India at Olympics 2024 Day 4 Highlights: Manu creates history; Indian hockey team qualifies for QF, Satwik-Chirag top group

Three Indian boxers were in action today, all three lost. Amit Panghal, Jaismine and Preeti have bowed out of contention, and only three more boxers are left in Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, and Nishant Dev. 

END OF THE ROAD FOR PREETI: That was a really hard-fought defeat for the young Indian. The 20-year-old gave it a really good go against an experienced Colombian boxer Arias, a Worlds silver medallist. Preeti just ran out of steam in the end, but it is a 2-3 defeat that could have gone the Indian's way if just Judge No 5 had seen the first round differently. 

ROUND 2: Well, well, well. This just got interesting. Preeti makes a comeback, gets the 2nd 3-2. On the overall card, the Indian leads on one card, the Colombian leads on 2 cards, while 2 judges are undecided.

Round 1: That was a fast start by the Colombian but Preeti actually did alright for most of the three minutes. This will be an interesting scoreboard to look at... but no, Preeti has managed to get the nod only from one judge. Not good for the Indian. 

Can Preeti Pawar make it a better day than it has been for India in the ring today? She is the 2nd seed here. The Colombian comes flying out from the bell... wow. Preeti's task is cut out alright. 

Boxing - Women's 54kg - Preliminaries - Round of 16 is upon us where Preeti faces a tough test against Yeni Arias, who is 2023 world championships silver medallist. 

We still have one more Indian action for the day (night). Preeti Pawar will take to the ring shortly in women's boxing. 

After that incredible result between Belgium and Australia, India officially have a "Q" next to their name, as they qualify for the quarterfinals from Pool B alongside Belgium.... who... we repeat... just beat... Australia... *rubs eyes* *checks again* *rubs eyes more* by a 6-2 scoreline! Two more matches left in both pools though, so plenty of hockey left before we know who plays who in the QF.

Simone Biles has led the United States to the team gold medal in women's artistic gymnastics at the Paris Olympics. 

She is now the most decorated USA gymnast in the Games history with two bronze, one silver and FIVE GOLDS. 

JEEZ!

Be honest, who saw that coming. Belgium have decimated Australia as if they are playing an amateur school side. Five goals to one. After three quarters. They led 3-1 at half-time but haven't held in the second half. A five-star performance, which can get even better.

We often just want India's archers to not mistakes at elite level, shoot high-quality matches. Dhiraj just scored 28, 28, 29, 30, 29 in five sets & a near perfect 10 in the shootoff... and lost the match. In the form he showed today, Dhiraj could have won 9 out 10 times. But Eric Peters, current world No 5, pulled out 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 with his last 7 arrows to defeat the Indian who didn't do much wrong.. The odds of that in recurve are just crazy tiny, I am confident without doing the actual math. That is so incredibly unfortunate for Dhiraj.

#Archery #Paris2024 #Olympics

I can't believe that!

Just utterly cruel on Dhiraj Bommadevara.

This is the margin of his defeat. 2.4 cm! pic.twitter.com/7h1SH81mn9

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) July 30, 2024

Biles nails down a 14.666 on Floor Exercise to ensure USA gold. She had a solitary step back on her first diagonal line, but waltzed through her two big standout 'gemmicks'. The final flourish was a zero-error sticking of a landing.
Italy silver, Brazil bronze. Both their best finishes. 

The Heat has beginning to show, as Biles & Co spent all their time waiting for scores, palm-fanning their faces. And lip balming chapped lips. 

USA did enough to finally saunter past Italy.

(From Shivani Naik)

Dhiraj goes first in the shoot off, He hits a 10! Eric Peters responds with a 10 of his own! But his arrow is closer to the centre. So Dhiraj's campaign at the Paris Olympics ends despite him hitting a perfect 10 arrow! 

Ohhhh this is heartbreaking

Simone Biles is obviously Goddess on the Floor Exercise. But American strength in All Around is how strong their second&third amongst equals are. Jordan Chiles is a tumbling specialist in aerials. But her routine (scored at 13.966) has some stunning floor-work. She actually has some toe & heel spins on a gymnastics mat as if she's ice-skating! And she draws a bit from Breaking twists too. Her choreography is naturally elegant, but solely on uniqueness and range, the rhymesake Chiles is equally riveting. A step back on her opening line, but she sticks most landings from insane tumbles.

