BRITAIN'S Tom Daley and Matty Lee edged out hot favourites China to win gold in the synchronised 10m platform diving at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday (26).
Daley, 27, in what could be his final Olympics, wiped away tears on the podium as he finally added gold to the bronzes he won at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games.
China's Chen Aisen and Cao Yuan, both already twice Olympic gold medallists, were in pole position for another title until they made a mess of their fourth dive of six.
Daley, one of Britain's most recognisable athletes, and Lee took full advantage to deny the all-powerful Chinese their hopes of a golden sweep in diving in the Japanese capital.
The Britons held their nerve on the last dive to win the final with 471.81 points, with the Chinese a narrow second on 470.58 and the Russians Aleksandr Bondar and Viktor Minibaev a distant third.
Lee, 23, was left praying pool-side as the scores for China's last dive confirmed that he and Daley had won.
For Daley it is reward for a life lived in the public eye since childhood.
He began diving at the age of seven and there was a media frenzy around him when he competed at the 2008 Beijing Games as a fresh-faced schoolboy of just 14.
A year later, in Rome, Daley won gold at the world championships to underline his prodigious talent.
But there were growing pains. He was bullied at school and in 2011 his father, Rob, died of cancer aged 40.
There was immense pressure on Daley as a home gold-medal prospect - and one of the faces - of the London Games.
He did not quite live up to the hype, winning bronze in the 10m platform, and recently told the BBC: "Looking back, I sometimes wonder, 'Was that my time? Could it have been gold?'
Daley has said that it was only after the London Games that the death of his father really hit him.
There were also injuries, he considered quitting diving and speculation constantly swirled about his sexuality.
In late 2013, when he was 19, he came out as gay and is now married to the Oscar-winning film-maker Dustin Lance Black.
Together they have a young son, Robbie, named after Daley's father.
At Rio 2016, Daley won bronze again, this time alongside Daniel Goodfellow.
Daley has transcended his sport. He is vocal on gay issues, including urging homosexual footballers to be open about their sexuality to help young fans who are struggling with their identity.
At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where he won gold with Goodfellow, he called on nations in the Commonwealth who outlaw homosexuality to relax their anti-gay stance.
In recent months, Daley has made headlines once more back in Britain - this time for passing time under pandemic lockdowns by getting into crochet and knitting.
CHRISTIAN HORNER is to leave his role as Red Bull team principal with immediate effect after 20 years, the Formula One team announced on Wednesday (9).
He oversaw a period of dominance by the team with eight world titles won and the drivers' championship claimed eight times, with Max Verstappen winning the past four titles, and six constructors' crowns.
However, Horner's fortunes have dipped in the past 18 months after being accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee.
Although Horner, whose wife in former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell stood by him during the testing time, was cleared twice, there have been rumblings of discontent within the team, several high-profile departures, and their form has tailed off.
"Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (July 9, 2025) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing," read the statement from Red Bull.
Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO Corporate Projects and Investments, paid the departing team chief a fulsome tribute.
"We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years," he said in a statement.
"With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1.
"Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history."
Horner's departure comes amid speculation that Verstappen may be tempted to jump ship to Mercedes.
Although the 27-year-old Dutchman won the title last year, he only stood on the top step of the podium twice in the final 14 races.
Other key figures responsible for Red Bull's dominance have left in the past year-and-a-half.
Legendary designer Adrian Newey signed for Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley joined Sauber, who are beginning to show signs of his influence with Nico Hulkenberg claiming his first ever podium finish in last Sunday's British Grand Prix.
Verstappen by contrast finished a disappointing fifth, having started on pole.
He is clearly unhappy with the car, saying during the race "this car is just so difficult to drive", which only further served to ferment the talks of a departure.
Verstappen is languishing 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri at the halfway point of the campaign.
Red Bull are fourth in the constructors' standings, 288 points behind leaders McLaren with Ferrari and Mercedes also ahead of them in the standings.
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Alcaraz had experienced occasional inconsistency in the first week of the tournament
Carlos Alcaraz defeats Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets
Defending champion extends winning streak to 23 matches
Faces American Taylor Fritz next in the semi-finals
Alcaraz powers through quarter-final test
LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) – Carlos Alcaraz had hinted that Cameron Norrie might pose a tricky challenge. And for a brief moment on Tuesday, it looked as though the defending Wimbledon champion could be in for an early scare.
The Spaniard found himself down 0-40 in his opening service game on Centre Court. But any suggestion of an upset quickly faded as Alcaraz surged to a dominant 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 victory — a performance that further cemented his status as the favourite to retain the title.
