China leads early medal tally as Paris Olympics dive into action
China clinched the first two gold medals at the rain-disrupted Paris Olympics on Saturday, as attention turns to a highly anticipated swimming showdown between Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus.
China, aiming to top the Olympic medal table for the first time since 2008, secured early victories in shooting and synchronized diving.
Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting won gold in the mixed team 10-metre air rifle event, while divers Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen triumphed in the women’s three-metre springboard final.
Australia celebrated its first gold with Grace Brown winning the women’s individual time trial in cycling, and Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel claimed the men’s title, overcoming rain and a competitive field.
The day’s events saw 13 gold medals up for grabs despite persistent rain causing disruptions.
Men’s street skateboarding at Place de la Concorde was postponed to Monday, and rain delays affected tennis matches at Roland Garros.
The opening ceremony on Friday had been marred by torrential rain, but featured a grand finale with a light show at the Eiffel Tower and a performance by Celine Dion.
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The International Olympic Committee apologized for mistakenly introducing South Korea’s athletes as North Korean.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised the opening ceremony but noted ongoing security challenges.
In swimming, the stage is set for a dramatic women’s 400m freestyle final between American Katie Ledecky and Australia’s defending champion Ariarne Titmus. Ledecky edged out Titmus in the heats, but the Australian is confident ahead of the final.
In rugby sevens, France advanced to the final against Fiji, and in tennis, top players Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Iga Swiatek won their matches despite the wet conditions.
In men’s football, Argentina bounced back from an initial defeat to beat Iraq 3-1.
Surfing events will commence on the French Pacific island of Tahiti, marking the continuation of the Olympic Games.
Proofreading, editing by Sakinat Musa Abubakar and Maryam Sulaiman, Editor and Journalist at Neptune Prime.
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