The Indian contingent at the Paris Games experienced a day of highs and lows. The hockey team delivered a standout performance, securing a spot in the Olympic semifinals for the second consecutive edition, but other sports saw mixed results, with no new medals added to the tally.
Hockey Team Makes Semifinals with Resilient Performance
The Indian hockey team produced one of its most resolute performances in recent memory, reaching the Olympic semifinals for the second successive edition. Despite a challenging match, especially after key defender Amit Rohidas received a red card for an unintentional foul, the team held off Britain to a 1-1 draw, forcing a shootout. Veteran goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh played a crucial role, making decisive saves in both regulation time and the shootout. His performance, earning him the moniker “The Great Wall of India,” helped India clinch a 4-2 shootout victory, securing their place in the last four.
Head coach Craig Fulton praised the team’s spirit, stating, “When our backs are against the wall, we’re all roped in. We’re all in this together.”
Boxing Campaign Ends in Disappointment
India’s boxing campaign concluded without a medal. Lovlina Borgohain, who had won a bronze in the welterweight (69kg) category at the Tokyo Games, was eliminated after a quarterfinal loss to Chinese boxer Li Qian in the women’s middleweight (75kg) category. Borgohain, the reigning world champion, lost 1-4 in a closely contested bout marked by frequent cautions for clinching and holding.
Nishant Dev also exited in the men’s 71kg quarterfinals in a tight contest. With a six-strong boxing contingent, including four women and two men, the team’s performance fell short, with four boxers crashing out in the preliminary stages.
Lakshya Sen Falls Short in Gold Bid
Lakshya Sen’s quest for an Olympic gold in badminton was thwarted as he lost to defending champion Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles semifinals. Sen, who had a notable 22-year-old career start and was a world championships bronze medalist, fell 20-22, 14-21 in a 54-minute match. Despite this setback, Sen still has a chance to secure a bronze medal if he can overcome Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the playoff on Monday evening.
Shooting Events Yield No Finals Qualification
Indian shooters Vijayveer Sidhu and Anish Bhanwala put in strong performances in the qualifications for the 25m rapid fire men’s pistol event but did not make it to the final. Sidhu and Bhanwala shot scores of 92 and 93, respectively, in the final stages, finishing ninth and 13th. In the women’s skeet competition, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon also fell short of final qualification, ending in 14th and 23rd places, respectively.
Athletics Competition Disappoints
India’s athletics contingent continued to struggle. Parul Chaudhary, the national record holder, finished eighth in her heat for the women’s 3000m steeplechase and 21st overall. Jeswin Aldrin also failed to advance in the men’s long jump, finishing 13th in Group B and 26th overall after fouling his initial attempts and jumping 7.61m in his final attempt.
Overall Standings
With no new medals added to the tally today, India slipped to 53rd in the overall standings, maintaining three bronze medals secured in shooting events. The hockey team’s success offers a glimmer of hope, while other disciplines will need to regroup and refocus as the Games continue.