Commanding from the start
Despite rows of empty seats early on — with spectators still filtering back after Aryna Sabalenka’s lengthy quarter-final — Alcaraz wasted no time asserting his authority.
By the time the crowd returned to support the last British singles player standing, the second seed had already wrapped up the opening set in just 28 minutes, showcasing his signature mix of precision and power.
Norrie, unseeded and unconventional in his style, tried to push back. He even lifted his arms in mock celebration after holding serve late in the third set. But the result never looked in doubt.
Alcaraz, currently enjoying a 23-match winning streak, was a level above throughout.
Building momentum before facing Fritz
The Spaniard, now into his eighth Grand Slam semi-final, will face American Taylor Fritz next. The match will take place after a two-day break, in line with the All England Club’s scheduling.
With momentum on his side, Alcaraz suggested he would prefer to keep playing. When asked how he planned to spend his time off, one fan jokingly shouted a suggestion to return to Ibiza, where he had relaxed after his recent French Open win.
“We’ll try to switch off”
Smiling, Alcaraz responded with a more grounded plan.
“I might try to go to the city centre if I have time. I want to play some golf with my team which will be fun,” he said. “What I’ve been doing so far has worked, so we’ll try to switch off together.”
Tuesday’s match marked the second time Alcaraz has faced a British opponent during this year’s Championships, having earlier beaten qualifier Oliver Tarvet in the second round. Interestingly, Tarvet had pushed the world number two more than Norrie managed to.
Too strong on grass
Norrie’s hopes of becoming just the third British man to defeat a defending Wimbledon champion ended early. After missing four break point opportunities in the second game, a double fault gifted Alcaraz a break, and a hesitant volley later allowed the Spaniard to strike a powerful dipping forehand that clipped the baseline.
While Alcaraz had experienced occasional inconsistency in the first week of the tournament, his latest showing confirmed that he is hitting top form as the business end approaches. The win marks his 34th from 37 matches played on grass.
“To play another semi-final here at Wimbledon is really special,” Alcaraz said. “I want to go as far as I can and I’m really happy with the level I played today against a really difficult player like Cam.”
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Bumrah returns to bolster India's attack, Gill eyes more records, while Archer boosts England's hopes at Lord's. (Photo: Getty Images)
India levelled the series 1-1 with a 336-run win at Edgbaston
Shubman Gill has scored 585 runs in two Tests as captain
Jofra Archer set for first Test appearance since 2021; Bumrah returns for India
INDIA will look to continue their strong form when they face England in the third Test at Lord's starting Thursday. After losing the first Test at Headingley, India bounced back to level the five-match series 1-1 with a 336-run win at Edgbaston.
India are chasing just their fourth Test series win in England, and come into the Lord's Test with several key players in form.
Gill's record chase continues
Shubman Gill has made a strong start to his captaincy, scoring 585 runs in his first two Tests as skipper after taking over from Rohit Sharma. At Edgbaston, he made 269 and 161, becoming the first batter in Test history to score 250 and 150 in the same match.
Gill also made 147 in the series opener, and his form has sparked comparisons with Donald Bradman’s 974-run record in a single Test series. The record has stood for 95 years.
"You've got to give your opposition credit when it's due and for him to bang out as many runs as he has done in this game has been pretty special," England captain Ben Stokes said.
There is precedent for a drop in form later in the series. In 2003, South Africa’s Graeme Smith started with two double hundreds at Edgbaston and Lord's but scored just 93 more runs in the final three matches.
Archer return boosts England hopes
Jofra Archer is expected to return for England, marking his first Test since 2021. Archer made his Test debut at Lord's in 2019, where he famously hit Steve Smith with a bouncer. His return comes after a long injury lay-off.
"He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket, but we all know what he's capable of achieving and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and improve on what he's been able to do already," England coach Brendon McCullum said.
England's attack has struggled in this series. Chris Woakes has taken just three wickets at an average of nearly 97, despite sharing the new ball. Geoffrey Boycott recently said the 36-year-old was "past his sell-by date".
However, Woakes has a strong record at Lord's with 32 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 12.90. He also averages 42.50 with the bat at the ground.
Bumrah back for India
Jasprit Bumrah is expected to return after being rested at Edgbaston. Akash Deep, who took 10 wickets in Birmingham, is likely to retain his place. But Bumrah’s return strengthens the Indian attack.
