https://www.scmp.com/rss/509909/feed The delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games officially begin on July 23, 2021. It marks the start of two weeks of elite sporting action when over 11,000 athletes, from 205 nations and governing bodies, will compete in 339 events across 33 sports. The Tokyo Games end on August 8, 2021 when the Olympic Flag will be handed to the hosts of the 2024 Olympics, France. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sky Brown became Great Britain’s youngest-ever Olympic medallist after winning bronze in Tokyo last year – but the 13-year-old skateboarding prodigy’s remarkable tale of recovery to get there is what truly sets her apart. In May 2020, Brown was left with a multiple-fractured skull and broken arm after a “horrific” half-pipe fall in training in California. Her father Stuart, who was filming, said his daughter was “lucky to be alive” having been unresponsive upon arrival at the hospital via an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3168494/skateboard-prodigy-sky-brown-recovery-horrific-injuries-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3168494/skateboard-prodigy-sky-brown-recovery-horrific-injuries-win?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Feb 2022 02:36:48 +0000 Two of Hong Kong’s Olympic heroes are likely to come away smiling when the annual Cathay Sports Stars Awards next take place, with the best male athlete and best female athlete being recognised for the first time. In the past, the city has only had an athlete of the year, but with gold medallist Edgar Cheung Ka-long and double silver medallist Siobhan Haughey almost impossible to choose between, organisers appear to have opted for a different approach. With the pair both managing historic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3155941/hong-kong-olympians-tipped-share-best-athlete-title-first-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3155941/hong-kong-olympians-tipped-share-best-athlete-title-first-city?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Nov 2021 02:00:35 +0000 China’s youngest Olympic champion at the Toyko 2020 Games, Quan Hongchan, has earned herself another plaudit as she was named to the Forbes China 30 Under 30 list for 2021, which was published on Thursday. The 14-year-old is the youngest person on the overall list of 300, which includes 30 names for 10 separate industries, with Quan and her fellow Chinese Olympic gold medal winners named to the sport list. Teammate Chen Yuxi, 16, is the next youngest athlete with 17-year-old Zhang Jiaqi also on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3149171/olympic-champ-quan-hongchan-youngest-name-forbes-chinas-30-under-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3149171/olympic-champ-quan-hongchan-youngest-name-forbes-chinas-30-under-30?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Sep 2021 09:26:38 +0000 China’s hopes of adding another medal to their Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games tally were given a boost as Great Britain’s 4x100m relay silver medal appears almost certain to be stripped as part of an ongoing drug scandal involving sprinter Chijinda “CJ” Ujah. On Tuesday the International Testing Agency confirmed that Ujah’s B-sample showed the same prohibited substances as his A-sample revealed last month following the closing of the Tokyo Games The ITA had announced on August 12 that Ujah, who was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3148777/tokyo-olympics-china-closer-4x100m-relay-bronze-britain-set-be-stripped?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3148777/tokyo-olympics-china-closer-4x100m-relay-bronze-britain-set-be-stripped?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Sep 2021 02:50:14 +0000 The IOC is punishing North Korea’s Tokyo Games no-show by suspending its National Olympic Committee until the end of 2022, Olympic chief Thomas Bach announced on Wednesday. The suspension covers the coming Beijing Winter Olympics. “The NOC of the People’s Republic of Korea was the only NOC not participating in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The IOC executive board decided to suspend the NOC until the end of 2022, as a result of this unilateral decision,” Bach told a press conference. North Korea... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3148063/ioc-suspends-north-korea-olympic-committee-tokyo-games-no-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3148063/ioc-suspends-north-korea-olympic-committee-tokyo-games-no-show?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Sep 2021 17:46:56 +0000 The China National Games are well under way despite only officially starting later this month and Chinese Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal winning trampolinist Zhu Xueying saw her dreams of a double end in spectacular fashion. Zhu, who rose to global fame after complaining that her Tokyo 2020 gold medal was “peeling” in a post on her Weibo while in quarantine, crashed out of the competition in Xi’an, Shaanxi province on Saturday’s opening day of the trampoline events. The Olympic gold medallist... