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The quarterfinal matches of the Hockey India-14th Senior National men's championship witnessed thrilling contests and unexpected upsets. After eight days of largely one-sided matches in the Group stage, the last-eight ties at the SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium turned out to be nail-biting affairs.In the biggest upset of the tournament, Manipur, a North-Eastern state, stunned defending champion Punjab via a penalty shoot-out (3-3 in regulation time and 4-3 in shoot-out). Manipur's experienced players, including Olympians Nilakanta Sharma, Kothajit Singh, and Chinglensana Singh, played a crucial role in the victory.Another major upset occurred when Odisha entered its first semifinals with a hard-fought victory over Karnataka in a shoot-out (3-1). Odisha's Mangal Lohar, Shilanand Lakra, and Pratap Lakra scored the goals in the shoot-out.Haryana, the two-time champion and last year's finalist, staged a remarkable comeback to script a 5-1 win over Maharashtra. Trailing 0-1 till the third quarter, Haryana scored all its five goals in the fourth quarter, with Rohit scoring a hat-trick.The host team, Uttar Pradesh, defeated Tamil Nadu 3-1 to secure a place in the semifinals. Chandan Singh, Rajkumar Pal, and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay scored for UP.The semifinals will be played on Friday, with UP taking on Haryana and Manipur clashing with Odisha. The final is scheduled for Saturday.

The Paris 2024 Olympics witnessed a series of astonishing upsets, proving that even the most dominant athletes can be dethroned.Tennis:Zheng Qinwen of China stunned the tennis world by defeating Iga Swiatek, the reigning French Open champion, in the women's singles semifinals. Zheng's victory marked the first time an Asian player had won Olympic gold in singles tennis.Athletics:Noah Lyles, the favorite in the men's 200m, was upset by Botswana's Letsile Tebogo. Lyles, who had won the 100m gold earlier in the Games, finished with a bronze medal. In the men's 1500m, USA's Cole Hocker set a new Olympic record and claimed the gold medal, leaving world champion Josh Kerr and defending champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen behind.Wrestling:India's Vinesh Phogat defeated Japan's Yui Susaki, the reigning Olympic champion in women's wrestling. However, Phogat's triumph was short-lived as she was disqualified for failing to make the weight cut for her final bout.Swimming:China ended the United States' 64-year unbeaten streak in the men's 4x100m relay swimming medley. The Chinese team delivered an incredible performance, with Pan Zhanle executing a remarkable comeback in the anchor leg.Table Tennis:Wang Chuqin of China, the world's top-ranked player, was upset by Swedish player Truls Moregard in the men's singles table tennis competition. Moregard fought back from a 2-0 deficit to win the match 4-2.Other Upsets:Jamaica failed to win a medal in the men's 100m, 200m, or 4x100m relay for the first time in decades. The U.S. women's water polo team, considered the most dominant in the world, was knocked out in the semifinals and failed to win a medal. The U.S. men's and women's 3x3 basketball teams also struggled, with the men's team failing to qualify for the Games and the women's team settling for bronze.These upsets serve as a reminder that even the most favored athletes can be defeated, and that the Olympic Games are a stage where anything is possible.

Belgium and Australia Suffer Upsets in Women's Basketball at Paris OlympicsThe highly anticipated women's basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics got off to a surprising start on Monday, with fancied Belgium and Australia suffering unexpected defeats.In Group C, Belgium, considered a medal contender, fell to debutants Germany 83-69. The Sabally sisters, Satou and Nyara, proved to be a formidable force for Germany, combining for 33 points. Belgium's offense struggled to keep pace, with Emma Meesseman, their star player, limited to just 12 points.Meanwhile, in Group B, Nigeria pulled off a stunning upset over third-ranked Australia, winning 75-62. Point guard Ezinne Kalu led the way for Nigeria, scoring 19 points and orchestrating a relentless defense. Australia, despite a strong second-half performance, couldn't overcome Nigeria's tenacity."Our defense was relentless," said Kalu. "We smelt blood for the ball. Nobody defends like us, and that's what kept us going."The results have shaken up the tournament's early standings, with Germany and Nigeria emerging as potential dark horses. Defending champions the United States, who begin their campaign against Japan later on Monday, will be wary of the upsets that have already occurred.Hosts France will face Canada in Group B later on Monday, hoping to avoid a similar fate to Belgium and Australia. The tournament promises to be fiercely competitive, with several teams vying for a spot on the podium.