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SCMP Sport

This story is freely available to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
Siobhan Haughey has done it again. She's won silver in the 100m freestyle and becomes the city's most successful Olympian.
The woman they call “Little Fish” set another Asian record, and it took an Olympic record from Australia's Emma McKeon to beat her. Haughey's coach believes the best is yet to come, and thinks she can go faster and faster. There must be gold in her future.
She will later return to the pool for the 50m freestyle heats, and the women's 4x100m medley. Hong Kong's Ian Ho finished in seventh in his men's 50m free heat.
It was an emotional morning all around, with Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet competing together for the final time at a Games. Tse has already said this will be her last Olympics, and with their coach, Chen Kang, also stepping down, the pair wanted to go out on a high. Sadly, they fell just short in their match against Japan.
Follow us for live coverage of all of today's action in Japan.
Reporting by Paul Ryding and Jonathan White (in Tokyo), Chan Kin-wa, Nick Atkin, Andrew McNicol, Harvey Kong, Mimosa Ngai, Jack Lau and Cheryl Heng. 


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Hong Kong museum to showcase Olympic medals from local, mainland Chinese athletes

Chinese Olympians show fun side while offering Hongkongers words of advice on never giving up

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo Olympics: Injury ends Siobhan Haughey's Games after second silver - day 7, as it happened

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey poses with her silver medal after the 100m freestyle final. Photo: AFP


Sport

Hong Kong


Double silver medallist squeezes through in 50m free heats, but withdraws from Saturday morning semi-final with back injury
Hong Kong's Haughey bows out of Games swimming butterfly leg in Hong Kong's unsuccessful 4x100m medley heat



Siobhan Haughey has back injury which is 'getting worse', but double silver medallist bows out of Games swimming butterfly leg in Hong Kong's unsuccessful 4x100m medley heat.


Live

There was plenty for the Post’s Paul Ryding to get his teeth into on another action-packed day in Tokyo.




Video: recap of yesterday’s action


If yesterday got away from you slightly, or you were in bed early, there was plenty of drama late on in Tokyo.
Here are a couple of stories you might want to take a look at.
  	
Asian-American gymnast Sunisa Lee wins gold in women’s all-around event
  	
Chen edges Sun in all-China final

  	
Russia beat China to leave volleyball champions on the brink




Other things you may have missed

Hong Kong’s Winne Hung Wing-yan competed in her D final in the women’s single sculls rowing earlier this morning, and finished fifth in a time of 8mins 02.79 seconds.
The race was won by Trinidad and Tobago’s Felice Aisha Chow in a time of 7:48.06. Taiwan’s Huang Yi-ting was second in 7:52.18, with Alejandra Alonso of Paraguay third in 7:55.63.


Olympics over for Hung


Jonathan White and Paul Ryding are our men in Tokyo, and here’s White’s scene setter for what promises to be an exciting moring for Hong Kong’s athletes.
“All eyes will be on the pool for Siobhan Huaghey's second final, the 100m freestyle. Just like in her 200m free final she comes into this as the second fastest swimmer and looks to be peaking at the perfect time.
“She has clocked two Asian records in as many swims at this distance and everyone in Hong Kong will be willing her on at 10.59am  in Tokyo (9.59am HKT).
“Before that though, Hong Kong's mixed doubles badminton duo Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet will have begun their bronze medal match over at the Musashino Forest Sports Park Plaza.
“They will need to upset the hosts to bring back that medal as they face Yuta Watanabe and  Arisa Higashino, a pair they have not beaten. This will be Tse's last act at an Olympics, she said, and the pair want to win a medal for their retiring coach Chen Kang. It was all rather emotional after they lost to the Chinese No 1 seeds Zheng and Huang yesterday and it threatens to be more emotional today. That starts at 10.30am local (9.30am HKT).”


Good morning from Tokyo


Paul Ryding is at the pool, and as you might be able to tell, the excitment is building.
“The Tokyo Aquatics Centre is the hottest ticket in town this morning. Siobhan Haughey’s is the name on everyone’s lips. There’s a fantastic race in prospect in just over 40 minutes.
“Any one of the field could medal, but if you wanted to zoom in even further, realistically, any one of five, each Olympic medallists, could be in line for the gold.
“Siobhan goes off in lane four, flanked by world record-holder and one of the greatest of all time, Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden on one side, and Olympic record-holding, 4x100m freestyle-winning Emma McKeon on the other. Seven of the eight in the field swam comfortably under 53 seconds to reach the final, which in itself is incredible. It really is one of the most competitive contests in the pool, heck - anywhere, at these Tokyo Games.
“Let’s have it right, for Siobhan to medal in this calibre of field would be a magnificent achievement. Anything towards the top of the podium would have us in dreamland. A gold? It’s difficult to describe how unfathomable it would be for a youngster from little auld Hong Kong to upset this lot and take gold from under their noses. Siobhan's coach reckons she can do it, her form in Tokyo at least suggests she'll be in the discussion, but she’ll need a perfect swim.
“Don’t miss this. It could be the highlight of the Games.”


Excitement is building poolside

There has been one upset this morning in the badminton for Japan as No 3 seed Nozomi Okuhara has been beaten by China’s No 8 seed He Bingjiao in the women’s singles quarters. Okuhara won the opening game before the Chinese shuttler bounced back to go through.
Is there another upset on the cards for the hosts?
We will have to wait to find out as that three-gamer has pushed back the start of China’s world No 1 Chen Yufei and Tokyo No 7 seed An Se-young.
Maybe Tang Chun-man and Tse Yuet-sing can catch the swimming?


Upset already in badminton

Australia suffered a blow to their men’s basketball gold medal hopes this morning with Toronto Raptors star Aron Baynes ruled out of the rest of the Olympics with a neck injury.
The triple Olympian picked up the problem in the second half of the Boomers’ three-point win over Italy on Wednesday in Saitama and was taken to a local hospital for tests.
He is expected to recover, but not in time to return to the court in Tokyo.
“I am really disappointed that I can’t continue in the Olympics,” he said in a statement. “I along with the rest of the team have been working so hard in our quest for an historic Olympic medal and I am gutted that I can’t complete the journey with the boys. But I have every confidence that they will get the job done.” (AFP)


Baynes blow for Aussie basketball gold hopes

Lane 1: Abbey Weitzeil (USA)  Lane 2: Penny Oleksiak (CAN)  Lane 3: Cate Campbell (AUS)  Lane 4: Emma McKeon (AUS)  Lane 5: Siobhan Haughey (HKG)  Lane 6: Sarah Sjoestroem (SWE)  Lane 7: Femke Heemskerk (NED)  Lane 8: Anna Hopkin (GBR)


Here’s how they line up for 100m free final


Paul Ryding in Tokyo
“There’s a great atmosphere inside the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, and a huge turnout from all the teams in the stands. Who said there was no noisy fans allowed at these Olympic events? Hong Kong’s swim team and delegation big wigs are representing our star up there, too.”


Great atmosphere for swimming


At the APM mall in Kwun Tong, more than 100 people have gathered quietly in anticipation ahead of Siobhan Haughey’s swim for the gold at the 100m freestyle event.
“I am a Hongkonger, and Siobhan Haughey has said such passionate and rousing words. I think everyone will be as nervous as she is. I really hope she can get this medal," says Freddy Lee, a 26-year-old financial planner who works nearby.
Meanwhile, at the Olympian City shopping centre in West Kowloon, a large crowd waits, not only for Haughey’s swim, but also the badminton mixed doubles event, where Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet face Japan in a battle for the bronze.
Sitting on an artificial turf inside the mall, people are holding up colourful pom-poms, balloons and slogans, some reading “Add oil, Siobhan”.


Hongkongers out in support for Haughey

The women are almost ready for the start of the 100m freestyle final. Let’s go Siobhan.


We’re moments away

The tension is building across the city.
They’ve paused swim lessons at Siobhan haughey’s old swimming club Harry Wright International in Hong Kong to watch her race for gold in #Tokyo2020 Go Siobhan!!! pic.twitter.com/eqgBfk4C4a
  — Alkira Reinfrank (@AlkiraReinfrank) July 30, 2021


Hong Kong stops and waits


It’s another silver for Siobhan Haughey, and it’s another Asian record. She just keeps getting faster.
Haughey touches the wall in 52.27, with Emma McKeon in 51.96, a new Olympic record. Cate Campbell, of Australia, took bronze in 52.52.


