Others

In the heart of Paris, the Olympic Games witnessed a bittersweet tale of sibling rivalry and resilience. Hifumi Abe, the reigning 66kg judo champion, found solace in victory after his sister Uta's shocking defeat.Uta Abe, a four-time world champion, had been undefeated since 2019. However, in Paris, she stumbled in the second round, shattering their hopes of a sibling gold medal sweep. Hifumi, driven by his sister's loss, vowed to fight for her honor."It was a hard day," said Hifumi, "but I felt I had to work hard for my sister. I had no choice but to do my best as the older brother."The Abe siblings are not alone in their Olympic family legacy. History is replete with blood relations gracing the podium. The Swedish father-son duo of Oscar and Alfred Swahn won 15 shooting medals across three Games. Indian hockey legends Dhyan Chand and his brother Roop Singh, along with Dhyan's son Ashok Kumar, are Olympic medalists.In Paris, Ukrainian twins Maryna and Vladyslava Aleksiiva are aiming to surpass their artistic swimming bronze from Tokyo. Despite the horrors of war in their homeland, they have found solace in their sport."We wanted to showcase our resilience," said Vladyslava. "Our music is cheerful and heroic, reflecting our determination to overcome adversity."The Sinkovic brothers, Valent and Martin, are Croatia's hopes in men's rowing. They have won gold and silver medals in previous Games and are looking to add to their tally."We wouldn't last this long if we weren't brothers," said Valent.South Korea's Yeo Seo-jeong and her father Yeo Hong-chul, an Olympic medalist in gymnastics, share a special bond. Yeo Seo-jeong hopes to emulate her father's success in Paris.British runner Jake Wightman will face the challenge of defending his 1500m title. His father Geoff, a former marathon runner, will be commentating on the race.Tatsuru Saito, the son of two-time Olympic judo champion Hitoshi Saito, will carry his father's legacy in the men's 100+ kg event.The Paris Olympics is a testament to the power of family and the indomitable spirit of athletes who overcome adversity to achieve their dreams.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are underway, and India is poised to make a strong showing in several sports. On Monday, shooting and archery will take center stage, with the potential for multiple medals.Shooting:Manu Bhaker, who won India's first medal in Paris on Sunday, will team up with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team qualification. Ramita Jindal and Arjuna Babuta will compete in the finals of the 10m air rifle, while Prithviraj Tondaiman will participate in the men's trap qualification.Archery:The Indian men's archery team, comprising Dhiraj Bommadevara, Pravin Jadhav, and Tarundeep Rai, will begin their elimination round in the quarter-finals. Seeded third, India will face the winner of the pre-quarter-final between Turkey and Colombia. A victory would likely set up a semi-final clash with hosts France.Hockey:After a hard-fought 3-2 victory over New Zealand in their Group B opener, the Indian men's hockey team will face a tougher test against Argentina. The Rio 2016 champions pushed Australia to the limit in a 1-0 loss. Another win for India would bring them closer to the quarter-finals.Judo:The Champ-de-Mars Arena will host the women's 57kg and men's 73kg medal matches in judo. The day will feature two bronze medal matches in the 57kg followed by the final, with the same sequence repeated in the men's 73kg event.Swimming:The women's 400m individual medley final will take place at Paris' La Defense Arena. Canadian Summer McIntosh is the favorite after breaking her own world record in May. McIntosh will also compete in the women's 200m freestyle, the last swimming final of the night.

Cricket may reign supreme in India, but other sports are gaining traction. According to Ormax Media, football, Kabaddi, professional wrestling (WWE), and hockey follow cricket in popularity. However, only hockey is relevant to the upcoming Paris Olympics.Key Terms for the Paris Olympics:* Heats: Preliminary rounds in track, rowing, swimming, and canoeing, where athletes are grouped based on performance.* Dressage: Equestrian event where horse and rider perform predetermined movements within an arena, judged on fluidity and coordination.* Ippon: In judo, a decisive victory achieved by throwing an opponent on their back, pinning them for 20 seconds, or forcing a submission.* RSC: In boxing, when the referee stops a contest due to the losing boxer's inability to protect themselves.* Repechage: In wrestling, track, and rowing, a chance for athletes who lose to medalists to qualify for bronze.* PC (Penalty Corner): In hockey, a penalty awarded when a foul is committed within the penalty circle. The attacking team attempts to score by hitting the ball into the goal.Indian Athletes to Watch:* Anush Agarwalla: Competing in dressage, the only Indian equestrian at Paris 2024.* Tulika Maan: India's sole judo representative, aiming for an ippon victory.Understanding Repechage:Repechage offers a lifeline to athletes who lose to eventual medalists. In wrestling, for example, Sakshi Malik won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics after losing in the quarterfinals. She qualified for the repechage rounds and won two subsequent bouts to secure a medal.Penalty Corners in Hockey:Penalty corners are crucial in hockey, often determining the outcome of matches. India's captain, Harmanpreet Singh, is renowned for his dragflicks, which can be game-changers.

