India, one of the world’s most promising sides, has always been criticised for their low medal tally in the Olympic games, and the Paris Olympics campaign has also ended with just six medals with no gold this time. India won their only two Olympic golds in individual sports, with Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra winning one each in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Overview of the Paris Olympics
This time around in Paris, Indian shooters started well, as India’s women’s shooter, who was making a debut in the Olympics, went on to participate in three events, of which she bagged bronze medals both in 10 meter air pistol singles and also mixed alongside Sarabjot Singh. In the third event later, she missed the bronze by a whisker in the 25m Air Pistol Singles, where she ended fourth.
India’s Rio and Tokyo Olympics fame, PV Sindhu, faced an early exit, which was a major upset for India, while also the likes of Mirabai Chanu and India’s women’s hockey, all of whom were medalists in Tokyo, faced defeats.
However, every game has a new rising star for the country, as Lakshya Sen was India’s best performer in badminton, though he missed a near medal in the bronze medal match. India, in many instances, had such close misses this time, and if fortune had favored them, then India’s medal tally would have surely been in double digits this time around.
Indian athletes and players who clinched medals at Paris:
Manu Bhaker – Women’s 10m Air Pistol Shooting, Bronze Medal
Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh – Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol Shooting, Bronze Medal
Swapnil Kusale: Men’s 50m rifle, 3 positions shooting, Bronze medal
Aman Sehrawat – Men’s 57kg Wrestling, Bronze Medal
Neeraj Chopra – Men’s Javelin Throw, Silver Medal
Indian Men’s Hockey Team: Bronze Medal
A major highlight: IOA sparks confusion over Vinesh Phogat’s verdict date
Indian star wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was a participant in the Women’s 50kg Freestyle wrestling event, went on to have a dream run in the Olympics this time around, as she was on her way into the finals and defeated world no. 1 and Japan’s Olympic gold medalist, Susaki, in the Round of 16. She was unstoppable in her bouts that led them to the finals before facing a disheartening disqualification.
When Phogat weighed 100 grams overweight on the morning of the finals of the women’s Olympic games, she was disqualified, and hence the Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Lopez, who earlier lost to Vinesh, was promoted to the finals.
The Indian wrestler who announced her retirement after the disqualification has appealed for a joint silver medal alongside the Cuban wrestler; this appeal was considered by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS); however, later they also asked for an extension of dates for the verdict.
Though it was believed by both the United World Wrestling and the International Olympic Committee, as they converged on a likely view that Phogat could not be an exception to the rules, this can be considered a change in rule for future reference.
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It was believed that the CAS would announce their verdict on the 11th of August Sunday; however, the Indian Olympic Association has created a major buzz with the verdict to be out on the 13th of August, which not only Phogat but the entire nation awaits.
