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Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy of javelin, narrowly missed out on the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, settling for silver despite a season-best throw of 89.45m. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem stole the show with a mammoth 92.97m throw, breaking the Olympic record and leaving Chopra in his wake.Chopra's best effort came on his second attempt, but his subsequent four throws were all fouls. Experts believe that Chopra's eagerness to surpass Nadeem's record may have contributed to his fouls."When Nadeem threw 92.97 meters, there was pressure on Neeraj," said three-time Paralympic medalist Devendra Jhajharia. "He wanted to throw over 93 meters and put in extra effort, which resulted in four fouls."Despite the setback, Chopra remains a force to be reckoned with. He won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and is determined to complete a sensational hat-trick of medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Games."Neeraj is very passionate about javelin," added Jhajharia. "He is so focused and humble. I am sure he will make a hat-trick of Olympic medals in Los Angeles."Chopra's silver medal in Paris is a testament to his resilience and determination. He will undoubtedly be a contender for gold in Los Angeles, where he will aim to cement his legacy as one of the greatest javelin throwers of all time.

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's return to India after her Paris Olympics 2024 campaign was met with an overwhelming reception from the crowd. Hundreds of supporters had gathered outside the IGI airport in New Delhi to give a rousing welcome to Vinesh, who was disqualified for being overweight after reaching the 50kg final at the Olympics. Vinesh's appeal against her disqualification was also rejected by the ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).Amid this grand welcome in Delhi, a very heartwarming moment was captured from Vinesh's native village in Haryana. Upon arriving at Balali, Haryana, Vinesh hugged her uncle and mentor Mahavir Singh Phogat, and the duo shared a very emotional moment. During Vinesh's disqualification at the Olympics, Mahavir was constantly extending support to Vinesh.This particular hug between the duo left all the netizens and fans emotional. On August 8, Vinesh penned an emotional note to announce her decision to retire from wrestling. However, after seeing such a warm reception from the fans, she stated that she has got the courage to pick up the threads and get on with life."As I got love from my fellow Indians, my village, and my family members, I guess I would get some courage to make this wound heal. Maybe, I could return to wrestling," Vinesh told the media."I just want to say that missing the Olympic medal is the biggest wound in my life. I don't know how much time it would take to heal this wound. I don't know if I would pursue wrestling or not, but the kind of courage I got today (Saturday), I want to use that in the right direction," she added.Vinesh and fellow Olympians Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik have been protesting for more than a year against the Wrestling Federation of India and its former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for his alleged sexual harassment of women grapplers."Our fight has not ended, and the fight will continue, and I pray to God that the truth will prevail," said Vinesh.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem's historic gold medal victory in the men's javelin throw at the Paris Olympics 2024 has sparked comparisons to the iconic Border-Gavaskar Trophy rivalry between India and Australia. Nadeem's record-breaking throw of 92.97m dethroned defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India, who settled for silver with a throw of 89.45m.Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has ignited the debate, claiming that the rivalry between Nadeem and Chopra has surpassed the magnitude of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ali argues that the India-Pakistan rivalry transcends all other sporting contests, including the Ashes between England and Australia."The whole world knows that India vs Pakistan is on one side and everything else is on the other side. Even Ashes isn't that big," Ali said on his YouTube channel.Ali believes that the rivalry between Nadeem and Chopra will draw massive crowds regardless of the venue. "When Neeraj and Arshad compete in javelin, the whole world will be in front of the television, and the stadium will be full," he added.Nadeem's gold medal was Pakistan's first in 40 years since the men's team won it in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The victory has ignited a sense of national pride in Pakistan and has further fueled the rivalry with India.While the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a bilateral cricket series, the rivalry between Nadeem and Chopra extends beyond the confines of a single sport. It represents the intense competition and national pride that exists between India and Pakistan.

