Last-dive woe costs Australia a medal as China wins first gold of Olympic Games - MASHAHER

The and on Saturday the sporting contests began in earnest, with 14 gold medals up for grabs in shooting, Rugby Sevens and Judo among other sports.

Here’s what you need to know about the Olympics on Saturday.

Australia loses its first medal

Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith have been left shattered after missing out on winning Australia’s first medal of the Paris Olympics following a calamitous final dive in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard event.

The duo were set to win at least bronze and were challenging for silver as they approached their fifth and final dive at the Paris Aquatics Centre on the opening day of the Games on Saturday.

Anabelle Smith (left) and Maddison Keeney in action during the Women’s Synchronised Springboard Final in Paris on Saturday. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett

But the experienced pair, who have been regular podium placers at major championships down the years, made a hash of their last difficult dive —a two-and-a-half somersaults with one twist in pike — to slip out of the medals and into fifth place.

China wins first gold

China’s Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao won the first gold medal of the Paris Games on Saturday in the 10-metre air rifle mixed team event.

Chinese shooters have claimed their country’s first gold of the Games more times than athletes in any other sport.

Chinese gold medalists Yuting Huang and Lihao Sheng (centre) pose on the podium on the first day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Saturday. Source: AAP / Isabel Infantes

‘Dronegate’ hangs over women’s football

Canada’s women football players struggled to shake a spying scandal that has seen their head coach Bev Priestman sent home from the Paris Games.

New Zealand complained that Canadian staff flew drones over their training sessions before their opening match at the Olympics, which the Canadians won.

Canada football great Christine Sinclair has said national team players were never shown drone footage during the more than two decades she was in the team.

IOC chief to speak to South Korea’s Yoon over country name

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will speak with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol later on Saturday to convey an apology.

It follows an opening ceremony incident where South Korea’s athletes were introduced as from rival North Korea, South Korea’s vice sports minister said in Paris.

The announcer used the same introduction when the boat carrying the North Korean competitors passed.

Source Agencies