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BREAKING: Tokyo Olympics 2020 Cancels Day 1 Event of Beach Volleyball Due to COVID-19

Published 07/24/2021, 1:53 AM EDT

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Despite strict restrictions at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics 2020, the beach volleyball tournament saw its opening match between Japan and the Czech Republic canceled. Organizers canceled the match because of a positive COVID test returned by Czech player Markéta Sluková.

As a result, Japan garnered the first victory in the tournament by default.

Japan-Czech Republic beach volleyball match canceled due to COVID-19 at Tokyo Olympics 2020

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Although the organizers of the Games created a strict bio-bubble, the COVID concerns in Tokyo seem to have crept into the bubble. While other events on Day 1 went off smoothly, the beach volleyball tournament suffered the first major hiccup of the Games.

Since Sluková tested positive, she and her teammate Barbora Hermannova had no choice but to stay away from participation. While Japan’s pairing of Megumi Murakami and Miki Ishii would have made their debut in this match, they didn’t get the chance to perform on the court.

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However, Japan claimed the first victory in the tournament because of the Czechs’ forfeiture. Along with these two teams, Switzerland and Germany are also in Pool F. Those two teams will compete later today in the second match of the pool at 3:00 pm local time.

“Just Hoping That No Other Athletes Follow Us” : Czech Beach Volleyball Stars Lament COVID-19 Positive Result

Sluková joins fellow beach volleyball player in COVID-19 positive list

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After testing positive, the 33-year-old joined male beach volleyball player Ondřej Perušič on the COVID-19 positive list. Apart from missing out on performing today, Perušič will miss out on representing the Czechs in the men’s beach volleyball tournament.

via Reuters

The next match for the Czech women’s beach volleyball team is against Switzerland. While the match is scheduled for Monday, July 26, doubts remain on whether Slukova and Hermannova will take part.

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Elsewhere, Brazil got their campaign off to a strong start by defeating Argentina in Pool C 21-19, 21-11. In Pool A, Canada recorded a relatively easier straight sets victory over the Netherlands. That game finished 21-16, 21-14.

WATCH STORY: 5 Biggest and Most Shocking Upsets in Olympic History

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Sanket Nair

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Sanket Nair is an F1 Author at EssentiallySports. A Sports Management student, he is a huge fan of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo and hopes to see Red Bull break Mercedes' dominance and win the World Championship soon. Sanket has been hooked to the sport ever since he watched the battle for the 2010 World Championship go down to the wire at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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