India at Paris Olympics, July 29: Manu opens medal tally, Arjun-Ramita raise hopes in rifle shooting

India’s second day at the Paris Olympics 2024 was a mix of triumphs and setbacks, as athletes across different disciplines showcased their skills on the world stage. The day was highlighted by Manu Bhaker’s historic bronze medal in shooting, but there were also disappointments in other sports.

So here is how India fared on Day 2 of Paris Olympics:

Shooting: A Day to remember

The shooting range brought both joy and heartbreak for the Indian contingent. Manu Bhaker scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting, clinching a bronze in the 10m air pistol event. Her victory was a moment of immense pride for the nation and injected a surge of optimism into the Indian camp.

However, the day also witnessed mixed fortunes for the other Indian shooters.

Ramita Jindal qualified for the final of the women’s 10m air rifle event, showcasing her talent and composure under pressure.

Arjun Babuta also secured a spot in the men’s 10m air rifle final, demonstrating India’s strength in the sport.

On the other hand, Elavenil Valarivan narrowly missed out on qualifying for the women’s 10m air rifle final, while Sandeep Singh failed to make the cut in the men’s 10m air rifle event.

Badminton: Perfect day for Indian Pair

The Indian badminton contingent had a great day. PV Sindhu kicked off her campaign with a convincing win over Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq of Maldives, setting the tone for her campaign.

HS Prannoy also secured a victory in his opening match, defeating Fabian Roth of Germany.

Table Tennis: A setback

The Indian table tennis campaign faced early setback.

Sreeja Akula progressed to the Round of 32 with a win over Christina Kallberg.

Manika Batra made a strong start to her Paris Olympics campaign, defeating Anna Hursey of Great Britain in the Round of 64 of the women’s singles event by 4-1. The win propels Batra into the Round of 32, where she will face a stern test against 12th seed Prithika Pavade.

India’s flag bearer for Paris Olympics, Sharath Kamal suffered defeat against lowly-ranked Deni Kozul.

17-year-old World No. 5 Felix Lebrun has advanced to the Round of 32 at the Paris Olympics, defeating India’s Harmeet Desai in a straight-sets match.

Boxing and Swimming: Mixed Fortunes

In boxing, Nikhat Zareen made a strong start to her campaign, securing a victory over Maxi Carina Kloetzer.

However, the swimming contingent failed to make a significant impact, with Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu finishing outside the medal contention in their respective events.

Archery: Utter Disappointment

The Indian women’s archery team suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, bringing an early end to their campaign. The team will be looking to regroup and focus on the individual events.

Rowing: Balraj Panwar rises

Indian rower Balraj Panwar secured his place in the quarterfinals of the men’s single sculls event. After failing to qualify directly from the heats, Panwar finished second in the repechage round with a time of 7:12:41, ensuring his progression to the next stage of the competition.

Tennis: Tough Day

Early in the day, India’s hopes in men’s singles tennis at the Paris Olympics ended with Sumit Nagal’s first-round defeat. The 26-year-old suffered a 2-6, 6-2, 5-7 loss to France’s Corentin Moutet, bringing an early end to his campaign.

Men’s doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji.

Overall, India’s second day at the Paris Olympics was a mixed bag of results. While the shooting team delivered a standout performance, with Manu Bhaker’s historic medal and the qualification of Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta for the finals, other disciplines faced challenges. The Indian contingent will be looking to regroup and fight back in the coming days.

The road to Olympic glory is never easy, and India’s athletes are determined to leave their mark on the Paris Games.