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Two-time world champion Shericka Jackson's withdrawal from the Olympic 200m heats on Sunday has dealt another blow to the Jamaican team, following Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's absence from the 100m. Jackson's decision to skip the 200m was only revealed by the late addition of "DNS" (Did Not Start) next to her name on the official start sheet.Jackson, 30, had previously withdrawn from the 100m, citing the need to prioritize her physical and mental well-being. "You have to do the best for your body and your mind and your soul. I'm OK with the decision," she said.Jackson's absence from the 200m leaves a significant void in the Jamaican team, as she is one of the world's top sprinters. She won the 200m at the 2019 World Championships and finished second in the event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.The semi-finals of the Olympic 200m are scheduled for Monday, with the final set for Tuesday. Jackson's teammate Elaine Thompson-Herah, who missed the Paris Diamond League meet due to injury, is expected to compete in both events. Thompson-Herah won both the 100m and 200m at the Tokyo Olympics.Jackson's withdrawal is a setback for the Jamaican team, which is aiming to maintain its dominance in women's sprinting. However, the team still has a strong contingent of athletes competing in the 200m, including Thompson-Herah and Briana Williams.

Hong Kong's fencing icon, Vivian Kong Man-wai, has bid farewell to professional fencing after securing a historic gold medal for the city at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 30-year-old announced her retirement in a heartfelt message to her "fencing family" on social media, expressing her desire to embark on a new chapter in her life.Kong's decision to retire comes after a remarkable career spanning nearly two decades. Despite facing adversity in the form of two torn cruciate ligaments, she triumphed in Paris, showcasing her unwavering determination and resilience. Her victory marked a significant milestone for Hong Kong fencing, bringing the city its first Olympic gold medal in the sport.Beyond her sporting achievements, Kong has also made significant contributions to the promotion of sports and positive thinking among the youth. Her passion for fencing and her dedication to inspiring others have left an enduring legacy in Hong Kong.Kong's retirement has been met with both admiration and sadness. Patrick Yung, the orthopaedics and traumatology professor who treated her, believes that her decision is not related to her previous knee injuries. He expressed confidence that Kong will continue to make valuable contributions to the community through her work in promoting sports and positive thinking.Eric Chan, Hong Kong's chief secretary, has expressed hope that Kong will consider becoming a coach to nurture future fencing talent in the city. Kong's extensive experience and knowledge would be invaluable in developing the next generation of Hong Kong fencers.In addition to her fencing career, Kong has pursued higher education, earning a degree in international relations from Stanford University and a master's degree in law from the Renmin University of China. She was also admitted to the juris doctor program at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2021.Kong's retirement marks the end of an era for Hong Kong fencing. However, her legacy will continue to inspire and motivate aspiring athletes and sports enthusiasts alike. Her unwavering determination, resilience, and commitment to excellence will serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come.

Indian shooters Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon faced disappointment at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, failing to qualify for the final of the women's skeet competition. Chauhan finished in 14th place with a score of 118, while Dhillon placed 23rd with 113.Chauhan started the competition strongly, shooting 23, 24, and 24 in the first three series on Saturday. However, her performance dipped slightly in the final two series, with scores of 25 and 22. Dhillon, on the other hand, struggled to find consistency throughout the qualification round, recording scores of 21, 22, 23, 23, and 24.Only the top six shooters in the qualification round advanced to the final. Italy's Diana Bacosi, the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist, also failed to qualify, finishing just below Chauhan in 15th place with a score of 117.On the first day of qualifications, Chauhan had been in contention for a top-six finish, sitting in eighth place with an aggregate of 71. However, her performance on Sunday was not enough to secure a spot in the final. Dhillon, who was placed 25th after the first day, also failed to improve her position significantly.Meanwhile, Indian shooters Vijayveer Sidhu and Anish Bhanwala are currently competing in the 25m rapid fire pistol men's qualifications.

