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India's Ravi Rongali showcased an impressive performance in the men's F40 shot put final at the Paris Paralympics, securing a commendable fifth place. Rongali, who had previously earned a silver medal at the Asian Para Games in China, achieved a personal best of 10.63m. However, this was not sufficient to secure a podium finish in a highly competitive field.Portugal's Miguel Montero, the world record holder, claimed the gold medal with a throw of 11.21m. Mongolia's Battulga Tsegmid (11.09m) and Iraq's Garrah Tnaiash (11.03m) secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Russian Denis Gnezdilov, the reigning world para athletics champion, finished fourth with a throw of 10.80m.In the women's 1500m T11 race, India's Rakshita Raju faced disappointment in the opening round heats. Raju, 23, finished last out of four runners in Heat 3 with a timing of 5:29.92s. Only the top two runners from each heat qualified for the final.The T11 category is designated for athletes with visual impairments, including complete loss of vision or limited ability to perceive light. These athletes often run with guides.On Friday, Preethi Pal had made history by winning India's first athletics medal in a Paralympics track event. Pal secured a bronze medal in the women's T35 100m event with a personal best time of 14.21 seconds. The T35 classification is for athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.

The 1,500m race at the Paris Olympics witnessed a thrilling upset as Cole Hocker of the US snatched the gold medal from front-running favorites Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway and Josh Kerr of Great Britain.Ingebrigtsen, the defending Olympic champion, and Kerr, the reigning World Champion, had engaged in a bitter rivalry leading up to the race. Ingebrigtsen's aggressive tactics to exhaust Kerr proved ineffective as Hocker surged past them on the inside lane in the final stretch.Ingebrigtsen, known for his sub-3:27 time close to the Olympics, lacked the explosive finish to secure a podium finish. He was pipped to bronze by Yared Nuguse, the second US runner.The race was a testament to the unique nature of the 1,500m, requiring both endurance and tactical prowess. Ingebrigtsen's Olympic record of 3:28.32 set in Tokyo was broken by the top four finishers.Despite his disappointment, Ingebrigtsen qualified for the 5,000m final as the fastest. However, the drama of the 1,500m race added to the allure of the event, with 80,000 fans witnessing the intense rivalry.The 1,500m has a rich history of memorable rivalries. In 1980, Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett engaged in a thrilling battle, with Coe ultimately claiming victory. At the 2000 Sydney Games, Hicham El Guerrouj was upset by Noah Ngeny in a close finish.Hocker's victory in Paris marked a new chapter in the annals of the 1,500m, proving that even the most formidable rivals can be overcome with a well-executed strategy and a determined spirit.

Kenya's Faith Kipyegon has solidified her status as a formidable contender for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris by shattering her own world record in the women's 1500m at the Paris Diamond League meet.On Sunday, Kipyegon, guided by two pacemakers, surged to the front and crossed the finish line in an astonishing 3min 49.04sec at Stade Charlety. This remarkable performance eclipsed her previous world record of 3min 49.11sec, set in Florence in June 2023, by a narrow margin of 0.07sec.Kipyegon, now 30 years old, will return to Paris for the Summer Games as one of the top favorites. Her impressive track record includes two Olympic 1500m gold medals and three world titles. In addition to her dominance in the 1500m, Kipyegon also showcased her versatility by claiming the 5,000m title at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.Kipyegon's world record-breaking performance serves as a testament to her exceptional talent and unwavering determination. It sends a clear message to her rivals that she is in peak form and ready to defend her Olympic crown in Paris.