Others

Aman Sehrawat's remarkable performance at the Paris Olympics has etched his name in the annals of Indian wrestling history. The 21-year-old wrestler clinched India's first wrestling medal at the Games, a bronze in the men's freestyle 57kg category.Sehrawat's journey to the podium was marked by impressive victories and a resilient spirit. He began his campaign with a dominant performance in the round of 16, securing a win by superiority. He continued his winning streak in the quarterfinals, once again overpowering his opponent with his technical prowess.However, Sehrawat's path to the final was halted by top-seed Rei Higuchi of Japan in the semi-final. Despite a valiant effort, Sehrawat was unable to overcome the Japanese wrestler's experience and skill.Undeterred, Sehrawat shifted his focus to the bronze medal match against Puerto Rico's Darian Toi Cruz. The match started with Toi Cruz taking an early lead, but Sehrawat quickly regained control, locking his opponent's leg and flipping him to gain two points.The two wrestlers traded points in a swift exchange, with Sehrawat holding a narrow 4-3 lead at the break. In the second half, Sehrawat seized the initiative, gaining a three-point advantage by locking Toi Cruz.With the clock ticking down, Toi Cruz suffered a mid-bout injury, which clearly affected his performance. Sehrawat capitalized on his opponent's discomfort, extending his lead to seven points. Despite Toi Cruz's valiant efforts, Sehrawat secured a 13-5 victory, earning India its sixth medal at the Paris Olympics.Sehrawat's bronze medal is a testament to his hard work, determination, and exceptional wrestling skills. He joins an elite group of Indian male wrestlers who have won Olympic medals, including KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Ravi Dahiya, and Bajrang Punia.India's medal hopes in wrestling remain alive with Reetika Hooda set to compete in the women's freestyle 76kg event on Saturday. Additionally, Vinesh Phogat's appeal against her disqualification in the women's 50kg event is being heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), raising the possibility of another medal for India.

Fifteen years after Caster Semenya's gender scrutiny at the Olympics, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faces a similar ordeal at the Paris Games. Despite her impressive performance, Khelif has endured a barrage of threats and abuse due to misconceptions about her sex.In 2023, the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif and Li Yu-ting of Taiwan from the World Championships, claiming they failed an eligibility test. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed the tests "irretrievably flawed" and permanently banned the IBA.IOC President Thomas Bach has condemned the criticism against Khelif and Li as "hate speech." He emphasized that both boxers are legally recognized as women and have competed as such for years.Khelif's journey to the Olympic final has been marked by dominance. She has not lost a single round and has showcased her exceptional skills. Her victory would not only secure a historic gold medal for Algeria but also serve as a powerful response to her detractors.Khelif's resilience and determination have earned her widespread admiration. Her story highlights the ongoing challenges faced by athletes who do not conform to traditional gender norms.The IOC's support for Khelif and Li sends a clear message that discrimination and abuse based on gender identity will not be tolerated. Their presence at the Olympics is a testament to the progress being made towards inclusivity and equality in sports.

The Tokyo Olympics have witnessed a surge in Indian interest, with Neeraj Chopra's silver medal and the hockey team's bronze-medal triumph driving a massive spike in traffic to the Paris Olympics website and app.Christian Klaue, the International Olympic Committee's Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director, revealed that 273 million users have visited the Olympic website and app, with India contributing the highest number of visitors. This surge is attributed to the success of Neeraj Chopra, who won India's first-ever Olympic medal in javelin throw, and the hockey team, which secured its second consecutive bronze medal."Olympics Web & App has reached 273 million users for Paris 2024, with the highest number of users from India during these Games yesterday (Thursday), driven by their 4th and 5th medals from Neeraj Chopra and the Men's hockey team," Klaue wrote on Twitter.Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy, narrowly missed out on defending his Olympic title, settling for silver behind Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem. The men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, made history by winning back-to-back bronze medals at the Games for the first time in 52 years, with the captain scoring both goals in the 2-1 victory over Spain.Klaue also highlighted the success of the dedicated WhatsApp channels launched by the Olympics, which have garnered over five million followers since their inception last month. "The Olympics launched two dedicated WhatsApp channels in July, quickly gaining 5 million followers, making it the fastest-growing channel for the Olympics after Instagram and TikTok during this period," he said.Additionally, augmented reality lenses across the Olympics and Snapchat apps have been opened over half a billion times, setting a new record for AR feature usage in the Olympics app.This surge in Indian interest bodes well for the Paris Olympics in 2024, as it indicates a growing enthusiasm for the Games and a desire to witness Indian athletes achieve success on the world stage.

