James Dasaolu hits qualifying standard for Rio 2016 Olympic Games as 13 national champions are crowned at the British Athletics Championships, while reigning Olympic champion Anthony Joshua defends his IBF heavyweight title with seventh round knockout. Here's our review of the last 24 hours:
With 13 national champions crowned on a jam-packed day at the British Athletics Championships in Birmingham, the Olympic dream moved a step closer to becoming reality for a number of athletes – including new men’s 100m champion James Dasaolu who admitted it was mission accomplished.
Athletes finishing in the top two at the Alexander Stadium, who have also achieved the qualification standard on two occasions this season, will be heading to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games later this summer – subject to selection and ratification by the British Olympic Association.
Dasaolu was one man to do just that, clocking an incredible 9.93 seconds – aided by a 3.0m/s tailwind – to win the 100m ahead of James Ellington and CJ Ujah.
Ellington and Ujah also went sub-10 seconds and Dasaolu claims he is in prime position to succeed in the challenges that lie ahead.
“I am so pleased, this is what I wanted to do at the Olympic Trials – finish in that top two and book my spot on the road to Rio,” he said.
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Reigning Olympic super-heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua defended his IBF heavyweight title for the first time with a seventh-round knockout of Dominic Breazeale on Saturday night.
American Breazeale, who was unbeaten in 17 professional fights, stood up strong against the champion, who now has 17 knockouts from as many fights.
But Joshua dominated throughout, and his determined opposite number finally fell under a barrage of punches in the seventh, leading the referee to call proceedings to an end.
Joshua’s next mandatory challenger is New Zealander Joseph Parker, while he could also face fellow Brit David Price.
“When you start catching them flush, you know they can feel the shots, and so he was tough,” said Joshua afterwards in the ring.
“But this has been tough for me, as two weeks after my last fight I was straight back into the ring.
“So now I look forward to getting my break. I need some time off.”
Great Britain women will contest the fifth-sixth play-off at the Champions Trophy after slipping to defeat against Australia and Sam Quek admits the squad need to show their character and end on a high.
A clinical Australian outfit took their chances to record a 4-1 victory at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre on Saturday afternoon and clinch their spot in the bronze medal match.
GB required a three-goal victory to play off for bronze but instead it was the Hockeyroos who triumphed by that margin, meaning Danny Kerry’s troops will take on New Zealand for fifth spot at 2pm on Sunday.
With the rain hammering down, Australia raced into a 2-0 lead as Kathryn Slattery touched in a penalty corner on five minutes and barely 60 seconds later Georgie Park deflected Karrie McMahon’s pass home.
Sophie Bray did narrow the deficit to 2-1 by half-time when she converted Helen Richardson-Walsh’s cutback but another quick-fire double from the visitors early in the second half sealed the result.
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Andy Murray might dominate British tennis but he’s happy to be a supporting story in days ahead at Wimbledon.
Murray’s ambitions lie at the business end of the tournament, as he seeks to regain the title he won in 2013, famously ending a 77-year wait for a home men's champion. But he hopes to be sharing some positive headlines in the opening days at the All England Club, with a healthy 15 British players making the main singles draws. Murray, Aljaz Bedene, Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans are joined by Liam Broady, Alex Ward, James Ward, Brydan Klein and Marcus Willis, the world number 775, who came through qualifying in fairytale style. Johanna Konta is seeded 16th, becoming the first British woman to get a protected place in the draw since Jo Durie 32 years ago. And she is joined by Heather Watson, Naomi Broady, Laura Robson, Kate Swan and Tara Moore.
Sportsbeat 2016