New Zealand's Road to Rio: 30 March - 4 April

Lydia Ko holds her nerve for second major title

Lydia Ko has claimed the second major golf title of her career after a dramatic ending to the ANA Inspiration tournament in the United States.

The world No. 1 women’s golfer won by one shot after an enthralling battle with Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn. 

A composed Ko birdied the 18th hole to card a 3-under 69 in her final round this afternoon, while Jutanugarn lost her grip on the lead with bogeys at 16 and 17. 

Ko who won the Kia Classic last week, won her first major championship last September with the Evian Championship in France. 

Carrington heads team of six canoe sprinters for Rio 
Six canoe sprint athletes have joined the New Zealand Olympic Team to compete in Rio later this year, with five paddlers set to make their Olympic debut.

Multiple world champion and defending Olympic K1 200m champion Lisa Carrington heads the list, joined for the first time by a New Zealand women's K4 boat and by K1 1000m paddler Marty McDowell - the sole male selected.

Carrington could become one of New Zealand's most successful Olympians at these games, eyeing gold in both the K1 200m and K1 500m, two events in which she holds world championship crowns.  The inclusion of Jaimee Lovett, Caitlin Ryan, Aimee Fisher and Kayla Imrie in the K4 shows the dividends from the sport’s investment in the women’s programme.

These six canoe sprint athletes bring the New Zealand Olympic Team to 48 confirmed athletes, joining fellow teammates from Taekwondo, Sailing, Rowing and Triathlon.

 
Andrea Hewitt makes strong return to triathlon stage

Triathlete Andrea Hewitt has made an emotional return to the international podium, winning silver at the women's ITU World Cup race in New Plymouth on Sunday.

Hewitt, the first athlete selected for the New Zealand Olympic team for Rio, had a strong battle with outstanding American triathlete Gwen Jorgensen, who eventually triumphed for her 17th successive ITU victory. But the crowd cheered loudest for Hewitt, in her first event since the sudden death of her fiance and coach Laurent Vidal late last year.

In the men’s event, Kiwi Ryan Sissons finished fourth, just 25 seconds behind winner South African Richard Murray.

Javelin veteran throws beyond Rio standard   

Veteran javelin thrower Stuart Farquhar has thrown almost a metre beyond the Olympic qualifying mark for Rio.

Stuart Farquhar, who has competed for New Zealand at the last three Olympic Games, threw 83.93 metres at the Australian track and field championships in Sydney.

A 16-time national champion, Farquhar's throw is the best in the world this year, 97 centimetres clear of his nearest rival.

Six swimmers meet their marks for Rio

Six New Zealand swimmers have gone under the qualifying standards set for the Rio Olympic Games after a successful New Zealand Open Championships in Auckland last week.

Five-time world championship medallist Lauren Boyle qualified in both the 400m and 800m freestyle, while Glenn Snyders completed the full trifecta of national breaststroke titles and came close to breaking the one-minute barrier in the men's 100m breaststroke, in 1:00.08.

Other Kiwis who went under the New Zealand qualifying standards were Emma Robinson (800m freestyle), Matt Stanley (200m and 400m freestyle) Bradlee Ashby (200 individual medley) and Helena Gasson (100m butterfly).

The New Zealand team for Rio will be named following the Canadian national trials later this month.

 Maloney and Junior mine gold on the water in Spain

New Zealand sailors Andy Maloney and Josh Junior have bolstered their chances of Olympic selection by winning gold in their classes at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma, Spain.

Maloney captured the Laser title on Sunday morning, after leading the fleet from day one, and sailed a smart final race to shut out his closest rival Tonči Stipanović of Croatia

Junior won the Finn class in comprehensive fashion, already regatta champion before the final medal race. He finished 27 points ahead of his nearest rival, world champion Giles Scott from Great Britain, to claim his first European title.

Black Sticks go two-up at Hawkes Bay Cup

The Black Sticks women are two from two at the international Hawkes Bay Cup, after opening victories over India and China.

The New Zealanders opened their account at the eight-nation tournament with a 1-0 victory over India, before downing world No. 5 China 3-1 in Hastings. Gemma Flynn scored two goals in that match, where the New Zealanders were stronger in the goal circle.

The Black Sticks next game – the final in their pool play - will be against Ireland tomorrow.

Meanwhile the Black Sticks men begin their defence of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup against hosts Malaysia on Thursday.