Deepthi, who won gold at the Para Asian Games and the World Championships, finished 0.66 seconds behind the gold medallist….reports Asian Lite News
Indian para-sprinter Deepthi Jeevanji won her maiden bronze in the women’s 400m T20 category in the ongoing Paris Paralympics here on Tuesday. Deepthi clocked the timing of 55.82 seconds at the Stade de France to finish behind Ukraine’s Yuliia Shuliar (55.16 secs) and Turkiye’s world record holder Aysel Onder (55.23 secs).
Deepthi, who won gold at the Para Asian Games and the World Championships, finished 0.66 seconds behind the gold medallist. It is India’s sixth medal in para-athletics after Preethi Pal (two bronze), Nishad Kumar (silver), Yogesh Kathuniya (silver) and Sumit Antil (gold) won medals in their respective disciplines.
India has so far claimed 16 medals in the Paris Paralympics and sits in 18th place in the standings.
Deepthi, a young athlete from Telangana, has made a remarkable impact on the world of para-athletics. Despite facing challenges due to her intellectual impairment, Jeevanji has proved her mettle on the international stage. At the age of 15, she was first spotted by N. Ramesh, a coach from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), during a state-level athletics meet. Recognising her potential, Ramesh took her under his wings and began training her.
Deepthi’s journey in para-athletics began with her participation in the Asian Youth Championships held in Hong Kong in 2019, where she won a bronze medal. Despite her intellectual impairment, which makes it difficult for her to express her feelings like other girls of her age, Deepthi remained determined to excel in her sport.
She continued to train diligently and participated in various events organized by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) between 2019 and 2022. Her hard work paid off when she won a gold medal in both the 100m and 200m events at the Khelo India Youth Games 2020 in Guwahati. Deepthi’s success continued at the National Junior and Youth Championships, where she won multiple medals. Her achievements earned her the status of a Khelo India Athlete.
Jeevanji’s most significant achievement came at the Asian Para Games in 2023, where she created history by breaking the Games Record and Asian Record followed by a World Record of 55.07s registered at the World Championship 2024. Her exceptional performance earned her a gold medal, cementing her place as a rising star in the world of para-athletics.
Pooja Falls in Quarterfinals
Indian para-archer Pooja failed to capitalise on a 4-0 advantage and missed a spot in the semifinals as she lost to China’s Wu Chunyan in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Recurve Open archery competition at the Paralympic Games here on Tuesday.
Pooja went down 4-6 to the Chinese archer after winning the first two sets 28-23 and 25-24 in the French capital. Wu Chunyan won three consecutive sets 28-27, 27-24 and 27-24 to win the quarterfinal match.
After winning the first two games, Pooja was on the verge of victory, having shot two 10s in the third set while her opponent had a 10 and a nine. But just when it mattered the most, Pooja could manage only a seven on her third turn in the third set while the Chinese archer had a nine on her third arrow and won the set to remain alive in the quarterfinal.
Two more seven points in the next two sets put paid to her chances as the Chinese girl wrapped up victory and stormed into the semifinal.
Earlier, Pooja had made it to the quarterfinals after beating Sengul Yagmur of Turkey in a pre-quarterfinal clash at the Invalides. Pooja blanked the Turkish archer 6-0, where both archers failed to hit a single 10. Pooja took advantage of her opponent’s mistakes to win the match.
However, her luck ran out against the Chinese and she bowed out with a narrow defeat.
The wrestler lost the chance to fight for the gold medal after she was disqualified for being overweight in the morning weigh-in on Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News
India’s ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from wrestling hours after her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024.
She made the announcement in an early morning post on social platform X on Thursday.
“Wrestling won the match against me, I lost… my courage is all broken, I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all…,” Vinesh posted on X.
Vinesh Phogat
The wrestler lost the chance to fight for the gold medal after she was disqualified for being overweight in the morning weigh-in on Wednesday following her stupendous performance on Tuesday when she stunned the hitherto unbeaten Yui Susaki of Japan in her first bout.
Vinesh made history on Tuesday by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final at the Olympics. But her redemption story following a disappointing performance in the Tokyo Olympics ended in heartbreak as she was disqualified from the competition after she was found overweight in the second weigh-in on the morning of the final.
Vinesh was found 100 grams over the limit for 50 kg and thus ruled out the competition and placed last as per United World Wrestling rules.
