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Zhiying Zeng, a 58-year-old table tennis player from Chile, has defied age and adversity to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her journey to the Olympic stage has been a testament to her unwavering determination and the unwavering support of her family.Zeng's table tennis journey began in China, where she was born into a family passionate about the sport. Her mother, a table tennis coach, nurtured Zeng's talent from a young age. By the age of 16, Zeng had become a member of the Chinese national team. However, her Olympic dreams were shattered when a rule change exposed her weakness.Undeterred, Zeng moved to Chile in 1989 to become a table tennis coach. She resumed playing a few years later and won two national-level tournaments. However, she put her career on hold again to focus on her son's table tennis aspirations.In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Zeng picked up the paddle once more. Initially, it was just for exercise, but she soon rediscovered her love for the sport. With the encouragement of her family and friends, she began competing in regional tournaments.At the age of 57, Zeng qualified for the 2023 South American Table Tennis Championships. Her performance at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago was nothing short of sensational, earning her a spot on the Chilean team for the Paris Olympics.Zeng's qualification for the Olympics was a poignant moment for her 92-year-old father, who had stayed awake until 5 a.m. in China to witness his daughter's triumph. He had been the one to take her to training sessions as a little girl, and now, decades later, his dream had come true.Despite losing in the preliminary rounds of the Paris 2024 qualifiers, Zeng remains unfazed. Her journey has been an inspiration to countless others, proving that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing one's dreams.

Tom Daley, the reigning Olympic champion, relinquished his title on Monday but secured an emotional silver medal alongside partner Noah Williams in the men's synchronized 10m platform event at the Tokyo Olympics. The Chinese duo of Lian Junjie and Yang Hao emerged victorious, marking their dominance in the sport.Daley, 30, has now amassed five Olympic medals across five Games. In 2021, he triumphed in the same event with Matty Lee at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games. Lian and Yang, three-time world champions, established their superiority from the outset, leaving no room for doubt.They amassed a score of 490.35, surpassing Daley and Williams' 463.44 and the Canadian pair of Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray's 422.13. Daley and Williams engaged in a fierce battle for second place with the Canadians but ultimately prevailed in the latter half of the competition.The medal held profound significance for both Britons, particularly Williams, who was overcome with emotion as he remembered his former coach, Dave Jenkins, who passed away in 2021. Daley, who lost his father to cancer in 2011, expressed his admiration for Williams' resilience."I've never seen Noah cry in my whole life," Daley said. "I know how much today means to him. It's very sad Dave is not here, but I know Dave and my dad would both be so proud to see us here today."Daley made his Olympic debut at the tender age of 14 in Beijing in 2008. He earned his first Olympic medal, a bronze, at the 2012 London Games. He repeated the feat in Rio and Tokyo before finally claiming gold in the men's synchronized 10m platform event in Tokyo.Daley, an LGBTQ activist married to Hollywood scriptwriter Dustin Lance Black, had taken a break from the sport until his six-year-old son, Rob, inspired him to return. "It's just so special," Daley said. "This time last year, I was deciding to come back, never mind not knowing if I would make the synchro team. Doing it in front of my son who asked me to come back is so special. I now have one of every color. I've completed the set."Daley and Black also have a second son, Phoenix Rose. Daley's long-time coach, Jane Figueiredo, praised the duo's performance. "Excited, fearless, just over the moon for both of them," she said. "There's been a lot going on behind the scenes for both of them, to come and achieve a silver medal is absolutely brilliant. China was just too good. We hung in there, but it was brilliant."The Chinese team maintained their lead throughout the competition, but Lian acknowledged the pressure they faced from Daley and Williams. "We feel very excited about winning," he said. "There was a lot of pressure during the competition because the British team were very consistent. They were so close."

India's Arjun Babuta narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the 10m Air Rifle final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing a heartbreaking fourth in Chateauroux.Babuta started the competition strongly, vaulting to the top of the leaderboard with a 10.7 in the first stage. However, he dropped back to fourth after his second shot, a 10.2. He remained in the mix throughout the competition, often holding second or third place.In the final stages of the Elimination round, Babuta faltered, allowing Croatia's Miran Marcic and Sweden's Victor Lindgren to overtake him. The eventual winner was China's Shen Lihao, who was in unstoppable form, finishing with an Olympic record score of 252.2.Babuta's performance was a testament to his skill and determination. He started the second stage with a 10.7, vaulting him into third place, and then a 10.5 on his second shot took him into second rank. He maintained his consistency with a 10.4 on his third shot and a 10.6 on his fourth, keeping a small lead over Marcic.However, Babuta dropped to third with his final shot of Stage 2, a 10.4, allowing Marcic to jump into second place again with a 10.8. Babuta's total at the end of Stage 2 was 105.0, trailing Sheng's 105.8.In the final shots, Babuta began well with a 10.6, while Marcic faltered with a 10.1, allowing the Indian to climb back into second. Babuta closed the gap to Sheng with a 10.8 on his second shot, trailing by just 0.1.Sheng responded with a 10.8, while Babuta shot a 9.9, opening up a gap between the two. Sheng continued to dominate, shooting a 10.9 on his second shot, while Babuta recovered with a 10.6.Lindgren jumped into second with a 10.8, while Babuta dropped to third with a 10.2. Sheng maintained his lead with a 10.9, while Babuta climbed back into second with a 10.7.In the final shots, Babuta shot a 10.5, but Marcic caught up with him, both on 178.3. Marcic responded with a 10.7, while Babuta hit a 10.1. Babuta needed big shots, but he started with a 10.5, remaining in fourth but closing the gap on Marcic, who shot 10.1. However, Marcic shot a 10.7 with his second shot, while Babuta only managed a 9.5 to finish fourth in the competition.

