12 Aug 2016

Valerie Adams headlines day seven in Rio

6:51 pm on 12 August 2016

Rio 2016 Olympics - With its first gold medal bagged, New Zealand has a few more medal chances tomorrow, including the long-awaited return of Valerie Adams to Olympic competition.

Valerie Adams.

Valerie Adams. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Adams throws in the shot-put qualification at 1am, and should return 12 hours later for the final.

She will be aiming for her third consecutive Olympic gold.

Single scullers Mahe Drysdale and Emma Twigg take to the water from about 1am for their semi-finals, while the women's Lightweight Double Scull team has its final at 1.30am.

New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale waves after winning the Men's Single Sculls Quarterfinal rowing competition at the Lagoa stadium during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016.

Mahe Drysdale waves after winning a men's single sculls quarterfinal in Rio. Photo: AFP

Half an hour later, the women's pair of Rebecca Scown and Genevieve Behrent have their medal race.

From 7am, the track cyclists return to the velodrome.

Eddie Dawkins, Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell take part in the men's individual sprint qualifying, and may have their next round later in the morning from 8.30am.

Natasha Hansen, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins at the NZ Olympic sprint cycling team naming.

Natasha Hansen, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins at the NZ Olympic sprint cycling team naming. Photo: Photosport

The 4000m men's pursuit team are in medal contention - their first round is just before 8am, before their potential finals at 9.20am.

The women's sprint team begins its qualification at 7am, and could have a final at 9am.

Elsewhere, shooters Ryan Taylor and Chloe Tipple, begin their campaigns at midnight, while Ryan Taylor is in action from 2am.

Richie Patterson competes in the 85kg weightlifting class at 1am - New Zealand's only male weightlifter at the Games.

Both New Zealand hockey teams have games, although the pressure is more on the men's team, which may need a win over an unbeaten Belgium side at 9am to progress to the knockout stages.

Spain's Gigi Oliva (R) vies for the ball with New Zealand's Petrea Webster during the women's field hockey Spain vs New Zealand match of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio de Janeiro on August, 10 2016.

Spain's Gigi Oliva, right vies for the ball with New Zealand's Petrea Webster. Photo: AFP

The women's team is all but through, but still has a tricky tie against another unbeaten team - the Netherlands - at 2am.

The sailors are back on the water, with New Zealand's best medal hope, Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, scheduled to race in the 470 class at 4.15am and 5.35am.

Flag bearers Peter Burling and Blair Tuke debut at Rio in the 49er class at 4am and race twice more within the hour.

New Zealand flag bearers Blair Tuke and Peter Burling take a selfie during the opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium.

New Zealand flag bearers Blair Tuke and Peter Burling take a selfie during the opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium. Photo: John Cowpland / www.photosport.nz

Matt Hutchins races in the 1500m swimming heats at 4.40am, while Elizabeth Cui dives in the 3m springboard event at 6.30am.

On the track, Quentin Rew races in the 20km walk at 5.30am, while Nikki Hamblin has her first round 1500m race.