Olympics Welcome New Sports On Day Three
Surfing and skateboarding have made their Olympic debuts on day three of the Tokyo Games, and Japan secured its second gold medal.
Japan's Ohashi Yui won the women's 400-meter individual medley. The 25-year-old swimmer has struggled to improve her performance amid injuries and health problems. She said she didn't imagine she would win and thanked her teammates. The silver and bronze medals went to US swimmers.
American swimmers took the gold and silver in the men's 400-meter individual medley. Chase Kalisz, who trains with Olympic great Michael Phelps, took the gold. Silver medalist Jay Litherland was born in Japan to a Japanese mother.
Japanese tennis superstar Osaka Naomi, who was the final torch bearer at the opening ceremony on Friday, took to the court to play China's Zheng Saisai.
It is Osaka's first match since she withdrew from the French Open in May after suffering long bouts of "depression."
Serbian Novak Djokovic faced Hugo Dellien of Bolivia on Saturday. The world's top-ranked male player won, but said it was tough going due to high humidity and no breeze. He added that the hard court absorbed the heat as temperatures hovered around 33 degrees Celsius.
The first surfers to ever compete in the Olympics began the men's and women's heats in Tsurigasaki, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.
Skateboarding officially became an Olympic sport with the start of the men's street heats. Skateboarding has its roots in street culture and has had a big impact on art and fashion. The International Olympic Committee hopes its addition will win over younger fans.
In badminton, Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar failed to win in the women's singles' group stage. She has been criticized on social media for representing the country under the military rule. The military has been cracking down on protestors since the coup in February.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide congratulated Japanese judoka Takato Naohisa for winning the gold in the men's 60-kilogram category.
Suga called him to say he watched the semi-finals and the final and saw his tenacity and unwavering determination to win. The gold medalist replied that the victory has yet to sink in.
Takato said he was glad that he did his best, as his family is so proud and many people have sent him their congratulations.
Suga told him the win gives hopes and dreams to many young people.
The Tokyo Games organizers said on Sunday 10 people related to the Games tested positive for the coronavirus, including 2 athletes from overseas. Cases related to the Games since July 1 now stand at 132.