From judo to basketball, here are five things to watch in Paris on Tuesday, July 30

PARIS — From more medal chances in judo to hoops action on the hardwood, here are five things to look out for at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, July 30:

MORE MAT MEDALS?

Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard looks to add to Canada's judo success at the Paris Games when she competes in the women's under-63 kilogram competition. Beauchemin-Pinard, from Saint-Hubert, Que., is the world No. 2 in the discipline and won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games three years ago. She has a bye to the Round of 16. Christa Deguchi won the under-57 kg competition Monday to give Canada its first gold medal of the Games, and its first Olympic judo title.

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FAMILIAR FOES

Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Australia's Josh Giddey will renew acquaintances when their countries clash in men's basketball action near Lille. Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey were backcourt partners with the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder for three years before Giddey was traded to Chicago after this past season. Both teams are coming off tournament-opening wins on Saturday. Canada defeated Greece, while Australia downed No. 2 Spain.

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UNFAMILIAR FOES

While the men's basketball teams have some shared history, Canada and Australia's women's 3x3 basketball teams will meet for the first time at a world championship or Olympic tournament. Canada, led by twin sisters Katherine and Michelle Plouffe, is making its Olympic debut in the event. Canada won gold at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup and silver at that year's World Cup, but were upset in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2023. Australia went on to win bronze at that tournament.

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DOUBLE DUTY

Felix Auger-Aliassime will be looking to channel teammate Leylah Fernandez when he competes twice as part of Tuesday's packed tennis schedule. Montreal's Auger-Aliassime takes on Germany's Maximilian Marterer in men's second-round singles action and teams with Ottawa's Gabriela Dabrowski for a mixed doubles first-round match against Britain's Heather Watson and Joe Salisbury. Fernandez was a double winner on Tuesday, beating Spain's Cristina Busca in women's singles competing and teaming with Dabrowski for a women's doubles win over France's Clara Burel and Varvara Gracheva. Fernandez will play her third-round match against Germany's Angelique Kerber Tuesday. Her doubles opponent is yet to be decided.

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TRIATHLON TROUBLES

Organizers are confident the Seine River will be fit for swimming by the time the men's triathlon gets underway early Tuesday. Athletes might want more reassurance. Swimming training was cancelled for a second straight day on Monday following a meeting over water quality in the famed river, which is closely linked to a recent deluge of rain in Paris. The Olympic-distance triathlon kicks off with a 1.5-kilometre outdoor swim, followed by a 40-kilometre swim and 10-kilometre run. Tyler Mislawchuk and Charles Paquet are the Canadians in the event

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2024.

The Canadian Press