It’s silver for Haughey

The morning commuters came to a standstill for 60 seconds outside Times Square to watch Siobhan Haughey make more history for Hong Kong.
Times Square comes to a standstill to watch Siobhan Haughey take another silver medal for Hong Kong! 🥈 🇭🇰 #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/WakKHWhVu5
  — Nick Atkin (@NicoSCMP) July 30, 2021


Times Square standstill


Hundreds gathered at APM mall burst into a spirited cheer as Siobhan Haughey touches the pool, winning Hong Kong’s third medal of the Games. Two men waved the Chinese and Hong Kong flags shortly after the race had finished, drawing some protests from members of the crowd.


Not keeping politics out of sport

The cheers almost raised the roof at the South China Athletics Association.
She’s done it!!! Silver for Siobhan Haughey at #Tokyo2020 in the 100m free. Adding to her silver from earlier this week. Swimmers at her old club in Hong Kong couldn’t be prouder! pic.twitter.com/ffskXkJLWx
  — Alkira Reinfrank (@AlkiraReinfrank) July 30, 2021


Haughey’s swim club goes wild


“I knew the last 25 metres would be very close, and then the last 10 metres I pulled my head in the water to try and finish strong.
“Tonight will be the 50m freestyle, and I never thought of taking part in this event, but because I qualified, the coach has said ‘why not?’ My chances may not be very good, but I will try and have fun.
“I’d like to thank people in Hong Kong for waking up so early to watch my race, for their support, even though many of them may not have been interested in sport before.”
Haughey also paid tribute to her teammates, who sacrificed their spots in the 4x200m relay.
“It was the coaches’ decision to pull out of the 4x200m freestyle relay, but my teammates all supported this, and that was very touching. This medal is for them as well.”


Haughey: I just put my head down and swam

Henderson Land Group will give out HK$5 million (US$643,240) to Siobhan Haughey, who has won two silver medals at these Tokyo Games, through its commendation scheme for elite athletes.
The scheme rewards athletes who have ranked among the top eight in their events and has already paid out HK$12 million.


In the money

The Democratic Party, the city’s largest opposition party, issued its congratulations within minutes of Siobhan Haughey clinching a second silver medal. 
“Another new Asian record. Hong Kong is so proud! So amazing!” it said in a statement.
The pro-establishment DAB party posted its congratulations on Facebook, and praised the swimmer for “once again bringing glory to the country and Hong Kong”.


‘Hong Kong is so proud’


Paul Ryding in Tokyo
Simply sensational stuff from Siobhan Haughey there. What a swim. She's stamped her record as one of the world's best after these Games.
I asked her if she'd ever dreamed of winning two medals at Tokyo 2020. This was her reply: 
"No, absolutely not ... I was trying to have fun and have a good time and swim my best time, and getting the silver was like, 'Oh! Yay!'"


Claimed her place among world’s best

Wang Shun won the first men's swimming gold medal for China when he came first in the 200m individual medley final with an Asian record 1:55 in Tokyo.
This came after the first two women's gold won by Zhang Yufei yesterday. Duncan Scott of Great Britain came second in 1:55.28, while bronze went to Jeremy Desplanches of Switzerland in 1:56.17.


Wang Shun wins gold for China


Today marks the start of the track and field competition at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. China’s Wang Yu has missed out in the men’s high jump qualifiers already. The benchmark was 2.30m but no one hit that and he needed a 2.28m to go through. His 2.21m was not good enough.
In the women’s 800m China’s Wang Chunyu is through from her heat in a time of 2:00.05. The world No 33 is in the semis tomorrow, with the top sure of a place in the final on August 3.

Later today look out for the Chinese women’s shot putters, Gao Yang and Gong Lijiao. Gong is the world No 1 and her season best of 20.39m is comfortably clear of any of the other athletes in Tokyo. However, Germany’s Christina Schwanitz and Valerie Adams of New Zealand both have better personal bests than Gong.
None of the trio have come close to the East German world record of 22.63m or the Olympic record of 22.41m set by the USSR, both of which date back to the 1980s and the glory days of women’s shot put.


