Update (26 August 2021): Tickets for the Coway Run 2021: Run for Your Region has sold out within 24 hours of launch! But fret not as additional tickets will be on sale soon!
After months of lockdown and work-from-home mandates, Malaysians have had their fill of sitting around at home. With our current sedentary and isolated lifestyles, many of us may be looking for some extra motivation to stay healthy, or craving for ways to connect with each other safely.
This is precisely why Coway Malaysia is organising Coway Run 2021: Run for Your Region this September; its first inter-regional virtual run that combines fun, healthy living, and community spirit in one exciting event. Kicking off on 23 September until 23 October, the month-long run allows participants to run anytime and anywhere — as long as they keep their feet moving to log in those kilometres.
Being an inter-regional event, this year’s run will see participants teaming up by region (Northern, Central, Southern, East Coast and East Malaysia) for a friendly nationwide competition. Within their teams, runners are encouraged to rack up as many kilometres as they can — the team with the highest average distance per person will be crowned as the overall winner. With five regional teams in the race, this is the perfect opportunity for runners to display their home-town pride and show off what their fellow statesmen are capable of. At the same time, runners can also indulge in the shared experience with their peers from all across the country.
On an individual level, participants this year can expect an even more interactive experience. To keep runners motivated throughout the month, Coway Run 2021 has ramped up its “gamified” approach to inject a bit more fun and variety in the participants’ running journey.
While participants can choose to run anywhere they please, they will also have access to a “live” map of their route which will display their progress visually. In addition to this, runners can also collect virtual achievement badges for every 5KM milestone reached.
Those keen on philanthropy will be excited to learn that Coway Run 2021 has “tripled” its commitment to doing good, with three different causes linked to the run. As with previous years, for every ticket sold, Coway will contribute RM10 to Happy Water Project, their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to deliver clean water to impoverished Orang Asli communities across the country.
Coway Run 2021 has also set a nationwide goal for participants to collectively achieve 200,000KM. Once participants hit this milestone, Coway Malaysia will donate a total of RM200,000 to three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – EcoKnights, MERCY Malaysia and Reef Check Malaysia. An act that will surely inspire runners to work together and give it their all.
Finally, this year will also see a big change in the type of merchandise runners will receive in their Starter Kits. In a bid to encourage environmental awareness among participants and spark an eco-friendly movement, most items from the Coway Run 2021 merchandise (including medals) will be either recyclable or made from recycled materials.
Of course, no Coway Run is complete without amazing prizes for exceptional participants. The winning regional team will be given the chance to take part in a bonus lucky draw and win exclusive Coway products. Meanwhile, the top runners who log in the most kilometres will each receive a special reward.
Whether you are just starting your fitness journey, or a seasoned runner looking to get back into the scene, Coway Run 2021 is the perfect chance for you to not only connect with like-minded running enthusiasts, but also a fun way of giving back to the community.
The run is open to all Malaysian citizens or residents aged 16 and above, and participants must register online at the Coway Run 2021 website before 23 October 2021. To automatically record the distance covered during the run, participants can make use of the free app Strava and sync it to their Coway Run profile. Alternatively, they may also manually upload screenshots of their logs in other running or fitness apps suggested in the Coway Run website, to show their KM achieved in their Coway Run account.
So, let’s harness our sense of pride and be part of this virtual run scene while burning the calories with family and friends – ticket rate starts from RM39 per head!
To find out more information and sign up for the run, kindly visit: www.cowayrun.com.my
— 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.”
Help! I’m pre-diabetic! The Kurang Manis (Sugar, Less) Podcast goes in search of ways to avoid diabetes. We interview health & fitness personalities from Asia and the Pacific; athletes, medical doctors, allied health professionals, fitness & wellness experts and people living with diabetes. Co-hosts Nikki Yeo & Jasmine Low chat over a cuppa tea! In Malaysia, it’s the Teh Tarik, made frothy by swift hand movements of a tea-pulling expert but 8tsp of condensed milk in one cup?! Kurang manis, boss! Less sugar please…
In each episode of The Kurang Manis (Sugar, Less) Podcast, our producers have selected music to complement and celebrate the essence of the personalities of our guest speakers (click on links below to view the interviews with each guest speaker). Here’s the playlist for your enjoyment:
Datuk Nicol David, World No. 1 Squash Champ / Amrita Soon, singer-songwriter (Malaysia)
Dr. Desmond Menon, Medical Lab Scientist / Jeremy Monteiro (Singapore)
With her calming voice that flies over the world of flamenco along with the enchanting guitar rhythms, Haifa Kamal, an independent Jordanian singer, releases her mini-album “A Córdoba” (To Cordoba) in collaboration with Obaider, a Palestinian-founded Spanish flamenco band.