माँ कुश्ती मेरे से जीत गई मैं हार गई माफ़ करना आपका सपना मेरी हिम्मत सब टूट चुके इससे ज़्यादा ताक़त नहीं रही अब।
She had kept awake and worked hard along with her coach, support staff and Indian contingent’s chief medical officer all night to shed weight that she had gained to replenish the vital fluids lost in the three bouts and get to 50 kg but to no avail and she turned out overweight by just 100 gm.
She was so dehydrated by her efforts that she had to be admitted to the polyclinic in the Games Village for IV drips.
Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik stated that she is ‘worried’ about Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the women’s 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics…reports Asian Lite News
From the film fraternity to political leaders across the country consoled Wrestler Vinesh Phogat after her disqualification from the final of the 2024 Olympics, while the Congress questioned the involvement of “sports politics” in it.
Vinesh was scheduled to take on the United States’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the Gold Medal match. A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified.
The Congress party came out heavily against the Bharatiya Janata Party after the disqualification of Indian grappler Vinesh, and said Vinesh didn’t fail in the wrestling match but became a victim of “sports politics”.
Launching a scathing attack on the Centre, Surjewala said “some people” are avoiding even tweeting about Vinesh’s victory in the semi-final as she’s the same player who protested at Jantar Mantar against “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favourite Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.”
“Some people were avoiding to tweet about her victory in the semi-finals. This is because this is the same Vinesh Phogat who raised her voice against PM Modi’s favourite Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In 2023, she raised her voice against the physical, and mental torture against the PM’s favourite Brij Bhushan. This is the same Vinesh Phogat who protested at Jantar Mantar. This is the same Vinesh Phogat against whom BJP filed an FIR,” Surjewala added.
The Congress leader further questioned the “silence” of the Wrestling Federation of India on the matter and said the country wants answers to these questions.
Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda said that wrestler Vinesh Phogat made it to the finals when athletes around the world were practicing on wrestling mats and asked where and how did things go wrong?
Speaking to ANI, Deepender Singh Hooda said, “The entire country is in shock and has many questions on the matter. Our daughter had worked so hard to reach the finals. When athletes around the world were practicing on wrestling mats, she was sitting in protest to seek justice for Indian women in wrestling. She still made it to the finals.”
“Where and how did things go wrong? Is the administration not responsible for this? Her weight was fine in all three bouts yesterday. Has the IOA taken up this issue with the IOC?” questioned Hooda.
Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik stated that she is ‘worried’ about Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the women’s 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics.
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said that the intention with which Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics is “sports politics”, adding that there should be talks on a bigger level.
“This is international-level politics. Vinesh Phogat was very close to winning a gold medal for the country. The intention with which she has been removed is sports politics. The way she has been removed, it is painful for the country. More than a tweet, there should be talks on a bigger level and Vinesh Phogat should get a chance to play,” Patole said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann raised questions about the members of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) after Vinesh Phogat tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified.
“I don’t want to connect with this politics. But please tell me, have the members of the Indian Olympic Association gone there on holiday? Indian Olympic Association did not object to this even once. There was no tweet (from PM Modi) when she (Vinesh Phogat) reached the final, but a tweet was posted when she was disqualified. Come on!” Bhagwant Mann told reporters.
“To check her weight was the work of her coaches and physiotherapists. Now, the decision has come. This injustice should have been stopped. Did they (The Centre) fix anyone’s accountability at the time when our women wrestlers went to immerse their medals in the river. Such mistakes are happening on such a high level. Coaches and physiotherapists are paid in lakhs. Have they gone there for holidays?” he added.
INDIA Bloc MPs staged a protest at Parliament on Wednesday to seek justice for wrestler Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 hours before the final.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin consoled Vinesh and said that though you missed a medal, you’ve won the hearts of everyone with your incredible determination.
“Vinesh, you are a true champion in ‘every’ sense. Your resilience, strength, and remarkable journey to the finals have inspired millions of Indian daughters. Disqualification over a few grams cannot diminish your spirit and achievements. Though you missed a medal, you have won the hearts of everyone with your incredible determination,” Stalin said in a post on X.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister termed Vinesh a champion among champions.
“Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head-on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you,” the Prime Minister said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his support to Vinesh Phogat and said that Phogat’s setback in the Olympics has certainly broken the hopes of millions of Indians.
