It was an eventful, yet successful day on the Gold Coast yesterday at the games for the home nations and the hope of medals continues today. There were disappointments and surprises at both ends of the emotional spectrum.
Starting with Hockey and the England Women’s team fell just short of a chance at the gold medal. They took New Zealand to a shootout when it was 0-0 after full time but were just edged out in the end. The will still have a chance at a medal when they play India tomorrow in the bronze medal match.
There were a couple of medals won in the diving for England. Jack Laugher won gold in the 3m springboard event, his second of the games. 18-year-old Lois Toulson won her first ever medal when she finished third in the women’s 10m platform.
In athletics, Dina Asher-Smith did well to get bronze in the women’s 200m, although might be disappointed after a good start. Zharnel Hughes finished first in the men’s 200m final before being disqualified for running in another competitor’s lane to gain an advantage. What made it worst is that he was informed halfway around his lap of honour. An appeal was unsuccessful for what would have been a fantastic gold for England but it wasn’t to be.
England’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson moved into the lead with three events left in the Heptathlon which will be completed today.
The T38 women’s 100m saw Wales’ Olivia Breen pick up a bronze while England’s Sophie Hahn won gold.
In the mountain-biking, Annie Last came first to win gold for England while her teammate Evie Richards claimed silver.
Wales, who moved onto 25 medals yesterday, picked up their other one in the form of Curtis Dodge in the men’s 74kg weightlifting event. He received the bronze medal while England’s Georgina Nelthorpe also received the same award when she came third in the women’s 76kg weightlifting.
England finished the day on 87 medals but are still a great distance behind Australia who have 156 so far.
Eilidh Doyle picked up her third successive silver in the women’s 100m hurdles for Scotland. She can never quite get that gold but the medal takes Scotland up to 35 which is their highest at a Commonwealth Games that’s been held abroad.