Paris: After winning three bronze medals in six days since the Paris Olympics 2024 began, India with its 117-strong contingent, is looking for its first gold medal with millions praying that the country gets one fast. Swapnil Kusale kept up India's super shooting redemption in Paris as he brought home the country's third medal.
Earlier, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh won a historic bronze medal in the 10 m Air Pistol Mixed Team event in the shooting competition in Chateauroux, France. This was Sarabjot's first medal in what was his debut in the quadrennial event.
Manu became the first woman to win a medal in shooting and followed it by becoming the first athlete to win two medals in the same campaign post India’s independence. She and Sarabjot also became the first Indian shooters to win a medal in a team event at the Olympics. However, Manu's journey has not ended yet as the 22-year-old still has one more event to play in Paris 2024, the Women’s 25 m Pistol event. But it was the end of the road for another medal hopeful as boxer Nikhat Zareen bowed out in the round of 16.
China continued to ride their good showing in the pool and shooting range and picked two silver medals in gymnastics as it climbed to the top of the medal tally, followed by host France in second place at the Paris Olympics and Japan at the third spot. With three medals, India slipped to 43rd position in the table.
In hockey, reigning champions Belgium prevailed over India 2-1 in the men's hockey competition. India are currently third in the standings, with seven points from two wins, one draw and one loss. Both India and Belgium have already made the cut for the quarterfinals, which will start on August 4.
Among the immediate medal hopefuls, Tokyo 2020 medalist Lovlina Borgohain made an emphatic start to her Paris 2024 campaign with a unanimous 5-0 victory against Norway’s debutant Sunniva Hofstad in the women’s 75kg Round of 16 bouts in the boxing competition.
Lovlina will next face Li Qian of the People’s Republic of China in the quarterfinals on Sunday and will hope to exact revenge for her defeat in the final of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou last year. A win will also guarantee Lovlina a second medal in the Olympics, adding to the bronze she won in Tokyo.
Shuttler Lakshya Sen stormed into the quarterfinals of the men's singles event with a commanding straight-game victory over compatriot H S Prannoy. Next up for Sen was a quarterfinal showdown with 12th-seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei.
Defending Olympic champion, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, arrived in Paris Olympic Games village and joined his fellow teammates in the French capital. Neeraj will compete in the Men's Group A Javelin Throw Qualification Round at Stade de France on August 6. The countrymen are hoping for another podium finish for the star athlete in the Olympics.
