Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith withdraw from Commonwealths

Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games due to injury, confirming her absence on the day of the opening ceremony. Johnson-Thompson, a silver medallist at the 2024 Olympics, was expected to compete in her third Commonwealth Games, where she had previously won gold. Dina Asher-Smith and Matt Hudson-Smith have also been replaced in the relay events. This withdrawal poses a setback for the event, amid other notable absences such as Keely Hodgkinson and Julien Alfred. Organizers maintain a focus on the remaining athletes as competition is set to begin next week.

• 12:19 PMBBC Sport — Johnson-Thompson and Asher-Smith out of Commonwealths