Badminton

Indian Athletes Shine on Day 5 of Paris OlympicsDay 5 of the Paris Olympics witnessed a flurry of action for the Indian contingent, with athletes competing in archery, boxing, shooting, badminton, table tennis, and equestrian.In badminton, HS Prannoy staged a remarkable comeback after losing the first game to defeat Le Duc Phat in the men's singles group stage. Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu also secured victories, advancing to the round of 16.However, India faced disappointment in table tennis as Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra were eliminated in the round of 16. In archery, Deepika Kumari progressed to the round of 16 in the women's individual event, while Tarundeep Rai bowed out in the men's round of 64.Boxing brought success for India as Lovlina Borgohain defeated Sunniva Hofstad in the women's 75kg round of 16, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. Nishant Dev also advanced to the quarterfinals in the men's 71kg category.In shooting, Swapnil Kusale finished seventh in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions, qualifying for the final. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, however, was eliminated after placing 11th. Shreyasi Singh and Rajeshwari Kumari finished 23rd and 22nd, respectively, in the women's trap qualification.In equestrian, Anush Agarwalla was knocked out after finishing ninth in Group E with horse Sir Caramello Old.

India's HS Prannoy displayed resilience and determination to overcome a spirited challenge from Vietnam's Le Duc Phat in the final group match of the men's singles badminton event at the Paris Olympics. The 32-year-old from Kerala, who had recently recovered from chikungunya, showcased his fighting spirit to secure a hard-fought 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 victory over the world number 70 Le in a 62-minute battle.Despite looking slightly fatigued and rusty in the opening game, Prannoy regained his composure and executed his game plan effectively in the subsequent games. The world number 13 trailed 8-7 early on, but a precise shot at the corner gave Le a crucial two-point lead. The Vietnamese continued to dominate the rallies, utilizing his jump smashes to trouble Prannoy. The Indian fell behind 11-15 after the break, but he managed to narrow the gap to 15-16 with an aggressive push at the back. However, Le extended his lead to 18-15 and eventually sealed the opening game when Prannoy went long.After the change of sides, Prannoy seized the initiative and opened up a 4-0 lead. Le gradually applied pressure, but Prannoy maintained his composure and went into the break with an 11-7 cushion. The Indian looked calm and in control as he quickly wrapped up the second game to force a decider.In the third game, Prannoy established a 6-4 lead before engaging in an aggressive flat exchange with Le. The Indian went wide, allowing Le to draw parity at 7-7. However, Prannoy regained control and grabbed an 11-8 lead after winning another aggressive flat exchange. The Indian stamped his class thereafter, while Le struggled to find his rhythm. Prannoy quickly closed out the match when Le found the net again.With this victory, Prannoy advanced to the men's singles pre-quarterfinals, where he will face fellow Indian Lakshya Sen in an all-Indian clash. Prannoy's performance is a testament to his resilience and determination, as he overcame physical challenges to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

India's medal hopes at the Paris Olympics will be tested on Thursday as Swapnil Kusale takes aim in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions competition. Kusale's performance could potentially secure India's third shooting medal of the Games, a historic feat.In badminton, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty face a formidable challenge against former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia. Double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu will also face a tough test against He Bing Jiao of China, a rematch of their bronze medal playoff in Tokyo 2020. Lakshya Sen, who has been in impressive form, will face compatriot HS Prannoy or Vietnam's Le Duc Phat in the men's singles Round of 16.Golf action commences with men's Day 1, featuring Indian golfers Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shubhankar Sharma. They will aim to secure a medal by Sunday.The Indian men's hockey team, already qualified for the quarter-finals, will face reigning champions and world No.1 Belgium in their penultimate Pool B contest. Despite the pressure being off, the team will need confidence and courage to overcome the formidable Belgian squad.In boxing, Nikhat Zareen will compete in the women's 50kg Round of 16. However, she faces a challenging opponent in top seed and reigning world champion Wu Yu of China.

Keerthana Sai Nalla, a 26-year-old Indian badminton enthusiast, has altered her plans to witness the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite securing a new job in Germany and wanting to return home before starting it, her passion for badminton and the allure of watching PV Sindhu's historic Olympic quest have compelled her to extend her stay in Paris.Nalla's love for badminton has been a constant throughout her life, despite her family's frequent relocations due to her father's military service. She has been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to witness the sport live at the Olympics, particularly the performances of the Indian men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.Sindhu, a double Olympic medalist and Nalla's all-time favorite sportsperson, is aiming for a record third Olympic medal, a feat no Indian has ever achieved. Nalla is determined to witness Sindhu's journey and has purchased tickets for the badminton matches."This is my best chance to watch Sindhu in action at the Olympics, so I am going to be around till the badminton games are done," said Nalla, who attended the Games live at Arena Porte de La Chapelle in Paris on Sunday.The Indian pair of Satwik and Chirag's victory over France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar in straight games further solidified Nalla's decision to stay back. "Badminton is my highlight at the Olympics, I really love that game," she added.Nalla is actively monitoring the Paris 2024 official ticket resale website for tickets to the women's singles semi-finals, where she expects Sindhu to reach. Her unwavering passion for badminton and the opportunity to witness history unfold have made her sacrifice her original plans and embrace the unforgettable experience of the Paris Olympics.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen has secured a place in the pre-quarters of the ongoing Paris Olympics after defeating Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in the men's singles Group L match. Sen's victory came in straight sets, 21-18, 21-12, in a match that lasted 50 minutes at the La Chapelle Arena.Sen dominated the match from the start, winning the first game 8-2. He continued his momentum in the second game, capitalizing on Christie's errors to close out the match. With this win, Sen topped the men's singles Group L and could potentially face HS Prannoy in the upcoming Round of 16 match.Sen's performance has been particularly impressive, with one of his backhand shots going viral on social media. Internet users have hailed the shot as "mad" and "god-like," inspiring budding badminton champions.Earlier in the tournament, Sen defeated Julien Carraggi of Belgium in straight sets, 21-19, 21-14. He also had a dominating win over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon, but the result was later deleted after Cordon withdrew from the Olympics due to an injury.Sen's success in the Paris Olympics is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has emerged as one of India's top badminton players and is expected to continue his winning streak in the upcoming matches.

