-China notches 3 victories on Day 3 of Olympic 3×3 basketball
-Historic Olympic table tennis Gold for Japan in mixed doubles
-Mixed injury news for Spain ahead of Olympic football clash against Argentina
TOKYO: China’s Wang Jianjiahe on Monday set a new Asian record in qualifying second for the women’s 1500m freestyle final, with the event appearing on the Olympic stage for the first time.
World record holder Katie Ledecky of the United States is the strong favorite to become the first Olympic champion in the event, and qualified first with a new Olympic record of 15 minutes 35.35 seconds.
Wang has emerged as a frontrunner to medal in the event, and will swim in the final as second seed to Ledecky, having made 15:41.59 in the heats.
In the women’s 200m freestyle, Rio gold medalist Ledecky finished in 1 minute 55.28 seconds as the top seed for the semifinal. She could now become the first swimmer to win this event at multiple Games.
After competing in the 400m freestyle final and 200m freestyle heats, the 1500m freestyle heat was Ledecky’s third race of the day.
Meanwhile, China’s men’s team beat Belgium and Poland consecutively to snap a four-game skid, while the women’s team defeated Japan before losing to the United States on Day 3 in the Olympic 3×3 basketball tournaments here Monday.
After four defeats over the first two days of competition, China’s men have gradually adapted themselves to clashes against international powerhouses.
“Because of COVID-19, we were unable to go abroad to play against other strong teams. As this tournament continues, we are getting stronger and there is much to build on,” said China small forward Yan Peng.
Facing Belgium, China trailed 6-0 but then fought back to turn the deficit into a 18-14 lead. Tied at 20-20, Belgium suffered their seventh team foul to allow Hu Jinqiu to seal the victory with a free throw.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito won the first ever Olympic gold medal in mixed doubles table tennis here on Monday, after overcoming China’s Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen in a seven-set thriller final.
The triumph handed Japan its first table tennis Olympic gold since the sport debuted at 1988 Games in Seoul. Japan had only taken two silver and two bronze medals in table tennis at previous Olympics.
China had claimed all four table tennis gold medals on offer at the previous three Olympic Games, but it will not be another clean sweep for the sport’s powerhouse following Xu and Liu’s defeat.
Meanwhile, There was mixed news for the Spanish football team at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday as they prepare for Thursday’s decisive group match against Argentina.
The Spanish Football Federation confirmed that tests carried out on central defender Oscar Mingueza and midfielder Dani Ceballos have shown that Mingueza will be available to play in the game, but Ceballos will almost certainly be out for around three or four weeks.
Both players suffered their injuries in the first half of a 0-0 draw against Egypt in Spain’s Olympic opener, and neither played in Sunday’s tense 1-0 win against Australia.
Mingueza had a muscle problem, while Ceballos suffered a badly twisted ankle as a result of a dreadful tackle from an Egyptian defender. Photos he later posted on social media showed his ankle was badly swollen and discolored as a result of the bruising.
