The investment makes Dato’ Ananth puts him in the league of Asians to have ownership of a European football club
Bold plans are in the pipeline to leverage Esports as an innovative strategy to grow beyond the traditional football roots, as well as nurture local and regional talent through a football academy
Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan, President of the Malaysian Esports Federation (MESF) and pioneer of the Esports community in Southeast Asia has undertaken a leading investment in founding English Premier League Club Wimbledon FC, which was resurrected in 2002 as AFC Wimbledon. This investment positions him as the second-largest individual shareholder AFC Wimbledon, and one of a select few Asian owners of a European football club.
A very unique aspect of Dato’ Ananth’s investment is that he has never seen the AFC Wimbledon team play live. In 2002, Wimbledon FC, or affectionately known as the Dons, was controversially severed from its community by the decision of a Football Association commission. The club was relocated 70-miles from its home, and repositioned under a new name and ownership.
A devastating moment for fans, this resulted to a fan-led campaign that relaunched the club as AFC Wimbledon in the same year, maintain the team’s outstanding legacy. That same passion was also shown during a multi-million-pound fundraising campaign to rebuild its beloved Plough Lane home stadium, with the club playing its first match in its new Plough Lane home in November 2020.
Dato’ Ananth shared that he found his own journey echoed the story of struggle and triumph of AFC Wimbledon, forming an instant bond with the passion and perseverance with the football club. He has become a committed supporter of AFC Wimbledon’s journey, one which he hopes to extend through a shared community in Asia and beyond.
“In 2010, I went through a tough stint in my personal and professional life. With the support of family and close friends, I persevered. Like a phoenix, my life rose from the ashes and I embarked on an upwards trajectory,” he said.
Dato’ Ananth said that he believes AFC Wimbledon’s story will resonate in Malaysia and throughout Asia. “The strong community spirit on the revival of the club was an important catalyst of this investment. It never crossed my mind as an investment, I did it because I love football and the romantic history of the club. When I went through the museum here at Plough Lane, I had goosebumps. That’s the effect I want to create in Malaysia. So, when the opportunity came, I had to put my name in,” he continued.
Despite its rocky history, AFC Wimbledon is no stranger to success. The club currently holds the record for the longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football, with 78 consecutive undefeated league games, as well as being proud winners of the FA Cup in 1988 having beaten Liverpool 1-0 at Wembley.
Through the investment, Dato’ Ananth also assumes a new role as International President for AFC Wimbledon. His ambition is to combine his unique Asian perspective and connections, and his extensive Esports experience to build on the Dons’ remarkable legacy and passionate fanbase.
Alongside revitalised business foundations in his successful AIRMARINE, an international integrated logistics and supply chain business, Dato’ Ananth believes he is positioned to help inspire an exciting new future for AFC Wimbledon.
In the long-term, there are bold plans to have the Dons play against national teams of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and other nations of the region, as well as develop a Wimbledon Academy in Asia to help build player depth and experience across the club and national team. Dato’ Ananth also plans to build a local clubhouse where people can watch the game live together.
Beyond the traditional roots of a shared gameday experience, Ananth also has a vision to potentially establish the famous Plough Lane stadium as a leading home of Esports, building on the huge growth of this innovative industry.
He said, “I would like to see how we can add value with a Wimbledon Esports Division. According to reports, the global gaming market was valued at USD173 billion in 2021, and is expected to reach USD314 billion by 2027. That is something we should look to capitalise on.”
Dato’ Ananth’s inspired investment also sees him take a significant share in AFCW Plc—the holding company of AFC Wimbledon Ltd, AFCW Stadium Ltd, AFC Wimbledon Women, and The Wider Interests of Football Limited.
Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan, ardent sports fan and International President for AFC Wimbledon
FAI announced the recipients of the 2022 FAI Awards on Tuesday in a ceremony held online as a video broadcast. The event celebrated the individuals and teams who have made a significant impact upon aeronautics and astronautics and was viewed by air sports community members and enthusiasts from across the globe.
The 2022 award winners represent many nations, many air sports, and many vocations. Included in this year’s prestigious list are accomplished judges, model aircraft builders, skilled pilots, UAV engineers, a publishing house and the first all-civilian crew to go to space.