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147695/olympic-trampoline-champion-zhu-xueying-crashes-out-china-national?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147695/olympic-trampoline-champion-zhu-xueying-crashes-out-china-national?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Sep 2021 05:21:55 +0000 Medical experts and critics of Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympic Games have condemned the financial and material waste linked to the event, although many said they were not surprised. The organising committee for the Games last week issued an apology for “mismanaging” medical equipment that was stockpiled in preparation for the event before being thrown away unused. Hundreds of boxes of medical-grade gloves, gowns and N-95 masks, which are in short supply in many hospitals during the coronavirus... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3147691/japan-counts-cost-olympic-waste-after-medical-supplies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3147691/japan-counts-cost-olympic-waste-after-medical-supplies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Sep 2021 04:45:19 +0000 Hong Kong concluded its Tokyo 2020 Paralympics campaign on a high note yesterday on the final day of competition as the curtain fell on a largely successful summer of sport in a Covid-19-beleaguered Japan. China, which finished second on the medal table behind the United States at last month’s Olympics, went one better at the Paralympics and dominated the count. It was a timely boost for China whose focus now quickly shifts to its National Games later this month before the final preparations for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147648/tokyo-paralympics-hong-kong-claims-two-medals-final-day-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147648/tokyo-paralympics-hong-kong-claims-two-medals-final-day-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Sep 2021 11:52:05 +0000 Hong Kong grabbed its second Tokyo Paralympics medal of the day when Chu Man-kai took the silver medal in the final of the SH6 badminton, narrowly beaten by India’s Krishna Nagar. Nagar, the Asian Para Games bronze medallist, hadn’t dropped a single game on his run to the final where he beat 30-year-old Chu 2-1 (21-17, 16-21, 21-17). Chu, the Asian Para Games gold medallist from Jakarta, will rue having led by five points in the opening game before the Indian launched a stirring fightback and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147624/tokyo-paralympics-chu-man-kai-takes-badminton-silver-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147624/tokyo-paralympics-chu-man-kai-takes-badminton-silver-after?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:39:29 +0000 Hong Kong’s Daniel Chan Ho-yuen claimed Tokyo Paralympics badminton bronze on Sunday morning at Yoyogi National Stadium, the city’s fourth medal of these Games. Second-seeded Chan won a tense bronze medal match against South Korea’s Kim Kyung Hoon in a nervy encounter 2-0 (24-22, 21-10). Chan said he was forced to overcome a bout of nerves in the opening game. “I felt so, so, so, so nervous in the first game because there’s no way to step back on court again. If I lose then I get nothing from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147621/tokyo-paralympics-daniel-chan-ho-yuen-grabs-badminton-bronze-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3147621/tokyo-paralympics-daniel-chan-ho-yuen-grabs-badminton-bronze-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Sep 2021 03:27:37 +0000 Hong Kong’s Daniel Chan Ho-yuen kicked off his quest for gold with a statement win over France’s Thomas Jakobs. Chan, who is one of the favourites to win gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, beat Jakobs 21-10, 21-8 in a match that lasted less than half an hour. His next match is at 12pm tomorrow (Hong Kong time) against Japan’s Daiki Kajiwara at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo. Chan is ranked second in the world in the WH2 category according to the Badminton World Federation, and is aiming to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3147261/tokyo-paralympics-daniel-chan-blitzes-first-opponent-open-gold-medal-quest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3147261/tokyo-paralympics-daniel-chan-blitzes-first-opponent-open-gold-medal-quest?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Sep 2021 03:54:11 +0000 The International Paralympic Committee has defended a decision to disqualify a Malaysian shot putter for turning up late, leading to him being stripped of a gold medal, as anger erupted in his homeland. Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli was allowed to compete in the F20 final in Tokyo on Tuesday despite being late, and went on to win a gold medal and break the world record. But he was later disqualified, along with two other athletes, by officials who determined they had no good reason for their late... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3147242/outrage-after-malaysian-shot-putter-stripped-paralympic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3147242/outrage-after-malaysian-shot-putter-stripped-paralympic?