Oh, to be watched by a billion

The women’s singles table tennis semi-finals start at 10:00. The time zone differences with Tokyo, Beijing and Pyongyang mean fans over there will be awake late to see Ai Fukuhara, or ‘Ai-Chan’ as she is affectionately known in Japan, take on London 2012 gold medallist Li Xiaoxia of China. The other semi-final is China’s world champion Ding Ning versus Kim Song I, of DPR Korea. It will be breakfast time in East Asia when the medals are contested, 10 hours later.

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Nadal: man or machine?

Rafael Nadal is not one to turn down a challenge. Today, he is scheduled to play three matches, in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Nadal was a happy man on Tuesday after his 6-3, 6-3 win over Andreas Seppi of Italy in the men's singles second round, at the Olympic Tennis Centre.

Nadal plays his first Olympic match since Beijing 2008

Homer: a Bronx tale

Tune into men’s sabre fencing, starting at 12:45 and discover Daryl Homer, who grew up in the Bronx and was inspired to start fencing when he saw a picture of the sport in a dictionary, aged 11. He became the first US male sabre fencer to win a medal at the world championships, when he claimed silver at the 2015 edition in Moscow. He's now ranked 10th in the world, and has a chance to be the first American ever to take Olympic men's sabre gold.

Cycling, against the clock

The road cycling time trial events begin at 08:30 for women and 10:00 for men. Athletes compete one after the other to set the fastest time. Great Britain’s Chris Froome is among the contenders for men's gold, as is Netherlands’ Tom Dumoulin and Germany's Tony Martin. Female top picks include Dutch star Ellen van Dijk and New Zealand's world champion Linda Villumsen.

First medals in rowing

The first rowing medals of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be handed out as finals of the men's and women's quadruple sculls take place. The German women are among the favourites.

Rowers will also race for final places in the women's pairs, lightweight men's and women's double sculls, men's fours and both men's and women's eights.

Gymnastics individual men’s final

Japanese gymnast Kohei Uchimura has 10 world titles to his name, including every individual all-around gold medal since 2009, and he's still just 27 years old. He seeks to retain his Olympic all-around title from London 2012.

(Photo: Getty Images Alex Livesy)

Rugby quarter-finals

USA men now have the taste for it, after gaining their first ever Olympic win over Brazil on Tuesday. They face world champions Fiji next, in the remaining pool stage fixtures at lunchtime. Britain's men face a tough test against New Zealand before the knockout stage begins early evening.

Four golds in swimming

Tonight it’s gold medal time in the men’s 200m breaststroke and 100m freestyle, and in women’s 200m butterfly and 4x200m free relay. In the women's 200m butterfly, Japanese starlet Natsumi Hoshi won Olympic bronze in this event four years ago, and the 25-year-old is now the world champion. One rival for gold is Aussie Madeline Groves. Australia's Cameron McEvoy is bidding for gold in the men's 100m freestyle final.

The gold that draws you in

The Olympic cauldron, opposite the 19th century neoclassical church of Candelária near the huge Olympic Boulevard live site, is attracting thousands. Since the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony on Friday (5 August), this extraordinary artistic creation by US sculptor Anthony Howe has become a star of social media and selfies in its own right.

(Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)