Tag: Olympics

  • Vinesh Phogat Receives Heroic Welcome After Paris Olympics Heartbreak, Wrestler Breaks Down in Tears- WATCH | Other

    Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned to India on Saturday, August 17, after her participation in the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024. Upon her arrival at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, she was greeted with a grand welcome by a large crowd of supporters. and well-wishers. Among those present to welcome her were fellow wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and prominent political figure Bhupendra Hooda.

    #WATCH | Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat receives a warm welcome at Delhi’s IGI Airport

    She arrived here from Paris after participating in the #Olympics2024Paris. pic.twitter.com/VlTk0g68Lt

    — ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2024

    Vinesh Phogat’s impressive performance at the Paris Olympics has made her a fan-favorite, even though her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a joint silver medal was dismissed earlier this week, leading to an extended stay in Paris. London Olympics bronze medalist Gagan Narang, who served as the Indian contingent’s chief de mission in Paris, also welcomed Vinesh at the airport. He shared a photo with her, praising her resilience and calling her a champion, emphasizing that her inspiration extends beyond winning an Olympic medal.

    As she arrived at the airport, an emotional Vinesh Phogat expressed her gratitude to the nation, saying, “I thank all the countrymen. I am very fortunate.” Her return has sparked celebrations in her native village of Balali in Haryana, where preparations are in full swing to give her a grand welcome.

    In Balali, a total of 750 kg of boondi ladoos have been prepared to mark the occasion. The ladoos, dubbed “golden ladoos” by the villagers, symbolize the pride they feel for Vinesh. Halwai Mandeep Swami, who has been overseeing the preparation of the ladoos, expressed the villagers’ excitement, saying, “The golden ladoos are for the welcome of the golden girl of our village.” The temple head, Ramkumar, added, “Our daughter is coming home. More than 10,000 people are expected to join the celebration.”

    Vinesh’s homecoming is not just a return but a moment of pride for the entire village, showcasing the deep admiration and love that the people of India have for their Olympic hero.

  • Sunil Gavaskar Blasts Badminton Star Lakshya Sen’s Performance: ‘Lost Focus And Concentration In Crucial Moments’ | Other

    The Paris Olympics 2024 has been a mixed experience for Indian sports fans. Following the remarkable success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where India secured a record seven medals, expectations were high for an even better performance in Paris. Unfortunately, despite a series of narrow misses and some unfortunate events, like Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification, India ended up with six medals.

    Badminton, a sport in which India has traditionally performed well, failed to bring home any medals this time. Since the 2012 Olympics, Indian badminton players have consistently won at least one medal. However, this time the star duo of Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty did not advance to the semi-finals. Lakshya Sen, the singles player, became the first Indian male shuttler to reach an Olympic semi-final but fell short in crucial matches, despite being in strong positions.

    In light of these performances, badminton legend Prakash Padukone urged the sport’s stars to deliver better results, given the ample support from the government and other stakeholders. Padukone’s comments sparked controversy, but former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar defended him while criticizing Lakshya Sen’s performance.

    Gavaskar highlighted Padukone’s long-standing involvement with Sen, noting that Padukone had guided and mentored him closely. In a column for Sportstar, Gavaskar reflected on Sen’s performance, expressing disappointment over Sen’s inability to capitalize on his lead in the semi-final against Viktor Axelsen and his subsequent loss in the bronze medal match against Lee Zii Jia, despite winning the first game comfortably. .

    Gavaskar suggested that Sen appeared to lose focus and concentration during these critical moments. Observing Sen’s body language, such as his blank expressions and distracted behavior during breaks, Gavaskar felt that Sen’s mental focus might have faltered. He noted that concentration and focus are difficult to teach and must come from within the athlete. While mind trainers can offer some assistance, the ultimate responsibility lies with the athlete to develop these traits through personal resolve and observation of other champions.

  • Olympic Rankings Explained: How Pakistan Is Ahead of India Despite Winning Only 1 Medal Compared To India’s 6? , Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: Aman Sehrawat has secured India’s sixth medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024, bringing home a bronze. With this addition, India currently holds the 66th position in the medal standings. As it stands, India has earned one silver and five bronze medals. The sole silver was clinched by Neeraj Chopra in the men’s javelin throw final on August 8, with a throw of 89.45 meters. Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, was outperformed by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters. This gold medal marked Pakistan’s entry into the medal tally, propelling them to 56th position, surpassing India in the rankings.

    Why Is Pakistan Ranked Above India In Olympics 2024?

    Nadeem’s remarkable performance brought Pakistan to the 53rd spot on the medal tally, having secured gold. Meanwhile, India, with its five bronze and one silver, is now ranked 64th. The Indian contingent had several opportunities to win gold but fell short.

    Historically, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ranks countries based on the number of gold medals they have won. If countries are tied for gold medals, rankings are determined by the number of silver medals, with bronze medals serving as the last tiebreaker. For instance, China is currently leading with 78 medals due to their 32 golds, despite the US having more total medals (108), including 31 golds. The US is second because they have fewer gold medals compared to China.

