Suburban
ZIMBABWEAN rower, Peter Purcell-Gilpin booked his place in the Men’s Single Sculls D final at the Tokyo Olympics after finishing fourth in the C/D semifinals held at the Sea Forrest Waterway on Thursday.
Purcell-Gilpin settled for fourth place in the C/D semifinals in a time of 7 minutes, 01,72 seconds. The 27-year old Purcell-Gilpin is no longer in contention for any medal, with the rower now competing for a final placing. Friday’s race is the final appearance for the Zimbabwean at the Tokyo Olympics.
Purcell-Gilpin was behind New Zealand’s Parry Jordan who was in first position in a time of 6 minutes, 57.70 seconds, Egypt’s Abdel-Khalek El Banna in second position in a time of 6 minutes, 58.84 seconds and Jan Fleissner of the Czech Republic in third position in a time of 6 minutes, 59.61 seconds.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee paid tribute to Purcell-Gilpin for his tremendous effort on a global stage and described the fact that he was now aiming for a world ranking in Friday’s D Final as a huge achievement.
“Peter Purcell-Gilpin Rowing Single Men’s Semifinal C/D race result. Came 4th in a time of 7:01.73, which placed him in the D Final. Great performance by Peter at the World platform.
“He finishes off tomorrow 30 July in the D Final now scheduled for 01:35(CAT). This final race will give him his final ranking in the Men’s Singles Sculls.
“What a huge achievement to have a world ranking! Let’s appreciate and cheer Peter as he goes for the home stretch,” ZOC said in a statement on their Facebook Page.
Zimbabwean athletes still in the running for medals at the Tokyo Olympics are golfer Scott Vincent who teed off at Kasumigaseki Country Club on Thursday while 100m sprint athlete starts competing on Saturday.
Vincent teed off in a field featuring other players drawn from many nations.
Zimbabwe Olympic Committee president Thabani Gonye and several officials attended the event, which is expected to end Sunday.
Gonye expects Scott to do well in the golf competition taking place in the Kasumigaseki Country Club.
The 29-year-old Scott turned professional in 2015 and has featured in the Asian, Japan Golf and European tours.
Some members of Zimbabwe Golf visited Scott’ father in Harare and presented an assortment of sports paraphernalia and banners to him to show their appreciation of his son’s participation in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
In a message posted on its Facebook page, the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee said: “Zimbabwe Golf is not taking their maiden appearance at the Olympic Games lightly. They paid a courtesy call on Scott Vincent’s father to present the Appreciation banner, The Zimbabwean flag and the Zimbabwean Golf Association Flag. Let’s go Scotty! May all your puts drop in!!!”
Swimmers, Donata Katai and Peter Wetzlar’s interest at the biggest sporting event in the world is over after they failed to progress to the next stage despite posting personal best times in their maiden appearances at the Olympic Games.
Donata won her 100m backstroke heat with a new personal best time of 1:02:73 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Sunday but her she fell outside the cutoff time to qualify for the semifinals.
Wetzlar finished fifth in his 100m freestyle heat in a time of 50,31 seconds. Regardless of the fact that this was the 24-year old swimmer’s personal best time and a national record, it was not good enough for Wetzlar to make it to the next round. Wetzlar finished 42 out of 70 swimmers in the 100m freestyle and Tuesday’s race was his only appearance at the Tokyo Olympics. — Suburban Reporter/Agencies
