazak flush in the face.
      I always thought, ‘I’d love to be in an Olympic final.’ And I’m in one nowGalal Yafai
      Bibossinov had a much stronger second round and reduced the deficit heading into the third and final round.
      The Kazak started celebrating towards the end of the right but had the smile wiped off his face when the result came in.
      And he left the ring in tears after Yafai was named the winner.
      An elated Yafai said of his reaching of the final, It’s ridiculous, I can’t believe it.
      “It’s like a dream. I always thought, ‘I’d love to be in an Olympic final.’ And I’m in one now.
      “I’ve just got one more hurdle to get over, and that’s to beat the Philippines and go and win gold.”
      Yafai knew from a young age he’d be in an Olympic final, adding: “Always. We’d talk about it at home.
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      “And now I’m fighting in front of everyone.
      “My mum, my family and my friends [with] the whole team, the whole world watching me in the Olympic final.
      “I’ve just got to deliver the goods and take that gold medal back home.”
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      Team GB ace Gal Yafai stuns kids after disguised training session More