If one thing remains true in every Olympic Basketball Tournament, it’s that winning the first game is incredibly important.
The Boomers have been the victim of this in the past dropping difficult openers and struggling to recover.
Nigeria offer a very trying first game as they feature eight NBA players (the most outside USA) but they are largely a new side so don’t have the experience of Australia’s core of Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes who are all on either their third or fourth Olympics.
The Boomers will start with their four veterans plus power forward Jock Landale who won the Larry Sengstock Medal as NBL Grand Final MVP while leading Melbourne United to the title. He and Chris Goulding flew out for the US the day after the title win.Watch out for NBA swingman Matisse Thybulle who is playing his first games for Australia and has been a game-changer off the bench in the Boomers three lead-up games.Keen NBA fans will recognise Nnamdi Vincent, he plays as Gabe Vincent in the NBA, and Precious Achiuwa from the Miami Heat while Josh Okogie from Minnesota Timberwolves is another to watch.
For those who don’t normally watch international basketball, it’s a more physical, demanding style of play so watch how much work it takes for shooters to get free or someone to beat their defender and drive to the basket.
Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer all but left cycling to focus on a career in academia but on Sunday reintroduced herself to the sport in emphatic fashion, winning gold at the Tokyo Olympic women’s road race. The 30-year-old had led the 137-kilometre race all day, first as part of a primary three-person break that she attacked with 40 kilometres to go to ride solo to the finish.
Intense heat and humidity could force competition schedule changes at the Tokyo Olympics and the International Olympic Committee said on Sunday it would back any such plans if needed.
Athletes across several sports have complained that competing in midday heat, where temperatures regularly hit or exceed 33 degrees, has hampered their performances. High humidity has added to discomfort and athletes have failed to find much relief from supplied ice bags and hoses blowing cool air.
“Competition schedules have been built where possible to avoid the hottest parts of the day but that is not possible with every sport,” the IOC’s sports director Kit McConnell said. Yahoo Tenki, one of Japan’s most popular weather apps, has offered caution over the risk of heatstroke, saying users should “avoid exercising under the sun” and “minimise vigorous exercise”.
-Reuters
From leading by two at the end of half time, Australia’s defence has let the Sharks down in the last two quarters as they lose their first water polo game against Montenegro, 15-10. Although Blake Edwards and Aaron Younger both attempted to tighten the goal deficit, Montenegro proved lethal in front of the cage, utilising each time Australia conceded an exclusion after a major foul.
Montenegro’s Aleksandar Ivovic pours water on his face.Credit:AP
Over the course of the game, Montenegro scored seven out of eight times they had player advantage, reiterating for Australia the importance of balancing aggression and patience in games like this.There was a moment of controversy in this quarter after an attempt on goal by Australia was batted away by Montenegro’s goalie Petar Tesanov after it edged close to the goal, but the referee ruled it didn’t pass the goal line.
Although it frustrated the Australian side, it didn’t prove to make much difference as Marko Petkovic and Dusan Matkovic scored their third goals against the Sharks. Miroslav Perkovic finished the game by taking advantage of a defender-less Joel Dennerley in the last three minutes, bringing the final score to 10-15. It’s a lesson the Sharks will be sure to learn from as they prepare to face off against Croatia on Tuesday at 8.50pm.
The Spanish Olympic committee says U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm is positive for COVID-19 and will miss Tokyo Games.
It isn’t the first time the world no.1 has tested positive for coronavirus. He had to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament in June due to a positive test.
When he withdrew he had just completed the third round and had a six-stroke lead. He was able to play in the US Open later that month, winning the tournament with two birdies on the final two holes.
The golf begins on July 29 and will take place at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, about an hour drive out of Tokyo.
with AP
Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer is hurting but still appears on course to win gold in the women’s road race, holding about a five-minute advantage on the peloton with 24.3 kilometres to go. Annemiek van Vleuten has been caught by the reduced peloton that is strung out and chasing. Kiesenhofer has been out the front all day and earlier was part of the primary main three-person break.
Montenegro’s Aleksa Urkopina has scored another two goals in the third quarter of their game against Australia after sneaking it past Dennerley at close proximity.
Australia’s shooting has taken a turn in this quarter, with Montenegro scoring four times to Australia’s one. With one more quarter to go, it’s not over yet for the Aussie Sharks who’ve had double the possession in this game so far.
It’s been a shaky start on the waters at Enoshima for Australia’s sailors with one of our best gold medal hopes, Matt Wearn, struggling in the opening race of the one-man Laser category in light conditions.
Australia has won the last two gold medals in the division – Tom Slingsby in London and Tom Burton in Rio – and Olympic debutant Wearn edged Burton to selection for Tokyo. But he has only managed 17th in the first of 10 races – more than two minutes behind Frenchman Jean Baptiste Bernaz – before the double points medal race.
Each finishing position is added to a sailor’s points category and the 10 lowest will qualify for the medal race, meaning one or two bad races can almost eliminate you from medal contention for the regatta. The second race has been postponed.
Australia’s Mara Stransky was 12th and 26th in the opening two races of the Laser radial category.
Matt Wearn during sailing previews on Saturday.Credit:Getty Images
Source: | This article originally belongs to smh.com.au
