By Daily Sports Nigeria on July 29, 2024

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will do battle once more when they meet at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday while Australia’s Ariarne Titmus is hotly tipped to win her second swimming gold of the games.

Also on the third day of action, Britain’s Tom Daley will try to prevent an anticipated Chinese clean sweep in diving, while China and Japan will duel for gold in the men’s team final of the gymnastics.

Gold medals are also up for grabs in archery, canoeing, mountain biking, equestrian, fencing, judo, shooting and skateboarding.

The hottest ticket in town will be at Roland Garros, where Djokovic and Nadal will clash for a 60th time, with the Serb up in their rivalry 30-29.

Nadal has had a clear edge on the clay in the French capital down the years, but after more injury concerns and with his career winding down, the 38-year-old Spaniard said Djokovic was the “clear favourite” this time.

“Of course, it’s beautiful to play against one of the two biggest rivals that I had in my career, especially on this court.

“But situations are completely different for him, for me. He’s being very competitive. I was not being very competitive for the last two years,” Nadal said.

– Titmus eyes more gold –

Another night of red-hot competition is in the offing in the pool where the best swimmers on the planet will compete for five titles.

The last race of the night sees Titmus attempt to add the 200-metre freestyle crown to her dominant 400m triumph on Saturday when she blew away rivals Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky to retain her title.

The 23-year-old Titmus is the favourite at 200m — she is the reigning champion and world record-holder.

Her biggest threat is fellow Australian Mollie O’Callaghan, who boasted the fastest time ever until Titmus smashed it in June.

Following her emphatic victory over 400m, when she led from start to finish, Titmus, who hails from Tasmania, said it was hard to take it all in.

She said, “I’m just the same old goofy Tassie girl out here living out her dream.

“I hope it goes to show that anyone can do what they want to do if they work hard and believe in themselves.”

The other swimming finals on Monday are in the women’s 400m individual medley, men’s 200m freestyle, men’s 100m backstroke and women’s 100m breaststroke.

– Pressure on China? –

China are the unparalleled force in diving and at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games three years ago when they hoovered up seven of the eight golds.

The one they did not win went to Daley and Matty Lee in the men’s synchronised 10m platform.

It was gold at last for Daley, who also has three bronze medals, the first coming at London 2012. He made his Olympics debut as a 14-year-old at Beijing 2008 and has been in the public eye ever since.

One of Britain’s highest-profile Olympians, he was the country’s male flag-carrier at Friday’s opening ceremony on the River Seine.

Source Punch Ng

Posted July 29, 2024

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