Tokyo - The African Mirror

Aug

2021

Delta variant rampant in Asia; Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia post record COVID infections

THE Olympics host city Tokyo, as well as Thailand and Malaysia, has announced record COVID-19 infections, mostly driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant of the disease. Cases surged in Sydney as well, where police cordoned off the central business district to prevent a protest against a strict lockdown that will last until the end of August. Police in Sydney closed train stations, banned taxis from dropping passengers off downtown and deployed 1,000 officers to set up checkpoints and to disperse groups. The government of New South Wales reported 210 new infections in Sydney and surrounding areas from the Delta…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Olympics: Doping raises its head as BMX marred by crashes

SPORT

AMERICAN swimmer Ryan Murphy has stoked controversy at the Tokyo Games when he raised the spectre of doping after losing his second Olympic title to Russian rival Evgeny Rylov. Murphy, who won three gold medals at the 2016 Rio Games, said his 200 metre backstroke final was "probably not clean" after he lost to Rylov, competing as part of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). The comments threw an unwelcome spotlight on doping for Tokyo 2020 organisers as the blue riband athletics competition got under way, on a day further marred by accidents on the BMX track, including a horrendous spill…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Olympics: China pulls ahead on gold medals as American Kendricks out for COVID-19

SPORT

SIMON EVANS and MITCH PHILLIPS THE rivalry of economic powerhouses China, Japan and the United States played out in an Olympic swimming pool on Thursday, where a world record in the women's freestyle relay put the Chinese ahead by one gold medal at the Tokyo Games. American joy at their own double gold in the pool was tempered as pole vaulter Sam Kendricks was ruled out of the Games due to a positive COVID-19 test, prompting members of the Australian athletics team to briefly isolate in their rooms and highlighting the ever-present risk of infection at the Games. China gained…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Biles out of team event in Tokyo as Osaka exits Games

SPORT

STEVE KEATING and ROZANNA LATIF U.S. gymnast Simone Biles dropped out of the women's team event after a single vault at the Tokyo Games on Tuesday while tennis superstar Naomi Osaka exited only days after lighting the Olympic flame. The International Gymnastics Federation said Biles would play no further part in the team event, but said she would still receive a medal if the heavily favoured U.S. ended up on the podium. "Simone has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue," said USA Gymnastics. "She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions."…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

‘I never lose hope’: Refugee runner Lohalith revs up for Tokyo

SPORT

JACKSON NJEHIA ANJELINA Nadai Lohalith, a 26-year-old refugee from South Sudan, pounds around a running track outside Nairobi, trying to shave seconds off her time in the build-up to her appearance at the Tokyo Olympics. There are no national emblems on her training gear - she will not be running for South Sudan, the country of her birth that she fled in 2002, nor for Kenya, the country that took her in. She will be one of a 29-strong team of refugee athletes competing under the Olympic flag, with other members from as far afield as Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan and…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigeria out-hoops Argentina

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO NIGERIA continued their strong run defeating Argentina 94-71 in an exhibition tournament game in Las Vegas, United States of America (USA). Argentina, the number four ranked team according to International Basketball Federation (FIBA), came into the game as favourites, but ended up on the wrong end of a 20 point blowout. After an upset over the number one ranked USA team, D’Tigres (Nigeria’s National Team) has continued to show strength ahead of the forthcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Two big wins for the Nigerian team come on the backs of resilient play, active hands, quick feet and defensive effort…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigerian-born basketball star Cambage says ‘I’m in’ for Tokyo after race furore

NEWS

BASKETBALLER Liz Cambage has confirmed she will play at the Tokyo Games, backtracking on a threat to boycott the showpiece over a lack of racial diversity in Australia's Olympic photo-shoots. Cambage, who was born to a Nigerian father, took umbrage with pictures of Australia's Olympic athletes on social media last week, saying people of colour had been marginalised and she would "sit this one out" until the situation changed. But in an expletive-laden series of video clips on her Instagram account, Cambage said she was in for her third Olympics after London and Rio. "For everyone wondering so desperately what…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

Tokyo reports 816 new COVID-19 cases as governors push for state of emergency

WORLD

TOKYO reported 816 new daily coronavirus cases on Sunday, a day after governors from the capital and neighboring prefectures called on the Japanese government to announce a state of emergency to combat a recent surge in cases. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has resisted calls for a second national state of emergency; the government first introduced that measure in April during an earlier wave of the pandemic. Suga is scheduled to speak publicly on January 4. Japan's economy minister told reporters on Saturday the government needed to consult with health experts before deciding on a new declaration. As an interim measure,…