Team SA are on the medals board at the 2024 Paris Games after beating Australia 26-19 in the showdown for men’s rugby sevens Olympic bronze at a packed Stade de France on Saturday. Earlier, they had gone down 19-5 to hosts France in their semi-final.
Judo’s Geronay Whitebooi won through to the last 16 where she lost to Natsumi Tsunoda, while Paige Badenhorst qualified for rowing’s single sculls quarter-finals and Erin Gallagher reached the semi-finals in the 100m butterfly where she placed 14th overall.
On the hockey field, Team SA came up against world No1’s Netherlands and fought back valiantly from 4-1 down at half-time to lose 5-3 in their pool match.
Skateboarding (Brandon Valjalo) was postponed until Monday due to the weather conditions.
BADMINTON
Women’s singles, Group H: RESULT Johanita Scholtz lost 2-0 to Kim-Ga Eun (Kor) 21-12, 21-6
EQUESTRIAN
Eventing, Individual dressage: Alexander Peternell placed 56th in a field of 63 on his horse Figaro Des Premices, with 39.00 penalty points
HOCKEY
Men’s Pool A: RESULT Team SA 3 Netherlands 5
“It was a tough game against the world No1’s, but we don’t have much time to linger on things as we have a short turnaround to play Great Britain on Sunday. We will always offer a threat from the attacking side of things, but we need to minimise the errors.” – Team SA goalscorer Mustapha Cassiem
JUDO
Women’s -48kg elimination, round of 32: WIN! Geronay Whitebooi, ranked No39 in the world, beat her opponent Jacqueline Solis of Argentina 10-1 (ippon). The end came at 3:57 into the contest
Women’s -48kg elimination, round of 16: RESULT Geronay Whitebooi lost to Natsumi Tsunoda (Japan)
ROWING
Women’s single scull, heats: THROUGH! Paige Badenhorst finished third in her heat in 7:39.19 to qualify for the quarter-finals
RUGBY SEVENS
Men’s semi-final: RESULT Team SA 5 France 19
3rd/4th place playoff: BRONZE! Team SA 26 Australia 19
Tries: Zain Davids (2), Selvyn Davids, Shaun Williams Conversions: Tristen Leyds (2), Sivive Soyizwapi
SWIMMING
Women’s 100m butterfly, heats: THROUGH! Erin Gallagher finished sixth in her heat in 57.80 to qualify 13th fastest for the evening semi-finals. China’s Yufei Zhang was quickest in 56.50sec.
Women’s 100m butterfly, semi-finals: Erin Gallagher finished seventh in her race in 57.90, which put her at 14th overall and missing out on the final
SURFING
Men’s first round, heats: THROUGH Jordy Smith finished 2nd in his heat with a total of 7.60 points and he moved through to the second round
Men’s first round, heats: THROUGH Matt McGillivray finished 3rd in his heat with a total of 5.26 points and he moved through to the second round
Women’s first round, heats: THROUGH Sarah Baum finished 2nd in her heat with a total of 5.26 points and she moved through to the second round
Compiled by GARY LEMKE
Photo of Erin Gallagher by ANTON GEYSER