DON'T DROP THE BALL...DOH!
The popular, visually dazzling rhythmic gymnastics event featuring hand-held apparatus begins with the individual all-around qualifying round. Russia’s Yana Kudryavtseva and Margarita Mamun are favourites for the gold, with the latter finishing as runner up to three-time world champion Kudryavtseva on two occasions. Yana just performed the ball routine, and unfortunately dropped it. She still got a respectable score of 18.616 though, and remains in the hunt, with two more routines still to go. Mamun is next up. Kudryavtseva's exquisite routines and stamina have earned her the nickname 'The Angel with Iron Wings', but Mamun's recent surge in form should make the battle for Rio 2016 gold a tight one.

LYDIA KO MOVES HER WAY UP TO MEDAL CONTENTION WITH HOLE IN ONE
Lydia Ko of New Zealand started the third round of the women's golf competition well outside of medal contention, but an incredible start to the round has her tantilizingly close to a medal.
 

Ko has birdied five of her first 10 holes, including landing an ace on hole no. 8, to move to six-under in the third round. She currently sits at nine-under for the tournament in second place. That's the second time today hole 8 was aced!
 

Ko, however, isn't the biggest mover so far today. Suzann Pettersen of Norway and Anna Nordqvist each have moved up 21 spots since the start of play today.
 

Inbee Park of the Republic of Korea currently leads at 12-under while Gerina Piller is tied with Ko at nine-under.

MARIN TRIUMPHS IN BADMINTON
Spain's Carolina Marin has defeated P. V. Sindhu of India 2-1.

MARIN ROARS BACK
Spain's world no.1 has been spurred into action by losing the first game against India's P.V. Sindhu. She's just demolished Sindhu 21-12 in the second game and looks well placed for gold.

TOTH TIES IT UP
Toth has done it! The Slovak crosses the line in 3:34.38, a couple of seconds ahead of Australia's Jarred Talent and Japan's Hirooki Arai. Say what you like about race walking, but those athletes out there have suffered like no-one for their medals.

TALLENT OVERTAKEN
The commentator's curse strikes again! Slovakia’s Matej Toth has walked right past Jared Tallent at km 48 of the 50km race walk. Soul-destroying for Tallent. What an event it's been.

SINDHU SEALS FIRST GAME
More high drama at Riocentro, where P. V. Sindhu of India has won the first game of the women's badminton singles final against the hot favourite from Spain, Carolina Marin, 21-19. That's unexpected and will cheer the hearts of a billion Indians. Can she keep this form going?

TALLENT ON TOP
Australia's Jared Tallent is now well clear of the field of the 50km race walk, with about 5km to go. It's been a gruelling event, and one to forget for Yohann Diniz, but Tallent looks like he might be talking this one home for Australia.

LONG CHEN INTO THE FINAL
So there will be Chinese involvement in the men's badminton singles final after all. Long Chen has overpowered Denmark's Viktor Axelsen 2-0 (21-14, 21-15) and will meet Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei in the final.

HOLE IN ONE AGAIN
This must be some kind of record. There's been another hole in one at the Olympic Golf Course. After the two in the men's event last week, China's Lin Xiyu has now aced the eighth in the women's event. Someone up there is smiling on Rio.

DRAMA IN THE 50KM
As if race walking 50km in the Rio de Janeiro heat wasn't bad enough, long-time leader Yohann Diniz of France has just seen a huge lead eroded and is now falling back into the pack fast. He's suffering badly and there is still a fair old way to go.

TWO IN THE CANOE
It's been a busy morning of canoe heats at the Lagoa Stadium. Tomorrow (Saturday) we will see the final medal races. New Brazilian double medal hero Isaquias Queiroz has made it safely through, with partner Erlon de Souza Silva. The duo are real contenders for gold tomorrow. No Brazilian has ever won three medals in a single Olympic Games, so we could see history in the making.
 

LEE HAS DONE IT!
22-20 in the third game. Badminton drama doesn't get any better than that. Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei exchange shirts and embrace in the middle after an epic encounter for the ages. Lee will be going for gold for Malaysia on Saturday. The fans have gone crazy in Riocentro.

THIRD MATCH POINT SAVED
Incredible scenes at Riocentro as Lin saves an astonishing third match point. It's now 20-20 in the third game.

ADVANTAGE LEE
Lee now has a three point lead, 19-16 in the third game. A place in the gold-medal match is nearly his! What can Lin Dan do?