ROWER COX PUTS UP A GOOD FIGHT

Ellina Mhlanga in PARIS, France

ZIMBABWE’S rower Stephen Cox put up a good fight in the Men’s Single Sculls Semi-final E/F to finish second at the Vaires-Sur-Marne Nautical Stadium yesterday.

Competing in Semi-final E/F 2, Cox was the second to cross the line with a time of 7 minutes 36.59 seconds over the 2000m distance to progress to the E Final.

The Zimbabwean rower, who is competing at the Olympics for the first time, is looking forward to competing in the E Final on Friday for overall finishing position.

“The race was good, just like we rehearse in practice, and the conditions weren’t fast, so I knew it was going to be a longer race.

“I was a bit more patient in the beginning and then came through the middle of the race.

“I was hoping for higher up in terms of the finals. I was hoping for a C Final or thereabout.

“I think the competition this year is exceptional. It’s the highest I have ever seen at the Olympics. “So hopefully I can get the win in the E Final.

“Some of the guys in the E Final this year were in the C Final at the last Olympics in Tokyo.

“So, the competition is very high this year and hopefully I can beat these guys,” said Cox.

Cox had a good day, coming through to maintain second place going into the last 300m of the race.

Bermuda’s Dara Alizadeh was first in 7 minutes 33.38 seconds and in third place was Premanut Wattananusith of Thailand in 7 minutes 48.78seconds.