India experienced a day filled with excitement and drama at the Paris Olympics! Neeraj Chopra showcased his brilliance once again, while Vinesh Phogat achieved the unthinkable. Despite a few setbacks, the overall performance was commendable. As the Olympics is almost nearing its end, the hope for more medals remains strong, thanks to athletes like Vinesh Phogat and Neeraj Chopra making significant strides. The former has already confirmed a medal as she has reached the finals and has created history already. Let's delve into the highlights of Day 11!

Neeraj Chopra Qualifies for the Final in One Go!

Neeraj Chopra, India’s star javelin thrower, needed just one throw to qualify for the men's javelin throw final. Neeraj marked an incredible 89.34m in the qualification round, achieving this feat on his very first attempt. This throw was not only well above the qualification standard but also his second-best throw ever and his best performance in any qualification round.

IC: Olympic Khel

After his impressive throw, Neeraj humbly remarked that he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his technique and distance, leaving everyone to wonder just how much better he could get. His performance continues to inspire millions, setting a benchmark for excellence in athletics.

Kishore Jena's Tough Day

While Neeraj soared, Kishore Jena faced a challenging day in the men’s javelin throw event. Despite his best efforts, Kishore could not make it to the final. He logged 80.73m as his best throw in Group A, placing him ninth. Although he set this mark on his first attempt, he failed to register a score in his second attempt and managed 80.21m in his third attempt. This was not sufficient to see him through to the final, as competitors from Group B outperformed him. 

Vinesh Phogat’s incredible achievement!

82-match unbeaten streak? “No Problem”, says Vinesh Phogat! She delivered one of the most remarkable performances of her career by defeating Japan’s Yui Susaki in the women’s 50kg freestyle round of 16 match. Susaki, a formidable opponent, was the defending Olympic Champion where she won without dropping a single point atTokyo 2020, and a three-time world champion. She also had an 82-match unbeaten streak. She is also the reigning Asian Champion. Vinesh’s victory against such an opponent is nothing short of extraordinary.

IC: Olympic Khel

Vinesh’s journey to this point has been filled with challenges. Over the past year and a half, she has faced numerous struggles, including a highly publicized dispute with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), where she accused them of trying to prevent her from competing in the Olympic qualifiers and she was also part of a protest against the WFI President. Despite these hurdles, Vinesh has shown immense determination and resilience.

In her match against Susaki, Vinesh started on the back foot as Susaki took a 1-0 lead after the first period. However, Vinesh fought back brilliantly in the second period, outscoring Susaki in the last 20 seconds to win 3-2 and advance to the quarter-finals. She wasn’t done yet; Vinesh went on to defeat Ukraine’s Oksana Livach 7-5 in a hard-fought battle to secure her place in the semi-finals. This is Vinesh’s third Olympics, and she is demonstrating some of her best wrestling yet.

Medal confirmed for Vinesh Phogat!

The gift that keeps on giving! Vinesh Phogat has achieved an extraordinary feat by winning three matches in a single day, securing her place in Olympic history. In the semi-final, she dominated Yusneylis Guzman Lopez with a convincing 5-0 victory, becoming the first Indian female wrestler to reach the Olympic final. This guarantees her a medal and marks her first-ever Olympic podium finish. She will now compete against USA's Sarah Ann Hildebrandt for India's first wrestling gold at the Olympics.

India lose to Germany in Hockey Semi-Finals

The Indian hockey team faced a heart-breaking defeat against Germany in the semi-finals, losing 3-2, and will now compete against Spain for the bronze medal. Despite taking an early lead, India found themselves trailing 2-1 at halftime. They managed to equalize in the third quarter, but Germany scored again in the later stages to secure the win. Having won the bronze medal in Tokyo, the Indian team will now aim to replicate that success this year.

IC: MyKhel

India Fall to China in Men’s Table Tennis Pre-Quarters

The Indian Men’s Table Tennis team, consisting of Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar, faced a tough challenge in the round of 16 against the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese team, featuring top players like Ma Long and Wang Chuqin, proved to be too strong for the Indian trio.

In the first match, Manav and Harmeet were defeated in straight sets by Ma Long and Wang Chuqin. Sharath Kamal, a seasoned player, managed to win the first set of his game against Fan Zhendong but ultimately lost the next two sets. Manav Thakkar then faced Wang Chuqin in the third match but couldn’t match his opponent’s skill, leading to a 3-0 defeat for India and ending their campaign in the men's team event.

Setback for Kiran Pahal

Indian runner Kiran Pahal faced disappointment in the women’s 400m repechage round. She finished sixth in her heat and did not advance to the semi-finals. In the repechage round, only the top athletes from each heat and the two fastest runners overall advance to the next round. Unfortunately, Kiran’s performance wasn’t enough to secure a place in the semi-finals, marking a setback in her Olympic journey.

Overall, Day 11 at the Paris Olympics was a roller-coaster for India, with moments of brilliance and some setbacks. Neeraj Chopra's consistent excellence and Vinesh Phogat’s stunning victory were the highlights of the day, showcasing the potential and determination of Indian athletes. As the Olympics progress, we remain hopeful for more medal-winning performances from our talented athletes.