Long wins gold, breaks 16-year world record

Chinese weightlifter Long Qingquan broke the 56kg division world record en route to defeating defending Olympic champion Om Yun Chol of North Korea and claiming gold on Sunday.

His total of 307kg surpassed Halil Mutlu's world record of 305kg set at Sydney 2000.

Thailand's Sinphet Kruaithong took the bronze, but his elation was short-lived as his 84-year-old grandmother Subin Khongthap died while celebrating his achievement.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Boxer caught for alleged sexual assault

Brazilian police have arrested a 22-year-old Namibian boxer on suspicion of attempting to sexually assault a room maid at the Olympic Village.

Jonas Junius, competing in the light welterweight division, allegedly grabbed the maid and tried to kiss her. He is also suspected of offering the victim money to sleep with him.

REUTERS

Russia to contest Paralympic ban

Russia yesterday blamed politics for the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) decision to bar its Paralympians from taking part in next month's Rio Games because of a state- sponsored doping programme, saying it would press ahead with a legal attempt to overturn the ban.

The decision means that at least 250 Russian competitors are set to miss the Sept 7-18 Paralympics.

REUTERS

Brazilian first to tee off golf competition

Brazilian Adilson da Silva will strike the first tee shot as golf returns to the Olympic Games after an absence of more than 100 years on Thursday.

Monday's draw for the men's event grouped da Silva with Canada's Graham DeLaet, whose countryman George Lyon won the last Olympic golf tournament in 1904.

REUTERS

Bans of Isinbayeva, Shubenkov upheld

The Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne has dismissed the appeals by Russia's two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva and Sergei Shubenkov, the 110m hurdles world champion, to overturn the ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport banning them from competing in the Rio Olympics, according to TASS news agency.