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's journey at the Paris Olympics 2024 may have ended without a medal, but the outpouring of love and respect from her fans has made her mother believe that it outweighs any gold medal.Upon her arrival in India on Saturday, Vinesh was greeted by a roaring crowd at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Overcome with emotion, she broke down in tears as she was welcomed by family and loved ones."Everyone from our village and nearby areas have come here to welcome her. We will felicitate her... she is a champion for me. The country has given her more honor than a gold medal," said her mother, Premlata, to ANI.Premlata also revealed that she had prepared Vinesh's favorite meal to welcome her home. Vinesh is expected to travel to her native village Balali later in the day.Despite qualifying for the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling final, Vinesh was not allowed to compete due to weighing in 100gm over the weight limit on the second day. However, her mother believes that this setback will only fuel her determination to win an Olympic gold medal."Preparations are underway in her native village to welcome her... She couldn't win the medal but we will work hard and surely win the Olympic gold medal," said Vinesh's brother, Harinder Punia.Vinesh has previously paid tribute to her mother's unwavering spirit, revealing that she was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer just two months after her father's death."Seeing my mother's hardships, never-give-up attitude, and fighting spirit is what makes me the way I am. She taught me to fight for what is rightfully mine. When I think about courage, I think about her, and it is this courage that helps me fight every fight without thinking about the outcome," Vinesh had written.Vinesh's journey may have ended in Paris without a medal, but the love and support she has received from her fans and family have made it a victory in its own right.

Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem: A Tale of Sportsmanship and Mutual RespectIndia's Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem are fierce competitors on the javelin field, but off the ground, they share an unbreakable bond. Their mutual respect and admiration transcend the outcome of any competition.In the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024, Arshad claimed the gold medal in the javelin throw event, while Neeraj secured the silver. Despite the rivalry, their camaraderie was evident in a post-medal ceremony interview.When asked who he would cast as Arshad in a biopic, Neeraj suggested Amitabh Bachchan, citing his height and stature. Arshad, in turn, proposed Shah Rukh Khan for Neeraj's biopic.Neeraj's silver medal performance in Paris was a testament to his determination and resilience. Despite falling short of retaining his gold, he acknowledged his physical limitations and vowed to improve."Mentally I was ready, but physically, I was retraining myself. My legwork on the runway was not how it should have been," Neeraj said.He also announced his participation in the Lausanne Diamond League, scheduled to begin on August 22.The bond between Neeraj and Arshad is a beacon of sportsmanship and camaraderie. It demonstrates that even in the face of intense competition, respect and friendship can prevail.

Vinesh Phogat's Olympic heartbreak took a dramatic turn as her coach, Woller Akos, revealed the harrowing ordeal she endured the night before the 50kg final at the Paris Olympics 2024.After an inspiring victory over reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the quarterfinals, Vinesh faced a grueling weight-cut session. For five hours, she and her coaching staff desperately tried to shed 100 grams of excess weight. Despite cutting her hair and drawing blood, Vinesh's weight remained stubbornly high.As the clock ticked down, Akos and his team resorted to extreme measures. From midnight to 5:30 AM, Vinesh underwent intense cardio and wrestling drills, collapsing at one point. She spent an hour in the sauna, but not a drop of sweat appeared."I don't intentionally write dramatic details, but I only remember thinking that she might die," Akos wrote in a now-deleted post.Vinesh was eventually hospitalized, and her disqualification from the final sent shockwaves through the Indian wrestling contingent and the nation.Despite the crushing disappointment, Vinesh remained positive. "Coach, don't be sad because you told me that if I find myself in any difficult situation and need extra energy, I should think that I beat the best woman wrestler in the world," she told Akos. "I achieved my goal, I proved that I am one of the best in the world."Vinesh's disqualification meant she would not receive a silver medal, leading to her retirement announcement. Her team appealed to the CAS, but their plea was dismissed.Akos's revelation sheds light on the extreme sacrifices athletes make in pursuit of Olympic glory. Vinesh's ordeal serves as a reminder of the physical and mental toll that elite competition can take.

