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Barber outlasts fellow Aussie to win as HUGE line-up of events loom: Comm Games LIVE

Barber outlasts fellow Aussie to win as HUGE line-up of events loom: Comm Games LIVE

Australia took home a stunning nine gold medals on Saturday and there are plenty more chances to add to the tally on Day 10 of the Commonwealth Games.

Foxsports.com.au has you covered with live updates from all the key events, which you can follow below!

DAY 9 WRAP: Aussies claim nine gold in staggering Commonwealth Games blitz

MEDAL TALLY: Aussies’ gold rush after Poms turn up heat in Comm Games race

JAMAICAN STAR KEEPS AUSSIES OFF PODIUM

Australia was a whisker away of earning a podium finish in the women’s 4 x 100m women’s relay, but it sadly wasn’t to be.

Ella Connolly ran a blistering opening leg and the Aussies were in the lead at the halfway mark, but sadly fell away as Jamaica crept ahead on the final stretch thanks to a blistering leg from Elaine Thompson-Herah.

The race was won by Nigeria.

BARBER SURVIVES AUSSIE’S ONSLAUGHT IN THRILLING JAVELIN FINAL

Despite throwing two personal bests, Mackenzie Little could not dethrone Kelsey-Lee Barber as she secured her first Commonwealth Games gold medal.

Barber took the lead with her first throw of 63.52m, but Little quickly surged ahead and set a new personal best of 64.03m.

Little then extended the gap at the top even more with a throw of 64.27m as she smashed her personal best yet again.

But under enormous pressue, Barber pulled out a throw of 64.43m to oust Little and win the gold.

AUSSIE STAR CRUELLY ROBBED OF GOLD

Callum Peters can count himself extremely unlucky as he lost the gold medal fight in the men’s middleweight to Scotland’s Sam Hickey.

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TINGAY OUSTED IN GRUELLING RACE

Australia’s Declan Tingay led for most of the men’s 10km walk but was unfortunately pipped to the gold medal as Canada’s Evan Dunfee won the event.

NO LUCK FOR SCOTT IN BOXING BATTLE

Kaye Scott’s tilt at a gold medal has unfortunately ended at the hands of Wales’ Rosie Eccles.

Eccles outclassed Scott throughout the fight as both women showed they were willing to trade early in the first round.

But it was the Welsh star who got the better of the exchanges and forced the referee into a standing count for Scott with a minute left in the first round.

Scott survived and finished with flurries of punches, but was almost certainly behind on the judges’ scorecards.

The tough times continued into the second round, as Scott faced a standing count with two minutes to go before a third and final standing count arrived with 90 seconds remaining.

Despite the unfortunate ending, it is an improvement on Scott’s previous Commonwealth Games performance in which she won the bronze medal.

BAKER WINS GOLD!

Georgia Baker has won Australia’s first gold medal of the day after taking out the women’s road race in the cycling.

It was a gruelling race that pushed the six-strong Australian contingent to the brink, but Baker finished first over the line in what was her third gold medal in Birmingham.

Baker is joined on the podium by fellow Aussie Sarah Roy, who came third.

Georgia Baker wins the gold medal. Picture: Channel 7
Georgia Baker wins the gold medal. Picture: Channel 7Source: Supplied

AUSSIE WINS SILVER IN FIRST-EVER GAMES

In his first Commonwealth Games, Lin Ma has secured a silver medal for Australia in the men’s table tennis singles Classes 8-10.

Ma sadly lost to Wales’ Joshua Stacey, who won by three sets to two.

JUMPING JENNEKE JUST SHY OF PB IN HURDLES FINAL

Michelle Jenneke was unfortunately outclassed in the women’s 100m hurdles final, as Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan took home the gold medal.

Jenneke was right in the mix at the very start, but the heavy hitters eventually pulled away.

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HEARTBREAK AS AUSSIE STAR HOSPITALISED

Australian cycling star Rohan Dennis has unfortunately been forced to withdraw from the men’s road race, joining Caleb Ewan on the sidelines.

An Aus Cycling statement read: “Rohan Dennis will take no further part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games following medical advice.

Dennis, who took gold in the Men’s Individual Time Trial on Thursday, woke up on Saturday morning in discomfort and was taken to a local hospital to undergo tests and observations.

As a precaution, Dennis was advised to withdraw from today’s road race, but remains comfortable and under observation.”

Australia’s six-man team for the event is now down to four, with Luke Durbridge, Luke Plapp, Miles Scotson and Sam Fox set to compete.

