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Richmond's Olympians kick off their Tokyo dreams

Richmond's Nate Hirayama scored nine points for Canada as his side went down 28-14 to Fiji in the rugby sevens
Alan Campbell
Alan Campbell
29hirayama
Canadian flag bearers basketball player Miranda Ayim and rugby player Nathan Hirayama lead Canada the Opening Ceremony at Olympic Stadium to officially start the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 23, 2021. Photo by Darren Calabrese/COC

A few of Richmond’s Olympic athletes are already in action, as the Tokyo Games enters its sixth day of competition.

Rugby sevens captain Nate Hirayama stepped onto the field on Sunday evening (Pacific time) as Team Canada made its Olympic debut.

However, it was far from a happy welcome to the top table, as one of the sport’s powerhouses, Great Britain, trounced Canada 24-0.

A few hours later, Canada faired a little better against yet another top side, Fiji, going down 28-14, with Hirayama – historically Canada’s top points scorer – recording a five-point try and two, two-point conversions.

Canada are in tough again later today (5 p.m. Pacific) against the hosts Japan.

 

One of Richmond’s two fencers, Eli Schenkel, lost his Mens Sabre event 15-11 on Monday to Italian sixth seed Andre Cassara.

Schenkel is ranked 27th at the Games.

The day before, fellow Richmond fencer Shaul Gordon, ranked 20th, lost 15-0 in the same event to Iran’s 13th seed Mojtaba Abedini.

 

Richmond table tennis star, Mo Zhang, lost her mixed doubles match (playing with Zhen Wang) 4-1 to Team China, before winning her singles game 4-3.

Zhang went onto win her next singles match 4-3 to set up a round of 16 clash with China’s Meng Chen, which starts just after midnight (Pacific) tonight.

 

Hammer thrower and Kajaks alumnus Camryn Rogers will begin her qualifying round about 5 p.m. Saturday (Pacific).

 

While 50K racewalker Evan Dunfee takes to the circuit for his big push for a medal at around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 5