Birmingham - players.bio

Alice Dearing backed for Paris Olympics push

Alice Dearing has been told her turbulent Tokyo experience will harden her for the heat of Paris Olympic battle. The Birmingham marathon swimming star, 25, became the first black female swimmer to represent Britain at an Olympic Games last year where she finished a disappointing 19th-place in the 10km event. Ad But Keri-anne Payne, a Beijing 2008 marathon swimming silver medallist, believes that crucial first Olympic experience combined with three years more training will mean Dearing can challenge for a medal in Paris.

Matty Lee urged to embrace 'golden boy' mantle

Matty Lee has been told to inherit Tom Daley's mantle as the golden boy of British diving with exactly 500 days to go until the Paris Olympic Games. Leeds star Lee, 25, catapulted himself into the spotlight by winning Olympic gold in Tokyo alongside Daley — but is also a European champion and went on to win gold and bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last summer.

Swiss Open: Title holder PV Sindhu Eyes Turnaround

Enduring a wretched run of form, defending champion PV Sindhu will hope to get back to winning ways when she competes at the Swiss Open Super 300 tournament, beginning in Basel on Tuesday. World number 9 HS Prannoy, who had finished runners-up in the last edition, too will eye a better show after a second round exit in the All England Championships. The fifth seeded Indian, however, will have a tough task at hand as he opens against 2018 world championships silver medallist China's Shi Yuqi, who finished second best in Birmingham last week.