Sport stretched out over Tokyo on Saturday and gold medals rained down as the Olympic Games burst into life, finally casting aside some of the shadow of COVID-19 and controversy that has plagued the global showpiece.
China made an instant statement of intent when Yang Qian grabbed the Games¡¯ first gold, and Japanese judoka Naohisa Takato lifted home hearts with gold on the mat a day after the nation¡¯s global superstar, tennis player Naomi Osaka, had lit the cauldron to officially open the pandemic-delayed Olympics.
Iran were also cheering early after Javad Foroughi won the men¡¯s 10m air pistol event, and Ecuador¡¯s Richard Carapaz won the men¡¯s cycling road race as unexpected nations featured at the top of the medals table.
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