The Indian men's 4x400m relay team's Olympic aspirations were dashed on Friday as they finished 10th overall in the heat race, failing to secure a spot in the final round of the Paris Olympics.Despite clocking a season's best of 3 minutes and 0.58 seconds, the quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, and Rajesh Ramesh could only manage a seventh-place finish in heat number 2. This placed them 10th overall out of 16 teams, with only the top three teams from each heat and the next two fastest across the two heats advancing to the final.Botswana (2:57.76), Great Britain (2:58.88), and the USA (2:59.15) emerged as the top three finishers in the heat, while Japan secured the fourth spot with a time of 2:59.48. India's failure to qualify for the final came as a disappointment, given their Asian record of 2:59.05 set at the 2023 Budapest World Championships.The Athletics Federation of India had high hopes for the men's 4x400m relay team to reach the final round, but their hopes were ultimately dashed. The women's 4x400m relay team also failed to qualify for the final, finishing 15th overall out of 16 countries in the round one heats.The quartet of Vithya Ramraj, Jyothika Sri Dandi, MR Poovamma, and Subha Venkatesan clocked 3:32.51 to finish eighth and last in heat number two. This placed them 15th overall, ending their Olympic dreams.

Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian hockey team, embodies the spirit of sacrifice and dedication that drives India's sporting aspirations. Despite spending up to 10 months of the year away from his family, training and competing, Harmanpreet remains unwavering in his commitment to his country."India comes first," he declares. "I understand and my family understands it. All this sacrifice and time away from them is for India and for them... they know it well."Harmanpreet's determination was evident in the recent Paris Olympics, where he led the Indian hockey team to a bronze medal. While the team fell short of their goal of a gold medal, Harmanpreet remains optimistic. "We are not satisfied with the color of the medal we want to make it brighter... we will go for gold," he said.The bronze medal victory against Spain marked India's eighth win in 11 Olympic encounters with the European team. Overall, India has triumphed in 32 of 72 matches against Spain, with 26 victories for Spain and 14 draws.Harmanpreet's leadership has been instrumental in fostering a united and resilient team. Despite the disappointment of wrestler Vinesh Phogat's disqualification in the wrestling final, the hockey team drew inspiration from former captain PS Sreejesh's final game."We had to win this for him," said Harmanpreet. "He has been a great leader and a great friend."Harmanpreet's gratitude for the opportunity to represent India is palpable. "I am very lucky to be playing for India," he said. "I am very happy to be leading a team that is united and packed with leaders."

The bond between Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra, two javelin throwers from Pakistan and India respectively, transcends the realm of sporting rivalry. Their camaraderie has been evident both on and off the field, with their mothers expressing their love and support for both athletes.After their 1-2 finish in the Paris Olympics javelin throw final, social media was abuzz with stories of their friendship. Neeraj's mother, Saroj, had earlier stated that Arshad was like a son to her. Now, Arshad's mother has reciprocated those sentiments, saying she views Neeraj in the same way."He is also like my son. He is Nadeem's friend and also his brother. Wins and losses are part of the sport. May god bless him, may he win medals. They are like brothers, I've prayed for Neeraj too," Arshad's mother said in an interview.Saroj, too, expressed her joy at the success of both athletes. "We are very happy with the silver, the one who got gold is also our child and the one who got silver is also our child....all are athletes, all work hard," she said."Nadeem is also good, he plays well, there is no difference between Neeraj and Nadeem. We got gold and silver there is no difference for us," she added.The friendship between Chopra and Nadeem has been evident in their interactions off the field. Chopra has often supported Nadeem, lending him a helping hand on multiple occasions.This mutual respect and camaraderie between the two athletes is a testament to the power of sports to bridge divides and foster unity. It also highlights the importance of sportsmanship and the spirit of competition, where athletes can compete fiercely on the field but still maintain a bond of friendship and respect off it.

