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WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021 Biles withdrawal stuns Olympics Osaka crashes out; Ferreira, Moore claim first-ever Olympic surfing gold

TOKYO: US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles sent Naomi Osaka — also fell by the wayside yesterday shockwaves through the Olympics yesterday, tearful- after losing 6-1, 6-4 to Marketa Vondrousova fol- ly citing concerns for her mental health after a dra- lowing an error-strewn performance. The 23-year- matic withdrawal mid-competition during the old Osaka had not played since May when she women’s team final. The 24-year-old four-time walked out of the French Open saying media com- Olympic gold medalist — one of the faces of the mitments were harming her mental health. Tokyo Games — got off to a shaky start at the Ariake The second seed was bitterly disappointed at Gymnastics Centre with a lackluster opening vault. missing out on a chance of Olympic gold, especially Stunned onlookers watched as Biles was led off after the early exit of world number one Ashleigh the competition floor before returning wearing a Barty. “How disappointed am I? I mean, I’m disap- tracksuit. Soon afterwards, USA Gymnastics con- pointed in every loss, but I feel like this one sucks firmed she would sit out the remainder of the final more than the others,” said the four-time Grand with an unspecified medical issue. Slam winner, who lit the Olympic cauldron at last Speaking to reporters after the final — eventual- Friday’s opening ceremony. ly won by ’s team — Biles said concerns for Brazil’s Italo Ferreira and America’s Carissa her mental wellbeing prompted her decision to Moore claimed the first-ever Olympic gold medals withdraw. “At the end of the day, I have to do what’s in surfing. In the men’s competition Ferreira, who right for me and focus on my mental health and not learned his trade standing on the foam box from jeopardize my health and my wellbeing,” she said. which his father sold fish, snapped his board on the “I just think mental health is more prevalent now in first wave but soon recovered his composure to sports and it’s not just like we have to set everything take gold. “It’s one of the best days of my life for aside, we also have to focus on ourselves. Because at sure,” said the Brazilian. “I was so nervous at the the end of the day, we’re human too so we have to beginning but I just tried to surf and have fun.” protect our mind and our body rather than just go out Hawaiian Moore beat South Africa’s Bianca there and do what the world wants us to do.” Buitendag in the women’s final. If Biles fails to recover in time for Thursday’s TOKYO: Russia’s Angelina Melnikova (left) is congratulated by USA’s Simone Biles as Russia wins the individual all-around competition, it would mark a First for Bermuda artistic gymnastics women’s team final during the Tokyo 2020 at the Ariake Gymnastics stunning turn of events at a Games which she had Triathlete Flora Duffy won the first gold of the Center in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP been strongly expected to dominate. day in the women’s event, making Bermuda the smallest territory or nation in terms of population to upstaged American arch-rival to claim champion was beaten by 17-year-old No longer fun win a gold medal at a Summer Games. “It’s bigger the women’s 100m crown as Russia and compatriot Lydia Jacoby and teammate and Biles later began crying as she revealed a loss of than me and that’s a really cool moment. That was Britain also won golds. McKeown flew through the defending 100m backstroke champion Ryan confidence in her abilities. “I just don’t trust myself the longest kilometer of my life (the final one of the water at the Tokyo Aquatic Center to touch in 57.47 Murphy also tasted defeat. Russian swimmer as much as I used to,” she said, flanked by her US run).” seconds, a new Olympic record and only fractionally Evgeny Rylov took gold in the final, with Murphy teammates. “I feel like I am also not having as much Elsewhere, powerhouses Australia and outside her own world best while Smith had to settle pushed into third place. Britain’s Tom Dean came fun. That just hurts my heart that doing what I love the won one gold medal each in the for bronze. back from two bouts of coronavirus to edge out has been taken.” morning session and are on three golds apiece. On a day of upsets, American women’s 100m team-mate Duncan Scott and win the 200m Another face of the Games — Japan tennis star Australian world-record holder Kaylee McKeown world-record holder and defending freestyle. — AFP