In a thrilling display of precision and composure, India's Ramita Jindal narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the women's 10m air rifle final at the ongoing Olympics in Chateauroux. Competing in her maiden Games, the 20-year-old from Haryana showcased her exceptional talent, finishing seventh in a high-quality field.Ramita's journey began with a promising fifth-place finish in the qualifications, securing her a spot in the eight-woman final. Starting strongly, she fired an impressive series of shots, including a perfect 10.9. However, a costly 9.7 on her tenth shot dropped her to seventh place after the first stage.Undeterred, Ramita fought back with two solid shots of 10.4 and 10.5, keeping her hopes alive. As the competition progressed, the pressure intensified, with elimination beginning from the 12th shot. Ramita found herself tied with France's Oceanne Muller for seventh place, necessitating a single-shot shoot-off.Under immense pressure, Muller shot a near-perfect 10.8, leaving Ramita with the daunting task of hitting the bull's eye. Despite taking her time, Ramita's shot fell just short, scoring an impressive 10.5 but ultimately not enough to advance.The final moments of the match were equally dramatic, as China's Yuting Huang, the reigning Asian Games champion, was edged out by South Korea's 16-year-old Hyojin Ban in a nerve-wracking shoot-off. Ban's ice-cold composure and solid 10.4 in the shoot-off proved decisive, securing her the Olympic gold medal.Ramita's performance in her maiden Olympics is a testament to her talent and determination. Despite narrowly missing out on a medal, she has gained invaluable experience and will undoubtedly be a force to reckon with in future competitions.

India's Harmeet Desai's Olympic debut in men's singles table tennis came to an end on Sunday after a disappointing 0-4 loss to world no. 5 Felix Lebrun of France in the second round. The 31-year-old from Surat struggled to find his rhythm against the 17-year-old local hopeful, going down 8-11 8-11 6-11 8-11 in just 28 minutes.Desai, who was part of the Indian team that won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022, had progressed to the second round with a convincing 4-0 victory over Jordan's Zaid Abo Yaman on Saturday. However, his performance against Lebrun was a far cry from his showing in the opening round match.Desai had come into the Olympics after playing in three preparatory tournaments and undergoing personal training in Germany. However, he was unable to replicate his form in the second round, as Lebrun's aggressive play and quick reflexes proved too much for the Indian.Earlier, veteran Sharath Kamal, making his fifth Olympics appearance, also suffered a shock exit in the men's singles competition. The 39-year-old lost 2-4 (12-10 9-11 6-11 7-11 11-8 10-12) to Deni Kozul of Slovenia, ranked 86 places below him.With Desai and Kamal's exits, India's campaign in men's singles table tennis at the Tokyo Olympics has come to an end. The focus will now shift to the women's singles competition, where Manika Batra and Sutirtha Mukherjee will be representing India.

Yazan Al Bawwab, a 24-year-old Palestinian swimmer, made a powerful statement at the Paris Games by representing his homeland, despite its lack of basic amenities like food and water. His sole Olympic race, the 100 meters backstroke, lasted less than a minute, but his presence in the water carried a profound message.Al Bawwab, who pointed to the Palestinian flag on his chest after the race, emphasized the significance of representing a homeland that struggles for recognition. "France does not recognize Palestine. Yet here I am with a flag on my chest," he said. "I'm very, very happy... to raise my flag, to have time just for Palestine, a lane just for Palestine. I think this is my message of peace."Al Bawwab's journey to the Olympics was not without challenges. Born in Saudi Arabia to a homeless refugee father, he faced adversity from a young age. However, he drew inspiration from his father's resilience and the struggles of Palestinians in Gaza. "I look at people like my dad who came from nothing," he said. "I'm never complaining in the pool, I remember people in Gaza, people in Palestine that suffer properly."Despite the hostility he has faced from some quarters, Al Bawwab remains determined to raise awareness about the plight of Palestinians. "A lot of people don't want us to be here. They don't want to see the flag. They don't want to hear my country's name," he said. "They don't want me to exist. They want me to leave. But I'm here."Al Bawwab's story highlights the challenges faced by Palestinian athletes, who often train in difficult conditions and risk their lives to compete. He mentioned the tragic loss of his Asian Games roommate and a young fan in Gaza, as well as the struggles of weightlifter Mohammad Hamada, who lost weight due to food shortages."We're trying to educate people about how to swim and teach... but there's a war going on," Al Bawwab said. "What are you supposed to do when there's a war? You can't talk to people."Al Bawwab's Olympic journey may have been brief, but his message of peace and resilience resonated far beyond the pool. He represented not only Palestine but also the countless athletes who overcome adversity to pursue their dreams.