BBC Host Corrected Live on Air for Misgendering Non-Binary Athlete Raven SaundersAt the Paris Olympics 2024, BBC commentator Steve Backley repeatedly misgendered American shot putter Raven Saunders, who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns "they/them." During the women's shot put qualifying round, Backley referred to Saunders as "her" and "she."Backley's co-host, Jazmin Sawyers, promptly corrected him live on air, stating that Saunders is non-binary and wearing a mask. The incident sparked a heated debate on social media, with some questioning why a non-binary athlete was competing in a women's sport.Saunders, 28, won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and is known for their distinctive Hulk alter-ego, complete with green and purple hair and a face-obscuring mask. Their appearance at the Paris Games has reignited the ongoing discussion about gender identity in sports.The controversy surrounding Saunders' participation highlights the complex and evolving nature of gender identity. While some argue that non-binary athletes should not compete in gender-segregated sports, others believe that inclusivity and respect for individual identities should prevail.The incident also raises questions about the role of commentators in ensuring accurate and respectful coverage of athletes. Backley's misgendering of Saunders underscores the importance of sensitivity and awareness when discussing gender-diverse individuals.The debate over gender identity in sports is likely to continue as more non-binary and transgender athletes come to the forefront. The Paris Olympics 2024 has become a platform for these important conversations, challenging traditional notions of gender and promoting inclusivity in the sporting world.

Neeraj Chopra, India's javelin star, has won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, adding to his gold from the previous Games. However, despite his historic achievement, Chopra is more concerned about a persistent groin injury that has been hindering his performance.Chopra's gold-silver double at the Olympics is unprecedented in Indian sport, but he believes he has more to give. The groin issue has been a nagging problem for several years, preventing him from delivering bigger throws. Gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan rewrote the Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m, highlighting the need for Chopra to address his injury.Chopra plans to consult doctors to explore surgical options. "I am pushing myself despite the current situation of my body," he said. "But there's still a lot inside me, and I have to keep myself fit for it."The injury has affected Chopra's schedule this year, forcing him to miss several meets leading up to the Games. He also withdrew from the 2022 Commonwealth Games due to the issue.Chopra explained that the injury forces him to focus on his body rather than his technique. "I already threw 89.94m with this injury," he said. "But when I throw, I always focus almost 50 percent on my injury. We have to focus mostly on technique, but it's really hard for me with this injury."Despite his injury, Chopra is optimistic about his future. "Medals are a different thing," he said. "But there's a better throw left in me. There's a lot left in me, we will do it for sure."Chopra praised Nadeem for his performance, acknowledging the challenges of managing injuries in the sport. "Arshad did so well," he said. "If he can avoid injuries, his throws will only get better."

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic silver medalist, expressed his disappointment and sadness over the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat at the Paris Olympics. Phogat, who had initially defeated Japan's Yui Susaki in her opening bout, was disqualified for being overweight by approximately 100 grams.Chopra, who witnessed Phogat's triumph before his own qualification, was deeply affected by the news. "Whatever she has done here is an example," he said. "To beat Yui Susaki is a huge achievement. And after that, what she has been through... I don't understand the rules of wrestling well, but she was confidently on her way to gold."Chopra acknowledged Phogat's remarkable journey, overcoming physical setbacks and injuries throughout her career. "Vineshji's journey has been tough," he said. "In 2016, she overcame a dangerous injury, and in 2020, she had more injuries. She has been through so many personal setbacks.""For her to come back from that, recover, and get herself to this position, it was going so well," Chopra continued. "But then, maybe God wished something else for her. But we know that whatever she has done is great."Chopra's empathy for Phogat stems from his own understanding of the challenges and sacrifices involved in Olympic competition. "I haven't spoken to Vinesh yet, but I felt hurt for her," he said. "I know how much hard work and dedication it takes to get to this level."Despite the disappointment, Chopra remains optimistic about India's performance at the Paris Games. "We have a lot of talented athletes who are capable of winning medals," he said. "We just need to stay focused and give our best."