At a glance

NZ rowing squad: Emma Twigg (Women’s single scull); Brooke Donoghue and Hannah Osborne (Women’s double scull); Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler (Women’s pair); Eve Macfarlane, Olivia Loe, Georgia Nugento’leary, Ruby Tew (Women’s quad); Ella Greenslade, Emma Dyke, Kelsey Bevan, Kirstyn Goodger, Beth Ross, Phoebe Spoors, Lucy Spoors, Jackie Gowler, Grace Prendergast, Kerri Gowler, coxswain Caleb Shepherd (Women’s eight squad); Jordan Parry (Men’s single scull); Chris Harris and Jack Lopas (Men’s double scull); Stephen Jones and Brook Robertson (Men’s pair); Shaun Kirkham, Tom Mackintosh, Michael Brake, Matt Macdonald, Tom Murray, Phillip Wilson, Hamish Bond, Daniel Williamson, coxswain Sam Bosworth (Men’s eight).

Key dates: Heats start today; double sculls finals, Wednesday 28; pair finals, Thursday 29; single sculls, eights finals Friday 30.

Outlook: Rowing is again expected to be a leading medal provider for the New Zealand team in Tokyo. The country’s women rowers in particular are poised to lead the way, with Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler chasing gold in both the pair and the eight. Hannah Osborne and Brooke Donoghue in the double sculls and single sculler Emma Twigg are also strong medal contenders.

For the first time since Sydney 2000, there is no Mahe Drysdale in the team, but dual gold medallist Hamish Bond is part of the men’s eight seeking their first medal since Montreal 1976.