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Kellie Harrington is into the women’s lightweight final with a narrow split decision victory over Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee at the Kokugikan. Harrington was given the verdict - which secures her at least a silver medal - on three of the five judges’ scorecards and advances to the showpiece to take on Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira. “This is why I am who I am, and why I am here today – because I’m not afraid of failure. I know what it is. I’m Kellie Harrington. I’m myself and I make my own pathway.” Earlier an historic place in an Olympic diving final proved just out of reach for Tanya Watson as she finished 15th best overall after the semi-final round of the 10m platform. Don’t forget, you can keep up to date with all of the action from Tokyo on our dedicated website.
The temperature is rising for the golf tournament organisers as the sweltering 36-degree heat takes a heavy toll on the players and leaves officials on the horns of a dilemma. Johnny Watterson explains: “The organisers are in a bind. With super heat now and dirty weather predicted, they have been left with the choice of roasting the athletes and their caddies over 27 holes, or truncating the competition. Tokyo in July and August, what else could they expect?” After returning to claim a bronze medal in the women’s balance beam final, Simone Biles showed quitting can be good for you. In her column this morning Joanne O’Riordan writes: “If you’re doing something and you decide “I don’t like this” or “I don’t want to do this” and you’ve properly thought it through, by all means, you should quit.”
Meanwhile, RTÉ has robustly defended its policy around televising Irish clubs in European competition following pointed criticism from Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers. In transfer news, Aston Villa have signed striker Danny Ings from Southampton for an undisclosed fee, with Villa braced to lose captain Jack Grealish to Manchester City for a British record £100million move, according to reports. In GAA news a limited number of fans will be accommodated on the Hill 16 terrace at Croke Park for the All-Ireland football semi-finals and for both finals.
After losing two pillars, Gerry Thornley believes that suddenly South Africa’s line-up for the third Test against the British and Irish Lions looks shaky. Losing Pieter-Steph du Toit and Faf de Klerk to injury would be a blow to any team he explains: “To describe this pair as influential is actually an understatement. Although 6ft 6½in and 5ft 7in respectively, in their contrasting ways they are two of the true pillars of the world champions.”