Track and field time

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor conveyed her heartfelt congratulations to Siobhan Haughey in a statement.
“This is the first time that a Hong Kong athlete has won two medals at the same Olympic Games,” she said. “Haughey has continued to outperform herself, achieving outstanding results amid world-class athletes. She has set a new record for swimming in Hong Kong. We are full of praise for her.”


Carrie Lam: an outstanding achievement

Hong Kong take the first point and review the second, unsuccessfully, but they are showing that they want this. This is going to be a tight, tense affair.
Every Japan point is greeted with the politest of applause from a sizable crowd here at the Musashino Forest Sports Park Plaza. A break in play at 7-5 to Japan.


A tight, tense affair ahead

Higashino ran off court mid-rally to get a new racquet and came back on in time to make the shot. Hong Kong won the point after that mindblowing exchange.
Watanabe has been disguising his shots masterfully but Tang and Tse have been impressive too, throwing everything they have at the world No 5s. It is 1-0 to the Japanese pair, winning 21-17 after a 21-minute battle. The next game is must-win, but Tse and Tang have it in them.


Must-win time for Hong Kong

Higashino has gone from playing by not being on the court to playing while lying down.
This is extreme badminton right here. She hits at least two returns while prone. The Hongkongers are not taking anything lying down. They have started off the stronger in game two – 5-2 Hong Kong.


Extreme badminton


It sounds like we could be in for a grand city tour of Siobhan Haughey's medals when she finally gets back to Hong Kong.
She tells the Post’s Paul Ryding she hasn't figured out where she'll keep them yet, but confirms that they're very heavy and that she'd love for everyone in Hong Kong to get to see them up close.
Ever humble and incredibly generous with her time, she said she has seen the amazing scenes of support back home and that she's very grateful for all the support. She seemed quite moved. I told her about Times Square coming to a standstill for the 53 seconds it took for her to become a bona-fide Olympic hero and she was quite tickled by that.


Haughey wants to take medals on tour of city


Hong Kong's lead, which was four lovely points, is cut to nothing as the Japanese level at 8-8. Hong Kong go ahead and then it is 9-9. Hong Kong go ahead and then it is 10-10.
Another monster rally, with some outrageous defence from the home hopes but Hong Kong lead 11-10 at another break in play. They are not doing this the easy way but then there are not going to be easy games with the weight of bronze hanging over the match.
13-10... 14-10... 15-10.. GA YAU!


Back and forth in the badminton

Jonathan White is struggling to keep calm
“15-11... 15-12... 15-13 and now it is Tse playing from seated on the floor. 16-13 ... 16-14. Hong Kong review and they need this point. IT IS OUT! 16-15 to Hong Kong.
“The city's television crews are cheering Tang and Tse on but it is 16-16 now despite two diving returns from the Hongkongers.
“More drama as Higashino misjudges and the point is Hong Kong's at 17-16 but now it is 17-17. Hong Kong will not back down. Tang and Tse are giving it everything. Hong Kong lead 18-17.  The court is being wiped of sweat. They need to do the same in the press box.”


Tang and Tse in a nail-biter


It goes 18-18. Why would it go any other way? Then Watanabe wins a point to make it 19-18 to Japan and Tse hits the next into the net. Match point for Japan.
Hong Kong save it. 20-19 to Japan. They save another. It is 20-20 and my word they have shown their spirit here after leading so long to face defeat. Not yet.
Another match point for Japan. Another saved by Hong Kong. Incredible.


High drama in Tokyo

The crowd at Kwun Tong's APM mall are cheering loudly as Hong Kong’s Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet pull ahead and quickly falling silent as the athletes ready for another serve in a neck and neck battle for the bronze against Japan.


Fans on rollercoaster ride of emotion


That's it, it’s finished 23-21 to Japan in the second game, and it ends with the shuttle hitting Tse's frame. Japan win bronze. There will be no medal for Hong Kong today, none for Tse as she bows out of the Olympics having given her all. So has Tang. That's upsetting. The Japanese were brilliant and so were Hong Kong, just ever so slightly less so.


