Even though the Opening Ceremonies begins on Friday, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo begins on Wednesday with women’s football and women’s softball. Team Australia is in action in both events, as they play host Japan in women’s softball (10AM AEST), and New Zealand in women’s football (9:30PM AEST).
Australia Vs Japan – Women’s Soft Ball (10AM AEST)
Women’s softball has one pool of six teams. The top four teams advance to the medal round, with the first and second place teams playing in the gold medal game, and the third and fourth place teams playing for the bronze medal. Australia and Japan are joined in the tournament by Canada, the United States, Italy, and Mexico. Australia qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 by winning the Oceania-Asia qualifier in Shanghai, China, in September of 2019. Australia had a perfect record of five wins and zero losses after wins over Chinese Taipei (5-1), Indonesia and Hong Kong by scores of 8-0, Philippines (7-0), and China (9-3).
Stacey Porter of Tamworth and Clare Warwick of Harrison each led Australia with a .500 batting average in the qualifying tournament, while Taylah Tsitsikronis led the entire tournament with seven runs batted in.
Australia Vs New Zealand – Women’s Football (9:30PM AEST)
In women’s football, Australia is in a group with Sweden and the United States, as well as New Zealand. Australia must either finish in the top two of Group G or be among the top two third place teams to reach the quarterfinals. Australia reached the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo by beating Vietnam 7-1 in the play-off round of the 2020 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. In a two-game series Samantha Kerr led the Australian offensive attack with three goals.
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