After a few fourth-place finishes, it was a good day for India at the Paris Olympics 2024 barring the men’s hockey team’s heartbreaking loss to Germany in the semifinals. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat assured India of a medal after pulling off stunning wins including beating the former invincible, Japan’s Yui Susaki. Reigning champion Neeraj Chopra too did not break a sweat to qualify for the final.
Here’s a look at Indian athletes’ performance on Day 11 of the Paris Olympics 2024 –
Table Tennis
India men's table tennis team crashed out of round of 16 as they lost 0-3 to top-seeded China. Indian doubles pair Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai failed to put up a fight against Ma Long and Wang Chuqin. Achanta Sharath Kamal was impressive against Fan Zhendong winning the first game. But Zhendong made a comeback and Kamal could not cope up with the Chinese players' aggressive play and lost 1-4. Thakkar made Chuqin work hard for his win as well but the Indian team faced an exit losing 0-3.
Javelin
In the men's javelin throw qualification Group A, Kishore Jena could not pass the 84 metre mark. His best throw of 80.73 metre was not enough to take him to the final as he finished ninth in his group.
A confident Neeraj Chopra with his career's second-best throw of 89.34 metre booked his spot in the qualification round. He finished at the top of both groups with just one throw.
Women's 400 metre
Kiral Pahal failed to secure the semifinal spot as she finished sixth in heat 1 of women's 400m repechage round with a timing of 52.59.
Wrestling
Vinesh started the day by beating Japan's Yui Susaki 3-2. Reigning champion Susaki had not lost a single match at the international stage before losing to Vinesh. In the quarterfinal, she faced Ukraine's Oksana Livach and beat her 7-5. In the semifinal, she dominated Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman and beat her 5-0 to become first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final at Olympics. She will face USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the final.
ALSO READ: Reigning champion Neeraj Chopra qualifies for final with second-best throw of his career
Hockey
In the absence of key defender, Harmanpreet Singh-led India men’s hockey team lost 2-3 to Germany in the semifinal. India will now face Spain in the bronze medal match on August 8.
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