Lakshya Sen's stunning victory over Jonatan Christie at the Paris Olympics has sent shockwaves through the badminton world. The Indian shuttler, ranked 22nd in the world, upset the third-seeded Indonesian, who is considered a favorite for the men's singles gold medal.Sen's triumph marks a significant milestone in his career, as he had previously lost four consecutive matches to Christie. The Indonesian has been in dominant form this year, winning the Asian and All England championships. However, Sen's determination and tactical brilliance proved too much for Christie on Wednesday.In the first game, Christie took an early lead but Sen fought back to level the score at 8-all. The Indian continued to attack the net and exploit Christie's errors, eventually winning the game 21-18.The second game was even more one-sided, as Sen gained confidence from his first-game victory. He built a solid lead at the mid-game interval and never looked back, winning 21-12.Sen's victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has consistently performed well on the big stage, including winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022. His victory over Christie is a major boost for India's hopes of winning a badminton medal at the Paris Olympics.Meanwhile, PV Sindhu also advanced to the women's singles Round of 16 with a comfortable victory over Kristin Kuuba of Estonia. The double Olympic medalist won in just 34 minutes, barely breaking a sweat.Sindhu will face a tougher test in the next round when she takes on Chinese sixth seed He Bing Jiao. The two players have a close head-to-head record, with Sindhu winning the most recent encounter in the bronze medal playoff at the Tokyo Olympics.

Indian sports history was made on Day 4 of the Paris Olympics 2024 as Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty became the first Indian badminton men's doubles pair to qualify for the quarterfinals. The world number three duo secured their spot with one group match remaining after their scheduled opponents, Mark Lamsfuss and Marvin Seidel of Germany, withdrew due to injury.Meanwhile, ace shooter Manu Bhaker is poised to create her own Olympic legacy. Teaming up with Sarabjot Singh, Bhaker will compete in the bronze medal match of the 10m air pistol mixed team competition on Tuesday. A victory would mark an unprecedented second medal in shooting for India at the Games.India's badminton contingent will continue their group stage campaign with Satwik and Chirag facing Alfian Fajar and Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia in the men's doubles. Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto will also be in action, seeking their first win against Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu of Australia in the women's doubles.In hockey, Harmanpreet Singh will lead India in their men's Pool B match against Ireland, aiming to restore parity after yesterday's draw against Argentina. Ankita Bhakat, Bhajan Kaur, and Dhiraj Bommadevara will represent India in archery, while boxers Amit Panghal, Jaismine Lamboria, and Preeti Pawar will take to the ring.Other notable events on Day 4 include Prithviraj Tondaiman and Shreyasi Singh competing in the trap shooting qualification, Balraj Panwar in the men's single sculls quarterfinals, and rowers Arvind Singh and Arjun Lal Jat in the men's lightweight double sculls semifinals.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen has made a strong start to his Paris Olympics campaign, securing a straight-sets victory over Belgium's Julien Carraggi in the Group L men's singles match. The 43-minute encounter at the La Chapelle Arena saw Sen overcome a four-point deficit in the first game and dominate the second, winning 21-19, 21-14.Sen's victory comes after a setback on Sunday when his win over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon was "deleted" due to Cordon's withdrawal from the Olympics due to a left elbow injury. As per BWF regulations, the result of the match was removed, and Sen's ranking will be determined based on his remaining two Group L matches.In the women's doubles, India's hopes suffered a blow as the pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa were defeated by the world number four Japanese duo of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. The Indian pair lost 11-21, 12-21 in a one-sided Group C clash.Despite the setback in women's doubles, Sen's victory provides a boost to India's badminton campaign. The 22-year-old has shown impressive form, demonstrating his ability to overcome challenges and secure crucial wins. As he prepares for his remaining Group L matches, Sen will be aiming to continue his winning streak and secure a place in the knockout stages.

India's Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto's Olympic hopes suffered a major setback as they succumbed to a second consecutive defeat in the women's doubles badminton competition at the Paris Olympics. The Indian duo fell 11-21, 12-21 to the world number four Japanese pair of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in a 48-minute Group C encounter.Ponnappa and Crasto, ranked 19th in the world, had earlier lost their opening match against South Korea's Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong. The two top-ranked pairs from each group qualify for the quarterfinals, leaving the Indians facing an uphill battle to advance."A bit disappointed because this was the only shot we had for a chance to get to the quarters," Ponnappa said after the match. "Not the way we wanted to play but they were very strong. I wish we had given them a better fight. We have one more match and hope we can win that."The Japanese duo dominated the match from the outset, taking control of the first game with a 4-0 lead. The Indians struggled to keep pace, with Crasto netting a long rally and Ponnappa's smash proving insufficient to challenge the Japanese.The second game followed a similar pattern, with the Japanese racing to a 7-1 lead. Crasto's finger injury further hampered the Indians' efforts, and the Japanese duo's quick court coverage and effective combination of power and placement proved too much for the Indian pair.Despite the setback, Ponnappa and Crasto remain determined to finish their Olympic campaign on a high note. "There's a lot to take away," Crasto said. "It builds my confidence as we are playing at such a high level and giving fight to each and every pair. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to play here in front of so many people. It's not over for us yet, hopefully we will be able to pull through."The Indians will face Australia's Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu in their final group game, with a victory essential to keep their Olympic hopes alive.