Deepika Kumari, India's star archer, has vowed to continue her pursuit of an elusive Olympic medal despite enduring a disappointing performance at the Paris Games. Having competed in four consecutive Olympics without reaching the podium, Kumari remains determined to break the jinx in Los Angeles in 2028.Kumari's Olympic struggles have been attributed to her inability to handle pressure situations. However, she is confident that she can overcome this mental hurdle and perform to her full potential. "I want to play more in the future and will continue my game," she said. "I really want to win an Olympic medal, and I won't quit until I achieve that."To improve her chances of success, Kumari plans to focus on three key areas: maintaining composure, improving her shooting form and concentration, and enjoying the game. She also acknowledges the need to develop her "quick shooting" skills, which proved to be a weakness in Paris.Despite her Olympic setbacks, Kumari has enjoyed a successful career, winning numerous World Cup medals. She made a remarkable comeback after giving birth to her daughter in 2022, winning an individual gold at the Shanghai World Cup in April.At the Paris Olympics, Kumari faced a challenging ranking round, qualifying as the 23rd seed. She struggled in the team event but showed resilience in the individual category, reaching the quarterfinals. However, she was defeated by Korean archer Nam Suhyeon in a closely contested match.Kumari believes that the absence of India's sports psychologist, Gayatri Vartak, did not significantly impact their performance. She emphasized that they stayed in touch with Vartak throughout the Games.With her sights set on LA 2028, Kumari is determined to make amends for her past Olympic disappointments. She is confident that she can develop the mental strength and technical skills necessary to achieve her dream of an Olympic medal.

India's boxing campaign at the ongoing Olympics concluded without a medal after Lovlina Borgohain, the reigning world champion in the 75kg category, lost a hard-fought quarterfinal bout to China's Li Qian on Sunday.Borgohain, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, went down 1-4 in a messy contest marred by repeated cautions for clinching and holding. The 26-year-old's defeat marked the end of India's boxing campaign in the Games, following Nishant Dev's exit from the men's 71kg quarterfinals on Saturday night.The six-strong boxing contingent, comprising four women and two men, had a disappointing outing in Tokyo. Four of the six boxers crashed out in the preliminary stage itself.The quarterfinal bout between Borgohain and Qian started at a fast pace, but neither boxer was willing to take the initiative. The holding and clinching began early, forcing the referee to intervene repeatedly.Qian, the 34-year-old Tokyo Games silver medalist, seemed more determined and landed some clean combination punches and a left hook towards the end of the first round. She took a 3-2 lead in the contest.The second round followed a similar pattern, with Qian being more purposeful in her approach. Borgohain was cautioned twice for excessive holding, and Qian maintained her slender one-point lead.The holding and clinching continued in the third round, and both boxers appeared drained. However, Qian showed great presence of mind to keep Borgohain at a distance. Borgohain struggled to control the pace of the bout and repeatedly took hits on counter-attacks.Borgohain had previously faced Qian in the Asian Games final last year, losing 0-5. She later beat Qian in the semifinals of the world championship semifinal in 2023. However, Qian had the upper hand in a pre-Olympic tournament in Czechia in June.

In the heart of Paris, amidst the bustling Parc de la Villette, a Gujarati family from Jamnagar, India, found solace and a taste of home at India House. Saifuddin Loukmanjee, 52, his wife Lamya, and their daughters Sarah, 15, and Anisha, 10, eagerly awaited their order of mini sambar idlis and vada pav.Despite the relentless rain, the family exuded a sense of contentment as they stood patiently in line. Their body language spoke volumes of the comfort they shared. Loukmanjee, who arrived in Paris via Madagascar 35 years ago, had discovered India House through his mother-in-law's WhatsApp group."The food is not expensive and it tastes great," Loukmanjee exclaimed. "I am very excited to try more dishes on the menu."Sarah and Anisha, born and raised in Paris, were equally enthusiastic about the upcoming 2024 Olympics. They spoke French and Gujarati fluently, with a smattering of English. Their excitement for the Games was palpable, and they expressed their hopes for France to emerge victorious.Lamya, while eagerly anticipating the sporting spectacle, was equally delighted by the cultural experiences and events surrounding the Olympics. The Bollywood music playing in the background had her tapping her feet with joy.As the family savored their authentic Indian cuisine, they reflected on the significance of India House. It was a place where they could connect with their heritage and share their love of food and culture with others.The Loukmanjee family's experience at India House is a testament to the power of food and sports to bring people together. It is a reminder that even in a foreign land, the bonds of family and the spirit of community can be found in the most unexpected places.