No happy ending for Tang and Tse

Japanese sentiment toward the Tokyo Olympics is seeing a shift as competitions and athletes take centre stage and the country inches closer to winning record gold medals.
Previously plagued by concerns over the pandemic and a laundry list of scandals, analyses of Twitter posts by local media found that positive remarks about the Olympics have risen significantly since the opening ceremony on Friday, compared with previously largely critical comments beforehand centred on cancellation and Covid-19.
Japanese athletes have been racking up gold medals, including several firsts. With 15 gold medals so far, the country is one off its record haul from 2004.


From gloom to cheer for Japan


Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet spoke to the media immediately after their agonising loss in the bronze-medal match.
The pair went down in straight sets, 21-17, 23-21, to Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino of Japan. Tang and Tse said their performance was better in the second game, but unfortunately they “could not hang in there and lost a bit concentration and allowed their opponents to come back”.
Overall, they say they are quite happy to have made it that far, and the only thing missing “is a medal”.


Loss of concentration cost us, say Tang and Tse


Hong Kong's Thomas Heffernan Ho scored 46.70 points in the first session of the eventing, after guiding long-time horse Tayberry on day one in the individual dressage. He placed 20th of the 21 taking part. Chinese rider Alex Hua Tian and horse Don Geniro finished with an impressive 23.90.


Ho makes solid start in eventing


Carl Yuan put his pro career on hold to win Asian Games team silver for China three years ago, and he has put country first again to target a Tokyo Olympics medal that he says could be “revolutionary” for golf in the world’s most populous country.
Yuan’s goal is to emulate female Chinese player Feng Shanshan’s 2016 Rio Games bronze, but that meant returning to China in June for centralised Olympic team training and losing the chance to earn a lucrative PGA Tour card.
China’s No 1 missed several tournaments on the PGA Tour’s second-tier Korn Ferry circuit, which could have seen him finish inside the top 25 to gain his PGA Tour credential.
Read more about Yuan’s decision here.


Chinese golfer Yuan puts country first

Norway’s double world champion Karsten Warholm and his closest rival American Rai Benjamin cruised through the men’s 400 metres hurdles heats this morning to stay on course for one of the most highly-anticipated rivalries on track at the Tokyo Olympics.
Warholm shaved off Kevin Young’s 29-year-old world record in the event by eight hundredths of a second this month when he ran in 46.70 in front of his home fans at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo.
That was probably in reaction to Benjamin’s amazing run at the US Olympic Trials a few days earlier, when the 24-year-old American went within a whisker of Young’s mark with a time of 46.83.
The sizzling timings in the heats are set to put the world record under pressure in the next few days at Tokyo’s track.
“Oh, 100%. I think it’ll be broken on Tuesday and it’s going to take that to win that’s for sure,” said American Kenneth Selmon, who qualified for Sunday’s semi-finals with 48.61. (Reuters)


Track battle heating up nicely in 400m hurdles

The Tokyo organisers have reported 27 new cases related to the Olympics today, a new record high since July 1. The count includes three athletes from outside Japan.The previous record of daily cases was 24, which was set just yesterday.
Away from the Games, Japan plans to extend a virus state of emergency in the capital, and impose the measure in four more regions on Friday, with cases surging.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the government is acting “with a sense of urgency” and would announce a decision Friday on widening anti-infection measures.


Covid-19 update


China’s Chen Meng won gold in the women’s table tennis on Thursday night and said her win over Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi-kem in the quarter-finals was the turning point.
Meng battled back from 2-0 down to beat Doo 4-2, and then beat compatriot Sun Yingsha 4-2 in the final.
“I can finally smile. I faced some challenges during this competition, especially in the quarter-finals,” Chen said. “I didn’t die from that big disaster [going 2-0 down].
“All the coaches were supporting me so much, coach Ma Lin even jumped out of his seat. I felt they were more emotional than me. I could feel how much they needed me to win. I’m very thankful to them. If not for that match, I might not be standing here now, I might not get the chance.”


