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Shooting: The bid of shooter Michael Gault (picture) to become the outright most successful Commonwealth athlete of all time is over after he missed out on a place in the final of the 50m air pistol, yesterday. The 60-year-old grandfather from Norfolk, competing at his sixth Games, had drawn level with fellow shooter Phillip Adams on Saturday when he won his 18th medal, taking bronze in the 10m discipline. Gault said afterwards that he had achieved what he came out of retirement for, and that he would be ‘chillaxing’ when he stepped back on to the range for yesterday’s event. And, despite shooting a competitive total of 529 from his six rounds, he bowed out of the competition in the 13th place.
Cycling: Geraint Thomas has signed a new two-year deal with Team Sky that will run until the end of 2016. The versatile Welshman has become an important part of the team since joining in 2010 and produced some brilliant rides in this year’s Tour de France as he eventually placed 22nd. His result was his highest finish in a Grand Tour, while last year he helped Chris Froome clinch Team Sky’s second yellow jersey in two years in France. Thomas, one of eight British riders at the team, has committed himself to the road in the last couple of years. Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said: “We’re delighted that Geraint has re-signed. He’s been essential to the success that we’ve had.”
Rugby Union: Dan Carter’s sabbatical from rugby had achieved its purpose and the next step is to watch his performance at test level after he was named in New Zealand’s Rugby Championship squad yesterday, coach Steve Hansen has said. Carter returned to Super Rugby in late June following a six-month break to have surgery and work on his conditioning after a series of niggling injuries that had placed his participation at next year’s rugby World Cup in England in doubt. Carter, 32, has been playing at inside centre, where he started his international career before shifting to flyhalf in 2004, for the Canterbury Crusaders but has looked composed and sharp in his appearances to date.
Tennis: Top seed John Isner claimed the Atlanta Open title for the second successive year with a 6-3 6-4 defeat of Israel’s Dudi Sela on Sunday. Standing 6-foot-10, Isner towered over the 5-foot-9 Sela and punished him with his serve. The world number 12 cracked down 15 aces to end the run of the diminutive Sela who was playing his first ATP title for six years. “This is my favourite time of year,” American Isner told reporters. “I’m off to a very good start again. I look forward to playing Washington DC again (this week). I’ve played well there my whole career.” The Atlanta tournament was the first in the US Open series which offers a $1 million bonus at the US Open for the player at the top of the standings.
Golf: European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has pulled out of the US PGA Championship with a shoulder injury, the Irishman said. The 47-year-old McGinley has suffered from bursitis in his left shoulder, an affliction which forced him to miss the French Open at the start of July. “The scan showed that I really needed to rest my shoulder for a couple of months if I am to address the injury properly and so, because of that, I have regrettably had to withdraw from the US PGA Championship,” McGinley, who was set to compete after an invitation from the PGA of America, said.
Tennis: Grigor Dimitrov and Gael Monfils have withdrawn from this week’s Citi Open Tournament. Dimitrov was diagnosed with flu. “We will miss having Grigor as a part of this year’s tournament, but his health is priority no.1,” said Jeff Newman, tournament director. “We hope he gets better quickly and wish him great success for the rest of the year.” Monfils withdraws for the second straight week because of a knee injury.