Chris and Gabby Adcock set to renew rivalry with Indonesian pairing at All Englands, and resilient Geraint Thomas crashes but stays fifth in Paris-Nice race. Here’s our review of the last 24 hours:
British Olympian Chris Adcock insists he and wife Gabby are relishing the prospect of renewing their fierce rivalry with reigning champions Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir at the All England Open, after strolling into the quarter-finals.
The British fans were in full voice during the Adcocks’ convincing 21-12, 21-16 victory over Korea’s Kim Gi Jung and Shin Seung Chan on Thursday afternoon.
The world number seven pairing now face a quarter-final with Indonesian pair Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir, the second seeds and defending champions who knocked them out at the same stage last year.
But after beating them last time out en route to winning the World Superseries Finals in Dubai, Adcock is adamant they have nothing to fear when they take to the court later today.
“We definitely feel confident that we can win the competition, but we cannot look past the next game because they are the world’s number two or three pairing,” he said.
“Even though we beat them last time, it was really close and we have had some tough battles with them. We will literally take it one game at a time.”
Gabby added: “We can beat anyone on our day and obviously we showed that with our recent (World Superseries Finals) win in Dubai.
“We will be confident when we go on, the home crowd will be behind us, we will be up for it and looking forward to the challenge.
Despite a crash 35km from the end of stage four, Britain’s Geraint Thomas dug deep to stay in fifth place overall in the Paris-Nice race.
The Welshman, riding for Team Sky, touched wheels with another rider while well-placed on the stage and went down on Thursday, but did not see his race hopes vanish with it.
Thomas was quickly back in the saddle and recovered to finish 11th on the stage to finish 19 seconds behind overall leader Michael Matthews, who was fifth on the stage.
Nacer Bouhanni, who also crossed the line first in stage two but was relegated to third after a clash of shoulders with Matthews, won the stage as he sprinted clear of his rivals to win by a comfortable margin.
The riders now tackle legendary mountain pass, Provence’s Mont Ventoux, in Friday's 195km stage, as the race continues towards the south coast of France.
“There was no problem after Geraint's crash,” said sport director Nicolas Portal on Team Sky's website.
“It was on the climb it was not high speed. He was able to stand up straight away and get back on the bike.”
British pole vaulter Lule Cutts is desperate to prove that he is the right candidate to fly the flag at the Rio Olympics, after he was overlooked for the GB squad heading to the World Indoors in Portland next month.
The 28-year-old beat Steve Lewis’s national record during the 2014 indoor season when he soared 5.83m, but he is yet to reach that level again.
Cuts won last month’s British Indoor Championships, but the Sheffield athlete is yet to appear at a major outdoor championships in his career.
Currently 19th in the world rankings, Cutts has cleared the Olympic qualification height of 5.77m twice since London 2012, and is adamant his British record jump was no one off.
“I know it’s in me to jump higher, it’s just about getting the right poles,” Cutts told the Yorkshire Post. “I have jumped the Olympic qualifying height twice now.
“I could expect another British record this year if I get the right conditions in England or wherever I compete.
“I have done the qualifying heights, it’s just down to the selectors now. The ball is in their court.
“If they select me, I’m hoping to go to Rio in top form.”
Charlotte Gilmartin has come on leaps and bounds this season and as she gears up for the World Short Track Championships this weekend, the speed skater credits her rivalry with fellow Brit Elise Christie for the improvement.
The World Championships kick off in Seoul, South Korea on Friday with Gilmartin and Christie providing the female British representation.
Gilmartin won her maiden World Cup medal in December – a bronze in Shanghai – and followed that up with 3,000m gold and overall silver at the European Championships.
The 26-year-old appears to be going from strength to strength and is starting to challenge Christie, who she believes is spurring her on to greater things.
“This year was my first World Cup medal, so of course that is going to fill me with confidence,” Gilmartin told the BBC.
“Straight off the back of that we went to Europeans and it was my first overall medal in second. I'm definitely on a high right now.
“Some days you wake up and it hurts to walk down the stairs – your legs are in bits and you're thinking 'how can I even train today?'
“Then you see Elise doing extra training and you think 'I've got to do this' and it makes you refocus.” Read more here.
Mahama Cho is refusing to get carried away as he bids to prove he deserves an Olympic spot at this weekend's Dutch Open.
Cho is one of ten British taekwondo players, including 2015 world champion Bianca Walkden, competing at the Dutch Open in Eindhoven.
But he is the only one to have fought in 2016, securing Team GB a fourth Olympic berth for Rio 2016 with victory at the European Olympic qualification tournament in Turkey back in January.
Individuals won't be named in the slots until June however, and Cho is determined to keep cranking up the pressure.
“The pressure is still on because there are important tournaments leading up to Olympic selection,” said the 26-year-old Manchester-based Londoner.
“We have got the spot but now I have got to prove I am the guy to go. So, there is still a lot of work to do and still a lot of players involved. I am not the only heavyweight around in the squad.
“We've got Levi (Goodridge) and Lyle (Walker) in the mix as well; players who can also challenge for that spot.
“So, I have got to stay fit, keep healthy and keep kicking. I'm just trying to progress as much as I can.”
Kevin Johnson admits he is keen to put his own stamp on the squad after being named as head coach of the Wales women's hockey team.
Johnson is currently head coach of Women's Premiership side Holcombe, while he has previously worked with England Hockey and GB Hockey, most recently as their Under-21 coach and Talent Development coach.
The Wales squad are gearing up for round one of the World League, which takes place in Cambrai, France this September.
Before that, Wales face a series of potentially tricky Test matches over the summer and Johnson is relishing the challenge ahead.
“I am delighted and there are exciting times ahead for the whole group as we embark on a busy summer schedule ahead of World League,” said Johnson.
“We will get to work immediately on developing our culture and identity as a group in such a way that matches our individual and collective aspirations.
“This will in turn determine the future performance standards we set for ourselves. Personally, I am fully motivated for the journey ahead and working with a very proud sporting nation.”
Sportsbeat 2016