Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 2 August 12:30 pm

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

# We concentrate mainly on the Olympic Games: Tatjana Smith has announced her retirement from swimming after winning gold in the 100-metre breaststroke and silver in the 200-metre breaststroke in Paris. The 27-year-old is one of South Africa’s most decorated Olympians, having won two golds and two silvers at the Games during her career. Smith says she is looking forward to what lies ahead:

The athletics programme starts in Paris today. South Africans who will take to the track and field include Ryan Mphahlele in the men’s one-thousand-500-metres, Prudence Sekgodiso in the women’s 800-metres, Kyle Blignaut in the men’s shot put, Adrian Wildschutt in the men’s 10-thousand metres, Wayde van Niekerk in the men’s 200-metres, Gerda Steyn in the women’s marathon, and Stephen Mokoka in the men’s marathon. There will be huge interest when Akani Simbine takes on lighting-fast American Noah Lyles in the 100-metres.

Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen will go for gold tomorrow after stunning world number one, Iga Swiatek, in the semifinal in Paris. The 22-year-old, currently seventh in the world rankings, beat the Polish player in straight sets after also eliminating former world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany in the quarterfinals. Zheng will play Donna Vekic of Croatia, who beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in the other semifinal.

Britain Andy Murray’s illustrious tennis career has ended after he and Dan Evans were knocked out in the men’s doubles quarterfinal in Paris. Murray, a two-time Olympic singles champion, and Evans lost 6-2, 6-4 to American third seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. The 37-year-old departs the sport having won three Grand Slam titles, and 46 ATP titles and also led Britain to Davis Cup victory in 2015. Murray says he is proud of his career:

# And finally, rugby: Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says facing the Wallabies in Australia is always a big challenge, therefore having a few extra days to adapt to the conditions will be invaluable. The Boks, who arrived in Australia yesterday, will kick off this year’s Rugby Championship in Brisbane next week Saturday, before their second clash against the Wallabies in Perth on the 17th of this month. Stick says they have a good base to build from going into the Championship.

Stay tuned for more news………….