O’Donovan produces big finish
Paul O’Donovan produced the Irish performance of the day when finishing second in the men’s lightweight sculls quarter-finals.
The Skibbereen man, who required a top-three finish to progress, was fifth at the halfway mark when he launched a stunning attack.
O’Donovan overtook Russia’s Alexandr Tufanyuk and Steffen Jensen of Denmark before finishing just behind German Lars Hartig.
The UCD-based sculler will contest today’s semi-final (1.17pm Irish time) with high hopes of making the final.
There was a massive shock in the preceding heat when the world U23 champion, Andrew Campbell Jr of the US, fell out of his boat.
O’Donovan wasn’t the only Irish rower celebrating yesterday as the women’s double scull of Helen Walshe and Monika Dukarska produced a powerful final 200m to overtake the Romanian crew and finish in second place behind the American pair.
The result secures them a semi-final today at 2.37pm Irish time.
In the final race of the day, Olympian Sanita Puspure showed impressive tenacity in booking her place in today’s semi-finals of the single sculls.
Puspure led from the off but was overtaken by 41-year-old Russian veteran Julia Levina over the final 250m yet held out for second in a thrilling finish.
In the Women’s four, the Irish crew came sixth in their repecharge and will contest the B final tomorrow.
