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Tokyo 2020: Abigail Irozuru qualifies for long jump final

Tokyo 2020: Abigail Irozuru qualifies for long jump final
© Reuters
Abigail Irozuru and British team-mate Jazmin Sawyers reached Tuesday's long jump final.

Great Britain's Abigail Irozuru declared she is ready to shine at the Olympics after reaching the long jump final in Tokyo.

The 31-year-old automatically qualified for Tuesday's final after a season's best of 6.75m.

She is joined in the final by Jazmin Sawyers, who finished in the top 12 after jumping 6.62m, although Lorraine Ugen failed to progress with a jump of 6.05m.

Irozuru was not selected for London 2012 and after missing Rio due to a ruptured Achilles she retired but returned in 2019 bidding to reach Tokyo.

She said: "It sucked to miss Rio and London but it is extra special to be here at this very weird Olympic Games.

"But for me it wasn't weird, the whole experience, being in the stadium, there was atmosphere, there was life, this has literally been the highlight of my whole Olympic experience so far so I'm loving it.

"It looked like I didn't need to do 75, but I'm so thankful. It was a nice confidence boost to get a season's best, to finally jump over 6.70 this season, and to hit the automatic qualifying because that's what I came here to do.

"I would have preferred to do it in round one, but it's nice that I know I can build through, and that's going to stand me in good stead hopefully for the final.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – Day Nine
Great Britain's Jazmin Sawyers also progressed at the Olympic Stadium. (Martin Rickett/PA)

"There is more to come, there's things that I've been working on and I'm starting to execute as I'm building through the rounds, so hopefully with six rounds in the final it will come – I really want a personal best because it's always nice to do that at the major championships."

Sawyers finished 11th in qualifying and believes she will improve on Tuesday.

She said: "I'm confident there's a lot more in the tank. To be honest, it can be ugly as long as I am in the final, that's what counts.

"We know how finals go, anything can happen. I'll be back in two days' time ready to attack, because when I am in a final I'm there to try take those top spots."

Tokyo Olympics 2020 – Kitting Out – Birmingham NEC
Lizzie Bird reached the steeplechase final in Tokyo. (David Davies/PA)

Lizzie Bird became the first British woman to reach the steeplechase final after finishing fifth.

In the evening session, Zharnel Hughes, CJ Ujah and Reece Prescod are all aiming to reaching the 100 metres final while Tom Gale competes in the high jump final.

Elliot Giles and Daniel Rowden also run in the 800m semi-finals.

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Dina Asher-Smith pictured at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on July 31, 2021
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Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina34241775
United StatesUnited States30352893
JapanJapan22101547
Great BritainGreat Britain18182056
Olympics flagRussian Olympic Committee17232262
Today's Olympic highlights header

Friday's key events


HOCKEY
· Great Britain's women aim to secure their place on the podium as they face India in the bronze medal match (2.30am)
· Netherlands - silver medallists five years ago - and Argentina battle for the gold medal in the women's final (11am)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
· The women's gold medal will be decided as Australia and USA go head to head (3.30am)

BOXING
· Lauren Price will be looking to add to Team GB's success in the ring when she takes on Nouchka Fontijn of Netherlands in the women's middleweight semi-final (6am)

DIVING
· Tom Daley already has one Olympic gold to his name in Tokyo, and he begins his bid for second in the men's 10m platform. Teammate Noah Williams is also involved in the preliminary round (7am)

CYCLING
· Jason Kenny's reign as sprint king may be over, but Jack Carlin looked strong in his bid to succeed his compatriot. He takes on Harrie Lavreysen in his sprint semi-final (8.10am), with the final taking place later in the day (10.35am)
· The women's madison makes its Olympic debut at the velodrome as Team GB duo Katie Archibald and Laura Kenny look to add another medal to their collections (9.15am)

FOOTBALL
· Hosts Japan will look to get themselves on the podium as they face Mexico in the men's bronze medal match (10am)
· The women's champions will be crowned as both Sweden and Canada aim to win Olympic gold for the very first time (1pm)

ATHLETICS
· The men's 5000m final includes Great Britain's Andrew Butchart, but most eyes will be on Ugandan world record holder Joshua Cheptegei (1pm)
· Team GB's Jodie Williams will hope to get on the podium in the women's 400m final, but defending champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo is favourite for gold while Stephenie Ann McPherson should challenge and Allyson Felix is bidding to become the most decorated female track and field athlete of all time (1.35pm)
· Netherlands' Sifan Hassan takes on leg two of her ambitious attempt at a Tokyo treble in a women's 1500m final which also includes Great Britain's Laura Muir and Faith Kipyegon of Kenya (1.50pm)
· A star-studded women's 4x100m relay final will see a Team GB quartet including Dina Asher-Smith look to upset defending champions USA and favourites Jamaica, who boast Elaine Thompson-Herah as she goes for her third gold of the Games (2.30pm)
· Great Britain and Jamaica will also be going for gold in the men's 4x100m relay final, and their medal hopes have been boosted by USA's failure to qualify (2.50pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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