GB performance director Rob McCracken is able to look back at the positives of the World Boxing Championships, while there were mixed fortunes for Britain’s female tennis stars. Here’s our review of the last 24 hours.
McCracken believes the future is bright
GB Boxing performance director Rob McCracken believes the future is bright despite seeing his squad return from Doha and the World Boxing Championships with just one medal to show for their efforts.
Despite four of the eight boxers reaching the quarter-finals in the form of Muhammad Ali, Joe Cordina, Josh Kelly and Joe Joyce – it was just the latter who earned a bronze after losing on points to Tony Yoka of France in his semi-final.
It was Joyce's fourth major medal of the 2013-17 Olympic cycle and adds to his bronze from the 2013 European Championships and the golds he won at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 European Games.
However, it means that none of the team has guaranteed a place at the Olympic Games at this tournament, although under the new qualification system introduced for Rio, there are three more events in 2016 with 95 places up for grabs and McCracken remains confident.
"This is a very talented but relatively inexperienced group that will have benefitted from competing at the World Championships,” he said.
“The squad is progressing well and can look forward confidently to the Olympic qualification events next year."
Watson and Konta progress
Heather Watson has battled into the second round of the Hong Kong Open by beating China's Zhang Kai-Lin.
The 23-year-old British number two took more than two hours to overcome world number 191 Zhang 3-6 6-1 6-2.
In Linz, British number one Johanna Konta beat Germany's Annika Beck 6-1 6-3 at a WTA event after being awarded a 'lucky loser' spot for the main draw.
Konta had lost in qualifying, but was promoted to the main draw after another player had withdrawn.
Robson set to sit out rest of 2015-10-14 Former British number one Laura Robson will not play again this year as she continues her recovery from injury.
The world number 547 returned to competition at Eastbourne in June after 17 months out with a wrist injury.
She has played just ten matches, winning three, since then and last featured at an ITF event in Monterrey a month ago.
"Laura's team decided it was most effective for her to spend her time training for the rest of the year," the 21-year-old's management company said.
Sportsbeat 2015