Indian shooting sensation Manu Bhaker has etched her name in history as the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at a single Olympic Games. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Bhaker shared her journey to the podium at the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024, where she secured two bronze medals.Bhaker's Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020 ended in heartbreak due to a pistol malfunction. However, she returned to Paris with a renewed determination and a meticulously planned training regime. "We trained in a way that we were hoping for medals," she revealed. "We planned in a way that things turn out good and this worked in our favour this time."Bhaker's success in Paris is not only a personal triumph but also a testament to the growing popularity of shooting in India. "Any achievement is enough to give us motivation," she said. "I think India has a huge amount of talent. I think it will take some time but we will have great talents in the future."Bhaker's medals are particularly inspiring for young girls who aspire to pursue shooting as a career. "I think the parents would be much more flexible with the girls, and the people would accept shooting more after this celebration," she added.The 22-year-old's bronze medals came in the women's 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team event, where she partnered with Sarabjot Singh. She narrowly missed out on a third bronze in the 25m pistol, finishing a commendable fourth.Bhaker's achievements have not only brought glory to India but have also set a new benchmark for Indian shooters. Her determination, resilience, and unwavering focus serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes across the country.

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's hopes of securing a joint silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 were dashed after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed her petition on Wednesday. Phogat was disqualified from the 50kg freestyle wrestling gold medal match for being overweight, prompting her to file an appeal with CAS. However, her request for a shared silver medal was denied.The CAS ruling sparked outrage among the Indian sporting community, with Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia taking to social media to express his disappointment. "Your medal was snatched away in this darkness," Punia wrote. "You are shining like a diamond in the whole world today."Phogat's disqualification stemmed from her failure to meet the weight limit for her category. Despite extreme measures such as cutting her hair, going without food and water, and working out overnight, she was still overweight. The United World Wrestling (UWW) regulations, which do not consider the physiological and psychological stresses faced by athletes, were criticized by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).In a statement, IOA President PT Usha expressed "shock and disappointment" at the CAS decision. The body also lashed out at the "inhumane regulations" of UWW. The IOA said it will continue to explore legal options but acknowledged that the matter may be closed.Phogat's disqualification means India's medal tally from the Paris Olympics will stand at six, including one silver and five bronze. The Haryana grappler, who was making her third Olympic appearance, announced her retirement from the sport soon after the setback.The CAS ruling highlights the need for a review of the weight-cutting regulations in wrestling. Athletes should not be forced to put their health at risk in order to compete. The IOA's commitment to supporting Phogat and exploring further legal options is a step in the right direction.

Vinesh Phogat's Olympic dream was shattered by a mere 100 grams. The Indian wrestler, who had made history by reaching the final of the 50kg category at the Paris Olympics 2024, was declared overweight the next morning.Phogat had weighed in under the weight limit of 50kg before the start of her matches. However, by the end of the first day of competition, she had gained 2.7kg, weighing in at 52.7kg.This weight gain was not due to any miscalculation or negligence on Phogat's part. Rather, it was the result of a Herculean effort to make weight.Phogat had participated in 53kg events as recently as the 2022 World Championships. Her normal weight is reported to be near 57kg. Therefore, going down to 50kg was a significant challenge.To make weight, Phogat underwent drastic measures. She limited her water intake, avoided food, and trained rigorously. After her weigh-in on the first morning, she consumed a glass of juice and several liters of fluid to stay hydrated for her bouts.Phogat also took light snacks throughout the day to replenish her energy. This added up to an estimated 2.7kg of weight gain.After weighing in at 52.7kg after her semi-final, Phogat underwent a grueling night. She trained on the treadmill for six hours and was in the sauna for another three, all without food or water. Her coaches also trimmed the elastic at the bottom of her costume and cut off some of her hair to reduce weight.Despite these efforts, Phogat was still 100 grams overweight the next morning. This denied her the opportunity to compete for an Olympic medal.Phogat's story is a testament to the sacrifices that athletes make to compete at the highest level. It is also a reminder that even the smallest of margins can make a big difference in the outcome of a competition.