Megan Fletcher may have bowed out at the quarter-finals stage of the European Games judo in Minsk, but the recently-declared Irish judoka is now a candidate to do big things at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Archery supplies Ireland’s first interest at the European Games in Minsk, with just one Irish competitor in action on the opening day.

The indoor 400m is renowned as a full-contact sport, with Thomas Barr feeling the full brunt of it yesterday in Abbotstown, as his bid for the Irish indoor title was shunted aside by rival Andrew Mellon.

Mark Christie won the Great Ireland Run in 29:30 in the Phoenix Park yesterday and also secured the national 10km title.

Mark English went in to the European Indoor Championships in Prague as Ireland’s main medal hope and he proved he could handle the pressure by delivering a silver medal in the 800m in 1:47.20.