Zur bows out in semis of single kayak event

BEIJING — Newport Beach resident Rami Zur was eliminated from competition at the Olympic Games Thursday after finishing sixth in his nine-boat semifinal of the single kayak 500-meter flatwater event at Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park.

Zur, who trains at the Newport Aquatic Center, completed the race in one minute, 47.163 seconds, four seconds behind Australian Ken Wallace, who finished third to claim the last of the three finals berths earned in the heat.

Canadian Adam van Koeverden won the semifinal heat in 1:42.438.

Zur, competing in his third Olympics, also reached the semifinals of the K-1 1,000-meter event.

In other Olympic news:

The United States water polo team, featuring former UC Irvine All-Americans Jeff Powers, Ryan Bailey, Tim Hutten and Rick Merlo, will face Serbia in the semifinals today at 4:40 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) at Yingdong Natatorium in Beijing.

Serbia defeated Team USA, 4-2, in group play Aug. 14.

This is the Americans’ first trip to the medal round since 1992 in Barcelona.

The U.S. men’s volleyball team, including Corona del Mar High product Kevin Hansen and UC Irvine Coach John Speraw, an assistant coach in Beijing, takes on Russia in today’s semifinals.

The Americans, rankned No. 3 in the world, have won all six of their matches thus far, including a five-game thriller over Serbia in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

— From staff reports