Three songs are released in this mini album on various digital music platforms, such as Anghami, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and SoundCloud, with each song including a ballad from a different era. While “Shamsu Ennahari” is by Safi Al Din Al Hilli, a fourteenth-century Arab poet, “Asafa Al Hawa” is by Sumaya Saleh, a contemporary Syrian poet, and “En Konta” is by eighteenth-century poet and priest, Nicolas Al Sayegh Al Halabi.
The melodic Spanish tunes that accompany Kamal’s soothing voice are composed and arranged by Obaider, an independent Palestinian band founded by Baider Burman and Obai Al Bitar. Musicians from Spain and Sweden alongside Obaider are behind the tunes of both “Shamsu Ennahari” and “Asafa Al Hawa,” while “En Konta” is composed and arranged by Alvaro Llanos, the bass guitarist in the band.
This iconic team has worked on the album since the outbreak of the coronavirus at the beginning of 2020. Difficult production conditions were imposed due to the lockdowns brought by the pandemic, which extended the music recording for months. With few hours in hand not controlled by quarantine, musicians participating from Spain, Sweden, Jordan, and Qatar found time to work on the project.
The musicians include Haifa Kamal as lead singer, Baider Burman, and Obai Al Bitar on the guitar, Alvaro Llanos as bass guitarist, Manuel Arango on the percussion, Yehia Najem and Alexandra Shabo as backing vocals, along with Najati Al Suloh managing the production.
Haifa Kamal, who aspires to present a new style in each of her projects, adds in this album a new color to her musical career. Like all of her previous productions, this production is also considered independent. She has previously produced “Denya”, an independent album in 2014, and “#TheEDMProject” in 2018, in addition to dozens of singles between her first album and the last one, released this year.
Despite its higher cost and longer completion time, Haifa Kamal says that she prefers independent production. This is because she can not only manage the quality but also seek diversity in each of her works. While this “independency” releases her from the stress of being limited to what is usually required from production companies, it also allows her to shape her musical identity.
It is worth noting that Kamal holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the National Music Conservatory – Jordan, with a concentration in Arabic singing. Although she released her first album in 2014, the beginning of her music career goes way back. Her father, the Palestinian composer and musician Kamal Khalil, discovered her talent when she was six. Since then, she became the youngest lead singer of his band, Baladna. She has also participated in several music projects, such as the Rum Tariq Al-Nasser Group, the Amman Band for Arabic Music, and the National Institute of Music Orchestra, as well as singing different theme songs for Arabic drama series such as “Laysa Saraban”, “Wish Raja’ak”, “Al Aswar”, “Samarkand” and others.
Kamal has also participated in many local music festivals such as Jerash Festival and Fuheis Festival in Jordan. She has also made an appearance in international festivals in Scotland, Cyprus, Tunisia, Opera House in Cairo, Qurain Festival in Kuwait, Opera House in Damascus, and National Day celebrations in the United Arab Emirates.
Obaider is a Palestinian band founded by Baider Burman and Obai Al Bitar, with the participation of musicians from Spain and Sweden. Mixing between Arabic poetry and Spanish Flamenco music, this Andalusian- style band brings different music tastes from all around the world together. They aim not only to show the beauty of the Arabic language but also to allow the youth to reach the language from a different perspective.
Researchers find the best time to consume proteins for building and strengthening muscles is during breakfast.
Proteins are essential for body growth and muscle building. However, protein metabolism varies depending on the body’s internal biological clock. Therefore, it is important to know how distribution of protein intake over the day affects muscles. Researchers from Japan have now found that consumption of proteins at breakfast increases muscle size and function in mice and humans, shedding light on the concept of ‘Chrononutrition’ that deals with the timing of diets to ensure organ health.
Image courtesy Waseda University
Proteins constitute an essential dietary component that help in the growth and repair of the body. Composed of long chains of amino acids, proteins promote the growth of skeletal muscles, the group of muscles that help us move. Humans have been aware of the benefits of proteins for long. However, recent studies have shown that having the right amount of protein at the right time of the day is essential for proper growth. This is called ‘Chrononutrition,’ in which when you eat is as important as what and how you eat.
The reason behind this is the body’s internal biological clock, called the ‘circadian rhythm.’ This rhythm is followed by all cells and controls life functions like metabolism and growth. Interestingly, protein digestion and absorption have been found to fluctuate across day and night according to this clock. Moreover, earlier studies have reported that intake of protein at breakfast and lunch promotes skeletal muscle growth in adults. However, details on the effect of the time of protein intake on muscle growth and function have remained elusive.
