06 August 2021 | Olympics

• Ugandan athlete Joshua Cheptegei has cemented his status as one of the finest athletes the world could ever witness after winning Gold in the men’s 5000m final
• Aditi Ashok placed herself sole second on the leaderboard and in line for a medal after carding a three-under 68 in the third round
• Canada defeated Sweden 1-1 (3-2 on penalties) to capture the gold medal in women's soccer at the Tokyo Olympics
• China’s Liu Shiying is the Olympic champion in javelin after a first attempt distance of 66.34 metres secured her top spot on the podium at the Olympic Stadium

Ugandan athlete Joshua Cheptegei shed tears after claiming Gold - his most sought after accolade at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. Cheptegei crossed the finish line first in 12:58:15 to seal his spot among the world’s greatest long distance runners but also Uganda’s finest. The race drew the best out him, running the last 100m in 14.0 for a 55.1 final circuit and 1:54.3 last 800m.

Another unexpected medal contender on the day was Aditi, a 23-year-old Bengalurean whose mother Maheshwari is her caddie at the Games. The unheralded youngster placed herself sole second on the leaderboard and in line for a medal after carding a three-under 68 in the third round. The medal proved elusive but the Indian women's hockey team earned plenty of respect with a momentous fourth-place finish in the Olympic Games where golfer Aditi Ashok also stood on the cusp of history even as star wrestler Bajrang Punia disappointed in Tokyo on Friday. [Hindustantimes]

Canada defeated Sweden 1-1 (3-2 on penalties) to capture the gold medal in women's soccer at the Tokyo Olympics. It's the best result for Canada at a Summer Olympics and the third straight Summer Games in which Canada has medaled. Canada looked sluggish for much of the first half and were punished for it in the 35th minute. Kosovare Asllani pounced on a turnover in the Canada half, came down the right and found Stina Blackstenius for her fifth goal of the tournament. [TSN]

Laura Kenny became the first British woman to clinch gold at three Olympics and pentathlete Kate French triumphed as Team GB won seven medals on Friday. Cyclists Kenny and Katie Archibald took the women's madison before French followed up in the modern pentathlon for Britain's 18th gold at Tokyo 2020. Laura Muir won 1500m silver, with another coming for the men's 4x100m relay team and a bronze for the women. GB also claimed bronzes in women's hockey and the men's cycling sprint. [BBC]

China’s Liu Shiying is the Olympic champion in javelin after a first attempt distance of 66.34 metres secured her top spot on the podium at the Olympic Stadium on Friday night. A season’s best effort for the 27-year-old was enough to win the Olympic gold to add to her Asian Games gold and her silver medal from the 2019 World Championships. It was China’s second track and field gold of the Games and inches China ever closer to the coveted top spot on the overall medal table with two days of action remaining. “It means a lot to me and my country,” Liu said. “I want to thank everyone, my team, my country and also my parents.” [South China Morning Post]

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