Ballet boxer wiggles in semis

Harry Garside, a plumber who has blended ballet into his boxing, reached the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics yesterday, earning Australia's first medal in the sport in 33 years.

The 24-year-old, who followed his brothers into boxing, defeated Kazakhstan's Zakir Safiullin with a split points decision victory in their lightweight bout. He is now guaranteed at least a bronze.

Judges' scorecards are displayed on big screens after each bout in the Japanese capital. They showed that there was nothing between the two as they went into the third and final round at Kokugikan Arena.

But it was Garside, who has tried unusual methods to improve his boxing, such as ballet, who squeezed into the last four.

He fights Cuba's Andy Cruz in Friday's semi-final.