Australian Michelle Jenneke came fifth in the 100m hurdles final. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

ATHLETICS

All eyes will no doubt be on Peter Bol, who is competing in the men’s 800m final at around 4.35am.

Jessica Hull is also a strong chance at a medal when she competes in the women’s 1500m final alongside fellow Australians Abbey Caldwell and Linden Hall.

Caldwell and Hall progressed to the final after finishing inside the top four of their race with times of 4:13.59 and 4:14.08 respectively while Hull had a time of 4:16.13.

CRICKET

Australia won a thriller in the opening pool game against India but will they be able to get past their fierce rivals when it matters most?

The two will face off for the gold medal in the T20 final, with that game scheduled for around 2am.

Hot favourites Australia toppled New Zealand by five wickets in their semi-final while India edged England by four runs in a thrilling contest.

Ash Gardner was the hero when these two sides met in the pool stages, striking an unbeaten 52 from 35 balls to help the gold medal favourites chase down a 155-run target.

Australia struggled early in that game, with Indian seamer Renuka Singh recording 4-18 in just four overs as the top-order fell apart before Gardner’s heroics saved the day.

NETBALL

It all comes down to this for our Aussie Diamonds, who will take on Jamaica in the gold medal match at 5.30am.

Australia gave up a six-goal lead in a stunning 57-55 loss to Jamaica in the pool stages, with international superstar Jhaniele Fowler starring in the upset win.

The West Coast Fever sensation scored 47 goals and backed it up with a perfect 54 from just as many attempts as a perfect shooting night saw Jamaica take down the Silver Ferns in the semis.

Australia booked its spot in the final with a 60-51 win over England in a spiteful game in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Gretel Bueta was the standout in that victory, with 43 goals at 98 per cent accuracy.

Gretel Bueta in action. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

HOCKEYROOS

And as if the cricket and netball finals were not enough, the Hockeyroos will also be in action against England in the women’s gold medal match.

That final is scheduled for midnight, with Australia booking its spot in the decider after defeating New Zealand and India.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

There are two chances for Australia to claim gold in beach volleyball, with the first final at 1am as Paul Burnett and Chris McHugh take on Canada.

Later in the early hours of the morning, attention will turn towards the women’s doubles final. Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy took home silver for Australia at Tokyo and will be looking to make it gold at Birmingham when they face defending champions Canada at 6am.

CYCLING

Four men will be representing Australia in the men’s road race at 9:30pm.

BADMINTON & TABLE TENNIS

Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen and Gronya Somerville will be looking to progress through to the gold medal match when they play England in the women’s doubles semi-final.

Meanwhile, Yangzi Liu will be going for bronze in the women’s singles table tennis at 8.05pm before Finn Luu and Nicholas Lum do the same in the men’s doubles event at 10.05pm.

Gronya Somerville of Team Australia celebrates winning a point. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

DIVING

14-year-old starlet Charli Petrov and veteran Melissa Wu took gold in the women’s 10m synchronised dive and there are more opportunities for medals on Sunday.

All eyes will be on Brittany O’Brien, Maddison Keeney and Georgia Sheehan as they compete for a medal in the women’s 3m springboard prelims at 8.44pm.

Follow all the action live below! Can’t see the updates? Click here!

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Commonwealth Games – Birmingham 2022: When is it, host city, events, Aussie athletes, how to watch in Australia

Commonwealth Games - Birmingham 2022: When is it, host city, events, Aussie athletes, how to watch in Australia

The Commonwealth Games are fast approaching, with Team Australia gearing up for the first edition of the event since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2022 Games.

When are the Commonwealth Games 2022?

The upcoming edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place from July 28 – August 8, 2022, bookmarked by the opening and closing ceremonies.

Due to the rescheduling of other major sporting events such as the UEFA European Women’s Championship, the entire schedule of the Games has been moved by a day from its original dates to avoid any clashes.

Where are the Commonwealth Games 2022?

Birmingham is the host city for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Based in the West Midlands region of England, the city will host the Games for the first time ever.

The event will take place in summer, with comfortable temperature highs of 21 degrees Celcius. 

Durban was originally named as the host for the 2022 Games but was forced to withdraw in 2017 due to financial problems.

By the end of the year, Birmingham was eventually named the replacement host city.

Commonwealth Games 2022 events

Five new sports will be added this year to the existing 10 core sports from the 2018 Games.

Road cycling, judo, triathlon, table tennis, and wrestling will now feature in Birmingham as part of the latest edition of the Commonwealth Games Charter.

A full breakdown of the events is available here.

Which Aussie athletes are taking part in the Commonwealth Games 2022?