Win over Hong Kong’s Doo turning point, says Olympic champ

Once again, will it be China, or China? The men's table tennis final is tonight at 8pm, and just like last night’s women's final, China will win gold and silver.
This time around it's Ma Long, seen as the greatest table tennis player of all-time, against Fan Zhengdong, who is seen as the greatest table tennis player right now. Ma and Fan will play, then join forces for the men's team event, making for a scary duo moving forward.


An all-Chinese affair once more

The Chinese women’s sevens team capped their tough pool C draw with a resounding 29-0 win over hosts Japan to qualify for the quarter-finals in the Tokyo Stadium today.
Elsewhere in pool C, reigning Olympic champions Australia were handed a narrow 14-12 defeat to the USA after the match was delayed due to lightning. 
With the pool favourites already through, third-place China earned a spot due in the quarters against Pool B winners France after they finished as one of two best third-placed teams. This means they are guaranteed a top eight finish. France are unbeaten having won comfortably against Fiji, Canada and Brazil, conceding just 10 points across those contests.


China through to women’s sevens quarter-finals


An opening day at the Olympics that’s supposed to produce little more than a brisk jog for the world’s best at 100 metres turned into something very different this morning.
Reigning world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran her heat in the nearly empty Olympic Stadium in 10.84 seconds. Her Jamaican rival, defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, finished in 10.82. And Marie-Josee Ta Lou, the Ivory Coast sprinter who finished an excruciating fourth in Rio de Janeiro, kept saying “Wow! Wow!” after she crossed the finish line in a blistering personal best of 10.78.
They were the fifth, sixth and seventh-fastest times of the year, produced on a day when seven of 54 sprinters hit a personal best — all in an opening round designed more for shaking out cobwebs than watching the clock.
All that even though the field was missing this season’s third-fastest runner, Sha’Carri Richardson, who is back home in the United States following a doping ban.
By comparison, only one runner, Fraser-Pryce, cracked 11 seconds in the opening round five years ago in Rio de Janeiro. She went on to win the bronze, behind Thompson and American sprinter Tori Bowie. (AP)


Women not holding back in 100m heats

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and freshly-minted Filipino gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz have thrown their voices into the growing chorus of support for Eumir Marcial’s own medal push at Tokyo 2020.
“I hope Eumir can win a second and other Filipino athletes can be inspired by my efforts and do our country proud,” Diaz told the Post.
Read the full story here.


Filipino pride

Upsets ruled in the men’s team epee fencing competition on Friday, with the top four teams crashing out in the quarter-finals.
France, Italy, Ukraine, and Switzerland lost and will be fencing for fifth place and lower, while South Korea, China, the ROC and Japan made it to the last four to vie for a medal.
China were beaten 45-38 by ROC in their semi-final, with South Korea lost to Japan by the same score, and will now face China in the bronze-medal match.


Chinese fencers going for bronze on day of upsets


A tearful Alessandra Perilli described San Marino as “a small country but very proud” after the shooter won its first Olympic medal ever with bronze in Tokyo.
With a population of about 34,000, the independent micro-state surrounded by Italy is the smallest Olympic member to bag a Games medal.
The 33-year-old Perilli is the woman who made history for San Marino, whose first Games was back in 1960, after she finished third in the trap final.
“I am very proud because we worked to get here,” said Perilli, who wept tears of joy after receiving her bronze. (AFP)


Punching above her weight

British great Steve Redgrave believes China can become the world’s strongest rowing nation after guiding them to joint sixth in the medals table at the Olympic regatta.
Redgrave - a five-time gold medallist - was hired as China’s high performance director in 2018 and has masterminded three medals in Tokyo.
The Chinese coasted to gold in the women’s quadruple sculls, setting a new world record, and won bronze medals in the men’s double sculls and women’s eight. It was a stark improvement on their performance at the 2016 Rio Games, where they finished joint 16th in the table with two bronze medals.
But Redgrave, 59, said China had a bright future in the sport.
“China has the athletes, has the resources, has some of the know-how to be the strongest rowing nation in the world,” he said. “I was brought in to get them there. We’re sixth in the table so we’ve still got a long way to go.”