Researchers from Waseda University, led by Professor Shigenobu Shibata, recently endeavoured to understand the effect of the distribution of protein intake through the day on muscles. They fed laboratory mice two meals per day containing either high (11.5% by proportion) or low (8.5% by proportion) protein concentrations. The researchers noted that protein intake at breakfast induced an increase in muscle growth, determined by assessing induced hypertrophy of the plantaris muscle in the leg, when compared with the effects of protein intake at dinner. Specifically, the ratio of muscle hypertrophy determined against the growth of the control muscle was 17% higher in mice fed 8.5% protein at breakfast, than that in mice fed 11.5% protein at dinner, despite the former group consuming a low proportion of protein overall. They also found that intake of a type of protein called the BCCA, short for branched-chain amino acids, early in the day increased the size of skeletal muscles specifically.
Infographic provided by Waseda University
To confirm the association of these effects with the workings of the circadian rhythm, the researchers next engineered whole-body mutant ClockΔ19or muscle-specific Bmal1 knockout mice lacking the genes that control the biological clock. They repeated diet distribution experiments on these mice but did not observe similar muscle change, which confirmed the involvement of the circadian rhythm in muscle growth in the context of protein intake.
Excited about the findings of their study published in a recent issue of the Cell Reports, Prof. Shibata emphasizes, “Protein-rich diet at an early phase of the daily active period, that is at breakfast, is important to maintain skeletal muscle health and enhance muscle volume and grip strength.”
To check if their findings were applicable to humans, the team recruited women in their study and tested if their muscle function, determined by measuring skeletal muscle index (SMI) and grip strength, varied with the timing of the protein-rich diet consumed. Sixty women aged 65 years and above who took protein at breakfast rather than at dinner showed better muscle functions, suggesting the possibility of the findings to be true across species. Additionally, the researchers also found a strong association between SMI and the proportion of protein intake at breakfast relative to total protein intake through the day.
Prof. Shibata is hopeful that the findings of their study will lead to a widespread modification in the current diet regime of most people across the Western and Asian countries, who traditionally consume low amounts of protein at breakfast.
“For humans, in general, the protein intake at breakfast averages about 15 grams, which is less than what we consume at dinner, which is roughly 28 grams. Our findings strongly support changing this norm and consuming more protein at breakfast or morning snacking time.”
– Professor Shigenobu Shibata
It seems, a simple change in our dietary regime can be our key to ensuring healthy muscles!
(1) Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University
(2) Organization for University Research Initiatives, Waseda University
(3) Institute for Liberal Arts, Tokyo Institute of Technology
(4) Department of Health Science, School of Pharmacy, Nihon University
(5) Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University
About Waseda University
Located in the heart of Tokyo, Waseda University is a leading private research university that has long been dedicated to academic excellence, innovative research, and civic engagement at both the local and global levels since 1882. The University ranks number one in Japan in international activities, including the number of international students, with the broadest range of degree programs fully taught in English. To learn more about Waseda University, visit https://www.waseda.jp/top/en
This article was written by Waseda University and verified by AFT’s editorial team.Prof. Shibata heads the Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Engineering at Tokyo’s prestigious Waseda University (pictured above). His research focuses on basic and applied studies of biological rhythms for health science and industry. The human biological clock monitors the chronological timing of our body. Disruptive body clock systems have been known to cause various mental diseases such as developmental problems, insomnia, depression and also metabolic diseases such as obesity, hypercholesteremia and alcoholism, and cancer disease. In order to promote good health, Prof. Shibata’s team studies basic and applied sciences of biological clock systems based on chronobiology, chrono-pharmacology, chrono-nutrition and chrono-exercise using animals and humans. They focus on interventions such as functional foods and nutrients, exercises like running and swimming for maintaining healthy circadian rhythm. It is their desire to propose healthy advice for chrono-nutrition and chrono-exercise to enable good health and for industrial products. Learn more: http://www.chrono-nutrition.jp/
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
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched “What Agnes Saw” – a film which features the oldest-living Olympic champion, Agnes Keleti, and the 13-year-old British skateboarding prodigy Sky Brown. The video juxtaposes the wisdom of age with the passion of youth to offer a light in the darkness and remind us of the moments of hope and inspiration that occur when the world comes together for the Olympic Games.
Agnes is a reminder of the power of resilience, and proof that one can experience the worst aspects of humanity and, against all odds, rise above it. This film is a part of the IOC’s StrongerTogether campaign and reminds us of the importance of having inner resilience. It reflects the Olympic motto: “faster, higher, stronger – together.
The film, voiced by actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: End Game), was directed by Martin Desmond Roe and Travon Free – the Academy Award-winning directors of the acclaimed short film “Two Distant Strangers” – and produced for the IOC in partnership with Oscar-, Emmy- and Gold Lion-winning studio Dirty Robber.
Revolving around a people-centric message that we are stronger together, the digital campaign emphasises the IOC’s belief in solidarity – that the world only moves forward when it moves together – and the power of the Olympic brand to unite people, communities and nations across the globe.
Kempen Chosen dari World Vision Malaysia memberi peluang kepada kanak-kanak untuk mengambil langkah pertama dalam mengubah masa depan mereka. Buat pertama kalinya, kanak-kanak berpeluang memilih penaja mereka.