    If countries are tied for gold, silver, and bronze medals, they share the same rank. This is evident with France and Great Britain, who are currently tied in fourth place, each with 14 gold, 20 silver, and 22 bronze medals.

    India’s Olympic history includes seven medals from the Tokyo Olympics, with one gold, marking the country’s best performance to date. Overall, India has accumulated 38 Olympic medals since Norman Pritchard won two silvers in the 1900 Paris Games. Pakistan’s tally stands at 11, with four golds, three silvers, and four bronzes.

    Among India’s notable athletes, Manu Bhaker won the first medal for the country at Paris 2024, becoming the first Indian woman to secure a shooting medal at the Olympics. Bhaker also clinched a mixed team 10m air pistol bronze with Sarabjot Singh, making her the first Indian to win two medals in a single edition of the Games.

    How the Olympic Ranking System Works?

    The Olympic ranking system prioritizes countries based on the number of gold medals won. If nations are tied in gold medals, the ranking is then determined by the number of silver medals, followed by bronze if needed. In cases where countries have identical counts of gold, silver, and bronze medals, they share the same rank.

  • Indian Men’s Hockey Team Receives Heroic Welcome After Winning Medal At Paris Olympics 2024- WATCH | Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: The Indian men’s hockey team received a warm and enthusiastic reception upon their return from the Paris Olympics 2024 on August 10, Saturday. The team, under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Singh, clinched the bronze medal after a decisive victory over Spain in the play-off match. This achievement marks the team’s second consecutive Olympic medal, a historic accomplishment not seen since 1972.

    Upon their arrival in Delhi on Saturday morning, the hockey team was met with a grand welcome. Harmanpreet Singh, leading the team, was greeted with garlands and tri-colour stoles, and the atmosphere was vibrant with the sounds of dhol playing in the background. Fans and media turned out in large numbers to celebrate the team’s success. Prominent players such as Sukhjeet and Mandeep Singh were seen dancing to the rhythmic beats of the dhol, adding to the festive spirit as they exited the airport.



    Notably, some members of the squad were absent from the arrival ceremony. PR Sreejesh, one of the key players, was still in Paris. He was selected as a joint-flagbearer for the closing ceremony of the Olympics and will return to India after the event concludes.

    In addition to the warm reception at the airport, Hockey India shared a special moment from the team’s journey back. Air India honored the bronze medal winners with a unique tribute. During the flight from Paris, the pilot made an announcement about the hockey team being on board, which was met with a hearty round of applause from passengers and a celebratory acknowledgment from the cabin crew.

    A special gesture from @airindia for the boys as they headed back to India from Paris. #ReturningHome #HockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/StTlB7fc9B — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 10, 2024

    The players will continue their celebratory journey with a meet-and-greet session at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium on Saturday, where they will interact with fans and media personnel. The successful campaign in Paris has added a record-extending 13th Olympic medal to India’s tally, further cementing the country’s reputation in the sport.

  • Lovlina Borgohain’s Paris 2024 Olympic Medal Hopes End With Quarterfinal Loss To Li Qian | Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: The 26-year-old’s loss ended India’s boxing campaign in the Olympics after Nishant Dev was ousted from the men’s 71kg quarterfinals on Saturday night, also a close contest.A six-strong boxing contingent, comprising four women and two men , was representing the country in the Games. Out of these, four had crashed out in the preliminary stage itself.

    It was a pacey start to the proceedings as Borgohain and Qian quickly got into a tangle. However, none of the boxers seemed willing to launch the first attack. The holding and clinching started pretty early in the bout and the referee had to repeatedly step in to separate the two old foes.

    Qian seemed determined while Borgohain came across the more animated of the two early on. The Chinese connected some clean combination punches and a left hook towards the end of the first round. She was particularly impressive before she took a 3-2 lead in the contest.

    The second round didn’t start any different but Qian was more purposeful in her approach. Her right straights were on target while Borgohain was cautioned twice for excessive holding. It was once again 3-2 in favor of Qian but with a different set of judges scoring in her favor this time, she only had a slender one-point lead on one card, while the remaining four were tied.

    The holding and clinching continued in the third round too and both the women seemed a bit drained.

    However, Qian showed great presence of mind throughout to keep Borgohain at a distance. Borgohain was not up to it when it came to controlling the pace of the bout and repeatedly took hits on counter-attacks.

    The Assamese had fought Qian in the Asian Games final last year and went down 0-5. She later beat Qian in the semifinals of the world championship semifinal in 2023. But more recently, she was bested by the veteran in a pre-Olympic tournament in Czechia in June.

  • Paris Olympics 2024: Manu Bhaker Shines In Qualifier As India’s Hope For Olympic Gold In Shooting | Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: Sports can often be unforgiving, with very slim margins separating success from failure. After a challenging Tokyo Olympics, where a pistol malfunction led to a heartbreaking result, Manu Bhaker redeemed herself with an impressive performance at the Paris Olympics. The 22-year-old from Jhajjar made history by becoming the first female shooter from India to advance to the final of an individual shooting event at the Olympics. With her confident display, Bhaker now has the opportunity to become the first Indian shooter to win a gold medal if she secures the top spot in Sunday’s final.