China rowers can be world’s best, says Redgrave


China’s Zhu Xueying won gold in the women’s trampoline at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.
Compatriot Liu Lingling took silver and Britain’s Bryony Page bronze.
“I didn’t think I would get a gold medal, but I think my performance was more stable compared to my practice,” Zhu said. “I put in a lot of effort to reach the podium.
“With the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 being postponed for a year, I had more time to work to prepare and I made an effort to work on the things I wanted to improve.”



China one-two in women’s trampoline

Russian shooter Vitalina Batsarashkina has won her second gold and third medal of the Tokyo Olympics, beating Korea’s Kim Min-jung in a shoot-off in women’s 25-metre pistol.
Batsarashkina tied Kim with 38 points and won the shoot-off 4-1. China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan took bronze.


Bronze for Xiao in 25m pistol


China’s Wang Li Lyu and Huang Dong Ping, are tied with compatriots Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong at 1-1 in the final of the mixed doubles.
The final is finely poised at 9-9 in the deciding game.


Badminton gold-medal match going down to wire


It’s gold for China in the badminton mixed doubles final as Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping take won gold over Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, also of China.
The duo won 2-1, taking the first and third games in an exciting and tense back-and-forth match.
Later today Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen will compete in the men’s doubles semifinals at 6pm against Malaysian squad Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi-yik.


Gold for China

Organised by the Consul General of Ireland to Hong Kong and Macau, the city's Irish community celebrated Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey's silver medal-winning performance in the women's 100m freestyle final in Delaney's in Wan Chai this morning.
The 23-year-old Haughey was born to Irish father Darach and Hong Kong mother Canjo, and her great-uncle Charles Haughey was a former Taoiseach (Irish prime minister).
Though she opted to represent Hong Kong years ago, Hong Kong-born Haughey has amassed a wave of Irish support and solidarity thanks to her heritage. She is also cousins with politician and Teachta Dala (similar to member of parliament) Sean Haughey.
After Haughey's first silver medal win on Wednesday, incumbent Taoiseach Michael Martin congratulated the promising swimmer, saying: "I don't think Hong Kong will mind us claiming a part of Siobhan's stunning performance and silver medal in #Tokyo2020. I spoke earlier to Sean to offer congratulations. He and the wider family circle are justifiably over the moon and very very proud #Olympics."
The #Irish community gathered to celebrate #HongKong’s double #silver medallist Siobhán Haughey. Her dual 🇭🇰🇮🇪 heritage represents everything that’s great about #HongKong as Asia’s World City. 🏊‍♀️🥈@MichealMartinTD @sean_haughey @SCMPNews @simoncoveney @Brand_HK @thestandardhk pic.twitter.com/9kWfNzTyWl
  — David Costello (@dmacostello) July 30, 2021


When Irish eyes are smiling

The men’s 100m is probably still the blue riband event of the Olympic Games and this time we will have someone other than Usain Bolt wearing gold after the final.
It all starts tomorrow with the heats, and there are some sprinters hoping to elbow their way into medal contention and make history as Asia’s first 100m medal winner.
Japan will be looking to Yuki Koike, Yoshihide Kiryu and fastest man Ryota Yamagata.
China’s fastest man Su Bingtian has gone 9.98 this year, which was the fifth fastest at the time, but is now 18th fastest. Yamagata is ahead of him in 11th on 9.95, the national record he set last month. In their way are the likes of US sprint hope Trayvon Bromell, Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, and Canada’s Andre De Grasse.


Fastest men on Earth

Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus became the first New Zealanders to win an Olympic tennis medal for 109 years on Friday, beating Americans Austin Krajicek and Tennys Sandgren in the men’s doubles bronze-medal match.
Daniell and Venus won 7-6, 6-2 to continue an excellent Games for New Zealand.
The only previous tennis medal winner from the country was Anthony Wilding, who took indoor singles bronze in Stockholm in 1912. The four-time Wimbledon champion was killed during World War I three years later. (AFP)


Historic tennis gold for New Zealand

Siobhan Haughey has done it again for Hong Kong. The 23-year-old has clinched silver in the 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics to become Hong Kong’s most successful Olympian.
Her medal win comes two days after she earned silver in the 200m freestyle. Also on Day 7, Hong Kong’s badminton duo Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet came so close in their push for bronze, but lost a dramatic encounter with Japan.
SCMP sport news editor Paul Ryding joins Alkira Reinfrank for a recap of all the excitement from the pool and on the court.