“Vinesh Phogat’s setback in the Olympics has certainly broken the hopes of millions of Indians. She has a brilliant sporting career, shining with the glory of defeating the world champion. This misfortune is merely an exception in her trailblazing career, from which I am sure she will bounce back to be the winner she always is. Our best wishes and support are always with her,” Shah posted on X.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh said that it is extremely “unfortunate” for our country that even after wrestling so well and qualifying for the Finals, Vinesh was disqualified for being overweight by 100 grams.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Phogat’s excellent performance in the Paris Olympics 2024 has illuminated India.
“Vinesh Phogat ji, you are a pride, a winner, and a champion for all Indians. Don’t be disappointed…Your excellent performance in the Paris Olympics 2024 has illuminated India. Not just hope, but complete confidence that you will soon return to the field stronger than before. The whole country stands with you,” CM Yogi posted on X.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that every Indian is proud of Vinesh Phogat’s performance
NCP MP Praful Patel said that it is very shocking and disturbing news that Vinesh has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics.
Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hoped that the Indian Olympic Association would strongly challenge the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat and provide justice to the daughter of the country.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the whole nation stands by wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has lodged a strong protest with the United World Wrestling (UWW) after Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics for being “overweight” in the 50 kg category.
Making a statement in Lok Sabha, the minister listed the steps the government took to support her preparation. The members earlier voiced their concern over Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification ahead of her gold medal bout at the Olympics.
Members of the Indian film industry have extended their support to wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
Actress Taapsee Pannu took to Instagram to express her support, writing, “This is heartbreaking but honestly this woman has already made her mark beyond gold by now! @vineshphogat.”
Bhumi Pednekar also shared her sentiments on Instagram, stating, “You are and will always be a winner @vineshphogat Itni jaan aur himmat bahut kam mein hoti hai,” highlighting Phogat’s courage and strength.
Rakul Preet Singh, shared her feelings on Instagram Stories, simply noting, “Heartbreaking,” accompanied by a broken heart emoticon.
Taking to her Instagram handle, Zoya Akhtar hailed Vinesh Phogat as a champion and sent an empowering message for her despite the setback. “
“Champion @vineshphogat You are gold! What you have achieved is beyond medals. So proud. So inspired,” she wrote.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha on Wednesday provided an update on the Indian grappler’s health and said that she is physically and medically doing fine.
The Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Olympic contingent, Dinshaw Pardiwala, opened up on Wednesday, about the measures taken to reduce Vinesh Phogat’s weight and said that they had to take some “drastic measures,” like cutting off her hair.
He said the whole team was awake whole night trying to reduce Vinesh’s weight, and had they got a few hours more, they would have achieved the required weight category.
Phogat’s uncle and former wrestler, Mahavir Singh Phogat, expressed his disappointment and said if a wrestler is overweight by 50-100 grams, they are usually allowed to play.
Mahavir Phogat also broke down, as India’s chances of laying hands on the fourth medal of this Olympics were shattered by Vinesh’s disqualification.
Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Munawwar Hasan said today, “The government should tell what were the circumstances at the time and what the Indian Olympic Association did to encourage her. The government is accountable as this is a serious matter.”
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said, “We all have seen how athletes dedicate their entire life, day in and day out, to reach where they want to reach. To miss a sure-shot Olympic medal is gut-wrenching. I don’t know how she must be going through what she is going through now. We are all extremely proud of her achievements. She will always be a champion in the eyes of a billion Indias.”
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said on X that the government and opposition should find a way to form a consensus and either award VINESH PHOGAT the BHARAT RATNA or nominate her to a President-nominated RS seat, acknowledging the extraordinary mettle she has demonstrated.
“This is the least we can do for her, considering the immense struggle she has faced. No medal can fully reflect her true mettle,” he said on X. (ANI)
Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medallists are out of contention for the top two spots but have the chance to redeem themselves in the bronze medal match against Spain on Thursday.…reports Asian Lite News
The Indian men’s hockey team played its heart out but went down 2-3 to World Champion Germany in the second semifinal at the Paris Olympic Games here on Tuesday, the players falling onto the turf with tears in their eyes. India’s hunt for their first gold medal in 44 years came to a heartbreaking end as Shamsher Singh shot over the crossbar with what was the last hit of the day, missing the equaliser by inches. India were hoping to reach the final for the first time since the 1980 Games in Moscow.
Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medallists are out of contention for the top two spots but have the chance to redeem themselves in the bronze medal match against Spain on Thursday. The country is the leading medallist in hockey at the Olympics and has the chance to win its 14th medal at the Games (eight golds, one silver, three bronze). India will be hoping to win back-to-back medals in the Olympics after the 1972 edition in Munich.
Paris, Aug 07 (ANI): India’s captain Harmanpreet Sing and team carry a dejected look as they lose to Germany in the men’s hockey semifinal match at the Paris Olympic Games 2024, on Wednesday. (ANI Photo/Olympic Khel-X)
India once again relied on their prolific skipper Harmanpreet Singh for the goals as the 28-year-old opened the scoring through yet another penalty corner in the seventh minute.
India’s decision to go on the defensive once they got the lead worked in favour of the Germans as they unleashed a flurry of attacks in response. The response was swift and immediate as they levelled the game through defender Gonzalo Peillat’s penalty corner in the 13th minute.
As the game neared half-time, a German attempt from a penalty corner hit defender Jarmanpreet Singh’s leg which resulted in a penalty stroke for the World Champions. Christopher Ruehr to take a 2-1 lead into half-time. India kept their nerves going into the all-important second half and kept knocking at the German defence. A penalty corner in the 37th minute saw Harmanpreet Singh strike it hard and low, Sukhjeet Singh followed the ball and got to the end of it to deflect it into the goals and level the score for the side.
Germany earned a penalty corner in the 46th minute which was saved by Sreejesh, however, the ball fell to the Germans who had a clear sight of an empty goal. But an amazing goal-line save by substitute Sanjay kept the game on level terms.
Germany’s repeated attempts at goal finally saw them breach the Indian defence in the 54th minute as Marco Miltkau scored the first field goal of the night.
When all hope seemed lost, a last-ditch attempt by India saw the ball fall to substitute Shamsher Singh who had a clear shot at goal with only the goalkeeper to beat. But his attempt sailed over the goalpost ahead of the final whistle.
India have lost their second successive semifinal at the Olympic Games having lost 2-5 to eventual champions Belgium at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They had then gone on to beat Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal match to end a four-decade-long drought.
The players will hope that history repeats itself in Paris and they bag another bronze medal.
The team India now has to play with one player less, 15 instead of 16 in the squad, which could impact their performance significantly…reports Asian Lite News
The Indian men’s hockey team gears up for the all-important clash against Germany without key defender Amit Rohidas in the Paris Olympics semifinals here on Tuesday and will need to take care of some key points during the clash.
The Indian team will face several challenges in the semifinal match, primarily related to recovery and tactical adjustments. After playing a nerve-jingling and energy-sapping clash with Great Britain in the quarterfinals on Sunday, India will have to take care of many issues in the clash.
To overcome the challenges to be faced in the upcoming semifinal match, the Indian team should consider implementing the following key strategies.
Physical and mental recovery
This will be the key aspect of the match against Germany. The Indian team needs to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally after the intense quarterfinal match, which went to the shoot-out. This includes proper rest, nutrition, and mental conditioning to ensure players are at their best.
“Recovering physically, mentally, emotionally is going to be the key. These sorts of games drain you completely. So it has drained them. So, the first thing is they have to recover,” M.M Somaya, the 1980 Games gold medallist, said.
Player shortage
India will also have to recover from player shortage as Amit Rohitas has not received a reprieve from the disciplinary committee and the Jury of Appeal. The team now has to play with one player less, 15 instead of 16 in the squad, which could impact their performance significantly.
“We will have to play one player shot from the 16. And in today’s rules of rolling substitution, where they make 40-50 changes in a match, one player short means your options are limited as compared to the opposition. So, that’s a handicap (for the Indian team),” said Somaya.
So, while taking care of these things, the Indian team will also have to come up with sound tactical planning to overcome this handicap.
The team needs to prepare strategically for Germany, as they are the reigning World Champions and very tough opponents playing with fewer players against such an opponent requires careful planning to maximise their effectiveness on the field.
The team needs to develop a game plan that accommodates the potential absence of a key player (Rohidas). This may involve adjusting formations and roles to maintain team balance and effectiveness.