> Full Ceremony video
GENERAL AWARDS
FAI Silver Medal > Alvaro DE ORLEANS-BORBON (Spain)
FAI Bronze Medal > Marylou LAUGHLIN (United States of America)
Sabiha Gökcen Medal > Euhee LEE (Korea)
De La Vaulx Medal > Airbus Zephyr Programme (USA)
Louis Blériot Medal > Klaus Ohlmann (Germany)
FAI Group Diplomas of Honour > GFA Training Program Steering Group (Australia) > Aeroklub Brno – Slatina (Czech Republic) > Omilos Aeromonteliston Melissochoriou (Greece) > Editorial Perfils – Revista Parapente – Vuelo Libre (Spain)
Paul Tissandier Diplomas > Beryl HARTLEY (Australia) > Arnold HOHENEGGER (Austria) > Margit NANCE (Canada) > Karel MARIK (Czech Republic) > Martin REZEK (Czech Republic) > Xavier BONET DALMAU (Spain) > Faustino CANTOS GRACIA (Spain) > Henri CORDEROY DU TIERS (France) > Gyula KISS (Hungary) > Peter SZABO (Hungary) > Norihiro GOTO (Japan) > Pierre KLEIN (Luxemburg) > Tim BROMHEAD (New Zealand) > Mark WOODHOUSE (New Zealand) > Krzysztof WIECZOREK (Poland) > George ROTARU (Romania) > Srdjan SRDIC (Serbia) > Anton LANDOLT (Switzerland) > Rudolf SCHAUB (Switzerland) > Eduard INAEBNIT (Switzerland) > Rob HUGHES (United Kingdom) > Howard TORODE (United Kingdom)
AWARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLINES
Montgolfier Ballooning Diplomas, Best Performance, Gas Ballooning > Eric DECELLIÈRES and Benoît HAVRET (France)
Montgolfier Ballooning Diplomas, Best Performance, Hot Air Ballooning > David SPILDOOREN (Belgium)
Montgolfier Ballooning Diplomas, Major Contribution to the Development of the Sport of Ballooning > Garry A. LOCKYER (Canada)
Leonardo Da Vinci Parachuting Diploma > Brian PANGBURN (USA)
FAI Aeromodelling Gold Medal > Marek DOMINIAK (Poland)
Andrei Tupolev Aeromodelling Medal > Michal ZITNAN (Slovakia)
Andrei Tupolev Aeromodelling Diploma > Jan KOTUHA (Slovakia)
Alphonse Penaud Aeromodelling Diploma > Jan KOTUHA (Slovakia)
Antonov Aeromodelling Diploma > Aleksandar STOJANOVIC (Serbia)
Frank Ehling Diploma > Vladimir SVEC (Slovakia)
Pelagia Majewska Gliding Medal > Marina VIGORITO (Italy)
Ann Welch Diploma, Microlight > Krisztian DOLHAI (Hungary)
Ann Welch Diploma, Paramotor > Daniel TYDECKS (Germany)
FAI Gold Rotorcraft Medal > Michael SCHAUFF (Germany)
Leon Biancotto Aerobatics Diploma > Mike HEUER (USA)
Vladimir Komarov Diploma > Inspiration 4 (USA)
Yuri A. Gagarin Gold Medal > Crew of Space DM-2 (NASA/Douglas G. Hurley and NASA/Robert L. Behnken) (USA)
Team AFTNZ has compiled these top sporting events held in Sydney and New South Wales (NSW) courtesy of images and content from Destination NSW. Join in the action and be part of one of the state’s many dynamic sporting events as the weather heats up, joining elite athletes competing in peak performance mode and casual entrants celebrating their best efforts.
2022 AusCycling Masters & Junior Road National Championships | 13-16 September
Riding among some of the fastest amateur cyclists in the country is a rush you’ll never forget, and with a backdrop of Wollongong’s lush hinterland, it doesn’t get much better than AusCycling’s National Championships. Both masters and juniors can compete in this exciting event that traverses epic roads through Mount Keira and Marshall Mount, with more than 500 entrants expected to arrive in Wollongong for four days of racing action. All are welcome: all you need is strong bike skills, good physical fitness, and a positive mindset to ride over the finish line.
The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival | 18 September
On your marks, get set, go! Sunday 18 September welcomes the keenest runners to Sydney for the prestigious running event. The routes bring runners past the city’s iconic Sydney Opera House, harbour foreshore and over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The 20th Anniversary Blackmores Sydney Running Festival hosts four running events including the Marathon, Half Marathon, the 10km Bridge Run and the Family Fun Run – perfect for walkers, friends or families on an invigorating day out!
Ironman – Western Sydney | 25 September
The 2022 Qatar Airways IRONMAN 70.3 Western Sydney sees competitors face off in a heart-racing battle to be crowned the ultimate Ironman champ in Sydney’s Penrith. The 1.9km swim leg takes place in Penrith Lake passing under the iconic Olympic Bridge, while the 90km bike stretch loops through the streets before winding out to lush Blue Mountains countryside. At 21.1km, the flat running circuit is centred around the Sydney International Regatta Centre precinct. This year, there’s a junior event, too: seven- to 13-year-olds can take part in the run/bike/run IRONKIDS format on 24 September with the three-lap course creating an exciting stadium-like atmosphere.
FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup | 22 September – 1 October
The season of landmark sporting events bounces into action with the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022, between 22 September and 1 October, which sees the prowess of Sydney’s Opals hitting the court in competition with countries such as the USA, China and France.
NRL Telstra Premiership Rugby Grand Finals | 2 October
This championship is followed swiftly by the live-wire energy of the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final on 2 October, which electrifies the city with the collective passion of dedicated league fans.
Aqua Rugby Festival | 10-12 November
The Manly beachfront isn’t the first location you’d think of when seeing a pro rugby game unfold, but the Aqua Rugby Festival (10–12 November) isn’t your usual sporting match. Watch from the shore or from a boat as professional and amateur teams battle it out on a floating pontoon. Spoiler alert: there’s plenty of tackles into the water.
