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Twigg lays down early marker in Tokyo

Ian Anderson

Emma Twigg was never coming back to the Olympic Games just to take part.

The New Zealand women’s single sculler is seeking her first medal in her fourth attempt and showed she has every chance after a standout display in the heats in Tokyo.

Twigg raced to victory in a time of 7min 35.22sec – the fastest time in yesterday’s six heats.

She will now contest the quarterfinals on Monday with the added confidence of knowing her form when winning a silver medal at the 2019 world championships has held up over the past two years.

Such a shot at a medal seemed impossible for Twigg to ponder when she finished fourth for the second successive Games when seen as a likely medallist in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Then aged 29, Twigg left the sport, and it seemed the 2014 world champion and five-time medallist at world champs would depart without making the podium at an Olympics.

But she returned in

2018 and was unsurprisingly delighted with how her first race in Tokyo evolved.

‘‘It’s definitely a lung-buster. A few nerves going into it, but that’s to be expected in an Olympic Games. It’s good to get under way,’’ Twigg said.

‘‘It felt pretty special; it’s been a long time coming.’’

Other heat winners included 2018 and 2019 world champion Sanita Puspure, of Ireland, in 7:46.08 and Hanna Prakatsen, of the Russia Olympic Committee, the current European champion and surprise package at this year’s World Cup, in 7:48.74.

Twigg was wary about reading too much into the respective times though on a hot morning with good water conditions.

‘‘These early races, nobody really shows their cards.

‘‘Coming back my motivations have changed, trying to remember why I was doing it. All the messages back home have been amazing.’’

Brooke Donoghue and Hannah

Osborne also produced a powerful display yesterday against quality opposition to win their women’s double sculls heat and advance to the semifinals.

Four of the five New Zealand boats in action on the official opening day of the Games made it safely through to the next stages.

Donoghue and Osborne won their heat in a time of 6min 53.62sec, heading off the United States by 2.03 seconds, to advance directly to the semis to be raced on Monday.

There will be great interest in today’s rowing, with one of New Zealand’s top gold medal hopes in action.

Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler will race in heat three of the women’s pair – the start of a taxing campaign for the duo, who are also part of the eight.

Sport

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2021-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282634625643046

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