Speedy Rio showdown ahead in women’s 200 meters

On Day 12 of the Rio Games, beach volleyballers will be spiking for gold, Usain Bolt heads back to the track for a 200 meter semifinal and China is aiming to pull off another gold medal sweep in Olympic table tennis. His prowess on the track is the dominant story line of the final week of the Olympics, along with Biles’ resounding success in gymnastics.

Up until then, Brazil’s top star had been jeered by hometown fans.

Japan’s Saori Kimura, left, has a spike blocked by United States’ Rachael Adams (5) and Kelly Murphy, right, during a women’s quarterfinal volleyball match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 1. And Brazilian world beach volleyball champions Agatha and Barbara knocked off Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross.

The 24-year-old, a world champion in the 5,000, surged away from the pack with seven laps to go in heat 2 and led all qualifiers in 15 minutes, 4.35 seconds on Tuesday, 13 seconds clear of countrywoman Senbere Tefere, the world championship silver medalist.

She added a bronze in the balance beam Monday in what marked the first day of a Summer Olympics since 2008 the United States didn’t win a gold medal. The U.S. had claimed gold on every day of the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

The drought proved brief.

Meanwhile, a young China team that had been far from steady at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics played its best, most consistent match yet.

Expect a good showdown between Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands and Tori Bowie of the U.S.in the 200 meters at 10:30 p.m. following semifinals Tuesday night. Bowie is coming off a silver in the 100. There’s no worry about Allyson Felix, the reigning Olympic champ, because she didn’t qualify at Olympic trials.

The decathlon starts Wednesday with American Ashton Eaton a favorite for gold.

Farah recovered from a fall to win the 10,000 gold four days ago and nearly went down again in the last lap of his heat on Wednesday after being clipped by American Hassan Mead, who did fall to miss out on qualification.

The Chinese men’s team faces faces off Wednesday against Japan for the gold, while Germany and South Korea play for the bronze.

Olympic host Brazil takes on Honduras in the men’s semifinals of the Rio soccer tournament Wednesday. Honduras had two wins, a loss and a draw.

Nigeria and Germany play in the other semifinal, with all four teams aiming for the gold medal match on Saturday.

An “empty brain” contributed to China leaving Rio without any gymnastics gold medals, its worst showing since returning to the Games in 1984, after three competitors missed out on podium places on Tuesday.

Germany and South Korea play for the bronze.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Faces buried in hands and tears falling, the Brazilian women’s volleyball team lost to China in a five-set quarterfinal match on Tuesday. New Zealand’s world No. 1 Lydia Ko has said she is thrilled to be here.

Inbee Park is among four South Koreans in the 60-player field.

Even though six of golf’s top 10 men did not come to Rio — some due to Zika fears — their Olympic tournament ended with high drama. Canada plays defending Olympic champion Russian Federation while Italy faces Olympic first-timer Iran.

Japanese wrestler Kaori Icho will attempt to become the first woman to win an individual gold at four consecutive Olympics. Golfers tee off as the women’s Olympic golf tournament begins and BMX racers appear at the Rio Olympics for the first time. Shields hasn’t lost a fight since London, winning two world championships and a Pan-American Games title. Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown compete in the 200m semi-final at 9 p.m. ET.