The team also needs to conduct a thorough analysis of Germany, focusing on its strengths and weaknesses. They should tailor the game strategy to exploit the opponent’s vulnerabilities while reinforcing the team’s defensive and offensive capabilities.
By focusing on these strategies, the Indian team can enhance its chances of success in the semifinal.
The team also has some positives that it can bank on in the semifinal and one of the main confidence boosters is its past performance in the semifinals, which significantly influences its current approach in several ways.
The team’s recent success in reaching the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics after a long gap has boosted the players’ confidence. This historical achievement serves as motivation to perform better and aim for the final in Paris.
The past semifinal experiences provide valuable lessons in handling pressure situations. The team can analyse previous matches to identify what strategies worked and what didn’t, allowing them to refine their approach.
After a narrow 1-2 defeat to defending Olympic champions Belgium, the team came back brilliantly to outplay Australia in their final league match, beating Australia in the Olympics for the first time in 52 years.
The team has so far shown resilience in tough matches, which is crucial for the semifinals. Their ability to play tactically smart rather than just relying on a traditional attacking style reflects a mature approach to the game.
The shift from playing attractive hockey to effective hockey indicates a strategic evolution. The team now prioritises winning through tactical discipline, which is essential against strong opponents in the semifinals.
Overall, if the Indian team takes care of these points, it can overcome the challenge posed by World Champion Germany and advance to the final for the first time since the 1980 Games in Moscow.
Craig Fulton’s India had lost both their Pro League encounters against Great Britain in June before the Olympics. The veteran player cautioned India of their opponent’s potential and advised them to play their top game…reports Asian Lite News
Former captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, Viren Rasquinha believes that the Harmanpreet Singh-led side will face a tough battle against Great Britain in their quarterfinal clash on Sunday. India finished second in Pool B with 10 points in five matches. In their last match against Australia, the Indian team scripted history with a 3-2 win, their first victory over the Kookaburras since the 1972 Olympics.
Rasquinha lauded the Indian team for playing to their potential against Australia but also warned them of the stiff challenge in the knockout stage.
“I think we have very good chances against Great Britain. It’s a fairly good draw for us. We played very well to finish second in Pool B and the last two matches against Belgium and Australia. If you dispassionately keep the results aside, they played very good hockey. Obviously, the result against Australia is fantastic because I’ve been there several times and I know how difficult is it to win against Australia in a major event where they come so prepared,” Rasquinha told IANS on Saturday.
But when it comes to Great Britain, he advocates caution as India have found them tough to deal at the international stage.
Craig Fulton’s India had lost both their Pro League encounters against Great Britain in June before the Olympics. The veteran player cautioned India of their opponent’s potential and advised them to play their top game.
“It’s been a good performance, but we also have to know that we’ve to forget this result. The knockout phase is a new game altogether and we got to be really on top of our game. Holland (Netherlands), Germany, Great Britain, and Spain, the four teams that come from the other pool, are equally strong. Anyone is capable of beating anyone in the world hockey. In the Pro League, they (India) have not had the best of results against Great Britain so it’s going to be tough,” added the Olympics expert on JioCinema & Sports18.
The 43-year-old former midfielder said that India will have to replicate their aggressive hockey against Great Britain to secure the semifinal spot.
“The good thing in the match against Australia is that we played to our strength. This is the kind of hockey that India excel at when playing at a high tempo, playing as direct as possible, being very aggressive on the counter-attacks and when you lose ball possession, every single player has to fight hard to come back into the defense to make it difficult for the opposition. I think the work rate of the entire team was phenomenal against Australia. We’ll need to do this again as Great Britain also play at a very very high tempo. This is something we need to make sure,” Rasquinha concluded.
India will take on Great Britain in the quarterfinal match at 1:30 pm IST on Sunday.
Great Britain has qualified as the third-placed team in Pool A, finishing behind Germany and the Netherlands.
Another reason for Rasquinha listing this match as tough for India is the superior details enjoyed by the opponents against India. In 23 matches played so far, Great Britain hold a 13-9 advantage. They are ahead in the last five matches too, having won three and lost two.
