Olympic Games: Duo aiming to make progress

Two hockey stars will be hoping to find the golden touch as they look to qualify for the quarter-finals stage at the Rio Olympic Games.

Adam Dixon and Shona McCallin, both former Newark Hockey Club players, have featured heavily in the opening group matches.

Dixon scored the equaliser after Great Britain had gone behind in the first few minutes of their match with hosts Brazil on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old scored his maiden Olympic goal by slamming in a rebound from close range. Great Britain went on to record a 9-1 victory.

It was their first win of the tournament after a 4-1 loss to Belgium was followed by a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.

Dixon hoped the result would act as a catalyst as they attempt to reach the quarter-finals.

“Obviously we were quite disappointed with how we started the tournament,” he said.

“Preparation-wise, coming into this, everything was really positive but we struggled with the heat and our intensity against Belgium.

“We didn’t get going against New Zealand either so this game was a stepping stone in the right direction.

“When they put that first corner in, I wondered what we had got ourselves in to, but it is a testament to the resilience we have has a team.”

Family support

GB men face old-rivals Australia in the early hours of Thursday morning, knowing a win was needed to give them the best chance of a favourable quarter-final draw.

“Australia is as tough as they come but we have been looking forward to this game for a long time,” Dixon said.

He has been boosted after being inundated with support from friends and family back home.

“My family back home are watching and I’m getting a load of messages all the time,” Dixon said.

“I’m trying to ignore most of them and keep away from social media but when the notifications come through and you see all the positive messages you really feel like the nation is behind us and behind all of Team GB, which is really special for us.”

Shona McCallin, 24, of Dry Doddington, was in the thick of the action as Great Britain women won both their opening matches.

She had a hand in both goals as they sunk Australia 2-1 in the opening match.

Her first major involvement was to flick a long Hollie Webb pass to Sophie Bray, who played in Lily Owsley to score.

With the match all-square in the second-half, McCallin dummied a through-ball for Susannah Townsend to break-through on goal, with Alex Danson eventually scoring.

McCallin started the second match on the bench but was still heavily involved as they beat India 3-0.

Her next match will be against Japan at 12.30am on Friday.