There’s a full sports programme for New Zealand on day seven, but much attention will be on Val Adams in the athletics stadium
Adams, the big woman of the New Zealand team figuratively and literally, has her shot put qualifying round in the morning and, assuming normal service is maintained, will defend her Olympic crown in the evening.
If she wins, and the portents are good, she would become the first New Zealand Olympian to win a gold medal in one event at three successive games.
Besides Adams, other New Zealand athletes in action tomorrow are Nikki Hamblin in the 1500m heats, and Quentin Rew in the 20km walk.
New Zealand is in two more rowing finals tomorrow. The women’s pair of Genevieve Behrent and Rebecca Scown will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of their male counterparts, Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, and lightweight double scullers Julia Edwards and Sophie McKenzie have their final. In addition, single scullers Mahe Drysdale and Emma Twigg race in semi-finals.
The shooting gets under way and New Zealanders in action are Ryan Taylor in the 50m rifle prone and skeet shooter Chloe Tipple.
There will be more frenetic activity at the velodrome, where the highly rated New Zealand men’s team pursuiters will have a crack at a medal. The women’s team sprint and the men’s individual sprint will also hold New Zealand interest.
Hockey resumes, with the New Zealand men taking on Belgium. After their startling 9-0 win over Brazil in their last outing, the men will hope to maintain their momentum against the Belgians and go closer to locking up a quarter-final berth. The New Zealand women take on the tough Netherlands side in what is sure to be a tough test for Kayla Whitelocks’s team.
Two New Zealanders will be in action at the pool. Matt Hutchins swims in the 1500m heats and Elizabeth Cui gets to celebrate her 19th birthday in unusual fashion by contesting the 3m springboard diving.
Golfers Ryan Fox and Danny Lee will play their second rounds tomorrow, with Fox looking to capitalise on his first-round 70.
There’s a lot of New Zealand activity in the sailing tomorrow. The 470 women (in which Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie lead) and the 470 men continue, Sam Meech is back in action in the laser, hoping to get even closer to a medal, and the men’s 49er gets under way. New Zealanders are hoping for big things from Blair Tuke and Peter Burling in that event. The women’s 49er FX contest also begins tomorrow.
All that and still no mention of the popular Richie Patterson, whose 85kg weightlifting competition takes place.
These are indeed busy times for New Zealand sports fans.
