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Belgium and Australia Suffer Upsets in Women's Basketball at Paris OlympicsThe highly anticipated women's basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics got off to a surprising start on Monday, with fancied Belgium and Australia suffering unexpected defeats.In Group C, Belgium, considered a medal contender, fell to debutants Germany 83-69. The Sabally sisters, Satou and Nyara, proved to be a formidable force for Germany, combining for 33 points. Belgium's offense struggled to keep pace, with Emma Meesseman, their star player, limited to just 12 points.Meanwhile, in Group B, Nigeria pulled off a stunning upset over third-ranked Australia, winning 75-62. Point guard Ezinne Kalu led the way for Nigeria, scoring 19 points and orchestrating a relentless defense. Australia, despite a strong second-half performance, couldn't overcome Nigeria's tenacity."Our defense was relentless," said Kalu. "We smelt blood for the ball. Nobody defends like us, and that's what kept us going."The results have shaken up the tournament's early standings, with Germany and Nigeria emerging as potential dark horses. Defending champions the United States, who begin their campaign against Japan later on Monday, will be wary of the upsets that have already occurred.Hosts France will face Canada in Group B later on Monday, hoping to avoid a similar fate to Belgium and Australia. The tournament promises to be fiercely competitive, with several teams vying for a spot on the podium.

The Indian women's hockey team's European leg of the FIH Pro League has taken a disappointing turn as they suffered a second consecutive defeat, this time to Belgium by a score of 1-2. The loss marks the team's seventh straight defeat against Belgium in international matches.Under the guidance of new coach Harendra Singh and captain Salima Tete, the Indian team has struggled to find its footing in the tournament. After a 0-5 thrashing by Argentina on Wednesday, they were hoping to bounce back against Belgium. However, the home side proved to be too strong, taking an early 2-0 lead in the first half.Belgium's goals came from penalty corners, with Ambre Ballenghien scoring in the 14th minute and Vanessa Blockmans adding another in the 20th. India managed to pull one back in the 34th minute through a field goal by Kumari Sangita, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory.Belgium's relentless pressure and effective penalty corner conversions proved to be the difference in the match. The Indian team struggled to create clear-cut chances and were unable to capitalize on the few opportunities they had.Despite the setbacks, the Indian team showed glimpses of their potential. They withstood Belgium's initial pressure and began to dominate possession in the second quarter. However, they were unable to sustain their momentum and Belgium regained control of the game.In the third quarter, India managed to score a goal through Sangita, but Belgium continued to threaten their defense. The final quarter saw both teams create chances, but neither could find the back of the net.The defeat leaves the Indian women's hockey team with a lot of work to do. They will face Argentina again on Sunday in their next match and will be hoping to end their losing streak and secure their first points in the tournament.