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India's Olympic hopes in men's table tennis were dashed on Tuesday as they succumbed to a 0-3 defeat against table tennis powerhouse China in the pre-quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.The Indian duo of Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar faced an uphill battle in the opening doubles match, losing 2-11 3-11 7-11 to the formidable Chinese pair of Ma Long and Chuqin Wang.Veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal, India's lone medal hope, displayed resilience in the first singles against Olympic champion Fan Zhendong. Sharath stunned the Chinese star by winning the first game 11-9. However, Zhendong regrouped and showcased his class, outplaying Sharath 11-7 11-7 11-5 in the subsequent three games.With India trailing 0-2, the onus fell on 24-year-old Manav Thakkar to salvage the tie. However, Thakkar struggled against Chuqin, losing 9-11 6-11 9-11.The Indian women's team had earlier made history by defeating higher-ranked Romania 3-2 in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter. Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, and Archana Kamat displayed exceptional skill and determination to secure India's place in the quarterfinals.Despite the disappointing result, the Indian men's team can take solace in their spirited performance against one of the world's strongest table tennis nations. Sharath Kamal's resilience and the young players' determination bode well for the future of Indian table tennis.

Mirabai Chanu, India's weightlifting icon, faces a daunting task as she aims to become the nation's first double Olympic medalist in the sport. However, her path to glory is fraught with challenges, including a lingering hip injury and a formidable field of competitors.Chanu's Olympic journey has been marred by injuries and workload management issues. Since her silver medal performance in Tokyo, she has endured a disappointing cycle, with her best effort being a 201kg lift at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.In her preferred 49kg weight category, Chanu faces an uphill battle for a podium finish. Reigning Olympic champion Hou Zhihui of China is the overwhelming favorite to retain her title. Other contenders include Jourdan Delacruz of the USA, Surodchana Khambao of Thailand, and Mihaela Cambei of Romania.Despite concerns about her fitness, Chanu and her coach, Vijay Sharma, insist that she has fully recovered from her hip injury. However, her recent performances have fallen short of her personal bests, raising doubts about her ability to surpass the 200kg mark.Chanu's main obstacle lies within herself. Her snatch performance has been inconsistent, and her clean and jerk has also been underwhelming. While she has shown resilience and determination in the past, she must overcome these technical hurdles to challenge for a medal.The 49kg event at the Paris Olympics promises to be a fiercely competitive contest. Chanu's entry weight of 200kg places her alongside Delacruz and Khambao, while Zhihui and Cambei have set higher entry weights.Despite the odds stacked against her, Chanu remains a formidable competitor. Her fighting spirit and unwavering determination could propel her to another historic performance. However, she must summon her best form and overcome her physical limitations to achieve her Olympic dream.

India's Olympic journey in Paris 2024 was marked by a series of near misses, with five athletes finishing just shy of the podium. Arjun Babuta, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Ankita Bhakat, Manu Bhaker, and Lakshya Sen all came agonizingly close to securing a medal, but ultimately fell short.Babuta narrowly missed out on a bronze in the men's 10m air rifle shooting, finishing fourth with a score of 208.4. In the mixed team archery event, Bommadevara and Bhakat made history by becoming the first Indian archers to reach the semi-finals, but lost in the bronze medal match to the USA.Manu Bhaker, who had won two Olympic medals in previous editions, came close to a third in the women's 25m pistol shooting final. However, a series of poor shots near the end caused her to drop to fourth place after a shoot-off against Hungary's Veronika Major.Badminton star Lakshya Sen's hopes of becoming the first Indian male shuttler to win an Olympic medal were dashed in the semi-finals by Denmark's Victor Axelsen. In the bronze medal match, he lost to Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia, crushing his dreams of a podium finish.India's shooting contingent also faced disappointment in the mixed skeet bronze-medal match. Maheshwari Chauhan and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka lost by a single point to China, finishing fourth overall.Despite these near misses, the Indian athletes displayed immense skill and determination. They join a list of 17 other Indian athletes who have finished fourth in their respective events at the Olympics, including wrestling legend Randhir Shinde, track and field icon Milkha Singh, and tennis duo Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati.These fourth-place finishes serve as a testament to the growing competitiveness of Indian athletes on the global stage. While they may not have reached the podium, their performances have inspired a nation and set the stage for future Olympic success.

Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred is poised to make history on Tuesday as she aims for an Olympic sprint double in the 200m, following her triumph in the 100m. The tiny Caribbean island nation has never had an Olympic medalist before Alfred's groundbreaking victory.Alfred's quest for a double mirrors that of Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah, who achieved the feat at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics. Alfred faces stiff competition from US sprinter Gabrielle Thomas, who boasts the world's fastest time this year.Meanwhile, the men's 1500m promises a thrilling showdown between Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Great Britain's Josh Kerr. Ingebrigtsen has been critical of Kerr's absence from certain events, while Kerr has vowed to prove his worth on the track.In boxing, Algeria's Imane Khelif is at the center of a gender controversy after being disqualified from last year's world championships. However, the IOC has cleared her to compete in Paris, where she is guaranteed at least a bronze medal.The women's football competition is heating up, with World Cup holders Spain and four-time gold medalists the United States on course for a potential final showdown. Spain faces Brazil in the semifinals, while the rejuvenated USA under new coach Emma Hayes takes on Germany.Track cycling powerhouse Great Britain has already secured gold in the women's team sprint and will seek to repeat their success in the men's event. China's divers are also aiming for a fifth gold in the women's 10m platform.In surfing, France's Kauli Vaast and the United States' Caroline Marks have already claimed gold medals in the men's and women's events, respectively. The USA now leads the overall medal table with 21 golds, ahead of China.

Kenya's Beatrice Chebet emerged victorious in the Olympic women's 5,000m on Monday, shattering Sifan Hassan's aspirations of a historic long-distance treble. Chebet, known as "the smiling assassin," displayed tactical brilliance, patiently biding her time before unleashing a devastating surge past compatriot Faith Kipyegon in the final stretch.Chebet's triumph marked the culmination of a remarkable season for the 24-year-old Kenyan. In May, she shattered the world record in the 10,000m in Eugene, Oregon. Her victory in Tokyo extended her dominance in the distance running scene.Hassan, the reigning 5,000m world champion, had her sights set on becoming the first woman to win the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon gold at the same Olympics. However, her strategy of staying at the back of the pack proved ineffective against the relentless pace of Chebet and Kipyegon.Kipyegon initially crossed the line in second place but was disqualified for an alleged shove on Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay. After an appeal from Kenyan officials, Kipyegon was reinstated, relegating Hassan to the bronze medal position.Chebet's victory was a testament to her tactical acumen and unwavering determination. She explained her strategy, saying, "I knew Faith is very strong so I had to go hard from 400 meters out. When she pushed, I thought, 'Let me follow her and see if I can secure second.' If I followed Faith, I thought I would get the silver.""Then at 400 meters to go I felt strong, so I pushed, then kicked again at 300 meters. Luckily I was able to win."Chebet's triumph adds another chapter to Kenya's rich history in distance running. She will now set her sights on claiming Hassan's Olympic 10,000m crown when the race takes place on Friday.

Noah Lyles, the newly crowned Olympic 100m champion, effortlessly advanced to the 200m semifinals at the Stade de France on Monday. Lyles, who triumphed in the 100m by a mere five-thousandths of a second over Jamaican Kishane Thompson, dominated his 200m heat with a time of 20.19 seconds.Despite a sluggish start, Lyles surged ahead as he rounded the bend, showcasing his exceptional control. The triple world 200m champion expressed his contentment with his performance, stating, "I was up by seven. My body has this clock that wakes up at seven because that's when I practice every day."Lyles, who will also compete for gold in the 4x100m relay, emphasized his preference for the 200m, describing it as "my favorite race because I feel it shows all my abilities." He elaborated, "I spent years working on the 100m, but the 200 is where it's at. This is where I get to show my speed, endurance, and top-end speed. This is where I get to show I'm stronger than everybody else."Lyles' Jamaican partner, Junelle Bromfield, also qualified for the women's 400m semifinals on the couple's two-year anniversary. Lyles expressed his admiration for Bromfield, who was a former training partner of Thompson.Joining Lyles in the 200m semifinals as heat winners were fellow 100m finalists Letsile Tebogo of Botswana (20.10 seconds) and American Kenny Bednarek (19.96 seconds). Tebogo, who finished sixth in the 100m with a national record of 9.86 seconds, acknowledged the importance of moving on from the disappointment.Tebogo highlighted the more forgiving nature of the 200m compared to the 100m, stating, "The 100m is more of a tactical race. You have to get everything correct from the block, to your running, even timing your dip. It's a lot of tactics. In the 200m, you know you've got 200m to go, where you can correct a silly mistake along the way."Another American, Erriyon Knighton, a silver and bronze medalist at the past two world championships, topped another heat in 19.99 seconds. Canada's Andre de Grasse, the defending champion and silver medalist at the Rio Games, also qualified, clocking 20.30 seconds behind Lyles.South Africa's 400m world record holder and gold medalist in Rio, Wayde van Niekerk, advanced after finishing third in his heat, won by Liberia's Joseph Fahnbulleh.

