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Indian rifle shooter Ramita Jindal narrowly missed out on a podium finish at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024, placing seventh in the final of the 10-meter air rifle women's competition. Despite the setback, Jindal expressed gratitude for the invaluable experience gained during her Olympic debut."The experience was truly exceptional," Jindal said. "I've learned so much here, and I'm taking these lessons with me. There's a lot to learn, and I'll use this experience to improve in the upcoming season."Jindal acknowledged the significant growth and skills acquired during her Olympic journey. She emphasized the importance of these takeaways, which she believes will contribute to her personal and professional development. She is determined to apply these insights to achieve success in the upcoming season.Jindal extended her admiration to Manu Bhaker, who won a bronze medal in the same event. She expressed that Bhaker's achievement has instilled hope and motivation within the team."After Manu's medal, we now have that hope because Manu and I have been competing for a long time," Jindal said. "It's motivating for us to know that if she can do it, we can too. The team is very confident now."Jindal praised Bhaker's hard work and dedication, believing that she is a deserving recipient of the medal. She expressed that Bhaker serves as an inspiration to the team, and her achievements will be a source of motivation for all."Bhaker is my inspiration," Jindal said. "When I started my career, she was already in Tokyo and in great form. I've been observing her for a long time. She's very hardworking, and she definitely deserves the medal. Everyone will look up to her and her dedication."Jindal emphasized the collective effort and competitive spirit within the shooting contingent. She expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform well and potentially secure more medals."There can be more medals," Jindal said. "Everyone has worked really hard. We can bring more medals, and everyone is very competitive and in good form to perform well."

India's Arjun Babuta narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the 10m Air Rifle final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing a heartbreaking fourth in Chateauroux.Babuta started the competition strongly, vaulting to the top of the leaderboard with a 10.7 in the first stage. However, he dropped back to fourth after his second shot, a 10.2. He remained in the mix throughout the competition, often holding second or third place.In the final stages of the Elimination round, Babuta faltered, allowing Croatia's Miran Marcic and Sweden's Victor Lindgren to overtake him. The eventual winner was China's Shen Lihao, who was in unstoppable form, finishing with an Olympic record score of 252.2.Babuta's performance was a testament to his skill and determination. He started the second stage with a 10.7, vaulting him into third place, and then a 10.5 on his second shot took him into second rank. He maintained his consistency with a 10.4 on his third shot and a 10.6 on his fourth, keeping a small lead over Marcic.However, Babuta dropped to third with his final shot of Stage 2, a 10.4, allowing Marcic to jump into second place again with a 10.8. Babuta's total at the end of Stage 2 was 105.0, trailing Sheng's 105.8.In the final shots, Babuta began well with a 10.6, while Marcic faltered with a 10.1, allowing the Indian to climb back into second. Babuta closed the gap to Sheng with a 10.8 on his second shot, trailing by just 0.1.Sheng responded with a 10.8, while Babuta shot a 9.9, opening up a gap between the two. Sheng continued to dominate, shooting a 10.9 on his second shot, while Babuta recovered with a 10.6.Lindgren jumped into second with a 10.8, while Babuta dropped to third with a 10.2. Sheng maintained his lead with a 10.9, while Babuta climbed back into second with a 10.7.In the final shots, Babuta shot a 10.5, but Marcic caught up with him, both on 178.3. Marcic responded with a 10.7, while Babuta hit a 10.1. Babuta needed big shots, but he started with a 10.5, remaining in fourth but closing the gap on Marcic, who shot 10.1. However, Marcic shot a 10.7 with his second shot, while Babuta only managed a 9.5 to finish fourth in the competition.