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Sep 2021 02:32:40 +0000 China’s snowboarding star Liu Jiayu has set her sights on gold at February’s Beijing Winter Olympics and she’s been pushing her body to its very limits as she tries to find the edge needed to dethrone reigning Olympic and world champion Chloe Kim. Korean-American sensation Kim returned to competition earlier this year after a 22-month study break and the 20-year-old immediately claimed another world half-pipe title. It was some statement of intent as the Beijing 2020 opening ceremony approaches... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147056/beijing-2022-chinas-liu-jiayu-sees-gold-medal-and-toppling-chloe-kim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147056/beijing-2022-chinas-liu-jiayu-sees-gold-medal-and-toppling-chloe-kim?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Aug 2021 23:15:20 +0000 Chinese Olympic champion Zhu Xueying has become the first from the Tokyo 2020 Games to donate their gold medal to a museum, though some have criticised the trampolinist for the decision. Zhu had made headlines globally during her post-Tokyo quarantine when she posted a photograph of her Olympic gold medal apparently peeling, with the topic trending on Chinese social media. Now, with her quarantine completed, Zhu was seen handing over her medal and the gear she wore during the event to the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147030/chinese-olympic-champions-decision-donate-peeling-gold-medal-museum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147030/chinese-olympic-champions-decision-donate-peeling-gold-medal-museum?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:00:22 +0000 Chinese women’s volleyball star Zhu Ting has been confirmed as taking part in the upcoming China National Games next month though fans have questioned whether she should play as she recovers from injury. Reports in the Chinese media confirmed that Zhu – who was China’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – will play for Henan province at the Games in Xi’an, with the volleyball section set to begin in mid-September. Fans have responded by questioning the decision... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3146997/fans-question-injured-volleyball-star-zhu-ting-playing-china-national?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3146997/fans-question-injured-volleyball-star-zhu-ting-playing-china-national?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Aug 2021 05:20:59 +0000 There was no way Hong Kong swimming star Siobhan Haughey was going to let her 4x100-metre medley relay team down despite already winning two Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games silver medals and injuring her hip in a preceding heat. After sealing her two medals and qualifying for the 50m freestyle semi-final, coach Rick Bishop recalled Haughey said, “I don’t think I can walk up the stairs” before the pair decided to pull out of the category. “She’s so tough and stoic. She’s not going to let you know she is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146897/tokyo-olympics-siobhan-haughey-reflects-physical-and-mental?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146897/tokyo-olympics-siobhan-haughey-reflects-physical-and-mental?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Aug 2021 13:00:13 +0000 When China’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics track star Su Bingtian finished his 100-metre final earlier this month, talk quickly turned to the country’s original athletics darling – Athens 2004 110m hurdles winner Liu Xiang, China’s first men’s track and field gold medallist. “I have always been in contact with my bro (Liu) Xiang, and he is constantly encouraging me and supporting me. And I remember that every year on his birthday, I would give him my blessing,” Su told China Media Group following the 100m... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3146654/china-still-looking-new-liu-xiang-athens-2004-gold-inspires-17-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3146654/china-still-looking-new-liu-xiang-athens-2004-gold-inspires-17-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Aug 2021 09:36:00 +0000 A Chinese Olympic champion publicly criticised the quality of her gold medal on Monday and posted photos online that appear to show it peeling. Zhu Xueying, who won the trampoline gymnastics event, posted three photos on Weibo of the medal that appear to show an obvious deformity on the top left side. She wrote: “Can your medals … peel off too?” in the caption. The Tokyo Olympic Committee told the nationalistic tabloid Global Times on Wednesday that the deformity was likely the result of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3146315/tokyo-olympics-two-chinese-champions-claim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3146315/tokyo-olympics-two-chinese-champions-claim?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Aug 2021 08:00:12 +0000 Just two weeks after the Japanese capital bade sayonara to the 2020 Olympics, fireworks welcomed the beginning of the Paralympics as Tokyo became the first city to host the Games twice. The Olympic Stadium once again played host to the airport-themed Opening Ceremony with IOC president Thomas Bach among those in attendance as Japan’s Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open. This Paralympics is set to follow the Olympics in more ways than one, as its kick-off in front of an almost empty stadium... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146226/tokyo-paralympics-covid-19-positive-casts-shadow-over-spectacular?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146226/tokyo-paralympics-covid-19-positive-casts-shadow-over-spectacular?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:00:16 +0000 The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics open on August 24, after a year-long pandemic delay and under strict virus rules, including a ban on almost all spectators. Here are some questions and answers about the Games and how the event will unfold in Tokyo: What’s the history? The first Paralympic Games took place in 1960 in Rome, featuring just 400 athletes from 23 countries. The name Paralympics is intended to indicate an event happening in parallel, alongside the Olympics. It grew from the Stoke Mandeville... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145971/guide-tokyo-2020-paralympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145971/guide-tokyo-2020-paralympics?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Aug 2021 03:06:12 +0000 China’s women’s football team have dropped in the Fifa rankings following their humiliating exit from the group stage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Steel Roses lost 5-0 to Brazil, drew 4-4 with Zambia and then were beaten 8-2 by the Netherlands at the Games with many fans calling for the sacking of coach Jia Xiuquan . China have dropped two places from 15th to 17th following their early Olympic exit and remain Asia’s fourth best team behind North Korea, Australia and Japan. North Korea have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145878/china-women-drop-fifa-rankings-after-olympic-humiliation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145878/china-women-drop-fifa-rankings-after-olympic-humiliation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Aug 2021 04:23:47 +0000 The Japanese government and organisers of the Tokyo Paralympics have cleared 140,000 students from the host city and three surrounding prefectures to attend events, leading to a wave of safety concerns in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The number of new infections has shown little signs of slowing in Tokyo or nationwide. The increased strain on health care systems this week led to the death of a baby born prematurely to a woman who was isolating at home not far from Tokyo due to a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3145777/tokyo-schoolchildren-will-attend-paralympics-despite-surging-covid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3145777/tokyo-schoolchildren-will-attend-paralympics-despite-surging-covid?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Aug 2021 08:15:14 +0000 With just days to go until the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begin, Hong Kong’s 24 representative athletes are itching to continue the local success of the Olympics and gain the city’s support in their own right. Alongside 40 coaches, medical and support staff (many of whom are volunteers or part-time workers), the delegation has arrived and been tested for the event set for August 24 to September 5 under the same blueprints and countermeasures seen at last month’s Olympic Games. General secretary... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3145631/tokyo-paralympics-hong-kong-fans-should-treat-competing-athletes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3145631/tokyo-paralympics-hong-kong-fans-should-treat-competing-athletes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Aug 2021 00:00:19 +0000 Chinese authorities rejected 109 trademarks applications from businesses that used names of Olympians from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games without their permission. In the aftermath of an Olympics game that generated big-time domestic stars, some companies started using their names to sell everything from office supplies to beer. But, in many cases, the athletes had not approved, or may not have been aware, that their likeness was being used for advertising. “Such acts wrongfully used other... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3145612/tokyo-olympics-chinese-businesses-illegally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3145612/tokyo-olympics-chinese-businesses-illegally?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Aug 2021 07:52:26 +0000 An enthusiastic crowd of Hongkongers braved cloudy skies in Kowloon on Thursday to cheer on an open-top bus parade celebrating the record-breaking performance of the city’s athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The Games, which concluded earlier this month, were Hong Kong’s most successful yet and by a substantial margin, giving it one gold medal, two silvers and three bronzes. No previous Olympics had produced more than one medal for the city. Outside the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom, a... https://www.scmp.com/tokyo-2020-olympic-games/hong-kong/article/3145583/bus-parade-lets-hong-kongs-olympic-heroes-drink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tokyo-2020-olympic-games/hong-kong/article/3145583/bus-parade-lets-hong-kongs-olympic-heroes-drink?