"He (Bumrah) jogs in, you will be thinking 'this will be 70 miles an hour' and it hits you at 90," former England pacer Stuart Broad said on his For the Love of Cricket podcast.
Bumrah is yet to earn a place on the Lord's dressing room honours board. The 31-year-old will aim to change that in the third Test.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The third set saw both players exchange small advantages as the momentum shifted repeatedly
Aryna Sabalenka defeats Laura Siegemund in a three-set thriller
German veteran's slice-and-drop-shot game unsettles the top seed
Sabalenka to face Amanda Anisimova in the semi-finals
Sabalenka digs deep to progress
Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the edge on Tuesday, enduring a three-hour test of patience and resilience before finally overpowering Laura Siegemund on Wimbledon’s Centre Court to book her place in the semi-finals.
The Belarusian, world number one, eventually broke free from Siegemund’s spellbinding tactics to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and will now face American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova, who earlier beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, for a spot in Saturday’s final.
German veteran's old-school game unsettles top seed
For long stretches of the match, it appeared Sabalenka would find no solution to Siegemund’s vintage approach. The 37-year-old German, ranked 104th in the world, relied on a mix of slices, drop shots and tactical finesse to disrupt the rhythm of the hard-hitting Belarusian.
Siegemund’s playing style drew comparisons to a bygone era, where subtlety triumphed over raw power. Her slice returns, deft lobs, and feathered volleys kept Sabalenka on the defensive for much of the contest.
“After the first set I was just looking at my box thinking, ‘Guys, book the tickets, we might be leaving this beautiful city,’” Sabalenka admitted. “She played an incredible match, an incredible tournament, and I’m just really happy right now with the win. The atmosphere — it’s just another level.”
Nostalgic display on Centre Court
Despite only one previous second-round finish at Wimbledon, Siegemund produced one of the performances of her career. Her strokes landed with subtle precision — a soft brush of the racket replacing the more common heavy thud. Even her serves, often landing midway up the box and spinning out wide, proved deceptively effective.
Her wealth of doubles experience — three Grand Slam titles across women’s and mixed — was evident in her use of angles, soft hands at the net, and her ability to control rallies with minimal force.
Sabalenka found a breakthrough in the second set as Siegemund’s precision dipped slightly. Though only marginal, it gave the top seed just enough room to level the match.
A hard-fought decider
The third set saw both players exchange small advantages as the momentum shifted repeatedly. Siegemund returned to her crafty best, forcing Sabalenka to continue digging deep.
As the match approached the three-hour mark, Sabalenka finally struck the decisive blow, sealing victory with a thunderous overhead and an emotional roar.
“That was a real task,” she said. “Honestly, I have no idea how I managed to stay emotionally prepared and focused. I’m actually really proud of myself because it was a really tough battle.”
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Archer was part of the squad for the second Test at Edgbaston but did not play. (Photo: Getty Images)
ENGLAND coach Brendon McCullum said pacer Jofra Archer is "ready to go" as he considers bringing him back for the third Test against India, following a four-year absence due to injury.
Archer was part of the squad for the second Test at Edgbaston but did not play. India won that match by 336 runs on Sunday, levelling the five-match series at 1-1.
The third Test begins at Lord's on Thursday. With little time between games, both teams are likely to make changes to their pace attacks. India have already confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the second Test, will return.
Archer, who was born in Barbados, made his international debut in 2019 and has played 13 Tests, the last in February 2021. So far this season, the 30-year-old has bowled just 18 first-class overs for Sussex.
England are now considering him for the Lord's Test as they look to strengthen their bowling unit.
"It's hugely exciting, he's buzzing as well," said McCullum.
"He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket, but we all know what he's capable of achieving and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and improve on what he's been able to do already."
McCullum also ruled out the possibility of replacing off-spinner Shoaib Bashir with Jacob Bethell.
Bashir, 21, has taken eight wickets in the first two Tests, but they have come at an average of nearly 60. Bethell, who offers more with the bat, bowls left-arm spin but McCullum said the Warwickshire all-rounder would only be considered as a batting option.
"He's a batting option. He's the next one in if something happens, but we don't crowbar anything," said McCullum.
Speaking about Bashir, he added: "We know (Bashir) is not the finished article yet, but I feel like he's getting better and better. As the series wears on, I think we'll see him play quite a big hand."
McCullum said he was hoping to see a more balanced contest between bat and ball in the remaining matches. The first two Tests have produced 11 centuries, with India captain Shubman Gill scoring a total of 585 runs so far, including a big contribution in Birmingham.