Netherlands set up Olympic quarter-final with USA

TOKYO: The rounded thrashing of Zambia and 3-3 draw with off their high-scoring group-stage runners-up Brazil, who beat the Tokyo Olympics medals table after yesterday’s campaign with an 8-2 thrashing of Zambians 1-0 yesterday. The Dutch events (G = Gold, S = Silver, B = Bronze, T= China yesterday to set up a quarter- will pose a serious threat to the Total): final clash with the United States in the Americans’ gold-medal hopes in the Olympic women’s football tournament. last eight. G S B T Earlier, the USA again produced a Team USA knew defeat by below-par performance again in a 0-0 Australia could have put them in dan- Japan 10 3 5 18 draw with Australia which was enough ger of a shock exit, but played out a United States 9 8 8 25 to see them finish second in Group G dull encounter in Kashima. The loss to China 9 5 7 21 behind , who beat the world Sweden ended the Americans’ 44- Russian Olympic Committee 7 7 4 18 champions 3-0 in their opening game. match unbeaten run and they strug- Great Britain 4 5 4 13 The Dutch only brought on star gled to create chances again, the clos- South Korea 3 2 5 10 YOKOHAMA: Netherlands’ coach Sarina Wiegman (third left) celebrates with play- striker Vivianne Miedema in the 62nd est they came to a winner when Alex Australia 3 1 5 9 ers after Netherlands won the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games women’s group F first minute in Yokohama, but she still Morgan’s header was ruled out by a Canada 2 3 3 8 round football match between Netherlands and China at the Yokohama scored twice to set a new record of tight offside call. 2 2 3 7 International Stadium in Yokohama yesterday. — AFP eight goals in a women’s Olympics The other game in the group saw 2 0 3 5 event. Barcelona midfielder Lieke Sweden make it three wins from three Kosovo 2 0 0 2 Martens also netted a double, as did by seeing off pointless New Zealand after a tense 1-0 win over Chile. Half- goal in a 1-1 draw. Canada had looked 1 5 6 12 Lineth Beerensteyn, while Shanice van 2-0. Anna Anvegard and Madelen time substitute Mina Tanaka netted set for a last-eight tie against Taiwan 1 2 3 6 der Sanden and Victoria Pevlova got Janogy scored the goals as the the winner with 13 minutes remaining. Australia after Adriana Leon’s opener, Brazil 1 2 2 5 on the scoresheet as well. Scandinavians booked a quarter-final Britain, bidding for a first women’s but instead will face Brazil, with the Switzerland 1 2 2 5 European champions the clash with Japan. The hosts, the 2011 Olympic football medal, finished top Britons taking on the Aussies. The Serbia 1 1 1 3 Netherlands finished top of Group F World Cup winners, edged through as of Group E thanks to Canadian quarter-finals will all be played on having scored 21 goals, after a 10-3 one of the best two third-placed teams Slovenia 1 1 1 3 Nichelle Prince’s 85th-minute own Saturday. — AFP Hungary 1 1 0 2 Tunisia 1 1 0 2 Austria 1 0 1 2 Croatia 1 0 1 2 Estonia 1 0 1 2 Bermuda 1 0 0 1 Tokyo Olympics medals won yesterday Ecuador 1 0 0 1 Hong Kong 1 0 0 1 SILVER - KOLESNIKOV Kliment – Russian Iran 1 0 0 1 Artistic Gymnastics - Women's Team GOLD - Germany Norway 1 0 0 1 GOLD - Russian Olympic Committee Silver - United States of America Olympic Committee Philippines 1 0 0 1 SILVER - United States of America BRONZE - Great Britain BRONZE - MURPHY Ryan - United States of Thailand 1 0 0 1 BRONZE - Great Britain America Uzbekistan 1 0 0 1 Netherlands 0 3 0 3 Shooting - 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Spain 0 2 1 3 Softball GOLD - People's Republic of China Women's 100m Breaststroke Georgia 0 2 0 2 GOLD - Japan SILVER - Russian Olympic Committee GOLD - JACOBY Lydia - United States of America South Africa 0 2 0 2 SILVER - United States of America BRONZE - Ukraine SILVER - SCHOENMAKER Tatjana - South Africa Mongolia 0 1 2 3 BRONZE - Mexico BRONZE - KING Lilly - United States of America Belgium 0 1 1 2 Czech Republic 0 1 1 2 Shooting - 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Canoe Slalom - Women’s Kayak Indonesia 0 1 1 2 GOLD - People's Republic of China Triathlon - Women's Individual GOLD SILVER - United States of America Bulgaria 0 1 0 1 - FUNK Ricarda – Germany Colombia 0 1 0 1 BRONZE - Russian Olympic Committee GOLD - DUFFY Flora – Bermuda SILVER - CHOURRAUT Maialen – Spain Denmark 0 1 0 1 SILVER - TAYLOR-BROWN Georgia - Great Britain BRONZE India 0 1 0 1 - FOX Jessica – Australia BRONZE - ZAFERES Katie - United States of America Swimming - Men's 200m Freestyle Jordan 0 1 0 1

Cycling Mountain Bike - Women's Cross-country GOLD - DEAN Tom - Great Britain North Macedonia 0 1 0 1 SILVER - SCOTT Duncan - Great Britain Weightlifting - Women's 59kg Romania 0 1 0 1 GOLD - NEFF Jolanda – Switzerland BRONZE - SCHEFFER Fernando - Brazil GOLD - KUO Hsing-Chun - Chinese Taipei Turkmenistan 0 1 0 1 SILVER - FREI Sina – Switzerland Kazakhstan 0 0 3 3 SILVER - GURYEVA Polina - Turkmenistan BRONZE - INDERGAND Linda SUI – Switzerland Swimming - Women's 100m Backstroke Ukraine 0 0 3 3 BRONZE - ANDOH Mikiko – Japan Egypt 0 0 2 2 GOLD - McKEOWN Kaylee– Australia Mexico 0 0 2 2 Diving - Women's Synchronized 10m Platform SILVER - MASSE Kylie– Canada Weightlifting - Women's 64kg Turkey 0 0 2 2 GOLD - People's Republic of China BRONZE - SMITH Regan – United States of America Cuba 0 0 1 1 GOLD - CHARRON Maude G – Canada SILVER - United States of America Ivory Coast 0 0 1 1 SILVER - BORDIGNON Giorgia – Italy BRONZE - Mexico Swimming - Men’s 100m Backstroke Kuwait 0 0 1 1 - CHEN Wen-Huei - Chinese Taipe Equestrian - Dressage Team GOLD-RYLOV Evgeny – Russian Olympic Committee BRONZE New Zealand 0 0 1 1 Zionist entity 0 0 1 1