Rowing-Dutch fly into women's pairs final

PARIS : The Netherlands crew of Ymkje Clevering and Veronique Meester blazed into the women's pairs Olympic rowing final with the fastest time at the Vaire-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Wednesday as Tuesday's hot weather gave way to overcast skies. 

The Dutch duo finished the 2000-metre course in 7:10.16 in the first semi-final, almost four seconds faster than Australia, who won the second semi of the morning. Those two crews will be joined in the final by Romania, Greece, the US and Lithuania. 

The men's pairs were a tighter affair with fewer than three seconds separating the top three in the second semi as Romania, Britain and Ireland secured their final berths, with Croatia, Switzerland and Spain joining them from the first semi. 

After four days of heats and repechages, the first rowing medals of the Games will be decided later on Wednesday in the men's and women's quadruple sculls events.