Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 30 August 12:30 pm

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

# We start with athletics: South Africa’s Udeme Okon won the men’s 400-metre gold at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Lima, Peru. The 19-year-old won in a time of 45.69-seconds ahead of Americans Jayden Davis and Sidi Njie. Another South African, Bayanda Walaza, who has already won gold in the men’s 100-metre, clocked the fastest time in the 200-metre semifinals with 21-seconds to make the final. His compatriot Temoso Masikane is through to the men’s long jump final today.

# On to rugby : Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is zooming in on Victor Matfield’s alltime Springbok record of 127 Tests. Etzebeth is currently in joint second place with Bryan Habana on 124 caps, and hopes to improve the record at the end of the current Rugby Championship. A knee niggle almost postponed his quest until the end of the year, but he recovered in time to play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park tomorrow. The 32-year-old Etzebeth made his debut for South Africa in 2012.

Meanwhile, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and the Gautrain Management Agency say they are ready to transport fans to Ellis Park tomorrow. Spectators will be able to take the Gautrain to Park Station and cross over to the newly renovated Prasa Park Station Mall to board a train to the game. Prasa’s spokesperson, Andiswa Makanda, says they are committed to providing safe transportation for fans:

# Tennis: Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp knocked out Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open. The world number 74 defeated the world number three 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, ending the Spaniard’s hopes of a third consecutive Grand Slam title. World number one Jannik Sinner of Italy captured his 50th win of the season, beating American Alex Michelsen, 6-4, 6-love, 6-2, to make the third round. In the women’s draw, top seed Iga Swiatek of Poland defeated Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara, 6-love, 6-1.

# And finally, Paralympic Games: Concerns about the River Seine’s water quality due to stormy weather, have prompted a change to the schedule of the swimming leg of the triathlon in Paris. The swimming part of the event will take place on Sunday, instead of over two days. At the Olympic Games, triathlon events and training sessions were subjected to some reshuffling as adverse weather conditions led to a spike in bacteria levels in the Seine. Organisers say this decision gives athletes and coaches as much certainty as possible.

Stay tuned for more news………….