Organisasi kemanusiaan antarabangsa, World Vision Malaysia melancarkan kempen Chosen untuk membasmi kemiskinan dari komuniti B40 yang terjejas pada 8 Julai 2021 ini.
Gambar di atas, kanak-kanak menunjukkan gambar penaja yang mereka pilih sendiri.(sumber: World Vision Malaysia)
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif World Vision Malaysia Encik Daniel Boey berkata, “Chosen adalah anjuran terbaharu World Vision yang ingin memberi kanak-kanak peluang memilih penaja mereka sendiri – buat pertama kalinya dalam sejarah 70 tahun World Vision!
Kempen ini akan bermula dengan komuniti di Kemboja di mana sejak kes pertama COVID-19 dikenal pasti, kanak-kanak telah kehilangan masa kecil mereka dan hidup dalam ketakutan untuk kesejahteraan mereka.
Tajaan bulanan sebanyak RM65 akan membawa air bersih, pemakanan, pendidikan, penjagaan kesihatan asas, perlindungan dan harapan kepada kanak-kanak dan komuniti mereka. Penaja dapat menjalinkan hubungan dengan anak angkat mereka dengan menulis surat dan menghantar gambar.
Seorang bapa kepada dua anak, Encik Boey menambah: “Ramai kanak-kanak menunggu bertahun-tahun untuk dipilih oleh penaja. Sebagai seorang ayah, saya tidak dapat membayangkan bagaimana perasaan anak itu. Apabila kita memberi kanak-kanak peluang untuk memilih penaja mereka, kita juga memberi mereka harapan untuk menamatkan kemiskinan. Lebih daripada itu, kami memberi kuasa kepada mereka untuk mengambil bahagian dalam keputusan yang akan mempengaruhi kehidupan mereka, dengan menghantar mesej bahawa kami mengambil berat tentang apa yang mereka fikirkan. Kami berharap ini akan mendorong kekuatan untuk memilih masa depan mereka.”
Dia mengatakan bahawa rakan kerjanya di World Vision Malaysia telah memantau dan menyesuaikan program untuk bertindak balas terhadap situasi COVID-19 global. “Kanak-kanak akan memilih penaja mereka di acara pilihan (dengan semua amalan keselamatan COVID-19) pada 5 dan 6 Ogos, dan kami akan memberitahu penaja mengenai anak angkat mereka. Terima kasih kepada semua rakyat Malaysia kerana turut serta melindungi dan memperkasakan anak-anak dan komuniti mereka yang terjejas di dunia.
Pengasasnya Bob Pierce menubuhkan World Vision pada tahun 1950 dan Program Penajaan Kanak-Kanaknya memberi tumpuan kepada peningkatan kesejahteraan fizikal, emosi, rohani, dan sosial anak-anak yang paling terjejas. Di Kemboja, World Vision telah melaksanakan program bantuan dan pembangunan untuk memberi manfaat kepada anak-anak yang rentan sejak awal tahun 1970-an.
Di seluruh dunia, program ini membawa banyak kegembiraan dan harapan kepada keluarga. Kelmer yang berusia enam tahun dari Guatemala, memilih keluarga Justin Hollander untuk menjadi penaja.
Kelmer dari Guatemala, Amerika Selatan (sumber: World Vision Malaysia)
Kelmer yang berusia enam tahun memilih keluarga Justin Hollander sebagai penajanya.
“Anak perempuan mereka sangat cantik. Saya rasa bahawa dia suka berbual dan suka bermain,” katanya.
“Ibu bapa sangat cantik juga. Mereka kelihatan seperti suka memberi pelukan! Dan mereka suka bermain. “
Terdapat lima orang dalam keluarga Kelmer. Ibu, ayah, anak-anak berusia 9 tahun, 6 tahun dan 8 bulan. Kelmer berada di prasekolah. Dia suka belajar. Apabila dia dewasa, dia mahu menjadi guru. Ibunya, Yesica, mengatakan bahawa kadang-kadang anaknya jatuh sakit tetapi dia tidak mampu membawa mereka ke klinik berdekatan. Yesica mengatakan apabila Kelmer memilih penajanya, dia turut mengambil kesempatan untuk membuat pilihan sekeluarga. Dia teruja dan merasa terharu.” Dia memberitahunya bahawa ketika dia melihat semua gambar, “Saya hanya ingin memilih Justin Hollandar.”
Kelmer suka bermain bola sepak dan guli-guli. Dia berkata, “Sekiranya mereka (penaja) datang ke sini, saya ingin bermain bola sepak dengan mereka. Saya ingin menghantar kata-kata cantik. Saya gembira atas lawatan anda. Te quiero.“
Video ini menunjukkan masa kanak-kanak membuat pilihan mereka.