Sydney Super Cup |17, 20, 23 November
Join the throngs cheering for their Premier League favourites during the Sydney Super Cup (17, 20 and 23 November)
Image requires a mandatory credit: Blackmores Sydney Running Festival Description: Runners partaking in Blackmores Sydney Running Festival running past the Sydney Opera House Copyright status: Destination NSW Copyright
Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation said:
“It is with profound sorrow that we learn of the passing of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen.
Throughout her long life and reign, her extraordinary dedication and service to the Commonwealth has been an inspiration to so many, including all our Commonwealth Games athletes and officials.
Her Majesty’s vision for the Commonwealth as a diverse and united family of nations will continue to inspire us – and will remain our mission and duty for the benefit of all athletes and communities, through the power of sport.
Our thoughts and prayers are with His Majesty The King, The Queen Consort and all members of the Royal Family as we join with citizens across the Commonwealth in mourning her loss at this very sad time.”
—
This message has been published in Asia Fitness Today and Australia Fitness Today from a statement received from The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games, and for delivering on the vision of the Commonwealth Sports Movement: through sport, we build peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities across the Commonwealth.
(PRNewsGIG/AFTNN) – Malaysian athlete Dato Pandelela Rinong revealed her exclusive non-fungible token (NFT) collectible ‘P.Zero1’, which is up for auction until 31 August 2022 via the digital NFT market, OpenSea. Fans will have the opportunity to bid to become the sole owner of the NFT which unlocks a priceless personalised experience with Pandelela and a framed printout of the NFT hand-delivered by the athlete herself.
(From Left): Jolene Knight, Founder & Brand Manager of Knight Communications, Pandelela Rinong, Nicholas Chuan, the digital artist behind the “P.Zero1” NFT and Yong-Chul Yun, Founder of Prime Sports NFT
Intrigued by the evolving NFT industry globally, Pandelela was driven to create her own line of digital artworks as an expression of her professional and personal journey as an athlete.
My vision for ‘P.Zero1’ was to share a piece of my story with the world and to pay homage to the sport which has drastically changed my life from a young Bidayuh village girl to an internationally recognised sportswoman. The adage ‘Zero to One’ reflects the journey I went through – of fate, perseverance, mental strength and dedication that has taken me thus far as well as this whole process of creating something radically new. It is an exciting phase for me and it challenges me to learn and try new things. As they say – the sky’s the limit and my message is for people to always strive for self-discovery and growth with an unwavering commitment to their goals.
Dato’ Pandelela Rinong, Malaysian Olympian & World Championships medalist
I have seen Lela grow from a shy young lady to a confident and courageous adult who is always curious about the world outside sports. There are so many things for her to learn and so many opportunities to explore to create and establish her own brand – something which she could be proud of. This is her first step towards more exciting things. This project has been months in the making and we are excited to share ‘P.Zero1’with Malaysians and the world. As NFT innovation continues to develop globally, both Pandelela and I are thrilled to venture into this space with the goal of contributing positively and inspiring the youth. We are also thrilled to organise this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the NFT owner to have a tailor-made personalised experience with Pandelela”.
Jolene Knight, Founder and Brand Manager of Knight Communications who has journeyed alongside Pandelela as her Business Manager for 7 years.
Pandelela Rinong holds a framed printout of her NFT collectible – ‘P.Zero1’
Embarking on this creative journey with a prolific athlete like Pandelela has been monumental. Our mission has been to nurture the creative process between athlete and artist while bringing the NFT to market for the fans. We are strong proponents of promoting closer bonds between athletes and fans and are constantly looking for ways to innovate these engagements.”
Founder of Prime Sports International (PSI), Yong-Chul Yun
The collaboration with Pandelela also marks the second initiative and brainchild of Prime Sports NFT which aims to connect the world of sports, arts and culture. Following its recent success with footballer Safee Sali’s ‘SEPULUH’ NFT collection, Prime Sports NFT has been making waves to further partnerships with athletes, artists and partners in the region to be part of the rising industry.
Hailing from Penang, Nicholas Chuan is the digital artist behind Pandelela’s ‘P.Zero1’ NFT who also carries a portfolio of illustrations for world-renowned organisations such as UEFA, Formula 1’s Red Bull Racing, Liverpool FC and FC Bayern and most recently football legend Safee Sali’s ‘SEPULUH’ NFT. “I’m proud to be able to once again represent and work closely with a prominent Malaysian athlete like Pandelela. In addition to her accomplishments, I have always admired her work ethic, determination and courage as a female athlete and wanted to translate her amazing story and core values into ‘P.Zero1’. I hope the fans will enjoy it as much as I have.”
Pandelela’s ‘P.Zero1’ NFT goes live on auction for a period of 7 days beginning 24th August to 31st August 2022 via OpenSea. Fans will have the opportunity to bid to become the exclusive owner of the exclusive NFT which will unlock exciting benefits including a unique personalised experience with Pandelela and a framed printout of ‘P.Zero1’ handed to the NFT owner by the athlete herself.