India's medal hopes at the Paris 2024 Olympics received a boost on Saturday as Manu Bhaker secured a bronze medal in the women's 10m Air Pistol event. This achievement propelled India to 22nd place in the medal tally.Japan currently leads the standings with an impressive haul of four golds, two silvers, and one bronze. Their dominance was evident in Fencing (Men's Épée Individual), Judo (men and women), and women's Street Skateboarding.South Korea has emerged as a strong contender, overtaking Australia and tying with Japan with seven total medals. Their standout performance came from 16-year-old Ban Hyojin, who shattered records in the women's 10m air rifle, equaling the Olympic record set by China in Tokyo 2020.Australia remains in third place with six medals (4 gold, 2 silver). Despite leading in total medals (12), the USA has only secured three golds in fencing and swimming events. They have also accumulated six silver and three bronze medals.Day 3 of the Games promises to be action-packed with 22 medal events. Great Britain's Tom Daley will attempt to defend his gold medal in the men's synchronized 10m platform.For India, Arjun Babuta will vie for a medal in the 10m air rifle men's final. While Ramita Jindal narrowly missed out on a medal in the women's 10m air rifle final, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh have advanced to the bronze medal match in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.Bhaker's potential to become the first Indian athlete to win two medals at the same Olympic Games has ignited excitement among Indian fans. Her historic achievement in Tokyo 2020 as the first Indian woman to clinch a shooting medal has set the stage for another remarkable performance.

In a thrilling display of precision and composure, India's Ramita Jindal narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the women's 10m air rifle final at the ongoing Olympics in Chateauroux. Competing in her maiden Games, the 20-year-old from Haryana showcased her exceptional talent, finishing seventh in a high-quality field.Ramita's journey began with a promising fifth-place finish in the qualifications, securing her a spot in the eight-woman final. Starting strongly, she fired an impressive series of shots, including a perfect 10.9. However, a costly 9.7 on her tenth shot dropped her to seventh place after the first stage.Undeterred, Ramita fought back with two solid shots of 10.4 and 10.5, keeping her hopes alive. As the competition progressed, the pressure intensified, with elimination beginning from the 12th shot. Ramita found herself tied with France's Oceanne Muller for seventh place, necessitating a single-shot shoot-off.Under immense pressure, Muller shot a near-perfect 10.8, leaving Ramita with the daunting task of hitting the bull's eye. Despite taking her time, Ramita's shot fell just short, scoring an impressive 10.5 but ultimately not enough to advance.The final moments of the match were equally dramatic, as China's Yuting Huang, the reigning Asian Games champion, was edged out by South Korea's 16-year-old Hyojin Ban in a nerve-wracking shoot-off. Ban's ice-cold composure and solid 10.4 in the shoot-off proved decisive, securing her the Olympic gold medal.Ramita's performance in her maiden Olympics is a testament to her talent and determination. Despite narrowly missing out on a medal, she has gained invaluable experience and will undoubtedly be a force to reckon with in future competitions.

Paris 2024 Triathlon Events in Jeopardy as River Seine Contamination PersistsOlympic officials have canceled a second day of swim training for triathletes in the River Seine in Paris due to water contamination caused by weekend showers. The decision raises concerns about the viability of the triathlon events scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 30."The tests carried out in the Seine revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held," stated a joint statement from Paris 2024 organizers and World Triathlon. "This is due to rain that has fallen on Paris on 26 and 27 July."The River Seine is set to host the triathlon events, including the men's and women's individual races, as well as marathon swimming events in August. However, if the river's quality does not meet the required standards by Tuesday, organizers have two reserve days on August 2 and 3.Open-water 10km swimming events are scheduled for August 8 and 9 and could be moved to the Marne River if necessary. If the water quality does not improve by the reserve days, the event may be converted into a duathlon, with swimming canceled."Given the weather forecast for the next 36 hours, Paris 2024 and World Triathlon are confident that water quality will return to below limits before the start of the triathlon competitions on 30 July," organizers said.The contamination issue stems from heavy rainfall in Paris, which has led to pollutants entering the river. Despite efforts to clean the Seine in preparation for the Olympics, water quality tests have shown unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria.In 2015, Olympic organizers invested $1.5 billion to improve the Seine's water quality. However, the recent rainfall has highlighted the challenges of maintaining the river's cleanliness.The contamination concerns have cast a shadow over the Paris 2024 triathlon events. Officials are monitoring the situation closely and will make a decision on the viability of the races based on water quality tests.

