Women’s golf: India’s Aditi Ashok carded a second round of 66 to claim the halfway lead in the Saudi Ladies International today.

Starting from the 10th at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, Ashok fired five birdies in her first seven holes before holing out from a greenside bunker on the par-five 18th to be out in 29.

The 24-year-old, who won her fourth LET title in Kenya by nine shots earlier this month, dropped shots on the first and sixth before completing her round with a birdie on the ninth.

At 13 under par Ashok enjoyed a two-shot lead over world number one Lydia Ko and American Lilia Vu, with Ko adding a 69 to her opening 64 and Vu matching Ashok’s 66 despite the windy conditions.

England’s Cara Gainer is five shots off the lead after a 67, with compatriot and defending champion Georgia Hall another two strokes back following a 68.

Olympics: European governments have been urged to put pressure on the International Olympic Committee to block Russian athletes from competing at next year’s Games in Paris.

The IOC executive board initially recommended international sports federations exclude athletes from those countries from their events in the days immediately after the invasion.

IOC president Thomas Bach has since said that was a measure designed to protect those athletes, and along with those same federations and other stakeholders is now looking at how Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete under strict conditions in the run-up to Paris.

He has criticised governments around the world for politicising the participation of athletes, and said no-one should be discriminated against because of the passport they hold.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer chaired a meeting of ministers to discuss the issue of Russian participation in the Olympic Games.

A collective statement from those involved is now expected early next week.