Simone Biles coming up Soon.

This is stunning archery from both archers. Dhiraj responded to one 30 from Peters with a super 30. But Peters goes 30 again and Dhiraj needs a 30 to win the match, but shoots a very close 29! WHAT A MATCH.

Dhiraj started off the set with a 10, his fifth 10 in a row. Then hit his 6th 10th. But his final arrow landed in the 9 ring. And since Eric Peters has hit all his three arrows in the 10 ring, we have a single arrow shootoff! 

All six arrows in that set ended in the 10 rings. Both Dhiraj and Peters are as close to perfection as they could be. They split points and Dhiraj has a 5-3 lead. 

Here are their three arrows in the 4th set:

Dhiraj Bommadevara: 10, 10, 10

Eric Peters: 10, 10, 10

Dhiraj races into the lead once again! He starts off with a 10 and ends that set with a 10. Imperious shooting from him! The Indian archer can wrap this up in the next set! 

Here are their three arrows in the 3rd set:

Dhiraj Bommadevara: 10, 9, 10

Eric Peters: 9, 9, 9

The Canadian archer has take nthe second set to draw level in this match at 2-2. 

Here are their three arrows in the second set:

Dhiraj Bommadevara: 9, 9, 10

Eric Peters: 9, 10, 10 

Dhiraj starts off with a nine. Peters also has a nine. Dhiraj's arrow just catches the line and it gets registered as a nine. He goes on to win the set to take a 2-0 lead.

Here are their three arrows in the first set:

Dhiraj Bommadevara: 9, 10, 9

Eric Peters: 9, 9, 9

Dhiraj Bommadevara is taking on Eric Peters in a second round clash. really tough clash for the Indian here. 

Peters is the World No 5 while Dhiraj is the World No 12. 

Dhiraj Bommadevara shoots like Dhiraj Bommadevara can... and that's a really good conidence-boosting start for him in the round of 64. Shoot like this, and he'd win most matches.

Into the round of 32 where he will shortly face Canada’s Eric Peters.(11.25 pm IST)

Incredible archery from Dhiraj, who has entered the second round after eliminating Adam Li by a 7-1 scoreline. 

He split set points in the first set, but since then he was rarely troubled. Off his 12 arrows in that contest, seven ended in the 10 ring. 

Dhiraj is shooting on another level at the moment. He wins hte third set 29-28 to take a 5-1 lead in this match. Of the nine arrows he has shot in this match, just three have landed in the nine ring. He's started off with nines and then shot 10s in the rest of his shots. 

Dhiraj starts off with a 9 in the second set. Adam Li can only manage a 8.

Dhiraj raises the pressure with a 10 in his second shot. Adam Li betters his first attempt, but with a 9.

And there's another 10 from Dhiraj. He wins the second set to lead 3-1 after two sets. 

Dhiraj Bommadevara shoots first. And starts off with a nine! Adam Li responds by landing his arrow bang in the centre of the target for a 10. 

Dhiraj nails a 10 with his second shot, but Adam Li is on fire and shoots another 10.

Dhiraj throws down the gauntlet with a 10 in his third arrow. Adam responds with an arrow that just lands inside the nine ring. Adam Li walks back with a smile which lets his coach know that he knows how close he was to losing that first set.

For now Dhiraj and Adam are 1-1 after one set.

India's Dhiraj is out there in the middle for his opening round men's archery singles clash against Adam Li. 

Tough defeat for Jaismine, fighting a weight class she wasn't clearly a natural at. Had the height advantage but a bit too slow for 57kg. Reminder that she had to cut down weight so that she could re-earn the 57kg quota that India had to give up due to Parveen Hooda’s suspension. Can't really blame her given how late she had to get here. Petecio too good.

The Indian boxer tried her best against Nesthy Petecio of Philippines in a Round of 32 clash in the 57kg weight class. But not too many of her punches were landing. And Petecio is just too good and too experienced. She is a Tokyo Olympics silver medallist and a two-time world championship featherweight medallist after all. 

