Day 10 of the 2024 Paris Olympics was packed with excitement for Indian fans. From the highs of table tennis to the heartbreaks in badminton and shooting, it was an eventful day. Let's take a closer look at the highlights of this action-packed day.

Manika Batra Shines in Table Tennis

Manika Batra delivered an outstanding performance in the Women's Team Table Tennis, leading India to the quarter-finals with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Romania. The Indian team got off to a strong start, securing a 2-0 lead after the pair of Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath, followed by Manika Batra, won their respective matches. Romania, however, fought back valiantly, winning the next two matches to level the score and force a decider. It was in this crucial moment that Manika showcased her class and composure, defeating Adina Diaconu in straight sets to seal the victory for India. 

So Close, Yet So Far for Indian Shooters

Indian shooters Maheshwari Chauhan and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the skeet mixed team event, losing 43-44 to China's Jiang Yiting and Lyu Jianlin. The Indian pair had a strong start, with Anant scoring a perfect 25 out of 25 and Maheshwari close behind with 24 out of 25 in the first round. They were ranked second after this round and continued to perform well in the subsequent rounds, with Anant and Maheshwari scoring 23 and 25 respectively in the second round, placing them sixth overall. They qualified for the bronze medal match after scoring 146 out of 150 in the qualification round. Despite their best efforts, they fell short by just one point in the bronze medal match, finishing fourth overall. This near miss was a tough pill to swallow for the Indian shooters, but their performance was commendable, and showed great promise for the future.

IC: Olympics.com

Kiran Pahal in Women's 400m Repechage

Kiran Pahal competed in the women's 400m heat, clocking 52.51 seconds to finish 7th in her heat and 39th overall. Although she didn't make it to the semi-finals, she has another chance to prove herself in the Repechage round. Kiran's performance in the heats showed her potential and determination, and she will be looking to improve her time and make the most of her opportunity in the Repechage round.

Lakshya Sen Falls Agonizingly Short

Lakshya Sen came heartbreakingly close to making history as the first Indian men's badminton player to win an Olympic medal. He faced Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match and started strong, dominating the first game. However, the Malaysian player came back strongly in the next two games, ultimately defeating Lakshya. Despite the loss, Lakshya's journey to the semi-finals was remarkable. On Sunday, he put up a strong fight against eventual gold medalist Viktor Axelsen, who praised Lakshya's bright future and potential to win the Gold medal at the 2028 Olympics. Remarkably, Lakshya played the bronze medal match with an elbow injury, showcasing his determination and resilience. At just 22 years old, Lakshya has a promising future ahead and is one to watch in the coming years.

IC: The Hindu

Another Honour for Manu Bhaker

Manu Bhaker, who won two bronze medals and reached a final in shooting, has been chosen as India's flag-bearer for the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics. This is a significant honor for Manu, who has made history in these games. She became the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal and the first athlete from independent India to win multiple medals in a single Olympic edition. Manu's achievements have been a source of inspiration for many young athletes in India, and her selection as the flag-bearer is a testament to her hard work and dedication.

IC: PTI

Misfortune for Nisha Dahiya

Nisha Dahiya had a tough day in the women's 68kg wrestling quarter-final, suffering an injury that severely impacted her performance. Despite her best efforts, she lost 10-8 to South Korea's Pak Sol Gum. Nisha looked in considerable pain throughout the match and was heavily strapped, but she continued to fight bravely. Earlier, Nisha had a promising start to her Olympic debut, defeating Ukraine's Tetiana Sova 6-4 in the round of 16. Her performance in the early rounds showed great promise, but the injury in the quarter-final was a significant setback. The images of Nisha in tears were heart-wrenching, and her determination to compete despite the pain was truly inspiring.

IC: Reuters

Avinash Sable reaches the final of the men’s steeplechase!

India’s Avinash Sable delivered a commendable performance in the men’s 3000m steeplechase event, finishing fifth and securing a place in the finals with a time of 8:15.43, just shy of his personal best of 8:09.91. Competing in Heat 2, Sable took an early lead and maintained a strong pace, dropping to fourth with two laps to go but ultimately finishing fifth, comfortably ahead of Matthew Wilkinson in sixth.

IC: Reuters

Looking Ahead

Day 10 of the Olympics was a mixed bag of emotions for Indian fans. The thrilling victories and close misses highlighted the dedication and hard work of the Indian athletes. While there were moments of heartbreak, there were also moments of triumph and hope for the future. The performances of athletes like Manika Batra, Lakshya Sen, and Manu Bhaker have shown that India is capable of competing at the highest level and achieving great success.