“It definitely feels different in real life than watching it on telly!” Those were the words of Wales’ rising star gymnast Ruby Evans after impressing on her major championship debut. The 16-year-old from Cardiff became the first Welsh  gymnast to compete at a senior Artistic World Championships for 17 years – since before she was born.

Ruby Evans’ debut senior appearance at gymnastics’ World Championships ended with a sixth place finish as part of the Great Britain squad. The 16-year-old Welsh star gave an impressive and mature all-round display, but some of her more experienced colleague were slightly under-par and GB were unable to get among the medals. Simone Biles led the United States to a record seventh consecutive title with Brazil taking the silver and France earning bronze.

Just a point. That is all Wales need from their final pool match against Georgia in order to guarantee themselves top spot in Pool C. It doesn’t sound much until you reflect on the fact that Wales actually lost 13-12 to the same opponents in Cardiff 326 days ago.

Ruby Allen has retained her British Open Class II Women’s Senior all-around title following a stellar performance at the 2023 Disability British Artistic Championships. She also took gold on beam, silver on uneven bars and floor, while also picking up bronze on vault.

Mark Williams has admitted he thought his trophy-winning days were behind him before he lifted the British Open title. The Welsh legend rolled back the years to finally see off Mark Selby’s spirited fightback and take the title with a 10-7 victory in Cheltenham.

Vincent Mutai and Mestawut Fikir clinched Principality Cardiff Half Marathon glory at the race’s 20th-anniversary celebration event. Kenyan Mutai overcame course record holder and countryman Shadrack Kimining in humid conditions to take the title in 01:00:35 after a sprint finish down King Edward VII Avenue.

Alf Dinnie intends to create a fourth slice of Welsh hockey history on Saturday night. The Wales international was part of the Cardiff and Met team as they became the first Welsh men’s club to play in the English Premier Division two weeks ago.

Rosie Eccles believes the heartbreak of missing out on a place at the Tokyo Olympics will stand her in good stead when she finally realises a long-held boxing ambition in Paris next year. The 27-year-old from Cardiff was denied a second shot at reaching the delayed 2020 Games when Covid forced the cancellation of the second qualifier in London, and three personal bouts with the illness left her fearing the “curse” could strike again.

They play every week and bid to outdo each other as much with their names as on the scoreboard. Base Invaders v Son Of A Pitch. Drum and Bases v Saved By The Balls. Bats Hit Crazy v The Merry Go Rounders.

Matthew Maynard insists it will be the business of winning and not emotion driving him through his final match as Glamorgan coach which starts on Tuesday. The Glamorgan stalwart – as superb batsman, trophy-winning captain and in recent years in coaching – will end his time as head coach at Sophia Gardens when the county play their final match of the County Championship season at home to Derbyshire.

Wales goalkeeper Ella Jackson believes Swansea Hockey Club can start the climb back towards the top level when their season begins on Saturday. Swansea open their National Hockey League Division One North campaign at home to Durham University, three years to the week since they became the first Welsh club – men’s or women’s – to play in England’s Premier Division.

Josh Tarling and Zoe Backstedt underlined their status as the burgeoning stars of Welsh cycling with gold medals at the European Road Cycling Championships in the Netherlands. In a remarkable performance for Great Britain, Tarling secured the gold in the individual time trial in Drenthe.

Luke Hawker believes the whole of Welsh hockey can harvest the benefits of Cardiff and Met reaching the top of the tree. The Wales centurion may have travelled the world with the national team, but he will break new ground at club level this weekend.

Matthew Maynard is to step down as Glamorgan coach at the end of the season. The former England batsman will leave his role after the county’s final Division Two County Championship match against Derbyshire in a fortnight, although he may stay attached in a development role.

Sam Northeast admitted Glamorgan will be disappointed to be playing only for pride when they finish their County Championship campaign against Derbyshire in two weeks’ time. The classy batsman struck a superb 166 to deny Yorkshire victory in Glamorgan’s penultimate LV= Division Two County Championship clash at Sophia Gardens.

Wales’ Commonwealth Games marathon star Clara Evans has been selected for the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia on Sunday 1 October. Evans – who finished ninth at the Games in Birmingham last year, but has since taken a massive eight minutes off her marathon personal best – will run for Great Britain in the half marathon.

The Principality Stadium, Sophia Gardens, The Racecourse, St Helen’s . . . Wales has a rich mix of modern, atmospheric and historic sporting venues. But on Sunday, one of the nation’s most unique sporting stages marked a return to the international stage after a decade’s absence.

Jade Jones produced a stunning performance to beat former world champion Luo Zongshi in Paris to claim her second World Taekwondo Grand Prix final success of the year. Wales’ revitalised double Olympic gold medallist defeated her Chinese opponent 2-0 in the final of the –57kg division, gaining a measure of revenge for last year’s world championship semi-final defeat.

Ben Pritchard admitted he felt deflated after failing to improve on a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade. Swansea’s Great Britain para rower collected a second successive bronze in the PR1 men’s single sculls.

Rob Davies will bid for his fifth consecutive European title at the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships in Sheffield on Thursday. The Welsh star is in the final of the men’s class 1, where he will take on Endre Major of Hungary.