Croatian brothers take rowing gold in men’s pair

TOKYO: Croatia’s mighty Sinkovic brothers came out on top in the men’s pair and New Zealand’s unstoppable crew triumphed in the women’s event as Olympic rowing continued on Thursday at Tokyo’s blustery Sea Forest Waterway.

Martin Sinkovic and Valent Sinkovic, who won gold in the double sculls in Rio and were pairs world champions in 2018 and 2019 after taking on the sweep discipline, pulled away from the field almost immediately to win in 6:15.29, 1.29 seconds ahead of silver medallists Romania, with Denmark taking bronze.

“We are scullers and it was a little difficult to adapt,” said Martin Sinkovic, reflecting on the move to the sweep competition. “The pair is really special, and we had a lot of challenges there. I think we manage it good, psychologically.”

Grace Pendergrast and Kerri Gowler of New Zealand won gold in the women’s pair, the country’s first gold medal at the Tokyo Games. The Kiwis became only the third non-European team to win the Olympic event, and the first since Australia in 1996.

Ireland’s duo of Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan held off a late charge from Jonathan Rommelmann and Jason Osborne of Germany to win gold in the men’s lightweight double sculls.

Thursday’s medal races ended in dramatic fashion as Valentina Rodini and Federica Cesarini of Italy pulled off a stunning victory in the final moments of the lightweight women’s double sculls ahead of France and the Netherlands.