Carapaz claims Ecuador’s third medal ever, Japan gymnast Uchimura bows out

Tokyo, Jul 24 (EFE).- The first official day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics saw Ecuador claim its third medal ever in Olympic history, in the cycling road race, while Japan’s Kohei Uchimura missed the chance to win a gymnastics medal in his home country.

Richard Carapaz won the gold medal Friday as he crossed the finish line first of the Fuji circuit in the men’s cycling road race, earning Ecuador’s third ever medal in Olympic history.

Hopeful medalist for hosts Japan, the artistic gymnast Kohei Uchimura, unexpectedly lost his grip and fell during his high bar routine, leaving the favourite and seven-time Olympic medalist prematurely off the podium in his home country.

Up-and-coming Spanish taekwondist Adriana Cerezo broke into women’s Taekwondo -49kg finals at only 17 years old but lost a tight fight against leader in world rankings Panipak Wongpattanakit, who won gold for Thailand with a successful kick to the trunk in the final five seconds.

The youngest athlete in Tokyo, the 12-year-old Syrian table tennis player Hend Zaza, was taken out of the Games after an impressive run to qualify but beaten in the first round against 39-year-old Liu Jia, from Austria.

3×3 basketball made its Olympic debut with multiple games, rooted in street basketball, played on a half court and with 10 minutes of game time or first to 21 points. EFE

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