* Yupun fails to reach personal best

[caption id="attachment_152828" align="aligncenter" width="703"] Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon runs on the lane from left in his men’s 100 m heats at Tokyo 2020 Olympics yesterday (31 July). He failed to qualify for the next round in the event. Photo courtesy SLRC[/caption]

Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon finished sixth in men’s 100 m third heat yesterday (31 July) at Tokyo 2020 Olympics. His timing of 10.32 secs. yesterday was below his personal best … Abeykoon was the only Sri Lankan to achieve direct qualification standards for Tokyo 2020. Aptly named ‘South Asia’s fastest man’, Abeykoon, 26, also became the first Sri Lankan to obtain direct qualification for the 100 m event at the Olympics after 25 years since Chintaka de Zoysa’s direct qualification at the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Italy-based sprinter was also the only Sri Lankan male track and field athlete to compete at the Olympics this time.

* ‘Djo’ leaves Tokyo empty-handed

[caption id="attachment_152830" align="alignnone" width="454"] Novak Djokovic smashes a racket against the net, having hurled another into the empty stands as he couldn't conceal his frustration as he fell to defeat by Pablo Carreno Busta in the men’s singles bronze-medal match at Tokyo 2020 on Saturday (31 July)[/caption]

Novak Djokovic threw one racquet and smashed another as his bid for an Olympic medal ended in defeat by Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta. The Serb, whose gold bid was ended by Alexander Zverev on Friday (30 July), lost 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 in the bronze-medal match yesterday. Djokovic then pulled out of his mixed doubles bronze-medal match with an injury to leave Tokyo empty handed.

* Dressel soars in Olympic swimming

[caption id="attachment_152831" align="alignnone" width="455"] American Caeleb Dressel set a world record to win the men’s 100 m butterfly swimming for his third gold in Tokyo[/caption]

American Caeleb Dressel set a world record to win the men’s 100 m butterfly swimming yesterday as he gained his third gold medal of the Olympics. The 24-year-old touched home in 49.45 seconds, although was pushed late on by Kristof Milak of Hungary, who finished just 0.23 secs. behind. Noe Ponti of Switzerland took the bronze. Meanwhile fellow American Katie Ledecky won the 800 m freestyle gold for the third successive Olympics.

* Jamaica’s Thompson-Herah second-fastest woman

[caption id="attachment_152832" align="alignnone" width="455"] Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, now the second fastest ever in the world[/caption]

Elaine Thompson-Herah became the second-fastest woman in history as she beat fellow Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to defend her Olympic 100 m title yesterday. The 29-year-old ran 10.61 seconds, just 0.12 secs. short of the world record set 33 years ago by American Florence Griffith-Joyner. Shericka Jackson completed a Jamaican ‘one-two-three’ in Tokyo with a time of 10.76, 0.02 behind Fraser-Pryce.

* Black Ferns take gold in women’s rugby 7’s

[caption id="attachment_152833" align="alignnone" width="453"] New Zealand Women’s did one better than the men’s as they beat France 22-17 in Tokyo 2020 women's rugby 7's[/caption]

New Zealand Women’s did one better than the men’s as they beat France 22-17 to take home the Olympic gold medal yesterday. The Black Ferns took the lead with a try in the first minute through Michaela Blyde. The French cut the margin to two points immediately with a try from Caroline Rouin. Before the break, Black Ferns added two more tries through Gayle Broughton and Stacey Fluhler to give New Zealand a 19-5 half-time lead. The French started the second half with a try from Anne-Cecile Ciofani but a seven pointer from Tyla Nathan-Wong to sealed the win for New Zealand. Alowesi Nakoci’s two tries helped Fiji beat Britain 21-12 in the bronze-medal match. It was the first ever Olympic medal for Fijian women, while Fijian men’s team won back-to-back Olympic titles. The Australians had a 17-7 win over the U.S. women to clinch fifth place. China rallied to come from behind, to beat Russia 22-10 in the seventh-place playoff while Canada beat Kenya 24-10 to take ninth place. Hosts Japan had to settle for last place after their defeat to Brazil by 21-12

* Tokyo 2020’s football semis fixed

[caption id="attachment_152834" align="alignnone" width="454"] Reigning women’s world champions U.S.A. prevailed in penalties to deny the spirited Netherlands to book their place in the semis[/caption]

The reigning women’s world champions U.S.A. prevailed in penalties to deny the spirited Netherlands to book their place in the semis yesterday. Vivianne Miedema scored twice for Netherlands which took her goals tally to 10. Meanwhile in another Q/F, after a goalless draw between Brazil and Canada, the former were defeated in penalties to secure Canada a spot in the top four. Great Britain were stunned by the Australian in a seven-goal thriller, won by Aussies 4-3. Sweden continued their dominance with a comfortable win over hosts Japan.

In the men’s Q/Fs, Spain and Mexico had a fairly easy way through to the semis. Spain was the first to make it with a 5-2 victory over Ivory Coast. Mexico played the last quarter-final, a goal fest, where they beat Korea 6-3. Hosts Japan beat New Zealand on penalties while title favourites Brazil made it through by beating Egypt 1-0 in their Q/F encounter in Tokyo.

SCHEDULE:

Women’s semi-finals: Monday, 2 August - U.S.A. vs. Canada at 1.30 p.m. and Australia vs. Sweden at 4.30 p.m.