Digest

OLYMPICS

Hua picks Tokyo horse after 'agonizing' choice

Chinese equestrian star Alex Hua Tian on Sunday announced he will ride Don Geniro at the Tokyo Olympics, which open on Friday.

The 13-year-old gelding competed at the Rio Games five years ago, and helped Hua finish eighth in the individual eventing event.

Each rider is permitted to bring one horse to the Olympics, meaning Hua had to decide between two of his qualified mounts before departing for Tokyo 2020.

He explained on social media that an injury to one horse helped make up his mind, but left him concerned about how Don Geniro will handle the uncomfortable Tokyo summer temperatures.

"I have spent a month agonizing and unable to chose between Spike and Don－both equally deserving of this Olympic opportunity," Hua wrote on Weibo.

"Although I am delighted to be taking my Rio 2016 partner once again, I am gutted to be leaving Spike at home when he has been going so, so well!

"Sadly, two days before traveling, Spike picked up a small injury which has a high chance of developing into a career-ending injury if he competed in Tokyo. In the end, fate made the decision for me.

"Don brings the experience but will find the heat harder than Spike."

While Hua has competed individually at past Olympics, Tokyo 2020 is the first time a Chinese eventing team has qualified for the Games.

Positive test forces Gauff out of Games

US tennis player Coco Gauff has tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing her to pull out of the Tokyo Olympics.

"I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won't be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo," Gauff tweeted on Sunday.

"It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future."

The 17-year-old lost to Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court in the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier this month. It was the second time she had lost at that stage after her breakthrough run at the All England Club in 2019. Gauff is No 25 in the world rankings.

"We were saddened to learn that Coco Gauff has tested positive for COVID-19 and will therefore be unable to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games," the US Tennis Association said in a statement. "We wish her the best as she deals with this unfortunate situation."

Wimbledon men's runner-up Matteo Berrettini of Italy announced his withdrawal from the Olympics on Sunday due to a thigh injury. Top stars Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are also skipping the Games.

Indian archery team aiming to make history

Archery is one sport where India is yet to medal in the Olympics, but the country expects to make history at this year's edition.

As the lone female archer in the team, world No 1 Deepika Kumari made headlines last month by winning a hat-trick of gold medals at the Archery World Cup in Paris.

The other three members are Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das and Pravin Jadhav.

The Indian archery team arrived in Tokyo early on Sunday morning, having qualified for four of the sport's five events at the Games.

Before the Indian contingent flew to Tokyo on Saturday, Archery Association of India (AAI) president Arjun Munda predicted that the podium beckons for the country's bowmen and women in Tokyo.

"The way they have performed has made the nation proud, the recent gold medals in tournaments say everything. As the president of the AAI, I feel that this time archers will do well at the Olympics and write history at the international level," said Munda, who is also the country's Minister of Tribal Affairs.

CYCLING

Pogacar claims second consecutive Tour title

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar claimed a second successive Tour de France title after Sunday's final stage, which was won by Belgian Wout van Aert on the Champs-Elysees.

Pogacar, 22, is the youngest rider to wear the overall leader's yellow jersey at the end of the race for two years running.

The UAE Emirates rider also won the white jersey for the best under-25 rider and the polka-dot jersey for the mountains classification after a dominant performance throughout.

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard took second place overall with Ecuador's Richard Carapaz in third.

Pogacar now heads to Tokyo for the Olympics, where he will be among the favorites for the road race on Saturday.

After a processional ride to Paris, multiple attacks took place in the eight laps around the finishing line on the Champs-Elysees.

Belgian Jasper Philipsen was second ahead of third-place Mark Cavendish, who won the green jersey for the points classification for the second time, having won four stages this year to equal Eddy Merckx's 46-year-old record of 34 stage wins.

GOLF

Morikawa: Win among best days of my life

Collin Morikawa described his British Open victory as one of the "best moments of my life" after a nerveless display from the 24-year-old American at Royal St. George's on Sunday saw him win by two shots with a 15-under-par total.

Resuming one stroke behind overnight leader Louis Oosthuizen, Morikawa fired a bogey-free round of 66 to finish 4-under for the day and hold off a late surge from 2017 champion Jordan Spieth, who finished 13-under. Spain's Jon Rahm tied for third with Oosthuizen on 11-under.

"This is by far one of the best moments of my life," said the world No 4 Morikawa, who handled the pressure with ease in front of crowds of 32,000 fans in Sandwich, on England's southeast coast.

"To see some of the best crowds I've ever seen, I look forward to my trip every year to the British Open to see you guys," he added.

Morikawa became the 10th player to win the championship on his debut. But he was the first player to win two majors in his first appearance at an event after his victory at the 2020 PGA Championship.

Xinhua - Agencies