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Katie Ledecky vs Ariarne Titmus is arguably the biggest showdown at Paris Olympics and it is scheduled for Day 1. read more
 "Ledecky vs Titmus, Fiji go for third straight rugby gold and more to watch on Day 1")
Katie Ledecky (L) and Ariarne Titmus (R) at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. Reuters file photo
A mouthwatering 400m women’s freestyle showdown between Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus headlines the first full day of sporting action at the Paris Olympics on Saturday (July 27) after a soggy, but spectacular, opening to the Games.
Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more
Fourteen golds are up for grabs on the first day, with the first to come in the mixed-team 10m air rifle finals, taking place at around 10:30am local time (8:30am GMT/2pm IST).
Tennis, badminton, rowing, cycling, hockey and basketball get underway alongside the surfing competition, nearly 16,000 kilometres away on the French Pacific island of Tahiti.
Rugby Sevens is already at its semi-final stage, with hosts France, led by Antoine Dupont, desperate to win gold in front of a packed and passionate Stade de France crowd.
But, most eyes will be on the Paris La Defense Arena for the women’s 400m freestyle — one of the most-anticipated events at the Games involving three swimmers who have held the world record.
Ledecky vs Titmus
Australia’s defending champion Ariarne Titmus will go in as the favourite on form after clocking the second-fastest time ever last month behind only her own 3min 55.38sec world best.
She had stunned US rival Katie Ledecky at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, with the American great gunning for revenge.
The two go head-to-head in heat three in the morning session.
“I’m looking forward to the 400m free, day one. I like my chances,” said the American, who is targeting her eighth Olympic gold medal.
“I feel like I’m prepared and ready to race and that’s all you can ask for,” added the undisputed queen over 800m and 1500m.
Canadian teenage sensation Summer McIntosh, also a former world record holder, completes the hotly favoured trio.
Other gold medals on offer on the first night of action in the pool come in the men’s 400m freestyle and the men’s and women’s 4x100m freestyle relays.
Fiji go for third straight Olympic gold in rugby
Rugby Sevens got an early start at Paris 2024, and back-to-back champion Fiji looks on track for a third straight gold medal.
They cruised through pool play and came back to beat Ireland in the quarterfinals.
Fiji will face Australia, and South Africa go up against France in the semifinals.
The gold-medal match will take place on Saturday evening.
Nadal-Alcaraz in doubles tennis
Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and Coco Gauff are all on schedule to appear in tennis action at Roland Garros. World No. 1 Swiatek is first on court against Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu, with Alcaraz to follow against Lebanon’s world number 275 Hady Habib.
Also on schedule are Japan’s Naomi Osaka vs Germany’s Angelique Kerber and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia takes on Australia’s Matthew Ebden.
But the biggest focus will be on the men’s doubles with Alcaraz teaming up with 14-time French Open champion Nadal in a Spanish dream pairing. They face off against Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.
Nadal had a thigh injury issue two days ago but practiced regularly on Friday to suggest he would be fit to take court.
Wembanyama, Antetokounmpo in basketball
Victor Wembanyama and Team France will open their Olympic campaign against Brazil at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. The 20-year-old Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert hope to lead France past Team USA for gold.
Elsewhere, NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece face Canada. The Canadian team also could challenge the US for gold. They have a talented roster featuring NBA champion Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Argentina football look for comeback
Argentina football team will continue group play against Iraq, hoping to reset after a wild opener. Morocco beat Argentina 2-1 on Wednesday in a match delayed by two hours after fans invaded the pitch and a late goal was ruled out.
Argentina need a win to boost their chances of advancing to the knockouts. Only the top two teams from each group will move on. Argentina haven’t won an Olympic gold since doing it consecutively in 2004 and 2008.
Elsewhere
Medals will also be up for grabs early Saturday in the diving pool, with the women’s synchronised 3m springboard final, where another Chinese pairing, Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen, are favourites to strike gold.
The first cycling medals of the games will be decided with the men’s and women’s individual times trials taking place on a challenging 32.4-kilometre course.
The event will start and finish on Paris’s golden Pont Alexandre III and head east to the Bois de Vincennes, sweeping past landmarks such as Notre Dame and the Place de la Bastille.
Yuto Horigome of Japan is defending his skateboarding street crown as he aims to fend off challengers including Nyjah Huston of the United States and France’s Aurelien Giraud.
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English (US) ·