She wins on points against the young Indian boxer. All five judges gave Nesthy the win. Here's what the card looked like: 

A little pat on the head from the Petecio, a veteran of the sport, on top of Jaismine’s headgear at the end of the record. Almost as if to say well tried, kiddo. The Indian loses that round on all cards. And needs a miracle to win this.

HERE'S WHAT THE JUDGES' CARDS LOOK LIKE AFTER ROUND 2:

Jaismine manages to corner Nesthy into the ropes at one points, throwing a volley of jabs. But none of them have really landed on the visage of Nesthy.

The round ends with Nesthy landing a punch flush on Jaismine's face. 

As soon as the bell rings for end of round, and the boxers are walking back to their corners, Nesthy good-naturedly pats the top of Jaismine's head. 

Jaismine is down 1-4 at the end of the first round. I guess if that was a wrestling bout, she might have been given a passivity warning. That kinda start. Has to come out firing now.

Nesthy Petecio is showing her class in the first round. 

While India's Jaismine enjoys a significant height advantage --- she's 5'9" compared to Nesthy who is 5'2" --- it's the Philippines boxer who has the edge on the cards of four out of the five judges after the first round.

Nesthy is really, really quick with her punching! 

The Indian boxer Jaismine is taking on Nesthy Petecio of Philippines in the Women's 57kg boxing event. 

Just look at Nesthy's boxing resume!

Silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, becoming the first Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal

Two-time world championship featherweight medallist (2019 gold, 2014 silver).

Three-time Asian championship medallist (silver - bantamweight 2015, bronze - bantamweight 2012, bronze - featherweight 2022).

Two-time Southeast Asian Games featherweight champion (2019, 2023).

There's a nice rumble going on at the top of the standings between Japan and China at the moment. Japan are, to the surprise of a lot of people, on top of the standings. Serial Olympic table toppers USA, meanwhile, find themselves down in sixth position. Still early days of course.  

After the Chinese men's gymnastics team lost out on gold medal, the mood in the camp has been very sour. China's two-time Olympic gymnastics champion Li Xiaoshuang went as far as slamming the team's coaches for the missed gold. 

“Our team of coaches have issues. Let's not put all responsibilities on athletes. If they failed, the coaches did something wrong. We need to tell the truth after we fail,” 50-year-old Li said in an online live broadcast that went viral on Chinese social media. “Our athletes are too old. Sports needs young people. We really need to change the way we train and select athletes,” added Li.

Li Xiaoshuang is a two-time gold medallist at the Olympics: he won gold on the floor at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and in the all-around event at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

After mistakes by 28-year-old Xiao Ruoteng and Su Weide (24 years old), Japan slipepd ahead of them to claim gold medal.

“After watching the competition, I felt so much pain. It was really painful. Good soldiers need a good general. China has a great gymnastics team but we lack leadership and that's a problem,” Li said.

American swimmer Ryan Murphy had more than one reason to cheer after winning a bronze medal on Monday in the 100m backstroke event. 

that's because as he was walking on the pool deck after his medal ceremony, he looked up in the crowd to spot his wife Bridget Konttinen, holding up a sign to let him know their first child, due in January, will be a girl.

“I was walking back around and Bridget was holding up a sign and it said — ‘Ryan, it’s a girl,’" he said. “That was the first time I heard the gender.”

“We both — we honestly both thought it was going to be a boy,” he said. “And everyone — like everyone — we were talking to, they thought it was going to be a boy.”

A lovely quote by Satwiksairaj: “Today I met Neeraj bhai in the morning. The golden arm. He is lucky for me. I said, ‘bhaiya, match ke liye ja rahe hai. He wished us all the best and I felt, yes, today is our day.”Satwik also spoke about Manu's medal(s): “It has given a lot of boost to the whole contingent. Before we came for the match, we saw that she won the bronze again. So we were like, ‘it’s our time, nobody can stop us’. Really (feeling) positive. Kudos to her. To win two medals, not only one, is definitely not easy,”Mihir Vasavda's update from Paris

ARCHERY: 

Dhiraj Bommadevara vs Adam Li: 10.46 pm IST (Rd 32 later, if he wins)

BOXING:

Women's 57kg R32, Jaismine vs Nesthy Petecio: 9.24 pm IST
Women's 54kg R16: Preeti Pawar vs Yeni Castaneda: 1.22 am IST (Wednesday)

Several badminton shuttlers whose first or second Olympics were in Tokyo, where there were no crowds, are struggling to see the shuttlecock while playing in Paris amid distracting, lively fans and jarring lights.