Manu Bhaker, India's shooting prodigy, has made history by becoming the first Indian female shooter to reach the final of an individual shooting event at the Olympic Games. Three years after the heartbreak of Tokyo, Bhaker produced a supremely confident performance to qualify for the women's 10m air pistol final at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.Bhaker's journey to the final was not without its challenges. In the qualifications, she faced stiff competition from Hungarian ace Veronika Major, who claimed the top spot with a score of 582. However, Bhaker remained composed and shot 580 to finish third, securing her place in the final.The 22-year-old from Jhajjar has been through a rollercoaster of emotions since her disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. A pistol malfunction during the qualifications reduced her to tears, but she has shown remarkable resilience to bounce back from that setback.Bhaker's personal coach, Jaspal Rana, was overcome with emotion after witnessing her performance. "What happened today doesn't matter anymore. Tomorrow is when it counts. We start afresh," he said.Bhaker's success is a testament to her hard work and determination. She has won numerous medals on the international stage, including a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. If she takes the top podium spot in the final on Sunday, she will become the only Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the Olympics.India has not won an Olympic medal in shooting since 2012, and Bhaker is well-placed to end that lean run. Her performance in the qualifications has given her a strong foundation for the final, and she will be determined to make history for her country.

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony witnessed a poignant display of resistance and defiance as athletes from Palestine and Afghanistan took to the Parade of Nations. Waseem Abu Sal, a 20-year-old boxer from Palestine, wore a shirt emblazoned with a chilling image of bombs falling on a child playing football. This powerful statement highlighted the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed at least 350 athletes since last October.The Palestine Olympic Committee has appealed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA to ban Israel for its actions in Gaza. However, the IOC's stance on sanctions against Russia for its aggression in Ukraine appears to be inconsistent.Afghanistan's female athletes also defied the Taliban's oppressive regime by participating in the Olympics. Road cyclists Fariba and Yulduz Hashimi have faced threats and violence for daring to ride bicycles. They fled the country after the Taliban takeover and are now rebuilding their lives in Italy.The Olympics have a long history of serving as a platform for protest. In 1906, Irishman Peter O'Connor raised the Irish flag on the podium, refusing to be identified as British. In 1968, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a powerful act of defiance against racial segregation.While the IOC has softened its stance on protest, demonstrations during matches or medal ceremonies are still prohibited. However, the Games venue itself has seen protests from French civil liberties groups and environmental organizations.The Palestinian athletes in Paris are determined to make a statement. They flashed peace signs and wore keffiyehs, symbols of their national identity. Waseem, who trained for the Olympics during the war, will return to his conflict-ridden country after the Games.The opening ceremony also featured a rendition of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Imagine," a poignant reminder of the need for peace. As the performance concluded, the words "We stand and call for peace" appeared on the screen.

Indian table tennis star Harmeet Desai made a triumphant debut at the Paris Olympics, securing a resounding 4-0 victory over Jordan's Zaid Abo Yaman in the men's singles preliminary round. The 31-year-old from Surat showcased his exceptional skills and experience, dominating the match from start to finish.Desai, ranked 103rd in the world, faced little resistance from his opponent, who is ranked 538th. The Indian paddler quickly established his rhythm, winning the first game 11-7. He maintained his momentum in the subsequent games, taking them 11-9, 11-5, and 11-5. The match lasted a mere 30 minutes, highlighting Desai's superior technique and tactical prowess.Desai's victory marks a significant milestone in his illustrious career. Having competed in numerous international tournaments, including the Commonwealth Games where he won team gold medals in 2018 and 2022, the Olympics had remained an elusive dream. His determination and hard work have finally paid off, as he now stands among the elite table tennis players on the world's grandest sporting stage.In preparation for the Olympics, Desai participated in three preparatory tournaments and underwent rigorous personal training in Germany. His dedication and commitment to the sport are evident in his performance at Paris. He is one of two Indian men's singles players competing in the Olympics, alongside veteran Sharath Kamal.Desai's victory has ignited hope and excitement among Indian table tennis enthusiasts. His success serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, demonstrating that with perseverance and unwavering belief, anything is possible. As the competition progresses, Desai will undoubtedly face tougher challenges, but his impressive start has set the tone for a memorable Olympic journey.