Tokyo 2020 Day 8. A little luck won’t hurt

On 30 July Team Belarus had medal chances in two disciplines at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The morning program opened with the Individual 1/8 Eliminations in archery. The experienced Hanna Marusava from Mogilev took the lead in the clash against Lucilla Boari and was a few accurate shots away form the quarterfinal but lost momentum 5:6.

“The weather in Tokyo was good for shooting today, it wasn’t hot. It is difficult to comment on everything immediately after the competition. Especially when I was in the lead. I must give credit to the Italian opponent who, while losing, hit a bullseye target several times. The tournament in Tokyo is over for us, but we are optimistic. We were close to a medal in the team event (fourth place). Given the tough competition in the individual events, we did well too. Knowing the inner workings of archery, I, based on my experience, give a thumbs up to our team here in Tokyo,” Hanna Marusava summed up the performance in Yumenoshima Park.

"Everything is not in vain!" was the personal Olympic motto of Uladzislau Smiahlikau (91kg). The representative of the Gomel boxing school made it the closest on Team Belarus to winning a medal. In case of advancement to the semifinals, he would at least have a bronze award. However, he had a hard time in the quarterfinal bout against New Zealand’s David Nyika. The opponent with good technique was dominating right from the start of the match. In the end, it was the kiwi who made it to the semifinals.

Belarusian Maryna Slutskaya was knocked out of the Judo Women's +78kg event. The athlete overcame Gabriella Wood of Trinidad and Tobago in the Elimination Round of 32 but lost to Mijin Han of the Republic of Korea in the Elimination Round of 16. Maryna Slutskaya suffered an arm injury and needed medical assistance.

“I was training for the Tokyo Olympic Games throughout the entire Olympic season. Coach Leonid Svirid and I worked so hard. I claimed many victories, but, unfortunately, was unsuccessful in Tokyo. In Minsk, I will undergo an additional medical examination. I need time to recover mentally as well. Everyone knows how much I was looking forward to the Games, but… I can only thank the people who have been working with me and rooting for me,” Maryna Slutskaya said.

In the Equestrian Individual Eventing, Alexandre Zelenko on Carlo Grande placed ninth with 31 penalty points in his group after the first competition day. The medal event is scheduled for 2 August.

Viktoria Chaika of Belarus has not made it to the final of the Women's 25m Pistol Event. She placed 36th in the qualifications (only eight best athletes advanced to the final). Antoaneta Kostadinova of Bulgaria ranked first in the qualifications.

In the Sea Forest Waterway, Belarusian Tatsiana Klimovich finished first in the Women's Single Sculls Final C (13 to 18 places).

On 30 July, the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo hosted the first events in athletics. Belarusians competed in the heats. Maksim Nedasekau and Aliona Dubitskaya were the most successful of them.

Maksim Nedasekau cleared 2.28m to reach the Men’s High Jump final scheduled for 1 August. Dzmitry Nabokau cleared 2.25m and completed his Olympic run in Japan.

Aliona Dubitskaya qualified for the Women’s Shot Put finals with a throw of 18.89m (minimum qualification score is 18.80m). The finals will take place on 1 August.

Yauheni Bahutski produced a throw of 58.65m to place 13th in the Men’s Discus Throw.

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya clocked 11.47 seconds to finish 4th in Women’s 100m. The three best runners advanced to the next round. On 2 August Krystsina Tsimanouskaya will compete in the Women’s 200m qualifications.

Viyaleta Skvartsova placed 18th in the Women’s Triple Jump, showing 14.05m in her best attempt. In order to qualify for the finals the athlete needs to show the minimum qualification score (14.40m) or be among the best 12 jumpers.

In the Laser Radial class Tatiana Drozdovskaya goes 21st after 10 races.

At the Tokyo Aquatics Center Belarus finished 7th in the Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay (Mikita Tsmykh, Ilya Shymanovich, Yauhen Tsurkin, Artsiom Machekin) and 6th in the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay (Anastasiya Shkurdai, Alina Zmushka, Anastasiya Kuliashova, Nastassia Karakouskaya).

For more information, please contact Belarusian NOC press secretary Victoria Mennanova (+375291708753 for messages in Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram)