Tokyo 2020: Opening Weekend Round Up

What a start it’s been to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The opening weekend of action has seen 82 goals scored in 16 games with shocks, thrilling comebacks and historical moments aplenty.

Here’s our round-up of the action, while you can see all the upcoming fixtures, official statistics and latest standings by visiting the Olympics website.

Men’s Pool A

The first hockey game of Tokyo 2020 saw hosts Japan face Australia looking to cause a major upset. It looked on the cards too at half-time as they led 3-2, only for the Kookaburras to hit back with three second half goals to take the victory.

They followed that up with a clinical 7-1 demolition of eight-time Olympic champions India in the second game to leave them top of Pool A with the only 100% record in that group.

Defending champions Argentina currently sit in second place, having drawn a feisty opener with Spain 1-1 before beating Japan 2-1 in their second game.

New Zealand are in third place as they beat Spain 4-3 in a thrilling game – scoring two goals in the final quarter to take the win – having been beaten by India, who sit fourth on goal difference, 3-2 the day before.

Spain are fifth on one point with hosts Japan yet to get off the mark.

Men’s Pool B

Great Britain’s men currently sit third in the table on goal difference following their 3-1 victory over South Africa. 

Rio 2016 silver medallists Belgium sit above them courtesy of alphabetical order having recorded exactly the same scoreline over The Netherlands in their only game so far, while Germany top the group having thrashed Canada 7-1.

The Netherlands are fourth in the table having come from 3-0 down to defeat South Africa 5-3 in arguably the game of the tournament so far, with the South Africans fifth and Canada sixth on goal difference.

Women’s Pool A

The Netherlands laid down an early marker in their quest to regain the Olympic title they won in 2008 and 2012 as they thumped India 5-1 in their opening fixture.

Ireland are directly behind them in the table having won their first ever Olympic match against South Africa, with Germany third following their 2-1 win over Great Britain.

Women’s Pool B

New Zealand produced a sublime performance to overcome four-time Olympic medallists Argentina 3-0 in their opening fixture of Tokyo 2020.

They are closely followed by local rivals Australia, who beat Spain 3-1, while China currently sit third in the table after scoring a late winner against Japan to beat them 4-3.

That means the hosts currently sit fourth, with Spain fifth and Argentina sixth as all three teams go in search of their first points of the Olympics.