Sport

Rio 2016: Day nine preview – Murray and Rose hunt more Team GB gold

Andy Murray goes in search of yet more history on day nine of Rio 2016 as he bids to become the first men’s tennis player to win back-to-back Olympic titles.

First Wimbledon winner in 77 years, inspiring a first Davis Cup win in 79 years, a British record 11 Grand Slam final appearances – the list of achievements for Murray is already impressive.

But on Sunday he could add another accolade to his CV as he takes on Juan Martin Del Potro in the men’s singles final, aiming to defend his title from London 2012.

Whatever happens Murray is guaranteed another Olympic medal, and he isn’t the only one on day nine with Jason Kenny, Callum Skinner and Nick Dempsey all preparing to climb the podium.

Track cyclists Kenny and Skinner already have team sprint gold in their locker in Rio but face each other in a tantalising individual sprint final in the velodrome.

Sailor Dempsey, meanwhile, cannot win anything but silver in the men’s RS:X with gold not a possibility in the double points medal race and there is no chance of him being overtaken.

Giles Scott can join those four in guaranteeing himself a gold medal if he can extend his overall lead after the final two qualifying races in the Finn to beyond 22 points.

And Justin Rose is in pole position to win the first Olympic golf gold medal for 112 years and tees off on his decisive fourth and final round at 14:39 BST with a one-shot lead.

Max Whitlock returns to the gymnastics arena for both the floor and pommel horse finals, qualifying for the latter in first place with teammate Louis Smith second.

Mark Cavendish begins his bid for a long-awaited Olympic medal in the omnium back in the velodrome, while the evening sees the blue-riband 100m final in track and field.

The semi-finals come first with CJ Ujah and James Dasaolu attempting to book a spot in the highly-anticipated final, while Matthew Hudson-Smith goes in the 400m showpiece.

Alyson Dixon and Sonia Samuels go in the marathon in the morning, Grace Reid dives in the women’s 3m final and Team GB’s showjumpers get up and running in Deodoro.

Synchronised swimmers Olivia Federici and Katie Clark also compete for the first time in Rio with the duet free routine starting proceedings at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.

There’s a hive of action at Riocentro with Rajiv Ouseph and Kirsty Gilmour back in singles action in the badminton while a trio of Team GB boxers take to the ring.

Middleweight Savannah Marshall begins her campaign and Pat McCormack and Josh Buatsi will hope to keep theirs rolling in the welterweight and light heavyweight respectively.

And the men’s table tennis team of Paul Drinkhall, Liam Pitchford and Sam Walker also face off against China in the team quarter-finals after a fine first-round win over France.

Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.

Related Articles