The Australian Baseball League (ABL) promised for a “Bigger and Better 2022/23 ABL” and what a better way to begin with the announcement of the Auckland Tuatara re-joining the league after a two-year hiatus ahead of the 2022/2023 season.
The Tuatara brand returns even stronger, boasting a new successful NZNBL Basketball team, with hopes of building on the brand’s early ABL success.
Based in Auckland the Tuatara entered the league in the 2018/2019 season, named after the oldest surviving species endemic to the country. The proud Tuatara name is derived from the Māori language and means “peaks on the back”.
With six ABL teams locked in from Australia, the addition of the New Zealand team lets more fans from around the world tune into baseball ahead of what will be an exciting summer of baseball. The ABL is proud to welcome the city of sails franchise back, after their historical playoff push in 2019/20.
With the count-down to the start of the season the Tuatara team is looking to showcase New Zealand and what it can offer at their home ‘North Harbour Stadium.’
Auckland Tuatara CEO Regan Wood says it’s an important step for the history of club, “We think we contribute; we bring a different style of baseball. Our coaching staff want to win baseball, they want to win every day. But we also want to make sure we engage with the public.”
“One of our goals is to have the largest crowd, one of our goals is to have the most amount of people turning up to a game. We are refreshed and we’re looking forward to playing again.”
Delivering an exciting global brand of baseball to the world is key to the growth and the participation of the sport something the ABL is eager to showcase.
Paul Gonzalez ABL GM states, “The Tuatara bring an exciting dynamic to the ABL, their fan engagement, competitiveness and international reach to millions, as they strive for the 2022-23 Claxton Shield.”
Interview with Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games Birmingham Organising Committee
Witness History!
The countdown is on with under 100 days and counting until the opening ceremony of The World Games 2022 on 7 July at the Protective Stadium. Nick Sellers, CEO of the Birmingham Organising Committee (BOC), says: the energy is growing day by day. We are ready!
TWG2022 Plate to support The World Games 2022’s commitment to education, diversity, and sustainability – image copyright The World Games (https://flic.kr/p/2mZqSnA)
TWG: How does Birmingham honour the 100 Days to Go day?
Nick Sellers: We will honour the “100 Days To Go” by announcing the “Team RWB Old Glory Relay to The World Games 2022 presented by Airbus”. This epic journey will begin on 25 May in Washington, DC with thousands of America’s military veterans carrying the American Flag and The World Games flag from our nation’s capitol, across the heartland of America, and ultimately into Birmingham, USA. And on 7 July, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and TWG2022 Honorary Co Chair Noah Galloway, who is himself a veteran and a sports enthusiast, will carry those same flags into Opening Ceremonies for the national anthem. This moment will signify a reconnection of global sports fans as The World Games 2022 will be the first major international multi sport event with full venues following the global pandemic.
TWG: What’s more important to you – the anticipation of the opening ceremony or the nervousness that everything will run smoothly?
Nick Sellers: All of this is important to me. I have great confidence in my team, working hard for the Birmingham Organizing Committee and our plan of execution throughout The Games. And I’m excited for the world to see the beautiful Opening Ceremony show with so many well known artists performing. I’m equally excited for fans to “Witness History” as over 3,600 athletes compete and showcase incredible athletic feats. I am convinced that we will remember this moment a long time. But there’s always a little anxiety for the actual show to begin. This gives us the extra adrenaline to ensure that we’ve taken care of the details.
TWG: What are the most important tasks on the home stretch to the Games?
Nick Sellers: We are moving more from planning to execution. And the most important tasks revolve around the different schedules. We call them “GamesTime” plans. The priorities of these plans include ensuring that the volunteers are trained and ready, each venue and our city has a world class “look and decor”, as well as ensuring that the athletes, fans, and sponsors have a safe, fun and memorable experience. There are so many details that go on behind the scenes to make this happen. Our BOC along with our partners in government and the private sector are all working harmoniously with our partners at the IWGA. And I’m pleased with our progress toward the preparation and execution of these plans.
TWG: What are the most important milestones that have already been achieved?
Nick Sellers: We’ve achieved so many milestones at this stage including securing over 100 sponsors, enlisted over 2,500 volunteers, secured many key partnerships, and finalized our marketing and promotional materials. Now, we turn to finalizing all of the accreditation of teams, athletes, dignitaries, officials, media, and so on, as well as a “GamesTime” simulation in May. During this exercise, we will treat eleven days as if each day were a day during TWG 2022 to establish better and more efficient communication and execution plans. This plan will include working on each day with partners from broadcast production to transportation and security.
TWG: What does a CEO’s working day look like at this stage?
Nick Sellers: I try to ensure my weekly team meeting with staff leadership and partners. But I also try to protect my schedule to have the flexibility to communicate with my entire team, public and private partners, and our IWGA partners as needed. Every day matters at this point for successful execution of our plans. And my time is spent mostly ensuring that our team has the necessary resources and support needed to deliver these plans. Not to forget: I am promoting the historic nature of The World Games 2022.
Official mascots of The World Games 2022 Birmingham, embody the spirit of the city’s history of iron and steel in Vulcan and Goddess of the Hearth and Home in Vesta – image copyright The World Games (https://flic.kr/p/2mZuEqR)
TWG: The BOC is now launching an advertising campaign: what are the most important messages? And what does the campaign look like?
