ZIMBABWE’S rower Peter Purcell-Gilpin missed out on direct qualification to the men’s single sculls quarter-finals in the early hours of yesterday when he came fourth in heat three as the rowing competition got underway at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan.

Purcell-Gilpin was fourth in 7 minutes 10.65 seconds and was scheduled to have another chance when he competes in the repechage early this morning where the top two will progress to the quarter-finals. 

The remaining crews will go to semi-final E/F. 

From yesterday’s competition, Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen was first in 7 minutes 02.88 seconds while Italy’s Gennaro Alberto di Mauro was second in 7 minutes 06.87 seconds.

Vladislav Yakovlev of Kazakhstan came third in 7 minutes 10.08 seconds. They all progressed to the quarter-finals. 

On fifth place was Alhussein Ghambour of Libya with a time of 7 minutes 52.37 seconds. 

The Zimbabwean rower appeared to be on course to making the top three yesterday but was beaten at the finish line by Yakovlev in the final phase of the race to settle for fourth place.  

In the repechage event that was set for the morning, today, Purcell-Gilpin was up against Riilio Rii of Vanuatu, who came sixth in heat two with a time of 8 minutes 00.98 seconds. 

Husein Alireza of Saudi Arabia finished fifth in heat four in 7 minutes 54.18 seconds while Netherlands’ Finn Florijn was fourth in 7 minutes 04.56 seconds in heat six. 

Abdulrahman Alfadhel of Kuwait was fifth in 8 minutes 49.03 seconds in heat one. 

Rowing Association of Zimbabwe president Andrew Lorimer said it was good watching one of their athletes competing yesterday. 

He was the first Zimbabwean athlete to compete, with his event coming in the morning ahead of the official opening ceremony. 

Purcell-Gilpin and swimmer Donata Katai were the flag bearers at the ceremony. 

“It was so good to see Purcell-Gilpin make such a good start in his heat this (yesterday) morning  and to see him in third place for most of the race. Disappointing to see him being pipped just at the finish line by Kazakhstan. 

“However, this is the third Olympics for the Kazakh rower and that experience helps a lot. 

“This is Purcell-Gilpin’s first Olympics and there must be lots of emotions as you line up for your first ever Olympic race against the best rowers in the world,” said Lorimer.

Rowing is one of the sport codes that have been consistent in providing athletes for Team Zimbabwe at the Olympics. It was the first sporting discipline to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2019.