It’s the T’s! Team sports and Triathlon (which don’t really have much else in common with each other, I just wanted to get the Triathlon predictions out as soon as possible as the individual event for that sport are happening today on Day 1 of the Games!
As with the 2018 Games, the individual events are held over the “sprint” distance, which is half the length of the Olympic distance. This means the competitors do a 750m swim, 20km bike ride and finish with a 5km run. Although the vast majority of athletes taking part are comfortable at both distances, the shorter sprint events seem to have a tendancy to be slightly more unpredictable.
That said, on the women’s side, there is an overwhelming favourite – the incomperable Flora Duffy of Bermuda, who is not only defending her Commonwealth crown but is also the reigning Olympic champion. On the men’s side Alex Yee (England) and Hayden Wilde (New Zealand) have been having a running battle this season and expect that to continue.
Triathlon is also one of the sports with para events, which this year are for visually impaired triathletes.
In the team sports, expect the traditional strong performances from the ANZAC nations. In particular, look for Australia’s netball team to be super motivated to regain their crown, after England dethroned them on home soil last time out.
2022 also brings us women’s T20 cricket for the first time, as well as 3×3 basketball. Australia start as favourites in the cricket but England and India, amongst others will fancy their chances of claiming gold. Meanwhile Canada will hope to do well in the basketball.
Finally, expect Fiji, as ever, to be amongst the top nations in the rugby 7s.
Ian's World Of Sports 