Nick Sellers: The final advertising campaign is a “call to action” for everyone to get their ticket to TWG 2022 while they can. Some competitions are already close to selling out. And we believe that this final advertising campaign will really build even more excitement for ticket sales. The theme is “Step Up!”. Because just as these incredible athletes will have their chance to “Step Up” on that medal podium for their moment of glory, it’s also Birmingham’s and all of America’s chance to “Step Up” and buy a ticket to share in this moment and watch something historic. This will be a moment that fans and families will talk about for the rest of their lives. It’s very special. And I believe it will build excitement for these sports that are competing in TWG 2022. We call these sports the “new generation of global sports” in America.
TWG: What is the mood in Birmingham with regard to the event?
Nick Sellers: The energy is growing day by day and it’s very exciting. Just over the past few weeks, it feels like more and more citizens are realizing that the Games are almost here. The World Games 2022 is on the local and statewide news almost every day now. And it is bringing our community and state together in a very special way. We want to show the world our true “southern hospitality” and how Birmingham and the entire State of Alabama is becoming an international destination worthy of such a grand event as The World Games. We believe this will propel us onto the global stage in a big way. And we are ready.
TWG: Do friends and acquaintances talk to you about The World Games and what do they want to know?
Nick Sellers: The World Games 2022 is a constant topic of conversation in my life right now. From family and friends to business colleagues, they all want to know more about how things are going and what they can do to help. It has been a humbling experience to be a part of this special moment. I’m just grateful to have had this chance to work with an incredible team. And I’m especially grateful to have developed a true friendship with IWGA Honorary Life President Ron Froehlich who is a longtime resident of Birmingham. He’s become a mentor to me and he has helped me get through some very challenging and difficult times in this role. I’ve leaned on his experience. There’s many people that I keep in the front of my mind during this time. But he’s among the top. I want to make him proud. He’s worked so hard for many years for the IWGA and The Olympic Movement and he deserves to see his hometown deliver the best Games yet.
Is the war in Ukraine in connection with The World Games a topic in Birmingham?
Nick Sellers: Yes it is. Many of our sponsors and fans have asked what we can do collectively to show our support and solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and citizens. And during our recent meetings in Birmingham, IWGA President Perurena made a great recommendation that the BOC join with our partners at the IWGA to support the Ukrainian athletes with a share of ticket and merchandise revenue. We are finalising those plans and will announce them very soon.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries will take part in The World Games.
— Australian Institute of Sport (@theAIS) August 8, 2021
Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) CEO Peter Conde said the success of the Australian team at the Tokyo Olympic Games is a testament not only to our outstanding athletes and coaches, but also the collaboration and teamwork within the nation’s high performance sector.
Australia finished the delayed Games in Japan sixth place on the medal tally and equalled the country’s best ever Olympics in Athens 2004 by winning 17 gold medals, as well as seven silver and 22 bronze. An amazing achievement for a nation of our size.
The achievements from Tokyo included Australia’s best performance in the pool since 1956, inaugural medals in skateboarding, surfing and BXM Freestyle, the first beach volleyball medal since the Sydney Games, the end of a three-decade medal drought in men’s boxing, the Boomers first ever medal in basketball and some outstanding performances and medals in Athletics.
“This is an historic result for sport in Australia and I would like to congratulate every athlete, coach and performance support staff member for an inspirational 19 days in Japan,” Mr Conde said.
“Never before has there been a Games surrounded by so many challenges and uncertainty. Our athletes showed incredible resilience and courage and I couldn’t be happier to see them rewarded by this success.
“Big lessons were learnt following the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and I am proud of the leadership role the AIS has played in helping to unite the high performance sector and support our athletes. Podiums are a measure of success but so is having our athletes and teams as such an incredible source of pride and inspiration for the nation.
“The AIS Gold Medal Ready Program represents the wonderful legacy of Olympic sport, with more than 40 former Olympic and Paralympic gold medal winning athletes and coaches mentoring our current team in the lead up to Tokyo.
“The evolution and advancement of the inaugural National High Performance Sport Strategy, signed by all states and territory sporting bodies in 2018, has strengthened collaborative partnerships across the whole sporting sector and provided a collective vision for sport in Australia. I would like to thank all our partners in the National Institute Network for their hard work and contribution to the success we have seen in Japan.”
“It’s fantastic for the future to see that 13 of the record equalling 17 medals won featured at least one athlete making their Olympic debut. We also saw athletes such as Rohan Browning and Peter Bol make huge statements on the world stage, showing that their best is yet to come,” Mr Conde said.
“The future of Australian sport is looking bright and the AIS is proud to play a part in supporting our athletes as the focus turns to Paris and beyond. Through Federal Government investment, the AIS provides $14 million per annum in direct support to athletes through dAIS grants, and in the lead up to Tokyo. Thanks to the Australian Government, this funding will continue through to 2024, along with significant funding support for National Sporting Organisations to provide coaching, performance support, international competition, performance pathways programs and wellbeing programs, enabling the AIS to carry on supporting Australian high performance sport.”
“On behalf of everyone at the AIS, I would like to congratulate Matt Carroll as CEO and Ian Chesterman as Chef de Mission and the entire Australian Olympic Committee. There were many who doubted whether the Games could or should go ahead, and the work done by the AOC to get our athletes to Tokyo and keep them safe is extraordinary. Their determination to provide an outstanding performance-focused environment at the Games was pivotal.
“While we will miss tuning in every day to see our Australian Olympians achieve the remarkable, the good news is that we are just over a week away from the start of the Paralympic Games. On behalf of the AIS, I wish all our Paralympians preparing for Tokyo good luck and we can’t wait to see you perform on the world stage.”
Last update 10/8/2021, first published 22/7/2021 with fresh updates on Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 (23 July – 8 August) & Paralympic Games (24 August – 5 September) with a focus on athletes from the Asia Pacific region.
Asian athletes had a record medal haul at Tokyo 2020, with the region growing ever more prominent since Japan became the Games' first Asian host in 1964.
OVERALL Australia’s fourth place medal ranking at Tokyo 2020 was impressive, the best so far and received a congratulatory acknowledgement from the Australian Institute of Sport (read more). Watersport was a winner with 35 Aussies competing in the swimming pool and 26 in water polo, with a total of 483 participants for Team Australia. Medals were brought home in these areas of sport; athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, canoe, cycling bmx, cycling track, diving, equestrian, hockey, rowing, skateboard, sailing, swimming & tennis.
CYCLING KEIRIN Silver medalist Mohd Azizulhasni Awang of Team Malaysia was pride of his country during the medal ceremony at the Men’s Keirin final on day 16 at Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka. The 33-year-old’s hope for gold was crushed by Great Britain’sJason Kenny. Known as the “Pocket Rocketman”, Azizulhasni is now the proud owner of two Olympic medals after winning a bronze in Rio 2016.
DIVING WRAP-UP Singaporean diver Jonathan Chang’s journey to Tokyo 2020 stemmed from a Youth Olympic Games (YOG) spectator in 2010 and competitor in 2014, to the Tokyo 2020 Games where he is set to become his nation’s first male Olympic diver.
Seven out of eight gold medals won by China, with Great Britain taking the other one, just as at Rio 2016.
Leading the way for China were powerhouse divers XIE Siyi(Men’s 3m springboard gold medal) and SHI Tingmao (Women’s 3m Springboard Final), who both landed two gold medals.
Great Britain’s Tom Daley (Men’s 10m Synchro) closed in and took home the gold. Daley made his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old at Beijing 2008.
14-year-old QUAN Hongchan scored three 10s to win the Women’s 10m platform final.
Individual
Men’s 3m springboard
Gold: XIE Siyi (CHN)
Silver: WANG Zongyuan (CHN)
Bronze: Jack Laugher (GB)
Women’s 3m springboard
Gold: SHI Tingmao (CHN)
Silver: WANG Han (CHN)
Bronze: Krysta Palmer (USA)
Men’s 10m platform
Gold: CAO Yuan (CHN)
Silver: YANG Jian (CHN)
Bronze: Tom Daley (GB)
Women’s 10m platform
Gold: QUAN Hongchan (CHN)
Silver: CHEN Yuxi (CHN)
Bronze: Melissa Wu (AUS)
31/7/2021
Major coverage roundup on badminton. The Badminton World Federation announced 87 male and 86 female players competed at Tokyo 2020.
Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping had lost 10 of 12 finals to Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong, but with their superlative show in the #Tokyo2020 final, the challengers stepped out of the shadows of their illustrious compatriots.@Olympics#RaiseARacket 🏸https://t.co/PRxyMKhnAn
BADMINTON, MEN’S DOUBLES Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, representing Chinese Taipei are the happy Gold Medallists winning against China’s Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza. The game lasted 34 minutes with a score: 21-18, 21-12. No. 2 seeds, Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan were beaten by the same Chinese Taipei pair 21-11, 21-10 in one of the two semifinals, and Malaysians Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik take home the Bronze.
Indonesia
China
Republic of Korea
BADMINTON, WOMEN’S DOUBLES
A huge surprise but a gleam evident on the faces of Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu for bringing home Indonesia’s first ever Olympic Women’s Doubles Gold, while China’s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan settle for silver on day ten. Republic of Korea’s Kim Soyeong and Kong Heeyong won the bronze medal.
Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping of China win gold in an all China final! They beat Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong after a thrilling final. Japan’s WATANABE Yuta and HIGASHINO Arisa won the bronze medal against TANG Chun Man and TSE Ying Suet from Hong Kong, China in two straight sets 21-17 and 23-21.
Denmark
China
Indonesia
BADMINTON, MEN’S SINGLES China’s CHEN Long, the only reigning champion to defend his title in Japan against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the gold-medal match will have to be happy with a silver. Anthony Ginting of Indonesia brings home the bronze after a 21-11, 21-13 against Kevin Cordon of Guatemala, the first Latin American player to reach the semi-finals of an Olympic badminton tournament.
