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Track and field legend Sebastian Coe has hailed the emergence of an "extraordinary" group of athletes at the Paris Olympics, who have filled the void left by Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt.Bolt, an eight-time Olympic and nine-time world gold medalist, was a transformative figure in athletics, dominating the sprints during his illustrious career. Since his retirement in 2017, there has been speculation about who would step into his shoes as the sport's leading star.However, Coe believes that the narrative has shifted away from relying on a single athlete to carry the sport. "We are no longer a sport about one person," he said. "That one person was Herculean, that one person transformed the popularity of our sport for a very clear period of time, and he consistently did that."Coe compared Bolt's legacy to that of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. "You don't replace Muhammad Ali, you don't replace Usain Bolt," he said. "But I did say, 'Mark my words, other athletes will come through.'"The Paris Olympics showcased a remarkable depth of talent across various disciplines. Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, American 400m hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and the US mixed 4x400m relay team all set world records. There were also 13 new Olympic records established.Coe highlighted the global reach of track and field, with athletes from 75 countries achieving top-eight finishes. He noted that 105 countries have now won Olympic medals in the sport's history."Tell me any other sport on the opening day of a competition is celebrating a medal for Ecuador," Coe said. "So that for me tells me the sport is moving in the right direction."Coe emphasized the importance of continuing to promote the sport and building on the momentum generated by the Paris Olympics. "We had our 105th country in the history of the Olympic Movement winning a medal in Paris and that has been sensational," he said. "It is really important we do not take our foot off the accelerator."

India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra has etched his name in history once again, securing a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, adding to his gold from Tokyo. This achievement marks India's second-place finish in the Games, alongside five bronze medals.Chopra, a beacon of consistency, is not only the reigning javelin world champion but also a gold medalist at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. The 26-year-old has now expressed his ardent desire to witness international javelin competitions on Indian soil."It's a dream of mine to compete with other international stars in India. Hopefully, there will be an international competition soon in India and I can do that," Chopra said during an interactive session with fans.Before that, Chopra aims to refine his technique. "I am entering a new season now. So, I don't have that much time to change training methods or technique. But I hope to improve upon a couple of areas, especially the line of the javelin," he said.Chopra also lauded Manu Bhaker's remarkable performance in Paris, where she clinched two bronze medals. "The way Manu Bhaker prepared her mind and came from her Tokyo setback is impressive. Her mindset appeared to be very strong this time," he said.Chopra also paid tribute to Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who retired from top-level competition with a bronze in Paris. "Sreejesh is a very relaxed and funny person. He motivates younger players a lot. Sreejesh bhai had said that he would retire after the Olympics. The players, I think, also felt that they should win it for Sreejesh bhai after doing so many great things for the team," said Chopra.

Sifan Hassan, the Ethiopian-born Dutch runner, etched her name into Olympic history by winning the women's marathon in Paris, securing her third distance medal of the Games. Hassan's victory came in an Olympic record time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 55 seconds, edging out Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia by a mere three seconds. Kenya's Hellen Obiri claimed the bronze medal.Hassan's triumph was not without controversy, as the Ethiopian team lodged a protest alleging obstruction. However, the Jury of Appeal dismissed the protest, ruling that Assefa had impeded Hassan's progress. The incident occurred with 150 meters remaining, as Hassan and Assefa traded elbows along the railing.Hassan's victory was a testament to her remarkable endurance and tactical prowess. She employed her signature strategy of lurking behind the leaders before unleashing a devastating late-race surge. This tactic proved effective once again, as she overtook Assefa in the final stretch.Hassan's Olympic journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. She has now amassed six Olympic medals, including gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in Tokyo. Her performance in Paris has cemented her status as one of the greatest distance runners of all time.The women's marathon in Paris marked a significant departure from tradition, as it was held on the final day instead of the men's race. The route held historical significance, tracing the footsteps of the Women's March on Versailles in 1789.Despite the challenging hilly terrain, Hassan remained unfazed. She navigated the steep inclines and treacherous descents with ease, showcasing her exceptional athleticism. The race unfolded as a thrilling battle between Hassan, Assefa, Obiri, and Amane Beriso Shankule.In the end, Hassan's determination and unwavering spirit prevailed. She crossed the finish line with her hands raised in triumph, draped in the Dutch flag. Her victory was a testament to her resilience and the indomitable spirit of the human body.

