Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 9 July 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We kick off with rugby: Springboks attacking coach Tony Brown says flyhalf Handré Pollard just needs more match-time to get his kicking rhythm up to scratch. This followed after he uncharacteristically missed three kicks at goal during Saturday’s first Test against Ireland in Pretoria. Brown says Pollard last played competitively two months ago, and he isn’t concerned about the prolific goal-scorer’s level of play. Despite Pollard’s woes, the Boks outplayed the Irish 27-20. The final Test will be played in Durban this coming Saturday.

# Next up, Paralympic Games: Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, says he is inspired by the athletes who will represent South Africa in Paris in August. The South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee has announced an initial squad of 26 athletes who will compete at the Games. South Africa won seven medals, four gold, one silver, and two bronze, at the Tokyo Paralympics. McKenzie told the athletes they have already made the country proud:

Olympics: Afghanistan’s Taliban government does not recognise the three female athletes who will represent the country in Paris this month. The International Olympic Committee has invited a squad of six Afghan athletes, three women and three men, in consultation with Afghanistan’s largely exiled National Olympic Committee. Girls’ sports in Afghanistan have been stopped. All three of the women and two of the men are living outside Afghanistan.

# Tennis: Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic is through to his 15th quarterfinal at Wimbledon. The Serb dispatched Denmark’s Holger Rune in straight sets to book a meeting with Australia’s Alex de Minaur. American Taylor Fritz rallied from two sets down to beat fourth seed Germany’s Alexander Zverev in five sets. In the women’s draw, 2022 champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan set up a quarterfinal clash with Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. Djokovic is happy with his performance:

# And, we close off with golf: Keegan Bradley has been named the captain of the US Team for the 2025 Ryder Cup against Europe at the Bethpage Black course in New York. Fifteen-time major winner Tiger Woods reportedly turned down the role having been the favourite to lead America. Bradley, who won his solitary major at the 2011 US PGA Championship, was on the losing Ryder Cup teams in 2012 and 2014. PGA of America president John Lindert says Bradley’s past Ryder Cup experience will prove invaluable for the team.

Stay tuned for more news………….