Tulika Maan, India's lone judoka for the 2024 Paris Olympics, is preparing diligently for the biggest stage in sports. The 25-year-old secured a quota in the women's +78kg division after amassing 1345 points in the qualifying period.Maan's journey to the Olympics has been supported by her mother, who has been her unwavering pillar. Despite never witnessing her daughter's live matches, Maan's mother has provided financial and emotional support, enabling her to compete in international tournaments.Maan's preparation for Paris includes a three-week training camp in Valencia, Spain, followed by a special camp in Paris. She will face formidable opponents in the +78kg category, including China's Su Xin and France's Romane Dicko.While Maan acknowledges the pressure of being India's sole judoka at the Olympics, she believes that having a team of athletes would provide motivation and support. She emphasizes the importance of unity and camaraderie among Indian judokas.Maan's training regimen includes yoga to manage mental pressure. She also relies on Evocus Hydration I.V. to maintain optimal hydration levels, which is crucial for her demanding training and recovery.

Tulika Maan has become the first Indian judoka to secure a quota for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 25-year-old achieved this feat by securing a continental quota in the women's +78kg division, as per the latest rankings released by the International Judo Federation (IJF).Maan, who hails from Bhopal, has been a consistent performer at the national and international levels. She has participated in the 2017 World Championships in Budapest and the 2017 Tokyo World Judo Championship. She also clinched a silver medal at the Asian Open in Kuwait in 2023.During the qualification period from June 22, 2022, to June 23, 2024, Maan accumulated 1345 ranking points. This placed her 36th in the standings, securing a continental quota for India.The National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have the exclusive authority to select athletes to represent their countries at the Olympic Games. NOCs must confirm their use of quota places by July 2.Judo was first introduced to the Olympic program at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Despite being dropped from the 1968 Mexico City Games, it has been a regular fixture since the 1972 Munich Olympics.Avtar Singh (men's 90kg) was the last Indian to compete in judo at the Olympics, in Rio 2016. India is yet to win an Olympic medal in judo.The judo competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held at the Champ-de-Mars Arena from July 27 to August 3. A total of 372 judokas, 186 each in men's and women's events, will compete for Olympic glory.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has approved a series of proposals to support Indian athletes in their preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games.Weightlifting:Mirabai Chanu, India's silver medalist in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics, will train at La Ferte-Milon, Paris, ahead of the Games. The MOC has approved her proposal to travel to Paris nearly a month before her event to acclimatize to the weather and prepare for the competition. Her training camp expenses, including airfare, visa costs, accommodation, food, training costs, and medical insurance, will be covered under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) funding.Equestrian:Equestrian player Anush Agarwalla has received approval for his proposal to compete in eight competitions and purchase equipment for his horses. TOPS will cover his and his coach's accommodation costs, entry fees, horse feed costs, coach fees, and horse groom costs.Judo:Judoka Asmita Dey's proposal for financial assistance to participate in the Grand Prix, Austria, has been approved.Shooting:Shooter Arjun Singh Cheema's request for financial assistance towards participation in the ISAS Dortmund Competition has also been approved.Tennis:Newly inducted Indian tennis ace Sumit Nagal's request for financial assistance towards participation in two international competitions along with expenditure for his support staff has been approved. Their airfare, accommodation cost, coaching fees, and physio/fitness coach/mental trainer fees will be covered under TOPS funding.Other Approvals:Other proposals approved by the MOC include financial assistance towards hiring a video analyst for badminton players Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, extension of the contract for weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga's physiotherapist, and financial assistance towards buying equipment for track athlete Amoj Jacob.