Each day our exclusive MATCH OF THE DAQ service previews the big match of the day – usually a televised game.
As well as the preview we also bring you the head to head records of the two teams as well as a recommended bet on BETDAQ for the match.
Women’s 400m Hurdle Final
Olympic Athletics
K.O 20.45, BBC 1
QUALIFYING TIMES (PERSONAL BESTS)
World Record 52.35 Olympic Record 52.64
1 Natalya Antyukh (Russia) 53.33 (52.92)
2 Zuzana Hejnova (Czech Republic) 53.62 (53.29)
3 Lashinda Demus (USA) 54.08 (52.47)
4 Kaliese Spencer (Jamaica) 54.20 (52.79)
5 T’Erea Brown (USA) 54.21 (54.21)
6 Muizat Ajoke Odumosu (Nigeria) 54.40 (54.40)
7 Georganne Moline (USA) 54.74 (54.31)
8 Denisa Rosolova (Czech Republic) 54.87 (54.24)
PREVIEW
The women’s 400m hurdles has only been an Olympic event since 1984 and we are yet to see a repeat winner on the podium. That won’t change this year as Beijing winner and Olympic record-holder, Melanie Walker, failed to qualify.
The Jamaican representative this time around is Kaliese Spencer. She would be a contender if reproducing her personal best but so far in London she hasn’t looked particularly fluent and requires a big step forward if she is to challenge for podium honours. The USA trio of Lashinda Demus, T’rea Brown and Georganne Moline all ran relatively slow times to qualify and, with the exception of Demus, have failed to ever run a sub-54 time which will surely be needed to take a hand in this race.
Demus has the quickest personal best in the field and is fancied in the BETDAQ market as the second favourite but she doesn’t look in the same form that saw her clinch gold in the 2011 World Championships. Instead it is the European duo of Natalya Antyukh and Zuzana Hejnova who look the class acts.
Russian Antyukh won gold in the 2010 European Championships and, despite being 31 years-old, is relatively new to hurdling haven’t spent most of her career as a successful 400m and 400m relay runner. That means she has a speed advantage on the flat which could prove crucial later tonight.
She beat Hejnova in her heat in what were the fastest two times of the semi-finals and there is little reason to see why the Czech would reverse form with Antyukh. Of course a little luck is required in hurdling but Antyukh has looked the best runner so far and at 1.66 looks a fine bet for Olympic glory.
RECOMMENDATION: (1-10 points)
Back Antyukh at around 1.66 on BETDAQ: 5 points
Tuesday: +12.80
AUGUST RETURN TO DATE: +5.34 points
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