BADMINTON, WOMEN’S SINGLES China’s CHEN Yu Fei beat world number one Chinese Taipei’s TAI Tzu-Ying in a thrilling two sets to one final of the women’s badminton singles at Tokyo 2020. World champion and Rio 2016 silver medallist India’s Pusarla took home the bronze after beating China’s HE Bing Jao by two sets: 21-13, 21-15.
29/7/2021
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS She’s the first gymnast of Asian descent to win the women’s all-round. She’s from Minnesota, USA and also the first Hmong-American to make the Olympic team. #hmong
TABLE TENNIS China vs. China CHEN Meng has won over country mate SUN Yingsha in the Women’s Singles to bring home Gold and Silver. Japan’s ITO Mima wins the Bronze, her second medal after winning Gold at the mixed doubles yesterday. China has won every gold medal in women’s singles since the sport’s Olympic debut in Seoul 1988.
SWIMMING Australia’s prowess at the pool was challenged at the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay today. China wins gold and smashes Australia’s 2019 world record at 7:40:33.
29 July- #Swimming – Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
In the 200m Women’s Butterfly, ZHANG Yufei (CHN) takes the gold in a new Olympic record time 2:03.86, with USA’s Smith in second and Flickinger taking bronze.
JUDO Japan’s HAMADA Shori takes the gold medal home winning against Madeleine Malonga of France. Anna-Maria Wagner (GER) and Mayra Aguiar (BRA) won bronze.
28/7/2021
SWIMMING: Japan’s golden girl Ohashi Yui wins the women’s 200m individual medley to add to her 400m IM title!
Aussies golden girl Ariarne Titmus (AUS) wins top spot and sets an Olympic record of 1:53.92 for the 400m! Silver for Haughey and bronze to Oleksiak – Ledecky was fifth.
In the Men’s 80kg category, IN Kyo Don (KOR) wins bronze.
WEIGHTLIFTING Taiwan has clinched a bronze medal in the Women’s 64KG category – well done,🥉CHEN Wen-Huei (TPE) – 230kg
KUO Hsing-chun (TPE) powers her way to gold in the women’s 59kg weightlifting. Silver goes to Turkmenistan – that country’s first ever Olympic medal. ANDOH Mikiko (JPN) took bronze. KUO has broken the #Olympics records in the snatch, clean & jerk and overall in #weightlifting 59kg.
KUO Hsing-chun didn't just claim Olympic #gold at #Tokyo2020
JUDO NAGASE Takanori (JPN) has won men’s -81kg gold against Saeid Mollaei from Mongolia.
26/7/2021 SUMMARY: Athletes from 46 countries have clinched medals and of that, 11 are Asia Pacific countries with host nation Japan leading the way at top No. 1 spot, P.R. of China in 3rd place, R. of Korea in 6th place followed by Australia in 7th position. Tied on 16th spot are Hong Kong, China, Philippines & Thailand, Chinese Taipei in 25th and Indonesia 28th place, India 33rd and New Zealand 46th.
TABLE TENNIS MIZUTANI Jun and ITO Mima (JPN) left opponents XU Xin / LIU Shiwen (CHN) shell shocked with a GOLD WIN for the host country, ending China’s winning streak since Athens 2004!
Taiwanese duo LIN Yun-ju / CHENG I-Ching (TPE) won over the French to bring home a bronze in the mixed doubles match.
JUDO ONO Shohei (JPN) wins men’s 73KG, silver goes to Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO), bronze to AN Changrim (KOR) and Rosgtbaatar Tsendochir (MGL).
WEIGHTLIFTING Philippine’s FIRST GOLD MEDAL! Hidilyn Diaz brings home the GOLD for 55KG, beating LIAO Qiuyun (CHN) by 1KG with a total of 224KG for an Olympic record! Bronze goes to Zulfiya Chinshanlo (KAZ).
FENCING Hong Kong China’s FIRST EVER MEN’S OLYMPIC GOLD! CHEUNG Ka Long (HKG) brings it home beating Daniele Garozzo (ITA).
SWIMMING WANG Jianjiahe (CHN) sets an Asian record 15:41:49 in the Women’s 1500m freestyle heats.
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS A tight race to the top between ROC and CHN
SKATEBOARDING: 13-year old NISHIYA Momiji (JAPAN) has won the Olympics first female Skateboarding Gold medal – women’s street at #Tokyo2020, Rayssa Leal (BRAZIL) silver and NAKAYAMA Funa (JPN) bronze!
Medal tally as of today, with APAC countries pinned
25/7/2021: SWIMMING Aussie Swim Team brings home Gold, Silver & Bronze medals & a world record Women’s 4x100m. The Dolphins clocked in at 3:29:69, smashing the World Record. The Aussies won Olympic gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016 and at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
In the Men’s 400m Freestyle, Australian Jack McLoughlin came second to Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui, while bronze went to American Kieran Smith.
Dolphin Brendon Smith won bronze in the men’s 400m individual medley.
24/7/2021: Update from #Tokyo2020
JUDO Naohisa Takato brings home Japan’s first GOLD medal in the men’s -60kg judo. Silver goes to Yang Yung-wei of Taiwan and bronze to Yeldos Smetov of Kazakhstan and Luka Mkheidze of France.
24/7/2021: TAEKWONDO Panipak Wongpattanakit of Team Thailand wins GOLD at the Women’s -49kg Taekwondo category on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba, Japan. Spain’s Adriana Cerezo Iglesias brought home the silver while bronze went to Israel’s Abishag Semberg and Serbia’s Tijana Bogdanovic.
24/7/21: WEIGHTLIFTING Congratulations team Indonesia – women’s weightlifting (49KG) Windy Cantikah Aisah for winning the first medal for ASEAN nations. She registered a total lift of 194kg, with a snatch of 84kg and a clean and jerk of 110kg, coming in third place after India (silver) and China (gold).
24/7/21: SHOOTING China picks up the first gold medal at the Olympic Games! On the first day of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, YANG Qian, 21, from the People’s Republic of China, won the first gold medal of the Games in the 10m air rifle.
IOC president Thomas Bach presented Yang with her gold medal, as well as silver to Anastasiia Galashina from ROC and the bronze to Switzerland’s Nina Christen, but due to COVID-19 countermeasures in these unique Games, they collected their own medals from a tray and placed it around their own necks.
23/7/21: IOC President Thomas Bach delivers opening speech
“This feeling of togetherness – this is the light at the end of the dark tunnel.
The pandemic forced us to be apart. To keep our distance from each other. To stay away even from our loved ones. This separation made this tunnel so dark.
But today, wherever in the world you may be, we are united in sharing this moment together. The Olympic flame makes this light shine brighter for all of us…” Source: IOC
23/7/21: Indonesia to launch bid to host Olympic Games in 2036
Indonesia, which is the world’s fourth most populous country with more than 270 million people, is trying to become only the fourth Asian country to host the Games after Japan, China and South Korea. Source: The Star
23/7/21: Animated short film “Tomorrow’s Leaves” releases worldwide today
Commissioned by the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH), and produced by the Academy Award-nominated Yoshiaki Nishimura of Studio Ponoc, the film provides a fresh perspective on the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Source: IOC
21/7/21: The Youth Olympic Games on track
Gangwon 2024 draws upon the successful delivery of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, and aims to continue their vision of bringing winter sport to a new generation of athletes.
Dakar 2026 – The postponement of the Dakar Youth Olympic Games from 2022 to 2026 will strengthen the mobilisation of young people in the organisation.
21/7/21: IOC elects Brisbane 2032 as Olympic and Paralympic host
International Olympic Committee Members today voted to elect Brisbane 2032 as host of the Games of the XXXV Olympiad. Brisbane received 72 yes and 5 no votes from 77 valid votes.
20/7/21: IOC Session welcomes Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo 2020.
The members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team (EOR) Tokyo 2020 were welcomed today by the IOC Session. Athlete representative Yiech Pur Biel addressed the IOC Members on behalf of the team. Biel competed at the first Refugee Olympic Team Rio 2016. He said, “My experience of being part of the Refugee Olympic Team changed my life. It opened up opportunities for me, such as joining the Olympic Refuge Foundation as a Board member, becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR and moving to train and live in the United States of America. I would never have thought that my dreams would become a reality when living in the Kakuma refugee settlement in northern Kenya. Most importantly, I can now call myself an Olympian, which makes me proud every day.”
Videos:
Constellation of drones form globe at Tokyo opening ceremony – Source: Reuters
TOP 10 most medalled female Olympic badminton players! – Source: IOC Channel
Last 5 Champions of Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay 🏊♀️ Source: IOC Channel
Evolution of Diving at the Olympics! Source: IOC Channel
India’s Top Pistol Shooter Manu Bakher | Jee Jaan Se – Source: IOC Channel
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 competition schedule features a 33 sports, 339 medal events held across 42 venues. The Games will open on 23 July 2021 and close on 8 August.
21 July: Actual competition starts two days before the Opening Ceremony with softball in Fukushima – in line with the Games’s theme of recovery.
24 July: The first medals of the Games are awarded on 24 July in the women’s 10m air rifle shooting event. 11 medal events takes place today including judo, the sport in which Japan normally wins their first medal of an Olympics. New sport, 3×3 basketball will take court.
25 July: Skateboarding (street) & surfing.
31 July: “Super Saturday” features 21 medal events, four debut games: the 4×400 mixed relay in athletics, judo mixed team, triathlon mixed relay, and shooting trap mixed team.
1 August: “Golden Sunday” will see 25 gold medals given out, including the men’s 100m in athletics as well as four artistic gymnastics events. The men’s tennis singles final is also on the cards.
3 August: Sport climbing
5 August: Karate
7 August: Tokyo 2020 peaks today with 34 medal events being held, such as the women’s marathon in Sapporo and the finals for baseball, men’s basketball, football and volleyball.
Catch Malaysia’s darling at the dive boards – Pandelela Rinong who has won first two Olympic medal and five World Championships. A Sabahan from Malaysia’s Borneo, Pandelela was the First Female Athlete to win a gold medal for her country. Watch her in action on 27/7/2021