Badminton's shuttlecock - or birdie - with its open cone of goose feathers embedded in a rounded cork base, can move faster than projectiles in any other racket sport. It usually weighs about five grams and has feathers shorter than 70 millimetres. In typical federation tournaments, spectators are kept in the dark and a spotlight shines on badminton courts, making it easier for players to see the shuttlecock.

But at the Olympics, crowds are typically lit up brightly and in Paris that's been no different. The Porte de La Chapelle Arena is loud, glowing with white light, and full of thunderous crowds chanting, banging drums, holding flags, and occasionally making stadium "waves". There is also a large screen that periodically displays fans with funny filters on their faces such as moustaches, Olympic-ring spectacles and wigs.

For some players, who rose to success under quieter COVID conditions and are used to playing in darker arenas, it can impact their game. "What a beautiful arena - it was fantastic to see red shirts and flags and stuff, it was phenomenal. It's nice that it's bright on the spectator," said world number three men's singles player Anders Antonsen, whose first Olympics was in Tokyo. "But it's also confusing, actually, to see the shuttlecock sometimes because there's so many different colours right behind. In terms of having a clear vision on the shuttle, I would prefer it to be dark. But it's also very beautiful to be able to see them."

Thailand's Intanon Ratchanok, who ranks 21 in women's singles and has been at every Olympics since London 2012, said she's also been finding it tricky versus Tokyo. "The supporters wear many coloured shirts and the shuttle is white. And some people are wearing white, too, so sometimes it's difficult to see. It's different with BWF. They make it dark for the crowd and put a light on us, so it's easier to see the shuttle."

Similarly, Taiwan's Wang Chi-lin, one half of the men's doubles pair that won gold at Tokyo, said he's found it difficult to see the shuttlecock too, but added that he's not worried because his partner Lee Yang is incredibly good at backing him up and controlling it

(Reuters)

End of Day 1 in women's trap qualification, both Shreyashi and Rajeshwari are quite behind. Not looking too great here either with Day 2 left. They both ended with good 3rd series, but 1&2 not great.

AMIT PANGHAL IS OUT: Another Olympic Games, another R16 defeat. Amit, a late qualifer for the Games, gave it a good go in the 2nd round but seemed to run out of ideas in the end with a lot of flailing but not much landing. He looks disconsolate as he gets off the ring and sits down on a chair, shoulders down. 

Amit takes the 2nd round 3-2 and in the eyes of ONE judge he is ahead. TWO judges are tied, TWO judges favoring the Zambian. Amit needs another big round here.

Amit Panghal is trailing 2-3 after the opening round. Work to do for the Indian. He might have to come ot of the blocks with big punches early.

Australians win 21-15, 21-10 against Ashwini-Tanisha.

Ashwini Ponappa, India's first World Championship female medallist, has been an earnest trier over the last 15 years. Crucial to India's CWG team gold medal in 2018, she has plodded on to resurrect a career twice with two partnership changes. Her Olympic journey ends in tears held back, as she snipped her broken racquet strings with scissors to compose herself for the final point. Their qualification started just 14 months back and she's shepherded Tanisha along, guiding her through to Top 25, while maintaining her fitness. But Paris was one cycle too many to push herself, though she did gamely. Her journey since Delhi CWG triumph has seen an 180 in her ge style, as the hardest smash hitter had to recalibrate attacks and buy into the punishing defensive rallies. When she looks back at her career, she can be proud for keeping the desire to compete burning.

