Softball - Aussies clinch last Tokyo 2020 quota in thrilling Tournament win

Australian softballers will make their Olympic return in Tokyo after a 12-year absence, after winning the Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in China.

Australia kept a perfect record across five games defeating Chinese Taipei 5-1, Indonesia 8-0, Hong Kong 8-0, Philippines 7-0 and defeating China 9-3 in the final match on Saturday to clinch their Olympic return.

With only the tournament winner progressing to Tokyo 2020 and no other chances to qualify, Australia produced a dominant display under enormous pressure.

Australia joins the United States, Italy, Japan, Canada and Mexico as the six competing nations at the Games, where they will look to add to their rich Olympic legacy - medalling at every Games Softball has been played (silver in 2004; bronze in 1996, 2000 and 2008).

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Canoe Slalom - Silver Fox at World Championships and three Aussie quota spots

Jess Fox has won two silver medals at the Canoe World Championships in Spain, adding the C1 medal on Sunday after claiming second in Saturday’s K1 final.

Fox finished just 0.94 behind winner Andrea Herzog of Germany in the C1 final, and falling just 0.42 behind Slovenia’s Eva Tercelj in the K1.

The medals add to Fox’s incredible international record, which includes seven individual World Championship gold medals and an Olympic silver and bronze.

Fox’s results have also qualified a vital Tokyo 2020 quota spot for both the C1 and K1 events.

Fellow Rio Olympian Lucien Delfour made it three quota spots for Australia when he qualified for the men’s K1 final on Sunday, finishing eighth. Australia will have another chance to secure the fourth Olympic spot in the men’s C1 event at the Oceania championships in February.

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Cycling – Spratt wins World Championship bronze in gruelling road race

Amanda Spratt claimed the bronze medal in a stunning women's road race at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire on Saturday, as 152 starters from 49 nations battled it out over 149km from Bradford to Harrogate.

Following an epic battle across a punishing course in the chasing group behind eventual champion Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands, Spratt took the bronze behind another Dutch rider Anna Van der Breggen.

Spratt became the first Australian woman to claim two World Championships road race medals after also winning silver in 2018.

Moments after crossing the line, Spratt paid tribute to her teammates for delivering her to the crucial part of the race in position.

"Anyone watching the race saw how amazing the team were. They did a great job of looking after me and protecting me to that climb where it all exploded, so I am really grateful to the team," said Spratt.

"That was epic. It was the hardest race I have ever done. Every part of my body was cramping, my thumb cramping in the end.”

Spratt’s medal adds to Rohan Dennis’ gold in Thursday’s individual time trial for Australia.

In the men’s road race, Australia's Michael Matthews finished a gallant 24th in atrocious conditions that saw only 45 riders finish of the 196 starters.

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Basketball – Opals win Asian Cup bronze

After competing on six straight days at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in India, the Opals claimed bronze, with an 98-62 win over Korea.

After going down to Japan in the semi-final, the team bounced back to dominate the bronze medal match from start to finish.

“I think the disappointment of the game last night, if that doesn’t motivate us, what will?” Darcee Garbin said postgame.

 “Everyone came out with a point to prove tonight and I’m glad that we did show everyone that we were disappointed. I think that was a big statement win.”

Bec Allen was also named in the tournament’s All-Star Five, after averaging 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks in just 19.7 minutes per game, while shooting a scorching 45% from three-point range.

The Opals path to Tokyo 2020 will be through the Global Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in February 2020. To ensure their place at the Qualifying Tournament, the Opals will need to finish in the top two of their group at the Asian Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in November.

The group draw was held Saturday at the Asian Cup, with Australia drawn with Japan, Chinese Taipei and India. The games will take place from November 14-17, with the host to be announced later this week.

Athletics – Aussies in action at Doha World Championships

The 60-strong Australian team has kicked off their 2019 World Championships campaign in Doha, with personal bests and finals appearances in the opening days.

Matthew Denny qualified for Monday’s Discus final with a throw of 65.08m – the furthest an Australian has ever thrown at the World Championships, and third best qualifying distance.

In the women’s 10,000m final, Sinead Diver and Ellie Pashley battled it out to be the first Australian home. With both athletes setting new personal bests, it was Pashley who finished ahead in 13th place, clocking 31:18.89, with Diver just behind in 14th, running 31:25.49.

Elsewhere on the track, Morgan Mitchell was the first Australian semi-finalist in the women’s 800m for 16 years, clocking 2:04.76 to finish in 8th spot.  Whilst it was not enough to see her through to the final, Mitchell can reflect with pride on her first full season as an 800m runner, as she became just the second Aussie in 47 years (Tamsyn Lewis in 2003) to reach the 800m semi-finals at a major global championship.

Racewalker Jemima Montag finished the 20km race walk in tenth place in sweltering conditions, clocking 1.36.54.

Athletics – Tallent upgraded to silver following doping bans

Following the retrospective doping ban of a number of Russian race walkers, Jared Tallent has been presented with his two upgraded world championships medals from the IAAF in Doha.

He has moved from bronze to silver in the 50km Race Walks at the 2011 Daegu World Championships and 2013 Moscow World Championships.

“It’s nice to be receiving medals from championships gone by and it sort of makes up for the medal moments I would have had at those championships,” Tallent said.

In 2011 Jared was third across the line behind Russians Sergey Bakulin and Denis Nizhegorodov. With the disqualification of Bakulin, Nizhegorodov takes the gold and Jared the silver. In Moscow in 2013, Jared was again third, but with the disqualification of silver medallist Mikhail Ryzhov, Jared moves up to silver.

Tennis – De Minaur wins ATO title in Zhuhai

Alex de Minaur claimed his third title of 2019 in Zhuhai and will reclaim the mantle of Australia's No.1 male player.

The 20-year-old overcame Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 7-6(4) 6-4 to claim his third ATP title of the year.

The win is expected to see De Minaur rise six places to world No.25 next week – seeing him reclaim the top Australian men’s ranking.

The win over Mannarino capped an excellent week in Zhuhai for De Minaur, who beat John Millman, former No.1 Andy Murray, Borna Coric and world No.10 Roberto Bautista Agut en route to the final.

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BMX – Aussies cap off final round of UCI Supercross

Australian BMX racers capped off their UCI BMX Supercross season with the final two rounds in Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

In Sunday’s racing, Kai Sakakibara was the best placed Aussie, finishing just off the podium in fourth in his equal best result of the year. Sister Saya Sakakibara was the top finishing woman in ninth, just missing a finals berth. Anthony Dean also made the semi-final stage, finishing 16th.

Earlier in Saturday’s racing, Saya as the only Australian to make the final, finished in seventh, while Kai and Lauren Reynolds both made the semi-finals.

In the end of season ranking, Saya finished as the top ranked Australian in 7th, with Lauren Reynolds just behind in 11th. On the men’s side, Kai finished in 12th overall, with Anthony Dean in 17th.