Rio 2016 Friday 19th preview: Women’s hockey team target gold as Bradshaw, Joyce and Muhammad hunt down medals

The 2016 Olympic Games is nearly over with the world’s best athletes battling it out for medals. Here are the most fascinating events happening on Friday in Rio, Brazil.

ONES TO WATCH:

Boxer Anthony Joshua won super heavy gold four years ago at London 2012 to end his glittering amateur career. The 26-year-old has since gone on to become IBF world heavyweight champion in the professional ranks, so talented Briton Joe Joyce will be keen to follow his successful lead when he faces Kazakhstan’s Ivan Dychko in the semi-finals. Frenchman Tony Yoka and Croatian Filip Hrgovic will contest the other semi (FRIDAY 19.00 BST).

THE MAIN EVENT:

ATHLETICS - MEN’S 4x100M RELAY FINAL (SATURDAY 02.35 BST)

Potentially Usain Bolt’s final Olympic appearance, the men’s 4x100m relay will be box-office viewing. The 29-year-old can wrap up a phenomenal Olympic treble treble of 100m, 200m and 4x100m victories from Beijing, through London to Rio with many athletics fans around the world cheering him on. Team USA qualified fastest with controversial sprinter Tyson Gay back in the mix, while Japan, China and Canada could also push for a medal. Trinidad and Tobago, Great Britain and Brazil round out what is sure to be a thrilling lap of the track.

THE RIVALRY:

ATHLETICS - WOMEN’S 4x100M RELAY FINAL (SATURDAY 02.15 BST)

Elaine Thompson has the chance to follow Jamaican team-mate Usain Bolt into the record books, if she can help Jamaica win the 4x100m relay. She has stormed to victory in the individual 100m and 200m, so can wrap up the Olympic treble should they defeat the American and British quartets. Team USA, despite their controversial heat protest, represent the biggest threat with the likes of English Gardner and Allyson Felix eager to repeat their London 2012 win in world record time - Great Britain second quickest in qualification heats.

THE UNDERDOG:

HOCKEY - WOMEN’S FINAL (FRIDAY 21.00 BST)

The Netherlands women’s hockey team are the best in the world, even though they had to rely on a tense sudden-death shootout victory over Germany in the semi-finals. Great Britain have been the form team in Rio, after sweeping through to the gold medal clash unbeaten through scintillating attacking performances and formidable defence. Team GB captain Kate Richardson-Walsh will want to retire with a gold medal round her neck and deny the Netherlands a famous hat-trick of Olympic golds after Beijing and London wins.

THE REDEMPTION:

TAEKWONDO - MEN’S 80KG (FRIDAY 13.45 BST)

Aaron Cook’s controversial omission from London 2012 provided plenty of column inches for the British press four years ago and he now has a chance for Olympic redemption. After becoming disenchanted with the Team GB set-up, the 25-year-old has now found himself competing under the flag of Moldova. He faces Liu Wei-Ting in the last 16 while the man who was preferred to him in London, Lutalo Muhammad, takes on Australian Hayder Shkara. Muhammad won bronze in London, while he was picked ahead of Damon Sansum this time around. Both will be out to prove a point at the Carioca Arena.

Stay tuned for daily previews throughout all the Olympic Games in Rio.

Follow @mattogborn on Twitter