(Blogger's note: Hope Tanisha can bounce back from this and return to LA 2028 with a longer-term plan soon in place)

Shivani Naik

Not looking very good for Ashwini-Tanisha against Australians Mapusa-Yu. Tanisha defense under attack. She is giving it her all from the back court, getting under the shuttle in time but she's been trying to hit through and not managing. The Indian pair has the attack, but has lacked the puppeteer from the net who can organize the rally, plan and plot it through on their feet. Tanisha's natural inclination is to drift back, and she doesn't quite stay put at the net to orchestrate patterns. First set 21-15 to Australians.

Shivani Naik

PR Sreejesh (Sports18): We wanted to keep a clean sheet. Amit Rohidas, along with Manpreet and Sanjay and all the defenders, were all brilliant in defence. We need to stick to our plans and be disciplined in the next two matches. They will take advantage of our mistakes, so we need to avoid conceding that many PCs.

Harmanpreet Singh (Sports18): Our plan was to keep ball, beacuse the weather was hot and the other team would get tired. Our next matches will be tough, and we don't have any idea about weather will be. We can't concede this many PCs against better teams. It was a good lesson for us in the 2nd half. We will keep this in mind. (About not scoring field goals) Last match we created a lot of chances too. We need to be calm whoever gets into the circle. It doesn't matter if we score PC or FG, we have to take care of three things inside the circle. (On Belgium) Our hope is good, it is also tough against them. Our 50-50s, our tackles need to be strong. We were chasing the score last 2 matches, but today taking the lead early helped. (His confidence on PCs) It's my responsibility from PCs, I am hitting a few and missing a few. It's a team's journey, not personal. (On Manu Bhaker) Big thanks to them from my side, it's a dream for any athlete. Full congratulations to both of them from me and the team. 

Viren Rasquinha: Second half was probably the worst hockey India have played in a long time. Australia will put five past India if they play like that. India were lucky honestly to come away with something from this match. Fulton will have to shoulder a lot of burden to correct this. And big source of concern, is no field goals at all. (Via Sports18)

BHAJAN KAUR REACHES THE ROUND OF 16!: The Indian needed just three sets to defeat Poland's Wioleta Myszor, who had eliminated Ankita Bhakat in the previous round. Bhajan started off with a 10 in each of the three sets. In the nine arrows she released there was just one eight in there and a couple of nines.  Her heart was racing too by the middle of the third set, touching the 100 heartbeats per minute mark. But she's through without missing a beat!

Amit Kamath

INDIA REMAIN UNBEATEN: Two wins and a draw now for India as they get past another gritty Ireland performance to win 2-0. Harmanpreet Singh with both goals, but that second half was anything but easy in the scorching heat. 

PR SREEJESH! The main man saves and from the resultant melee, the ball is cleared out. That will help the clock run out. 

Another set in the bag for Bhajan Kaur! She shoots 29, with her first two arrows being 10s. Her Polish rival Wioleta Myszor is now facing elimination in the next set itself after she can manage only 26. After Myszor hit a 10 with her first arrow in the contest, the rest of the five shots have let her down woefully.

Amit Kamath

We are into the last minute. And Ireland have asked for a review. Because they have a review... oh wait, this is a backstick. And Ireland to have another PC. 

After defeating Indonesia's Syifa Nurafifah, Bhajan Kaur is back in action, taking on Poland's Wioleta Myszor, who had eliminated Ankita Bhakat in the previous round. The Indian starts off with a 10, which her Polish rival matches. But Bhajan goes on to win the first set by a score of 28, while Myszor falters with two shaky arrows that land in 6 and 7 rings.

Amit Kamath

Into the last five minutes and India are starting to see the ball a bit more than they did in the third quarter. Not exactly pushing for a goal but at least the Irish pressure has eased a bit. 

The wide wide flank return from Chirag's horizontal reach gives India the match 21-13, 21-13. They were imperious here. Indians blitzed them Indonesians to pulp. This has been more lopsided than any of their previous matches. Worthy of Olympics. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty top Group C. They are playing a very attacking, aggressive game from the front court. Which means Satwik is yet to explode from the backcourt at the'ShuttleChapelle. Oh, Chirag Shetty can do that too - hit deep from the back court. Indians dominating like they're favourites? Feels kinda cool.

Shivani Naik