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Aug 2021 04:50:27 +0000 The opening next week of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo is being used as a stage to launch a human-rights movement aimed at the world’s 1.2 billion people with disabilities. The campaign is called “WeThe15” and gets its name from World Health Organization estimates that persons with disabilities represent 15 per cent of the global population. The campaign is being spearheaded by the International Paralympic Committee, UN Human Rights and the International Disability Alliance. The IPC is also... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145574/tokyo-paraympics-wethe15-stresses-rights-12-billion-disabilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145574/tokyo-paraympics-wethe15-stresses-rights-12-billion-disabilities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Aug 2021 03:46:14 +0000 The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begin on August 24 and excitement is reaching fever pitch after the emotional roller coaster of the recent Olympics in the Japanese capital. Ahead of these Paralympics – where Hong Kong will be sending 24 athletes to compete across eight sports – is a good time to ask who are the greatest Paralympians in the history of the competition. First of all, it is fair to ask what makes any athlete great, and the Paralympics is no different to the Olympics in the fact that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145358/tokyo-2020-paralympics-who-are-most-successful-para-athletes-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145358/tokyo-2020-paralympics-who-are-most-successful-para-athletes-all?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:00:18 +0000 Track star Su Bingtian had a remarkable Olympics in Tokyo, clocking a personal best in the semi-finals to become the first Chinese sprinter to reach the final of the men’s 100m. Su ran an Asian record 9.83 seconds in that semi-final to go into the showpiece as the second fastest finalist. The men’s 100m final, where Su finished sixth, was the most watched event of these Olympics on China’s state broadcaster CCTV and despite Su turning 33 later this month, he thinks there is more to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145333/tokyo-olympics-asias-fastest-man-su-bingtian-aiming-go-faster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145333/tokyo-olympics-asias-fastest-man-su-bingtian-aiming-go-faster?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Aug 2021 09:30:18 +0000 Hong Kong table tennis star Doo Hoi-kem has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the mainland since winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The paddler found herself trending on Weibo after an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, which has been widely reported on domestic news sites. “I want to visit Tiananmen after the Tokyo Olympics”, she told them of her plans to take her medal to Beijing to watch the flag-raising ceremony, with that topic trending on China’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3145210/hong-kong-olympic-medallist-doo-hoi-kem-goes-viral-china-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3145210/hong-kong-olympic-medallist-doo-hoi-kem-goes-viral-china-after?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Aug 2021 09:48:40 +0000 It seems much longer than a week ago that we were are all enjoying the battle between the US and China to see who would come top of the Tokyo 2020 medal table. The cold light of quarantine can have that effect but as we all sober up from our collective Olympic high, there is undoubtedly a question mark over how these Games will be remembered. Will it be the sport? Or the fact that the sport even took place? Covid-19 cast a long shadow over these Olympics, delaying them by 12 months so that Tokyo... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145109/time-will-tell-how-we-remember-tokyo-2020-olympics-covid-19-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145109/time-will-tell-how-we-remember-tokyo-2020-olympics-covid-19-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Aug 2021 09:00:18 +0000 Chinese teen diving sensation Quan Hongchan has been taken into the hearts of social media users with many referring to the 14-year-old as “the nation’s little sister”. Now those same Netizens are pondering the potential of Quan’s own little sister, 12-year-old Quan Hongtao, and her younger brother, 10-year-old Quan Jinpeng. Both of the double Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold medallist’s younger siblings are enrolled in the same Zhanjiang Sports School that Quan has trained at from seven years... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145088/tokyo-olympics-quan-hongchans-siblings-give-chinese-diving-fans-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145088/tokyo-olympics-quan-hongchans-siblings-give-chinese-diving-fans-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Aug 2021 03:46:24 +0000 The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday to eliminate equestrian events from future Olympics, citing cruelty to horses during the recent Tokyo Games. In an incident that went viral on social media, Germany’s Annika Schleu was filmed whipping her horse Saint Boy after he refused to jump during the modern pentathlon competition. German coach and trainer Kim Raisner was also shown hitting the horse. The Modern Pentathlon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145051/tokyo-olympics-peta-cites-cruelty-horses-call-ioc-remove?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3145051/tokyo-olympics-peta-cites-cruelty-horses-call-ioc-remove?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Aug 2021 08:44:26 +0000 Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian may not have won a medal in the men’s 100m final but he topped the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games television ratings back home. Data published by China Central Television (CCTV) put Su’s 100m sprint showpiece in first place of its top 10 most-watched events from the Tokyo Games. Su entered the final after posting a new Asian record time of 9.83 seconds in his semi-final but missed out on a medal in the final. The event had a 4.8 per cent share of the audience. The men’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145048/tokyo-olympics-su-bingtians-100m-sprint-final-tops-china-tv-ratings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145048/tokyo-olympics-su-bingtians-100m-sprint-final-tops-china-tv-ratings?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Aug 2021 07:22:14 +0000 China’s Olympic diving sensation Quan Hongchan revealed her ambition to reporters in her first interview since claiming two gold medals in Tokyo. Rather than more Olympic success the 14-year-old said that she wanted to “open a supermarket”. Quan, who won golds in the individual and synchronised 10m platform events, has been the subject of much media interest. Her mother had revealed in an earlier interview that the snack-loving teenager’s dream was to open a small store but Quan said that her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144936/tokyo-olympics-china-diving-star-quan-hongchan-reveals-ambition-owning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144936/tokyo-olympics-china-diving-star-quan-hongchan-reveals-ambition-owning?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Aug 2021 02:17:09 +0000 China table tennis star Sun Yingsha was not told of her grandmother’s April death until after the Tokyo Olympic Games finished, her father told Chinese media. According to reports, Sun’s family took the decision to keep the death of her grandmother from the 20-year-old so that she could focus on competing in the Tokyo Games, with the paddler already away at training camp. Sun won gold in the women’s team event and silver in the women’s singles, beating Japanese table tennis rising star Mima Ito... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144924/tokyo-olympics-chinas-sun-yingsha-not-told-dead-grandmother-till-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144924/tokyo-olympics-chinas-sun-yingsha-not-told-dead-grandmother-till-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Aug 2021 06:58:21 +0000 China could be in line for a late addition to its Tokyo 2020 medal haul after the Athletics Integrity Unit announced a provisional ban on British sprinter Chijindu Ujah over suspected doping. The body announced that there were adverse findings in the tests of 27-year-old Ujah, who ran the opening leg for Team GB’s 4x100-metre sprint quartet as it was narrowly beaten by Italy and claimed Olympic silver ahead of Canada last week. China’s team of Su Bingtian, Asia’s fastest man; Tang Xingqiang; Wu... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144880/tokyo-2020-china-going-boost-its-olympic-medal-tally-4x100m-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144880/tokyo-2020-china-going-boost-its-olympic-medal-tally-4x100m-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Aug 2021 02:49:10 +0000 A Japanese mayor apologised on Thursday for biting the Olympic gold medal belonging to a softball player who had paid a courtesy visit after Japan beat the United States in the final. Nagoya mayor Takashi Kawamura had praised pitcher Miu Goto during the August 4 visit, but his eyes were glued to her medal. He asked her to put it around his neck. Kawamura then pulled down his face mask and bit into it. “I’m really sorry that I hurt the treasure of the gold medallist,” Kawamura told reporters on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3144861/tokyo-olympics-japanese-mayor-apologises-biting-softball-player?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3144861/tokyo-olympics-japanese-mayor-apologises-biting-softball-player?