By Kane Wu
PARIS (Reuters) – Thirty-one champions will be crowned at the Olympics on Saturday, the highest number in a single day at the Paris Games so far.
Five will be decided in the track and field events at the Stade de France, where all eyes will be on Sha’caari Richardson in the women’s 100 metres final.
Simone Biles is set to compete for her third gold medal, this time on the vault, while China’s Zheng Qinwen is aiming to make history by taking the country’s first gold medal in women’s tennis singles.
WOMEN’S 100M AT STADE DE FRANCE
The highlight of the night’s athletics action is undoubtedly the women’s 100 metres final, where Richardson is seeking to end the United States’ long and painful Olympic gold-medal drought in the face of the usual Jamaican onslaught.
The men’s shot put final also takes place, with American world record holder Ryan Crouser seeking to become the first man to win the event three times.
BILES PREPARES TO VAULT INTO HISTORY
The Biles show resumes with the gold medal at stake in the women’s vault event.
The men’s pommel horse final also takes place, where the focus will be on new American internet sensation, “pommel horse guy” Stephen Nedoroscik, and Britain’s Max Whitlock, who hopes to make history with a fourth Olympic medal.
GENDER ISSUES IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN BOXING
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting has been in the spotlight for failing a gender eligibility test at the world championships, fights in the welterweight quarter-finals.
The first two boxing medals at the Paris Games will be decided, with China’s Yang Wenlu facing Taiwan’s Wu Shih Yi and Irishwoman Kellie Harrington taking on Brazilian Beatriz Ferreira in a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final.
The losers of both lightweight bouts will receive bronze medals, while the winners will go on to Tuesday’s final.
DUTCH AGAINST THE BELGIANS IN ROAD CYCLING
World champion Mathieu van der Poel is the favourite for the road race title on a 273-km course in and around Paris with a finish with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
He will need to fight off a formidable Belgian team led by time trial Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert.
Home hopes will rest on the shoulders of twice world champion Julian Alaphilippe. Defending champion Richard Carapaz is not taking part after not being selected by Ecuador.
MEDALS DELAYED BUT WILL ARRIVE IN SAILING
Medals will be awarded in men’s and women’s windsurfing after racing was postponed in the event on Friday, plus there are early-stage races in other events.
LAST CHANCE TO MAKE IT IN 3X3 BASKETBALL
The women’s pool will deliver its verdict with one game remaining per team. The top two from the pool go straight to the semi-finals, the next four teams play off for the other two spots in the last four and the last two are eliminated.
CHINA SET TO DEFEND TABLE TENNIS GOLD
The only suspense in the table tennis women’s singles gold-medal match is which Chinese player will end up winning it — defending champion Chen Meng or world number one Sun Yingsha.
FRANCE GOING FOR MORE FENCING GOLD
France women’s sabre team will be aiming for gold, after Frenchwomen Manon Apithy-Brunet won the individual title and Sara Balzer the silver medal on Monday.
The French are the big favourites in the event in all aspects — top ranked, with momentum and with the crowd on their side.
But upsets are common in fencing, especially at the Olympics, and because the event is one of France’s biggest chances for gold, the pressure will be ratcheted up.
RINER LEADS FRANCE IN LAST JUDO EVENT
One last title is at stake in the judo team event. Japan are out for revenge three years after losing the final to France at the Budokan in Tokyo.
Japan, the best judo team at the Games so far, will have to face France’s Teddy Riner, who won a third gold medal on Friday, and his teammates.
ZHENG LOOKS TO MAKE HISTORY
China’s Zheng will seek to become China’s first Olympic tennis singles champion as she takes on Donna Vekic who will be seeking to achieve the same milestone for Croatia.
The men’s doubles final will also take place on the penultimate day of action at Roland Garros.
SERBIA SEEK TO SURVIVE IN BASKETBALL
Serbia and South Sudan battle it out for second and third in the last of the pool games in men’s Group C, while defending champions the United States, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals, face Puerto Rico.
In women’s Group A, China play Puerto Rico for third in the group, while Serbia meet Spain with both already qualified.
ARCHERY MEDAL UP FOR GRABS FOR SOUTH KOREAN WOMEN
All eyes will be on South Korea’s three archers, who have already won gold in the women’s team event and will be gunning for individual gold.
FRANCE FACE BRAZIL IN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
The women’s football quarter-finals kick off with the United States meeting Japan.
Hosts France take on Brazil and defending champions Canada will look to extend their campaign after making it to the knockouts despite a six-point deduction by FIFA.
World champions Spain are favourites against Colombia, who have reached the quarters for the first time in Olympic history.
HANCOCK TARGETS FOURTH SHOOTING GOLD
American great Vincent Hancock is seeking his fourth Olympic gold medal and indicated his form by hitting 75 for 75 in the men’s skeet qualification on Friday.
Veronika Major of Hungary has topped qualification in the women’s 25-metre pistol event, where Manu Bhaker will hope to become the first Indian athlete to win three medals at a single Olympic Games.
SCULLS AND EIGHTS FINALS AT ROWING
The rowing regatta at the Paris Games comes to its conclusion with the single sculls and eights finals, while the kayak cross chaos begins with the first round and repechage.
BADMINTON DOUBLES GOLD GOES TO CHINA
The top four women’s singles shuttlers in the world will take the court one after the other at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena.
World number one South Korea’s An Se-young kicks off the day against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi. Rio gold medallist Carolina Marin of Spain is expected to take down Japan’s Aya Ohori.
Two Chinese pairs meet in the women’s doubles final to deliver China’s second gold medal in badminton.
(Reporting by Kane Wu; editing by Clare Fallon)
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