A record 474 Australian athletes participated in 2018, with the size of this year’s team unconfirmed.

Stars from the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo are expected to compete, including Ariarne Titmus (swimming), Nicola McDermott (high jump), and Peter Bol (running). 

The Australian contingent will join a pool of approximately 4,500 athletes in Birmingham, stemming from 72 nations. 

How to watch the Commonwealth Games in Australia

Channel 7 will broadcast all the action from Birmingham across their free-to-air channels and streaming service 7Plus.

The broadcaster has an exclusive deal with the Commonwealth Games Federation that covers broadcast, digital, radio, social media, and subscription television rights. 

Specific details and timings will be announced closer to the event.

Upcoming Commonwealth Games host venues

The Commonwealth Games will return to Australia after 2022, with Victoria officially announced as the host for the 2026 edition. 

It marks the first time the Games will not be held exclusively in one city, with a number of regional Victorian cities combing to host various events. 

The city of Hamilton in Canada is the likely 2030 host, although this is yet to be confirmed.

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‘Big events’ can keep young Aussie rugby players at home

'Big events' can keep young Aussie rugby players at home

Talented Waratahs playmaker Ben Donaldson believes the lure of a British & Irish Lions series and a home Rugby World Cup is a motivating factor that will help keep young players in the country, as news of further overseas departures hit Australian rugby on Wednesday morning.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Wallabies forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Brumbies youngster Nick Frost will head to Japan at the end of the year, while any hope Rugby Australia had of bringing world-class Rory Arnold back home has been scuppered by a Japanese deal that will make him the highest paid Australian player in the game.

All three are perfect examples of the money that exists offshore, but it’s also a reminder that while big offers from overseas were once largely the domain of players coming towards the end of their careers, these days players of all ages can take advantage of such an opportunity.

But speaking to media ahead of his side’s showdown with arch rivals the Reds in Sydney on Friday, Donaldson said he was focused on what he could achieve on home soil, rather than any big-money offer that might be available overseas.

“Yes and no, I’ve thought about it a little bit,” he said of his longer-term future. “But I’m more short-term kind of guy, I basically just look at the year that it is now. So I’ve got some goals for this year obviously and I’m really process driven, so week by week, I just worry about the game that’s coming this week, and then next week we’ll worry about that when it comes.

“I guess overseas, it’s definitely in my plans down the track, but my main goal is obviously to stay in Australia for as long as I can and play for the Wallabies – that’s the No. 1 goal before anything else.”

Australian rugby is on the cusp of another golden run of local events, with World Rugby set to ratify the nation as 2027 World Cup hosts later this year.

With the Lions set to head Down Under in 2025, hosting the World Cup two years later means Australia will have the same stellar calendar it did just after the turn of the millennium, giving players the opportunity to contest the game’s two flagship international events on home soil within three years of each other.

And Donaldson says he, and many young other players too, have the events circled on their calendar.

“It’s very exciting for Australian rugby with all these big events happening in the next four to eight years,” he said. “A lot of us young boys coming through, it’s not just me, but a lot of boys are really striving to be here, to be around for those big events.

“And me personally, they’re a few goals of mine for the long term. But like it is with the 10s, I feel like there’s a good opportunity at the moment and in the next few years to really push my case and keep improving so that I can be around for those big occasions.”

While he acknowledges the money may be hard to resist for some, Donaldson says it does not outweigh his desire to play well for club and country.

“I really hope [people hang around], because there is a good crop of players in Australia at the moment coming through the ranks, a lot of boys really pushing their case for the Wallabies,” he said.

“But yeah it’s hard to say, the money overseas attracts a fair few players. But I know for myself and a lot of boys who I’m mates with, we’re not too worried about money at this stage, we just want to play well for our state and country.”

Donaldson is one of a number of talented young Australian playmakers in Super Rugby Pacific this year, and this week has the chance to test himself against Wallabies veteran James O’Connor.

With the Reds star among the favourites to wear the No. 10 jersey against England later this year, Donaldson is keen to put his name on the radar of Wallabies selectors with a good performance in the always feisty local derby.

“It’s exciting, I obviously love testing myself against these guys who have been in the Wallabies setup for a while now,” he said. “And like you said, play a few good games and you never know what might happen.

“The goal is to make the Wallabies squad, and especially coming up against James this weekend, he’s a class player, so it’s a bit more for me to try and earn his respect. If I can play a good game, I can earn his respect and then the [Wallabies] coaches as well. But it’s more exciting than anything, try to have a good game, prepare well, nothing really changes and then hopefully I play some good footy.”