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Viljoen starts Games campaign

Cape Town - South Africa's Sunette Viljoen starts her Olympic quest on Tuesday in the qualifying rounds of the women’s javelin throw.

She did not reach the final in the two previous Olympic Games where she competed, but is hoping to change that this year.

The world number one will be up against athletes such as Vira Rebryk (UKR) and Maria Abakumova (RUS).

Rebryk, the European Champion, recorded her best in Helsinki on 29 June with a throw of 66.86m. Abakumova holds the World Championships title and is also the Olympic silver medallist of the 2008 Games. She threw 66.86m in Doha, Qatar on 11 May.

Viljoen’s best performance was in New York (69.35m), not only securing her a win over world record holder, Barbora Spotakova (CZE), who finished as runner-up with the second best mark of her season (68.73m), but also a new South African and African record.

Viljoen will be in action at 12:25 in group B of the women’s javelin throw.

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