Here is a breakdown of all Team SA’s representatives in action at Tokyo 2020 on Monday.
(All times in brackets denote SA times)
Cycling
Men’s Mountain Bike, Final – 3.00pm (8.00am): The 4.1km circuit (plus a 1.3km start loop) is located near the city of Izu, approximately 150km from Tokyo. The course was designed and built by South African expert Nick Flores, who also built the 2012 and 2016 Olympic courses and the Pietermaritzburg World Championship and World Cup course. Team SA’s Alan Hatherly is a real medal prospect, as are Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), Tom Pidcock (GBR) and Mathias Fluckiger (Switzerland)
Hockey
Women’s Pool A – 6.30pm (11.30am): South Africa come up against Great Britain at Oi Hockey Stadium. South Africa went down 2-0 to Ireland in their opener, while GBR lost 2-1 against Germany. The pool standings are: Netherlands, Ireland, Germany all 3pts, South Africa, GBR and India 0pts
Rugby Sevens
Men’s Pool C – 11am (4.00am): South Africa vs Ireland: Bronze medallists from Rio 2016, South Africa will be looking to improve on that performance in Tokyo. They open up with a match against Ireland.
Men’s Pool C – 7pm (12 noon): South Africa vs Kenya: Two teams familiar with each other having played plenty times against one another on the World Sevens circuit. This match ends off the day’s programme
Surfing
Women’s round 3: Bianca Buitendag
Swimming
Women’s 100m breaststroke, semi-final 2 – 10.56am (3.56am): Tatjana Schoenmaker, the golden girl of the pool, takes to the water in the semi-finals after that wonderful Olympic record in the heats. She’s up against Olympic champion Lily King, who hasn’t lost a race since 2015
Men’s 200m butterfly, Heat 6 – 7.30pm (12.30pm): The 2012 Olympic champion Chad le Clos goes off in the final heat, knowing exactly what needs to be done to qualify for the semi-finals. Swimming in lane five there shouldn’t be any anxious moments and Le Clos has looked sharp and focused in preparation. Also in the same heat is Ethan du Preez, in lane eight. In lane four is the pre-Games gold medal favourite Kristof Milak of Hungary
Women’s 200m IM, Heat 2 – 7.38pm (12.38pm): Rebecca Meder has a tough task ahead of her and she takes to the water in lane eight. Swimming in her first Olympics, the 18-year-old has an entry time of 2:12.84 and will have done well if she reaches the last 16
Triathlon
Men’s Individual, Final – 6.30am (11.30pm Sun): Henri Schoeman, bronze medallist at Rio 2016 flies the Team SA flag after the withdrawal of Richard Murray, who will concentrate on the team relay. Schoeman is a real medal prospect