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Aug 2021 17:21:23 +0000 Zhu Ting, the star of China’s women’s volleyball team, has told online commenters that she will see them in court after they spread rumours about her in relation to the Rio 2016 gold medallists crashing out in the group stage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In a Weibo post on Wednesday the star spiker – who also carried the Chinese flag in the Olympic opening ceremony – published a police report and a certificate with the caption, “Notarised, fixed evidence. Reported to police. Requesting... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144831/tokyo-olympics-china-volleyball-star-zhu-ting-takes-social-media-trolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144831/tokyo-olympics-china-volleyball-star-zhu-ting-takes-social-media-trolls?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Aug 2021 10:40:15 +0000 The Tokyo Olympics in Japan were largely held together by Covid-19 face masks and tape. The first was required, the second optional. But it’s an option many athletes chose, because tape was everywhere. On the wrists of gymnasts and rock climbers. On the thighs and shoulders of sprinters, throwers and rugby players. One Chinese diver’s body was so covered in brown tape he looked like a mummy. “Athletes wear it for different reasons,” said Sue Falsone, a US-based athletic trainer for 25 years who... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3144508/tokyo-olympics-sports-tape-divers-gymnasts-and-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3144508/tokyo-olympics-sports-tape-divers-gymnasts-and-other?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Aug 2021 20:15:17 +0000 In early August in Denmark, Zhang Lianying’s WeChat notifications pinged, indicating that he had received a voice message. When he listened on his phone, he heard a recording in Mandarin that said simply: “I don’t know what to say. Thank you very much.” The note of gratitude came from Viktor Axelsen, a Danish badminton player who, minutes before, had just won his first Olympics gold medal by beating defending champion Chen Long in the men’s singles tournament. Zhang is Axelsen’s technical coach,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3144497/tokyo-olympics-how-danish-golden-dragon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3144497/tokyo-olympics-how-danish-golden-dragon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Aug 2021 07:58:08 +0000 The family of Quan Hongchan, the Chinese gold-medal-winning Olympic diver, are suddenly finding themselves refusing gifts and cash from across the country after the general public learned about the teenager’s humble background. Quan might be the biggest star for China coming out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games because the 14-year-old thoroughly dominated the competition to take home her gold medal. How China’s diving darling strove for Tokyo gold to help ill mother Not only did Quan find immense... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3144382/tokyo-olympics-family-chinese-diving-star-turn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3144382/tokyo-olympics-family-chinese-diving-star-turn?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Aug 2021 02:46:27 +0000 Chinese diving sensation Quan Hongchan, who just made the cut-off in terms of age limit to compete at Tokyo 2020, continues to grow in celebrity status in her country and around the world. She turned 14 four months ago, meeting the International Olympic Committee’s minimum age requirement, and quickly dived into the hearts of sports fans across the planet with a performance for the ages. Chinese social media platform Weibo is now reporting that fans have found out where the diver lives, a small... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3144407/tokyo-olympics-quan-hongchans-hometown-village-guangdong-province-mobbed-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3144407/tokyo-olympics-quan-hongchans-hometown-village-guangdong-province-mobbed-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:01:33 +0000 US toymaker Mattel appears to have left out a Barbie doll of East Asian ethnicity in a recently released collection commemorating the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, despite Japan hosting this year’s Games. The creator of the iconic Barbie dolls first unveiled the set in February 2020 and relaunched it in late July. Mattel pitched the line as a way of “empowering girls to participate in sports” and “find the athlete within”. The collection features five dolls representing new sports added to the Olympic... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3144348/tokyo-olympics-mattel-criticised-barbie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3144348/tokyo-olympics-mattel-criticised-barbie?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 09:01:01 +0000 A decision to cancel the Tokyo Paralympics could be made this week unless Japan’s new coronavirus infections can be brought under control, according to a senior government health adviser. The Olympics, which finished on the weekend, have been hailed as a relative success in uniquely trying circumstances, and public sentiment gradually warmed as Japanese athletes claimed record medal hauls. However, Japan must now confront soaring infection numbers and a US$15 billion bill for staging the Games –... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3144362/tokyo-olympics-infection-numbers-threaten-paralympics-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3144362/tokyo-olympics-infection-numbers-threaten-paralympics-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 07:45:09 +0000 The curtain has fallen on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the athletes leaving with 339 sets of medals among them – and for some, lucrative prize money awaits when they get home. While international governing body the IOC, and the respective National Olympic Committees, do not not reward medallists financially for their performances, many countries and companies incentivise Games excellence with cash, and other rewards. Can Hong Kong nurture even more Olympic medallists? Experts aren’t convinced In... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144301/how-will-hong-kongs-new-tokyo-olympics-millionaires-spend-their?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144301/how-will-hong-kongs-new-tokyo-olympics-millionaires-spend-their?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 06:00:19 +0000 With the Olympics drawing to a close, many athletes will begin to turn their attention to a crucial yet daunting question: what’s next? The Olympic Games are a unique event, with the potential for extreme highs and lows that accompany success, loss, injury, or regret. The experience of the games on athlete mental health goes far beyond the competition itself, though, with the weeks and months following the event crucial to athlete well-being. It is critical to understand what can contribute to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3144339/after-tokyo-olympics-athletes-may-face-mental-health-battles-they?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3144339/after-tokyo-olympics-athletes-may-face-mental-health-battles-they?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 05:15:09 +0000 With two Olympic silver medals tucked away in a suitcase in the corner of her room, Siobhan Haughey is enjoying a much-needed break in quarantine at a hotel in Wan Chai. She has been “chilling”, replying to the hundreds of messages she has received over the past two weeks, watching the Olympics and enjoying some treats – including croissants – sent by friends and family. “I’ve been catching up on my sleep,” said Haughey with a chuckle. “It’s great to have some alone time, and I’m trying to stay... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3144292/tokyo-olympics-siobhan-haughey-hopes-double-silver-helps-hongkongers-stay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3144292/tokyo-olympics-siobhan-haughey-hopes-double-silver-helps-hongkongers-stay?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 03:00:18 +0000 When Hong Kong No 1 badminton player Angus Ng Ka-long chose to wear his own black jersey at the Tokyo Olympics, he did not expect to be pulled into a political controversy during one of the most important competitions of his life. Nicholas Muk Ka-chun, a member of the Beijing-loyal Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) party, took him to task for wearing not only a T-shirt without the city’s Bauhinia emblem, but also one in black, the symbolic colour of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144303/tokyo-olympics-hong-kong-politics-mostly-cast-aside-can-medals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144303/tokyo-olympics-hong-kong-politics-mostly-cast-aside-can-medals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 01:00:22 +0000 Seven Hong Kong athletes delivered one gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games, producing the city’s best showing on the world’s greatest sporting stage. It was a long time coming and provided rare but thrilling moments for Hongkongers who came together by the thousands, chanting: “We are Hong Kong!” Hong Kong’s greatest Games ever brings joy unmatched to city and its athletes “Fencing god” Edgar Cheung Ka-long, 24, produced the city’s first Olympic gold medal in a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144294/tokyo-olympics-was-hong-kongs-greatest-games-ever-are-more-medals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144294/tokyo-olympics-was-hong-kongs-greatest-games-ever-are-more-medals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Aug 2021 00:00:21 +0000 It took 33 years to eclipse Florence Griffith Joyner’s Olympic record in the women’s 100 metres as Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah pulled off the unthinkable and broke the long-standing mark in Tokyo in a largely empty Olympic Stadium. Indeed, even as the coronavirus pandemic kept spectators away from the Olympic stadiums, records tumbled throughout the 16 days of competition. How the USA stole the prized gold-medal race from China Swimming and athletics saw six and three world records... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3144302/tokyo-olympics-world-records-2020-games-how-did-covid-19-restrictions-affect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3144302/tokyo-olympics-world-records-2020-games-how-did-covid-19-restrictions-affect?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Aug 2021 23:30:11 +0000