Sarabjot Singh, India's rising shooting star, has made a bold decision to prioritize his Olympic aspirations over a government job offer. Despite winning a bronze medal in the mixed team 10m Air Pistol event at the Paris Olympics alongside Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot believes he has yet to reach his full potential.Upon his return home, Sarabjot was offered a job by the Haryana government, a common practice for successful Indian athletes. However, the 22-year-old shooter politely declined, citing his unwavering focus on shooting."The job is good, but I will not take it right now. I want to focus on my shooting first," Sarabjot told reporters. "My family has also been asking me to get a decent job, but I want to pursue shooting. I don't want to go against the decisions that I have made, so I cannot take a job right now."Sarabjot's decision stems from his belief that he has not yet achieved his ultimate goal. "I am yet to achieve my main goal. Hopefully, I will complete my main goal in 2028," he said. "I used to write in my personal diary that I would give my personal best in Paris. However, I am yet to give my personal best. I want to shoot for gold in 2028."Sarabjot's determination is evident in his unwavering pursuit of excellence. Despite his Olympic success, he remains hungry for more. "I failed to win an individual medal in Paris," he said. "I am targeting nothing less than a gold medal in four years' time."Sarabjot's decision to prioritize his shooting career is a testament to his unwavering belief in his abilities. He understands that the path to Olympic glory requires unwavering dedication and sacrifice. By choosing to focus solely on his sport, Sarabjot is setting himself up for future success and inspiring countless young athletes to follow their dreams.

India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion in men's javelin throw, faced a setback at the Paris Olympic Games 2024, settling for a silver medal. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem stole the show with an Olympic record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters, leaving Chopra short of his title defense.Despite failing to cross the 90-meter mark in Paris, Chopra made history as the first Indian athlete to win two consecutive Olympic medals in track and field. His unwavering focus and dedication have brought numerous accolades to the nation.Beyond his athletic achievements, Chopra's personal life has remained relatively private. However, a recent visit to his family home in Panipat revealed a glimpse into his luxurious lifestyle. The athlete boasts an impressive car collection, including high-end vehicles and motorcycles.Chopra's Golden Retriever dog, aptly named Tokyo, serves as a constant reminder of his historic gold medal-winning throw in the previous Olympic Games held in the Japanese capital.After his silver medal performance, Chopra acknowledged Nadeem's exceptional performance, marking the first time the Pakistani athlete had surpassed him in competition. "Arshad performed well, and I congratulate him. I've been competing with him since 2016, and this is the first time he has won while competing together," Chopra said.Despite an ongoing groin injury, Chopra remains determined to push his limits. "The throw was good, but I still have a lot left in me, and I need to stay fit to achieve it," he stated.Reaching the 90-meter mark remains a primary goal for Chopra. "I haven't achieved a 90-meter throw yet, but during the second attempt, I felt that today might be the day. I have faith in myself, and I know I'll reach that milestone someday," he expressed.Chopra's resilience and unwavering spirit are a testament to his dedication to his sport. Despite setbacks, he remains focused on improving his technique and overcoming his injury challenges.

Aditi Ashok's Olympic journey in Paris ended with a respectable tied-29th finish, a far cry from her impressive fourth-place performance in Tokyo three years ago. However, the 26-year-old Indian golfer showcased her resilience on the final day, firing seven birdies to card a 4-under 68 at the challenging Le Golf National course.Despite her strong finish, Aditi's overall score of 2-over 290 fell short of the 15-under she achieved in Tokyo. Her compatriot, Diksha Dagar, also struggled, finishing with a total of 13-over 301 after a disappointing 78 in the final round.New Zealand's Lydia Ko emerged as the undisputed champion, claiming the gold medal with a steady performance under pressure. Ko, who has an impressive 20 LPGA wins to her name, produced a 71 in the final round to finish two shots ahead of Germany's Esther Henseleit and three shots ahead of China's Xiyu Lin, who won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.Ko's victory marked a historic milestone, making her the first golfer in the modern era to win three Olympic medals. The gold also secured her entry into the LPGA's prestigious Hall of Fame.Reflecting on her performance, Aditi acknowledged that her final day was her best, with both her approach shots and putting working effectively. She attributed her seven birdies to these factors and the improved weather conditions.Despite her overall disappointment, Aditi expressed optimism about her future Olympic prospects. She aims to return in 2028 for the Los Angeles Games and challenge for a medal.