In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the Paris Olympics, veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a pivotal role in his team's 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Great Britain. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Sreejesh making several crucial saves to keep India in the game.Sreejesh, who is playing in his last international tournament, was the star of the show. He denied Great Britain numerous scoring opportunities, including a penalty stroke in the second half. In the penalty shootout, he saved two shots to help India secure the win."It's a daily job of a goalie," Sreejesh said after the match. "Some days it's a different effort, but today is our day. Even in the shootout, the guys who took shots didn't disappoint."India played with great determination and unity, forcing the match into a penalty shootout. Sreejesh said it was a "do-or-die" situation for him, and he was ready to give it his all."When I stepped on this field today, there were two options for me," he said. "This can be my last match, or I got an opportunity for two more matches, and I think, yeah, I got two more matches now."Sreejesh said India will focus on their own game in the semifinals. "Whoever comes in the semis, we (will) just play our game," he said. "That's it, that's important, because now it's a different game, because we are one man down and we need to focus on that now."India will wait for the FIH's decision on the red card shown to Amit Rohidas with more than 40 minutes left in the game. "I don't know how it's going to be," Sreejesh said. "They must take a decision on that. We are just waiting for that, but still, we need to play our best game in the semifinals."

India's disappointing performance at the Paris Games athletics continued on Sunday as national record holders Parul Chaudhary and Jeswin Aldrin failed to qualify for the women's 3000m steeplechase and men's long jump, respectively.Parul finished eighth in her heat race and 21st overall, ending her campaign in the Paris Olympics. Despite undergoing high-altitude training in the USA, she ran the distance in 9 minutes 23.39 seconds, her season's best but well below her national mark of 9:15.31. The top five from each of the three heat races qualified for the final.Parul's failure to qualify adds to India's disappointing performance in the women's 5000m race, where she and Ankita Dhyani also failed to advance. Lalita Babar remains the only Indian woman 3000m steeplechaser to qualify for the final round in the Olympics, finishing 10th in Rio 2016.In the men's long jump qualification round, Aldrin fouled his first two attempts before managing a jump of 7.61m in the third. He finished 13th in Group B qualification and 26th overall. Only athletes who jumped the automatic qualification mark of 8.15m or were among the 12 best performers advanced to the final round.Aldrin, who has not been able to touch 8m this year, made it to the Paris Games at the last minute through world rankings. His season best is 7.99m, while his personal best is 8.42m.India's poor showing in athletics at the Paris Games is a cause for concern, as the country has traditionally been strong in the sport. The failure of national record holders to qualify for the finals is a reflection of the need for improved training and support for Indian athletes.

Femke Bol's astonishing anchor leg propelled the Dutch quartet to a historic mixed 4x400m relay gold at the Paris Olympics, etching their names in the annals of track and field. The Dutch team, comprising Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink, and the indomitable Bol, shattered the European record with a blistering time of 3min 07.43sec.Bol's final lap was a masterclass in speed and determination. Clocking a stunning 47.93sec, she erased the bitter memory of her fall at last year's world championships in Budapest, where she handed the gold to the United States."I hoped to run that fast some time, but in the relay, you never look too much at split times," said Bol. "It's more about putting it together as a team and technically racing it well. I just went for it. We just wanted a medal this time, we didn't think it would be gold, just a medal. Well, we got gold and are the Olympic champions. It is absolutely crazy for a small country like ours."The US quartet, led by Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, and Kaylyn Brown, had dominated the race until Bol's electrifying surge. The near-capacity Stade de France erupted in a frenzy as Bol overtook Brown just 10 meters from the finish line, securing a famous victory for the Netherlands.Bol's triumph is a testament to her resilience and unwavering determination. Having suffered a dramatic fall in Budapest, she channeled her anger and frustration into an unforgettable performance in Paris. "Just keep going, keep going," she said of her thoughts in the final 100 meters. "And my general anger from Budapest! That and my teammates cheering me. And the atmosphere in this stadium is absolutely incredible. It's crazy. So everything together."Bol's victory keeps her bid for three Olympic golds on track. She will compete in the 400m hurdles on Sunday and the women's 4x400m relay later in the week. Her exceptional talent and unwavering spirit make her a formidable force in the world of athletics.