Johnson-Thompson shrugs off injury to take gold for England

Katarina Johnson-Thompson claimed the Commonwealth Games heptathlon title on the Gold Coast despite battling a calf injury during the two-day competition.

Johnson-Thompson finished fourth in the 800 metres to wrap up the crown and add it to her World Indoor Pentathlon title.

The 25-year-old struggled with the injury throughout and was far from her best, but still easily beat Canada’s Nina Schultz with England’s Niamh Emerton taking bronze.

“The treble is a big ask. I said that I wanted to win two golds, I’ve done that. I want to win three medals. It is a really big ask but I believe in myself.”

South Africa’s Caster Semenya added the 800m title to the 1500m title she won earlier in the Games, blazing home in a new Games record of one minute 56.68 seconds.

Tom Daley won his fourth Commonwealth Games gold medal with victory in the men’s synchronised 10-metres platform title alongside partner Dan Goodfellow.

Daley’s participation in the event had been in doubt when he pulled out of the individual competition two days ago due to a hip injury.

Daley said: “Two days ago I was not sure if I was going to compete with my hip. I nearly pulled out of the competition for safety reasons.

“That’s why this medal means so much because I really put everything into that synchro competition to get to the start line.”

There was more diving success for England as Olympic champions Jack Laugher and Chris Mears took the men’s synchronised three-metres springboard title with a winning score of 436.17.

Grace Reid won the women’s one-metre springboard title to become Scotland’s first Commonwealth Games diving gold medallist in 60 years.

Reid, who made her debut in Delhi aged 14, said: “I haven’t been sleeping and eating as much as normal because I have been really nervous.

“Experience came into play and I went into autopilot this evening.”

Sixteen British and Irish boxers will contest Commonwealth Games finals on Saturday after successfully negotiating their semi-finals.

Friday winners included Northern Ireland flyweight Brendan Irvine, who edged Scotland’s Reece McFadden via split decision, Welshman Sammy Lee and England surprise package Paige Murney, who is competing in her first major tournament.

Defeats meant a further seven British and Irish boxers will have to settle for bronze medals, including light-welterweight favourite Luke McCormack, who dropped a tight decision to Jonas Jonas of Namibia.

England will play hosts Australia for gold in the women’s basketball final after a 65-53 semi-final victory over Canada.

Lawn bowler Alex Marshall became the most successful athlete in Scotland’s Commonwealth Games history with a fifth gold medal as his men’s fours team beat Australia 15-13.

Laura Halford claimed a silver medal for Wales in the women’s rhythmic gymnastics hoop final, finishing behind Diamanto Evripidou of Cyprus.

Northern Ireland’s Kirsty Barr won silver in the women’s trap while England’s Sam Gowin and Sarah Wixey of Wales also took shooting bronze medals.

England will play India in the men’s hockey bronze medal match after a 2-1 defeat to hosts Australia.