    In the qualifications for the women’s 10m air pistol event, Bhaker shot a score of 580, placing her third overall. Hungarian shooter Veronika Major led the field with a score of 582. Fellow Indian competitor Rhythm Sangwan finished in 15th place with a score of 573, which was disappointing compared to Bhaker’s performance. (Paris Olympics 2024: Know All About Shooter Manu Bhaker Who Won India’s First Medal In France)

    Bhaker demonstrated exceptional control throughout the qualification round, which lasted one hour and fifteen minutes. Her challenge now is to maintain that composure during the high-pressure final at the National Shooting Centre. India has not won an Olympic medal in shooting since 2012, and Bhaker is in a strong position to break that drought.

    Reflecting on her Tokyo Games setback, Bhaker described it as one of the most painful experiences of her career, admitting that she almost gave up the sport. However, her resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity are what define a champion. Her personal coach, Jaspal Rana, who was emotional after the qualification round, emphasized that the competition is far from over. He advised Bhaker to stay hydrated, especially given the challenging heat conditions in the range.

    Meanwhile, 2016 Olympic champion Anna Korakaki, who competed alongside Bhaker, struggled with illness and had to withdraw from the session. Despite the tough day for Indian shooters overall, Bhaker’s stellar performance, including 27 inner 10s—the most in the qualification round—provides a glimmer of hope. Her initial series of seven 10s and three 9s set the tone for her qualification, ensuring her place in the final despite a slip in her performance in the later series.

    The day was less successful for other Indian shooters, who did not advance to the finals in the men’s 10m air pistol and 10m air rifle mixed team events, making Bhaker’s achievement all the more significant.

  • Abhinav Bindra Creates History As First Indian To Receive Olympic Order | Other

    Abhinav Bindra, the first Indian to win an individual medal at the Olympics, has been conferred with the Olympic Order for his outstanding services to the Olympic movement. The Olympic Order is the highest award given by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for meritorious services. Bindra, a member of the IOC Athletes Commission, is the first Indian to receive the Olympic Order and was hailed by many prominent persons for this achievement. The decision to confer the award on Bindra was taken at the IOC Executive Board meeting in Paris on Saturday. The information was put on social media by many handles associated with government bodies.

    “It is with great pleasure that I inform you that the IOC Executive Board has today decided to award you with the Olympic Order for your outstanding services to the Olympic November,” IOC President Thomas Bach informed Bindra in a letter on Monday.

    Bindra was informed that the award ceremony will take place during the 142nd IOC Session to be held in Paris on August 10.

    “May I take this opportunity to address you my most sincere congratulations on this award. Looking forward to seeing you in Paris,” Bach said in the letter dated July 20, 2024.

    Dr. Mandaviya hails Bindra

    Among those who wrote congratulatory messages to Bindra was Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

    “Congratulations to @Abhinav_Bindra on being awarded the Olympic Order for outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement! His achievement fills us with pride and is truly well-deserved. His name alone has inspired generations of shooters and Olympians,” Dr Mandaviya, who is also Minister of Labor and Employment, wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

    The official handle of IPL side Lucknow Super Giants also congratulated Bindra on getting the award.

    “History-maker, once again, Congratulations Abhinav Bindra,” said the post on

  • After Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe is now set to miss Olympics 2024 | Football News

    As the Euro 2024 tournament will come to an end, soon after the Paris Olympics 2024 will kick off from July 27. Kylian Mbappe recently joined Real Madrid on a free transfer after being linked to the team for the past couple of seasons. After Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe is another big name who will not feature in the Paris Olympics. Real Madrid recently blocked Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga from taking part in the Olympic games taking place in Paris.

    Real Madrid’s Intervention

    Mbappe had earlier shown interest in representing his country at the Olympic games but Real Madrid’s stand has been very clear about Mbappe’s involvement in the games. “My club’s position was very clear, so from that moment on, I think I (knew) I wouldn’t be taking part in the Games. That’s just the way it is, and I understand that too. I’m joining a new team in September, so it’s not the best way to start an adventure. I’m going to wish this French team all the best. I’m going to watch every game. I hope they’ll win the gold medal.” Mbappe said. Kylian Mbappe further stated that he is all ready to leave his fitness concerns behind and start fresh as he leads France in the Euros and will also be key to Madrid’s plans next season. “I’m ready to win, it’s more of a mental issue,” he said. “My head is perfect, now let’s see how my legs are.”

    Lionel Messi Also Set To Miss Olympics

    Lionel Messi recently made his stand very clear regarding his participation in the Paris Olympics games. He stated that it would be very hard for the World Cup winner to play in back-to-back international tournaments considering his age. Messi is currently all set to lead Argentina in their title defense run in the Copa America 2024. France U23 and former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry did not pick Mbappe for his squad but he stated that the star striker would be welcomed with open arms if he decides to play and represent his country in the Olympic Games.