A USC student looks set to play a central role in the first sporting action of the Tokyo Games on Wednesday 21 July as host nation Japan takes on Australia in softball.

Two days ahead of the official opening ceremony on Friday, USC Master of Teaching (Secondary) student Kaia Parnaby will pitch for Australia in the opening round of the softball competition in the impressive Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium.

The game is scheduled to start at 10am AEST.

Kaia, 31, is well-known across Japan as she plays professionally in the Japanese Women’s Softball League. During her seventh season for the SGH Galaxy Stars last year, she achieved her 500th strikeout.

The left-handed pitcher is one of six athletes affiliated with USC who will compete at the Games over the next three weeks.

There are two strong medal contenders in the pool, with world record holder Kaylee McKeown (a USC Spartans Swimming Club member) to race in the 100m and 200m backstroke events and possibly the 200m individual medley, while Rio silver medallist Leah Neale (USC Sport & Exercise Science graduate and former Spartans club member) is part of Australia’s 4x200m freestyle team.

Primary Education graduate Kareena Lee and current Computer Science student William (Bill) Thorley will compete in the 10km open water marathon swimming events on 4 August and 5 August respectively. Thorley will be representing Hong Kong.

And track cyclist Maeve Plouff, a member of the USC-based Pro Racing Sunshine Coast team, will don the green and gold in the team pursuit event and possibly the Madison (relay).