Paris, Aug 01 (ANI): Badminton player PV Sindhu in action during the Women’s Singles round of 16 match against China's He Bing Jiao in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, on Thursday. P.V. Sindhu lost 19-21, 14-21 to He Bing. (ANI Photo/Olympic Khel-X)
Sindhu’s campaign ended in disappointment, and she will return home empty-handed for the first time from the Olympics as she lost 19-21, 14-21 to Bing Jiao in the Round of 16….reports Asian Lite News
Two-time Olympic medallist P.V Sindhu was disappointed on Thursday as her dream to become the first Indian to win a medal in three successive Games ended in Paris on Thursday. Sindhu went down to old nemesis He Bing Jiao of China in the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals.
Sindhu’s campaign ended in disappointment, and she will return home empty-handed for the first time from the Olympics as she lost 19-21, 14-21 to Bing Jiao in the Round of 16.
The 29-year-old Indian, who won a silver medal in the Rio Olympics in 2016 and followed it up by claiming bronze in Tokyo 2020, felt that a line call that went against her at 19-all in the first game made all the difference.
Sindhu challenged a line call, that was called in, in the Chinese player’s favour but the ruling went against her. Sindhu said it would have been different if she had won the first game.
Paris, Aug 01 (ANI): Badminton player PV Sindhu in action during the Women’s Singles round of 16 match against China’s He Bing Jiao in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, on Thursday. P.V. Sindhu lost 19-21, 14-21 to He Bing. (ANI Photo/DD Sports Grab)
“I think the first game should have been a bit different is what I felt, especially at 19-all. It was anybody’s game is what I felt because, you know, I challenged it and then it would have been good if it was in my favour. But it was on the line and it was 20-19 for her. Maybe if I would have won the first game, it would have been different,” Sindhu told IANS after the match.
“I would have had a lot more confidence within me, is what I felt. I think the second game was good in the beginning, but she took the lead and then kept going. I was trying to cover it, but then I was making simple errors. But overall, I just felt that it’s a sad day, but, yeah, I need to keep my head high,” said Sindhu who had reached the pre-quarterfinals with three easy wins in her group.
Sindhu was disappointed that things did not go in her favour against a player she had played many times. They have recently traded wins in multi-sports events with Sindhu beating He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match in the Tokyo Olympics while the Chinese returned the favour in the Asian Games quarterfinal at home in Hangzhou.
“It’s sad that I couldn’t get the result that I wanted. At the Olympics, everybody wants to win, but unfortunately, it didn’t go the right way for me today. Bing Jiao also is a good player, and we played a lot of times in the, you know, last year and before that as well, so we know each other’s game at the same time,” Sindhu said.
Sindhu extended her best wishes to Lakshya Sen who is the lone Indian remaining in the fray in the Paris Olympics. Lakshya defeated compatriot H.S Prannoy 21-12,21-6 to reach the quarterfinals. He will take on 12th-seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei for a place in the semifinals.
“I wish him all the very best and I hope he does well. It’s his first Olympics, so I want him to give his best and give his 100%,” Sindhu said.
Grigorian began his Olympic participation by facing Uzbekistan’s Bobonov Davlat in the under-90 kg category round of 32, which featured 50 players…reports Asian Lite News
Aram Grigorian, a member of the UAE’s national judo team, delivered a remarkable performance in his participation in the 33rd Summer Olympics hosted by the French capital Paris from 26th July to 11th August.
Grigorian was close to reaching the semi-finals before losing to Japan’s Murau Sanchiro in the under-90 kg quarterfinals, after impressive performances in his first and second matches.
Grigorian began his Olympic participation by facing Uzbekistan’s Bobonov Davlat in the under-90 kg category round of 32, which featured 50 players. He then won against Sweden’s Marcus Nyman, who holds a bronze medal from the Doha 2023 World Judo Championships, in the round of 16 by ippon.
Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor, Vice Chairman of the Judo Federation, said, “The qualification of six UAE judo players to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics across various weight categories for both genders is an achievement for UAE judo. This marks the fifth consecutive participation of UAE judo in this global sporting event, reflecting the efforts of the National Olympic Committee under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, all members of the committee, and the support and follow-up of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. This effort aims to elevate the UAE sports flag, which enjoys the support and attention of the leadership that continually provides all the requirements for creativity and excellence in youth and sports.”
Al Budoor added. “The direct qualification of UAE judo champions to the Olympics within the International Judo Federation’s global ranking is a remarkable achievement. It adds to the federation’s record, which recently celebrated its silver jubilee and 25 years since its founding, headed by Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Derai, ambassador of the International Judo Federation for friendship, peace, and humanity, one of the longest-serving sports federation presidents in the country.