Neeraj Chopra's mother, Saroj Devi, expressed immense joy and pride over her son's silver medal victory at the Paris Olympics. She also extended her heartfelt congratulations to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who broke the Olympic record to clinch the gold medal."We are overjoyed with the silver medal. The one who won gold is also our child, and the one who won silver is also our child. All athletes work hard and deserve recognition," Saroj Devi told PTI Videos.She emphasized that there was no distinction between Chopra and Nadeem, both of whom are close friends off the field. "Nadeem is a talented athlete who plays well. We are equally proud of both of them," she added.Chopra's family is eagerly awaiting his return home, where they plan to celebrate his achievement with his favorite dish, "Churma." "He did exceptionally well. We will welcome him with Churma, which he loves. We are delighted and have been celebrating with firecrackers and ladoos," Saroj Devi said.Chopra's performance was particularly impressive given the highly competitive field, with seven athletes surpassing the 86m mark. "We are thrilled that he produced his season's best. The competition was intense, but he gave it his all," said Chopra's aunt, Kamlesh.Chopra's silver medal adds to his impressive collection of accolades, including gold medals at the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. "After Tokyo, the only medal left was silver, and he has now achieved that as well," Kamlesh said.The family had initially hoped for a gold medal after Nadeem's record-breaking throw, but they were equally overjoyed with Chopra's silver. "We are happy with both of them. They have brought glory to Asia," Kamlesh added.

The Indian wrestling contingent at the Paris Olympics has been rocked by a series of unfortunate events, leaving the camp in a state of panic.On Friday, Aman Sehrawat, who won bronze in the men's 57kg category, lost nearly five kilos in just 10 hours before his medal bout. This drastic weight loss left him physically weakened and unable to perform at his best.Meanwhile, Antim Panghal, one of India's medal prospects in wrestling, has revealed that she resorted to extreme measures to pass the weigh-in ahead of her opening bout. Panghal starved herself for 48 hours straight, consuming only minimal amounts of water. This left her body dehydrated and without any energy for her match, resulting in a humiliating 0-10 loss.Panghal's situation was exacerbated by the fact that her dietician, her sister Nisha, was not officially part of the Indian contingent and was not allowed inside the Olympic village. This left Panghal to manage her weight loss on her own, leading to her drastic decision to starve herself.The most devastating blow came on Saturday when Vinesh Phogat, India's usual candidate in the women's 53kg freestyle category, was disqualified from the final after being found overweight during the weigh-in. Phogat, who had become the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final, was 100 grams over the permissible limit.Heartbroken, Phogat initially announced her retirement from the sport but later appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a joint silver medal. The CAS is yet to make a decision on her appeal.These incidents have raised serious concerns about the well-being of Indian wrestlers and the lack of support they are receiving from the authorities. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has expressed its support for Phogat's appeal to the CAS, but it remains to be seen whether the court will rule in her favor.

Vinesh Phogat's Olympic Journey: A Tale of Weight Management and Missed OpportunitiesAs the Paris Olympic Games approached, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat faced a significant challenge: competing in the 50kg category instead of her preferred 53kg weight class. This decision stemmed from the fact that Antim Panghal had secured the lone 53kg spot for India at the 2023 World Championships.Phogat had been wrestling in the 53kg category for several years and had even undergone ACL surgery in August 2022, which sidelined her for a few months. During this time, Panghal seized the opportunity to claim the Olympic quota for India in the 53kg weight class.Despite her desire to compete in the 53kg category, Phogat's request for a trial was not granted by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The federation conducted trials for the Asian Championships and Asian Olympic Qualifiers in March, but the final trials were not held due to concerns from quota-winning wrestlers that it would disrupt their Olympic preparations.In the trials, Phogat participated in both the 50kg and 53kg categories. She won the trials in the 50kg category, earning the right to compete at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek. She also achieved her target of reaching the top four in the 53kg category, which would have allowed her to challenge Panghal for the Olympic spot.However, the final trials were not held, and the WFI selection committee decided to send the respective quota-winners to their categories. This meant that Phogat was unable to challenge Panghal for the 53kg spot and had to settle for competing in the 50kg category.The decision to compete in the 50kg category was a significant challenge for Phogat, who had to manage her weight carefully to meet the lower weight limit. It remains a question of speculation whether Phogat would have been able to secure a medal in the 53kg category, where she had more experience and comfort.