It was a day of mixed fortunes for India at the Paris Olympics on Day 8. Manu Bhaker narrowly missed out on a medal in the Women’s 25m pistol event, finishing in fourth place. The Indian archery contingent concluded their Olympic campaign without any medals.
The biggest disappointment came from boxer Nishant Dev, who lost a close quarterfinal match in men’s 71kg. Here is a detailed look at how Indian athletes fared across different sports.
Shooting: Manu Bhaker Misses Bronze
Manu Bhaker, who has been a standout performer for India, finished fourth in the Women’s 25m pistol event. Manu Bhaker, who had previously won bronze in both the 10m pistol mixed team and individual events, was aiming to add a third medal to her tally. Despite a valiant effort, she fell just short of the podium.
Archery: A Day of Mixed Results
Deepika Kumari, Bhajan Kaur Falls
In archery, Bhajan Kaur faced a tough match against Diananda Choirunisa in the Women’s Round of 16 and was eliminated from the competition.
On the other hand, Deepika Kumari had a strong performance, defeating Germany’s Michelle Kroppen in the Round of 16 with a 6-4 victory. However, her campaign ended in the quarterfinals, where she was unable to advance further.
Boxing: Heartbreak for Nishant Dev
Indian boxer Nishant Dev faced a crushing defeat in the men’s 71kg quarterfinal match. Despite a spirited performance, he lost 1-4 to Mexico’s Marco Verde Alvarez, ending his Olympic journey and dashing his hopes for a medal.
Sailing: Challenges in the Waters
Nethra Kumanan and Vishnu Saravanan Struggle
Indian sailors Nethra Kumanan and Vishnu Saravanan had a challenging day in their respective sailing events. Kumanan, competing in the Women’s Dinghy ILCA 6 event, struggled to maintain her early momentum. She started the day in 11th position but slipped to 24th after finishing 19th in Race 4, 25th in Race 5, and 24th in Race 6.
Vishnu Saravanan, competing in the Men’s Dinghy ILCA 7 event, also faced difficulties. He began the day in 22nd place and finished 23rd in both Race 5 and Race 6, resulting in an overall position of 23rd. Both sailors have significant ground to cover in the remaining four races scheduled for the coming days.
Women’s Skeet: Strong Start for Maheshwari Chauhan
India’s Maheshwari Chauhan made a promising start in the women’s skeet qualification, securing the eighth position with a score of 71 out of 75. Chauhan’s performance has put her in a strong position to advance to the final round, with the second day of qualification scheduled for August 4.
Day of Near Misses and Heartbreak
August 4 at the Paris Olympics was a day of near misses and heartbreaks for India. Manu Bhaker came agonisingly close to securing a third medal, while Nishant Dev’s dreams of an Olympic medal were dashed in the boxing ring.
The archery team concluded their campaign without medals, and the sailors faced significant challenges. Despite these setbacks, athletes like Maheshwari Chauhan show promise, and the spirit of the Indian contingent remains unbroken as they continue their quest for Olympic glory.
