Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Niamh Emerson were amongst a host of Team England medallists as they took pentathlon gold and silver at the European Indoor Championships.

Commonwealth heptathlon champion Johnson-Thompson reclaimed the title she first won in 2015, with a total of 4,983 points, just short of the world record mark of 5,013 points.

Former Commonwealth Youth Games high jump champion Emerson broke personal bests in each event to surpass the heptathlon Commonwealth Games bronze medal she achieved in 2018 to record her best senior result.

“It was a really good day. I was going to say I couldn’t ask for more but I did want a little bit more,” said Johnson-Thompson.

“But what I did today was really high level. 4900 points is my second best ever so yes, I am very happy to come away with the gold.”

After missing out on gold by one hundredth of a second at the 2017 championships, Shelayna Oskan-Clarke left no room for doubt this time around as she stormed clear of the field to win the 800m event in 2:02.58.

Elsewhere, Holly Bradshaw continued her impressive indoor form to take silver in the pole vault, as did Amber Anning who was part of the 4x400m relay team that finished runners-up to Poland.

Finally, defending 60m champion Asha Philip picked up the bronze medal in a photo finish.


Pitchford & Tsaptsinos claim national titles

Maria Tsaptsinos claimed her maiden Women’s Singles title at the PG Mutual National Championships as Liam Pitchford collected his fifth.

In an all Team England final, Tsaptsinosbeat beat defending champion Tin-Tin Ho 4-2, while Pitchford put on a commanding display to beat Paul Drinkhall 4-0.

There was however success for both Drinkhall and Ho in the men’s and women’s doubles events as they teamed up with Pitchford and Tsaptsinos once again to become national doubles champions.

“I’m ecstatic, happy, all those emotions,”Tsaptsinos told Table Tennis England.

“I played well, so that tops it – if you play well and feel good, it makes a difference.

“My mentality was very strong, I had my tactics laid down and fought for every ball. She didn’t play her best and I raised my level quite a bit.”

 

Daley’s double delight

Tom Daley made a successful return to international competition after winning two medals at the season-opening Diving World Series in Japan.

Competing internationally for the first time since last year’s Commonwealth Games, where he took gold in the 10m synchro event alongside Dan Goodfellow, Daley won silver in the men’s 10m platform and bronze in the 3m synchro with Grace Reid.

"The standard was so high in both events and all of the finalists went over 500 in the 10m and all went over 300 in the 3m and I can't remember when that last happened,” Daley told BBC Sport. "If anyone had said I was going to come into this with 580 points, I would have taken that and ran with it."