The Indian contingent at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 continues to strive for its fourth medal, with shooters having secured three bronze medals thus far. Manu Bhaker played a pivotal role in two of these medals, while Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale showcased exceptional performances to ensure India's success in shooting. However, the nation faced disappointment in badminton and boxing, with no athletes securing medals in these disciplines.On Tuesday, August 11th, India has the potential to secure two silver medals if favorable results occur. The men's hockey team faces Germany in the semi-final, aiming to guarantee a silver medal by winning the match and advancing to the gold medal contest.In wrestling, India's star performer Vinesh Phogat will take center stage, beginning with her round of 16 match. She faces Yui Susaki of Japan in her first bout, and a victory will propel her to the quarter-final. Phogat could potentially compete in her semi-final match on the same day, assuring India of at least a silver medal in wrestling if she emerges victorious in all three potential matches.India's medal tally could have been significantly higher if certain athletes had converted their fourth-place finishes into podium positions. The nation has already witnessed five fourth-place finishes in the Paris Games, including two in shooting, two in badminton, and one in archery.

Vinesh Phogat, India's wrestling icon, embarks on her quest for Olympic glory at the Paris Olympics 2024, commencing on Tuesday. She faces a formidable challenge in her opening bout against Japan's Yui Susaki, the reigning Olympic champion in the women's 50kg category.Phogat, a world championship bronze medalist and a gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Asian Championships, is determined to start her campaign with a victory. However, Susaki poses a significant obstacle, having won gold at Tokyo 2020 without surrendering a single point. Her undefeated streak since 2010, with the exception of three losses to Yuki Irie, further underscores her dominance.Susaki's exceptional technique has earned her numerous accolades, including gold medals at the 2017 Paris World Wrestling Championships (48kg), 2018 Budapest World Wrestling Championships (50kg), and 2022 World Wrestling Championships (50kg). Her impressive resume also boasts an Olympic gold, five World Championships golds, two Asian Championships golds, and gold medals at the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin and World U-23 Championships.Phogat faces an arduous task, having suffered a quarterfinal defeat at Tokyo 2020 against Belarusian Vanesa Kaladzinskaya. In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, she was a medal contender but was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury.Despite the daunting challenge, facing Susaki could prove advantageous for Phogat. As the Japanese wrestler is heavily favored to reach the final, it could open up the repechage route for Phogat, who dropped down to the 50kg category to accommodate Antim Panghal in the 53kg category.Phogat's accomplishments are remarkable, making her the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold at both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. She is also the only Indian woman wrestler to win multiple medals at the World Wrestling Championships.

Armand Duplantis, the Swedish pole vaulting sensation, has once again etched his name in the annals of sporting history by breaking his own world record and securing the Olympic gold medal in Paris.In a thrilling climax to the fifth day of track and field at the Stade de France, Duplantis soared over the bar set at an astonishing 6.25 meters, surpassing his previous best of 6.24m set in April. The crowd of 69,000 erupted in thunderous applause as the 24-year-old star shattered the world record by 1cm.Duplantis's triumph was not only a testament to his exceptional athleticism but also a display of his unwavering determination. It marked the ninth time the US-born Swede had broken the record, cementing his status as one of the greatest pole vaulters of all time.In the competition, American Sam Kendricks claimed the silver medal with a best of 5.95m, while Greece's Emmanouil Karalis took bronze (5.90) on countback. Duplantis's gold medal made him the first man to retain the pole vault title since American Bob Richards in 1952 and 1956.After his historic victory, Duplantis celebrated in a unique way, mimicking the shooting pose of Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec, who had gone viral on social media for his casual celebration after winning a silver medal in the Paris Games. Dikec himself took to Twitter to congratulate Duplantis, adding to the camaraderie and sportsmanship on display.Duplantis described his record-breaking performance as an "out-of-body experience." He expressed his gratitude for the support of the crowd, saying, "The biggest dream since a kid was to break the world record at the Olympics, and I've been able to do that in front of the most ridiculous crowd I've ever competed in front of."As he made an emotional lap of the track, draped in the Swedish flag and with Abba's "Dancing Queen" playing in the background, Duplantis rang the victory bell, symbolizing another exceptional display from the irrepressible young athlete.Duplantis's victory was not only a personal triumph but also a moment of national pride for Sweden. The country's Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, tweeted, "Congratulations to Armand Duplantis on his fantastic world record and Olympic gold! What an incredible achievement!"The Swedish pole vaulting star's success is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief in his abilities. His record-breaking performance in Paris will undoubtedly inspire future generations of athletes and leave a lasting legacy in the sport.