SCMP’s verdict

China’s Shi Tingmao and Wang Han have finished 1-2 in the preliminaries of Olympic women’s 3-metre springboard diving.
Shi totaled 350.45 points for her five dives, followed closely by Wang at 347.25. The two already teamed up to win the 3-meter synchro event.
Shi is going for her second straight individual gold on the springboard and looking to extend China’s dominance in the women’s event. They have won 3-metre gold at every Olympics since the 1984 Los Angeles Games, a winning streak that covers the last eight Olympics.
Canada’s Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware claimed the next two spots in the standings, followed by Japan’s Sayaka Mikami and American Hailey Hernandez. The top 18 advance to the semi-finals tomorrow at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. (AP)


Divers one-two in springboard prelims

Three of the four women's rugby sevens quarter-finals have been delayed without confirmed times because of the risk of lightning at Tokyo Stadium.
Only New Zealand and the Russian Olympic Committee have played, with the Black Ferns booking a place in the semi-finals after a 36-0 win. Fiji v Australia, United States v Great Britain, and France v China have been put on hold - under the official status of "rescheduled" - until it is safe for teams to resume play. The Australia v US group C game from earlier in the day was briefly delayed for the same reasons.


Women’s sevens quarter-finals delayed


The world’s best men’s tennis player is out of the Olympics.
Novak Djokovic lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the semi-finals, and Zverev was overcome with emotion after his upset victory, crying tears of joy into his towel as the Serbian walked off court.
Djokovic – who now can’t complete the much-vaunted Golden Slam of all four majors and the Olympic title in the same calendar year – was a set and a break up against the world No 5, who won 10 of the last 11 games.


Djokovic crashes out

Hong Kong’s Ian Ho Yentou came seventh in his 50m freestyle heat, in a time of 22.45 seconds, which is far behind his Hong Kong record of 21.97.
Vladyslav Bukhov of Ukraine won the heat in 21.73.


Ian Ho struggles


Zverev ended a 22-match unbeaten run from Djokovic there.
The last time that the world No 1 lost was against Rafa Nadal at the Italian Open. In between, he won the French Open and Wimbledon and was expected to win here to keep up that ‘Golden Slam’ dream. It really puts Steffi Graf’s achievement in 1988 into perspective.
The German was just 18 at the time and finished the season 73-3. She almost managed all four slams the following year, falling one short. It will be at least Paris 2024 before anyone can match Graf’s Golden Slam and Djokovic will be 37 then.


Golden Slam over


Paul Ryding is at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, and saw Ian Ho’s Olympics likely come to an end:
“If Ho would have been able to match his personal best, which he swam in Hong Kong in June, it would have been good enough to see him into the semis.
“As it is, Ho’s Olympics is over less than 23 seconds after it began.”


Disappointment for Ho


PV Sindhu, who accounted for Hong Kong’s Cheung Ngan-yi in the badminton singles groups, is into the semis.
The Indian shuttler comes back to beat home favourite Akane Yamaguchi in the quarters and keep alive her dream of going one better than her silver in Rio 2016.


Sindhu through


She’s back in the pool, and she’s squeezed into the semi-finals, finishing 15th overall, with the top 16 qualifying. Her 24.75 saw her finish last in her heat, but it was enough.


Tokyo Olympics: Injury ends Siobhan Haughey's Games after second silver - day 7, as it happened

Double silver medallist squeezes through in 50m free heats, but withdraws from Saturday morning semi-final with back injury Hong Kong's Haughey bows out of Games swimming butterfly leg in Hong Kong's unsuccessful 4x100m medley heat

Double silver medallist squeezes through in 50m free heats, but withdraws from Saturday morning semi-final with back injury

Hong Kong's Haughey bows out of Games swimming butterfly leg in Hong Kong's unsuccessful 4x100m medley heat