Ghanaian boxer Samuel Takyi wins his nation’s first Olympic medal since 1992. celebrates his quarter-final win at the Tokyo Olympics
Boxer Samuel Takyi has guaranteed himself at least a bronze medal to secure Ghana’s first Olympic medal since the men’s football team won bronze at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
Nigeria’s Enoch Adegoke and South Africa’s Akani Simbine will both go for gold in the final of the men’s 100m later on Saturday evening.
South Arica’s Wayde van Niekerk qualified for Monday’s semi-finals of the men’s 400m as he bids to retain his Olympic title.
Five African athletes will be in Wednesday’s final of the women’s 3,000, steeplechase as Nigeria’s Ese Brume qualifies for the women’s long jump final.
Egypt win a fourth match in Group A of the men’s handball tournament.
Boxing
Ghana’s Samuel Takyi won his featherweight quarter-final 3-2 on points over Colombia’s Ceiber David Segura to guarantee himself at least a bronze medal in Tokyo.
The 20-year-old will now face the USA’s Duke Ragan on Tuesday in the semi-finals, with the winner going on to fight for the gold medal and the loser settling for a bronze.
Three of Ghana’s four Olympic medals have come in boxing with Clement Quartey winning a silver in 1960, Eddie Blay and Prince Amartey claimed bronzes at the 1964 and 1972 Games respectively.
Takyi’s medal will be the only one for Africa in men’s boxing in Tokyo.
The only other African boxer with a chance of a medal is Algeria’s Imane Khalif in the women’s lightweight division she faces Ireland’s Kellie Harrington in Tuesday’s quarter-finals with the winner guaranteed at least a bronze.
Athletics afternoon session
Nigerian Enoch Adegoke qualified automatically for the final for the men’s 100m, which is set for later on Saturday, as he was given second place in the second semi-final.
It needed a photo finish to separate him from the USA’s Trayvon Bromell, with both men given a time of 10.00 seconds.
However also in the second semi-final South Africa’s Shaun Maswanganyi finished sixth as he failed to progress to the final.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine also progressed but only as one of two fastest losers as he finished fourth in the third semi-final in a time of 9.90 seconds.
Ivory Coast’s Atrthur Cisse could only finish seventh in the third semi-final and will not be in the final.
Kenya’s Ferdinand Omwurwa Omanyala missed out on the final despite breaking his own national record again, which he set in Saturday’s heats, with a time of 10.00 seconds as he finished third in the first semi-final.
The time for the 25-year-old, who had battled to be included in the Kenyan team for the games, was not enough for him to progress as a fastest loser.
Also in the first semi-final Nigeria’s Usheoritse ‘Dushos’ Itsekiri pulled up with a hamstring injury a few metres from the finish line, while South Africa’s Gift Leotlela doing the same as he crossed the line.
Athletics morning session
South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk made it through to Monday’s semi-finals of the men’s 400m as he began his quest retain the Olympic title that he won in a world record time at Rio 2016.
He is joined in the semi-finals by Botswana duo Isaac Makwala and Leungo Scotch.
Kenya’s world record holder for the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Beatrice Chepkoech, qualified from the heats for Wednesday’s final along with compatriot Hyvin Kiyeng, who win silver at the Rio Olympics.
They will be joined in the final by Ethiopians Zerfe Wondemagegn and Mekides Abebe as well as Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai.
Nigerian Ese Brume’s leap of 6.76m with her last attempt saw her achieve the automatic qualifying distance of 6.75m to reach Tuesday’s final of the women’s long jump.
Handball
Egypt’s men won their fourth match in Tokyo as they completed their Group B games with a 30-20 victory over Bahrain.
The Egyptians only loss in the group phase came at hands of Denmark 32-27.
The final group match on Sunday between Denmark and Sweden will decide the final placings for Group A and determine who Egypt will play in Tuesday’s quarter-finals.
Golf
South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent ended the men’s event among the competitors tied for 16th after Sunday’s final round .
They ended on 11 under par, seven shots behind the USA’s gold medallist Xander Schauffele .
Another South African, Garrick Higgo finished on even par to end in a tie for 53rd out of the 60 golfers who took part in Tokyo.
Volleyball
Tunisia’s men ended their Pool B campaign with a fifth defeat as they lost 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-16) to the Russian Olympic Committee team.
It means Tunisia finish bottom of Group B and will not progress to the quarter-finals.
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