Commonwealth Games quick hits: Para athletics medal race to be re

A para athletics race will be run again amid much drama, a Tongan weightlifter thrills the crowd with his dancing, and Nigeria wins the fashion stakes at the velodrome.

Here are the quick hits from day seven of the Commonwealth Games.

1. Para athletics race to be re-run

After a dramatic crash that took out two athletes, a disqualification that reordered the medal spots, and a subsequent protest, para athletics officials ordered a re-race of the women's 1,500m T54 final.

The race was thrown into chaos early on when Australian Eliza Ault-Connell went down heavily in a nasty crash, with Mauritian world champion Noemi Alphonse also knocked out of contention.

Canadian Nandini Sharma, who went on to finish second across the line, was disqualified for causing the crash.

After having that medal taken off her, Australia's Mikaela Dingley was promoted into the bronze medal position.

However, Australia and Mauritius protested the decision and, after Athletics Canada's appeal was dismissed, authorities decided to re-run the race, with some commentators saying it should have been stopped at the time of the crash.

Sharma will not be able to take to the start, with Canada saying it was "disappointed" in the decision.

"Having considered the multiple appeals that were submitted, the Jury has decided that the disqualification will stand," the statement read.

"While Athletics Canada is disappointed with this decision, we accept the process and look forward to Nandini competing again in the T53/54 400m race."

The re-race will be held on Friday 7:24pm AEST.

2. World record falls

Australian para cyclist Tara Neyland laid down a stunning time to top qualifying in the women's C4-C5 4,000m individual pursuit qualifying, setting a world record.

Her factored time was 4:45.796, achieved at an average speed of 49.716km/h.

Neyland later returned to the track to win gold in the final.

The 32-year-old is already a three-time world champion on the track and a two-time world champion on the road.

The women's individual pursuit distance officially moved from 3,000m to 4,000m on January 1, 2025, so competing at this distance is still relatively new.

Which perhaps accounts for England's Morgan Newbury breaking the world record in the C5 classification qualification period.

3. Tonga's dancing weightlifter

If weightlifting medals were handed out for post-lift moves, Tonga's Joshua Uikilifi would have topped the podium.

Uikilifi had the SEC Armadillo crowd eating out of the palm of his hand as he competed in the men's 110kg classification.

He treated spectators to some spectacular dance moves after each successful lift.

Uikilifi produced a total of 331kg to finish fourth behind Fiji's Taniela Rainibogi, who won gold with a Games record of 378kg.

4. Nigerian para cyclists turn heads

Australia dominated the medals on the opening day at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, but it was Nigeria which turned heads.

The Nigerian para cyclists hit the track in eye-catching uniforms, reportedly inspired by the kit worn by the national men's football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Oyindamola Abdullahi Tijani and pilot Okeyah Bethel looked magnificent as they contested the men's tandem B 1,000m time trial.

They deservedly got the seal of approval across social media platforms.

For the record, Tijani and Bethel finished fifth in the final.

Scotland's Neil Fachie (pilot: Aaron Pope) won gold ahead of James Ball (Matthew Rotherham) of Wales.

Australia's Kane Perris (Luke Zaccaria) took bronze.

5. Ronaldo and Beckham in the velodrome

If you thought the only sightings of David Beckham and Ronaldo at a major global sporting event were going to be in North America this year, then we have news for you.

Yes, that's right, David Beckham and Ronaldo were at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome in Glasgow, a stone's throw away from the footballing theatre of Celtic Park.

Well, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo and Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam were there, joining Rojit Singh Yanglem in India's team sprint squad.

"My father was a footballer in the national team, and he was a huge fan of David Beckham," Elkatohchoongo told AFP in 2023 at the Asian Games.

"When I was born in the hospital, they told my mum: if it's a boy, then it's David Beckham."

Laitonjam was also named after a footballer, not actually Ronaldo but Ronaldinho.

His father had, according to AFP, made a bet with his work colleagues that the Brazilian would score against England in the 2002 World Cup match they were watching.

The Barcelona legend promptly did, and minutes later Laitonjam senior received a phone call telling him that his wife was in labour.

"Just as the ball went in the goal, I must have started making an appearance," Laitonjam told The Hindu newspaper.

"I think my dad won some money that day. That's probably why I got that name. He felt I was very lucky for him."

David and Ronaldo could not add the necessary star power to the Indian team their namesakes may have demanded, though, finishing seventh and last in qualifying.

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