Cris Nievarez enters Tokyo Olympics rowing QF's

Cris Nievarez moves on to the quarterfinals.

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Filipino rower Cris Nievarez moved one step closer to a Tokyo Olympic medal after making the quarterfinals of the men's singles sculls event at the Sea Forest Waterway in the Japanese capital on Friday.

Nievarez finished third in Heat 5 at seven minutes and 22.97 seconds, making the quarterfinal cut as the top three rowers per heat will qualify to the next round.

Nievarez will join Croatian Damir Martin, who topped the heat at 7:09.17, and Russian Alexander Vyazovkin, who came in second at 7.14.95, in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Nievarez was way ahead of fourth placer Felix Potoy of Nicaragua, who finished at 7:32.54.

Potoy and Benin's Privel Hinkati will be playing in the repechage race.

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