Girona Misses Chance to Go Top in Spain After Draw with Athletic Bilbao  

Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
TT

Girona Misses Chance to Go Top in Spain After Draw with Athletic Bilbao  

Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)

Girona missed a chance to return to the top of the Spanish league on Monday when it was held at home by Athletic Bilbao to 1-1.

Girona is the surprise team in La Liga and won 11 of its previous 12 games.

The Catalan side was the more spritely early on and had a first-half goal ruled out after a video review.

It took the lead 11 minutes into the second half when Ukrainian winger Viktor Tsygankov charged into a crowded penalty box and swept home a low cross from the left.

Girona’s 19-year-old Brazilian Savinho was once again one of the best players on show and it was his pass that led to Tsygankov’s goal.

However, the home side could not retain the lead. Twelve minutes after the opening score Girona defenders failed to halt a run from Iñaki Williams and he got off a side-footed shot that sneaked inside the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

The result means Girona remained in second place, tied on points with leader Real Madrid, but four points ahead of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, who were tied for third.

Bilbao moved to fifth, equal on points with Real Sociedad.



China’s Huang and Sheng Win First Gold of Paris Games at Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

 China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
TT

China’s Huang and Sheng Win First Gold of Paris Games at Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

 China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)

China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao won the first gold medal of the Paris Games on Saturday in the 10 meters air rifle mixed team event.

Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun of South Korea claimed silver and Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev of Kazakhstan were awarded bronze.

Three years after Yang Qian and Yang Haoran won the gold in Tokyo, compatriots Huang and Sheng made sure China retained it.

The reigning world champions topped the qualifying round ahead of their Korean rivals at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre.

The gold medal round was not really a cakewalk though despite them racing to a 14-8 lead after the first 11 shots.

Keum and Park staged a late comeback to reduce the gap at 14-12 but the Chinese pair prevailed 16-12 in the end.

Le and Satpayev gave Kazakhstan their first medal of the Paris Games with a 17-5 romp against the German pair of Anna Janssen and Maximilian Ulbrich.