Rob Short of Canada and Argentinian Tomas Argento during the field hockey gold medal match. (Getty Images)
Hockey First for Pan Ams
For the first time in Pan Am Games history, the men’s field hockey tournament is decided by “strokes”.
In Wednesday’s gold medal match between Argentina and Canada tied at two after regulation and one extra period, the match proceeded to strokes where the score was deadlocked after the first round of extra shots at four apiece.
A missed shot from Argentina on the sixth attempt allowed Canada to claim gold on their next shot.
Finals between Canada and Argentina for hockey have become a regular feature of the Pan Am Games.
Chile defeated Trinidad and Tobago for the bronze medal earlier in the day.
While the venue at the Deodoro MilitaryClub operated smoothly, hockey officials told Around the Rings that there were some serious faults with the two pitches.
The second pitch was unusable for the games as it was on top of sand, which does not allow for proper drainage.
The main field was not laid properly sources told Around the Rings. The artificial turf was stretched in a way that caused seams and an uneven playing surface—something that should never happen with an artificial surface.
Poor field construction is not unique to hockey. The surface for baseball and softball at the City of Rock venue was laid on top of a bed of concrete. Heavy rainwater was not able to drain at the venue and has caused several delays during the baseball and softball tournaments, as well as the consternation of international baseball officials.
Using Deodoro as a sporting venue has some definite benefits: existing infrastructure and guaranteed security among them. The main drawback: a cold and uninviting landscape with barracks, training facilities and anti aircraft guns dotting the venue.
Jumping Events for Equestrian
The Deodoro Military venue also is hosting the equestrian events at the Pan Ams, with jumping beginning today and running until Saturday. The best three teams that haven’t yet qualified for Beijing will get berths. U.S., led by Lauren Hough, has already qualified for the 2008 Olympics. Brazilian star Rodrigo Pessoa was individual gold medal champion at Athens 2004. Pessoa also led the Brazilian team to Winnipeg 1999 and Mar del Plata 1995.
U.S. is the defending gold medal champion in team jumping. Puerto Rico won the individual gold.
Slogging It Out for Softball
Argentina and Canada arrived for their Wednesday afternoon softball match at City of Rock to find the Brazilian Rogerio Nogueira in blue, Cuba's Robert Alfonso in red during their super heavyweight semi final Wednesday. Alfonso won 4-0. (Getty Images)field unplayable.
The game was first rescheduled for 8 p.m. and then delayed to 10 p.m. With more rainy weather on the way, organizers may be struggling to complete the tournament before the Games end Sunday.
Canada Tops in Waterskiing
Canada reigns in Rio waterskiing with five gold, three silver and one bronze. United States won seven, but only one of them is gold. The sport debuted in 1995 at Mar del Plata and U.S. is the overall top medal collector with 29, including five gold, but Canada has a total of nine gold medals among its total of 27 since Mar del Plata.
The venue, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, has come under fire by some competitors for dirty water.
Medal Standings
With the final four days of competition ahead in Rio de Janeiro, United States leads with 176 medals (75 gold, 67 silver and 34 bronze). Host Brazil is the only other nation in triple digits with 111 (34-28-49). Canda is in third with 90 (23-31-36).
Thursday Medals
Women’s football is first up among 14 gold medals to be awarded today. Brazil and United States meet in Maracana Stadium at noon. Next door at Julio Delamare, water polo will be contested between the same two countries. Boxing, diving, karate and wrestling will also award gold medals.
With reporting from Bob Mackin and Ed Hula III.
On the scene coverage of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro continues through the month at www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.
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