“This continues the technical and administrative successes and the continued brilliance of UAE judo, which has made extraordinary efforts to reach this stage, making Abu Dhabi a global capital of judo through positive sports results at all levels, in addition to hosting major regional and international judo events, and successful external participations that raised the UAE flag high.”
“The Judo Federation is on the verge of a new transition when it moves to its new headquarters in Baniyas East, after completing all organisational arrangements. The project has started to take shape on the ground, providing a true model of modern infrastructure for sports facilities in the country, thanks to the support and attention of the leadership for the youth and sports sector,” he concluded.
This is also the first time that an Indian male shooter has reached the final of the Rifle Three-Position event at the Olympics….reports Asian Lite News
Swapnil Kusale handled with admirable composure the trials and tribulations of a gruelling Olympic qualification round in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3P), making it to the final and giving India the fifth shot at a medal in the shooting competitions in 33rd Olympic Games here on Wednesday.
Shooting a top-drawer 590 over 20 shots each in the Kneeling, Prone and Standing positions, Kusale took the seventh place in the elite 44-man field and maintained his hopes of winning a medal in his maiden outing in the Olympics.
Manu Bhaker has helped convert two of the previous four shots earned by India into bronze medals, first in the women’s 10m Air Pistol and thereafter, partnering Sarabjot Singh in the Air Pistol Mixed Team event. These are India’s only two medals at the Paris Games so far.
While Swapnil, a seasoned 3P shooter, made his first final in his debut Olympics, two-time Olympian Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar missed out narrowly. His score of 589 put him in the 11th spot in the pecking order, as Czechia’s Jiri Privratsky took the eighth and final qualifying spot at 590. China’s Liu Yukun topped the field with 594.
This is also the first time that an Indian male shooter has reached the final of the Rifle Three-Position event at the Olympics.
In the qualification round on Wednesday, Swapnil came up with an impressive performance, starting with two scores of 99 in the kneeling position before scoring 98 and 99 in prone. The 29-year-old from Pune shot scores of 98 and 97 in the standing position for a total of 590, which was enough to bag him a place in the top eight and the final.
In the other shooting event of the day, Rajeshwari Kumari and Shreyasi Singh shot identical scores of 113 in the Women’s Trap to garner 22nd and 23rd spots respectively.
On the sixth day of competitions on Thursday, the men’s 3P final precedes the women’s 3P qualification round featuring Anjum Moudgil and Sift Kaur Samra in action for India.
The 22-year-old Bommadevara, who finished fourth in the ranking round, showed good form at the Les Invalides on Tuesday as he won his opening match….reports Asian Lite News
India continued to have mixed results in Olympic Games archery fields as top male archer Dhiraj Bommadevara made it to the Round of 32 with a 7-1 win against Czechia’s Adam Li here on Tuesday. After Bhajan Kaur won her match to reach pre-quarters and Ankita Bhakat lost in the Women’s Individual Competition, Bommadevara’s victory kept alive India’s hopes of a medal following the disappointing performance in the Team Competition.
The 22-year-old Bommadevara, who finished fourth in the ranking round, showed good form at the Les Invalides on Tuesday as he won his opening match. Bouncing back from Monday’s disappointing defeat in the men’s team event, Bommadevara hit 10s on seven of his 12 shots against Olympic debutant Adam Li.
Bommadevara will be next up against Canada’s Eric Peters, a former Youth Olympics bronze medallist, in the men’s Individual Round of 32 match.
Earlier, Bhajan Kaur dominated Poland’s Wioleta Myszor in straight sets in the Round of 16 Elimination Round to register a 6-0 victory and reach the pre-quarterfinals. World Ranked 45, Bhajan Kaur scored 28, 29, 28 in the three sets to confirm her qualification to the next round. Myszor was not able to find her footing in the match as she struggled with scores of 23, 26, and 22 with only one shot in the inner-10 circle.
However, Ankita Bhakat’s defeat on Tuesday spread some disappointment in the camp as she was eliminated just moments before Kaur’s match.
Despite being just one set away from victory whilst possessing a 4-2 lead, Ankita lost the final two sets and missed out on qualifying for the next stage with a 4-6 loss against Poland’s Wioleta Myszor.