Manu Bhaker's historic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics marks a triumphant return for the young shooter after a challenging period. Bhaker's journey to the podium was not without its obstacles, but with the unwavering support of her coach, Jaspal Rana, she overcame adversity to become the first Indian markswoman to win an Olympic shooting medal.After a disappointing exit at the Tokyo Games in 2021, Bhaker contemplated giving up shooting. However, Rana's belief in her potential reignited her passion. Rana's guidance and encouragement helped Bhaker rediscover her focus and determination.In the women's 10m Air Pistol final, Bhaker displayed nerves of steel. Despite facing stiff competition, she maintained her composure and shot with precision. Her bronze medal not only ended India's 12-year wait for a shooting medal at the Olympics but also cemented her place in Indian sporting history.Bhaker's success is a testament to her resilience and the transformative power of mentorship. Rana's unwavering support and belief in her abilities played a crucial role in her journey to the podium.Bhaker's victory is a source of inspiration for aspiring shooters and athletes alike. It demonstrates that even in the face of setbacks, perseverance and the support of a dedicated coach can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Commentator Bob Ballard Removed for Sexist Remark During Olympics CommentaryVeteran commentator Bob Ballard has been removed from the commentary panel by broadcasters after making a sexist remark on air during a swimming event at the Olympics.During the Australia women's 4x100m freestyle swimming relay team's victory celebration, Ballard commented on Eurosport, "You know what women are like... hanging around, doing their make up."The remark sparked outrage, with co-commentator and British swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds labeling it as "outrageous." Ballard initially laughed off the criticism.Following the incident, Eurosport issued a statement confirming Ballard's removal from the commentary panel. "During a segment of Eurosport's coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment. To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect," the statement read.Ballard, who has been a commentator for almost 40 years, has covered various Olympic sports, including water polo, ice hockey, diving, and swimming.The incident has highlighted the ongoing issue of sexism in sports commentary. Many have called for commentators to undergo training to prevent such incidents in the future.The Australia women's 4x100m freestyle swimming relay team, consisting of Mollie O'Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack, secured Australia's fourth consecutive gold medal in the event at the Olympics.

India's Harmeet Desai's Olympic debut in men's singles table tennis came to an end on Sunday after a disappointing 0-4 loss to world no. 5 Felix Lebrun of France in the second round. The 31-year-old from Surat struggled to find his rhythm against the 17-year-old local hopeful, going down 8-11 8-11 6-11 8-11 in just 28 minutes.Desai, who was part of the Indian team that won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022, had progressed to the second round with a convincing 4-0 victory over Jordan's Zaid Abo Yaman on Saturday. However, his performance against Lebrun was a far cry from his showing in the opening round match.Desai had come into the Olympics after playing in three preparatory tournaments and undergoing personal training in Germany. However, he was unable to replicate his form in the second round, as Lebrun's aggressive play and quick reflexes proved too much for the Indian.Earlier, veteran Sharath Kamal, making his fifth Olympics appearance, also suffered a shock exit in the men's singles competition. The 39-year-old lost 2-4 (12-10 9-11 6-11 7-11 11-8 10-12) to Deni Kozul of Slovenia, ranked 86 places below him.With Desai and Kamal's exits, India's campaign in men's singles table tennis at the Tokyo Olympics has come to an end. The focus will now shift to the women's singles competition, where Manika Batra and Sutirtha Mukherjee will be representing India.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are underway, and India is poised to make a strong showing in several sports. On Monday, shooting and archery will take center stage, with the potential for multiple medals.Shooting:Manu Bhaker, who won India's first medal in Paris on Sunday, will team up with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team qualification. Ramita Jindal and Arjuna Babuta will compete in the finals of the 10m air rifle, while Prithviraj Tondaiman will participate in the men's trap qualification.Archery:The Indian men's archery team, comprising Dhiraj Bommadevara, Pravin Jadhav, and Tarundeep Rai, will begin their elimination round in the quarter-finals. Seeded third, India will face the winner of the pre-quarter-final between Turkey and Colombia. A victory would likely set up a semi-final clash with hosts France.Hockey:After a hard-fought 3-2 victory over New Zealand in their Group B opener, the Indian men's hockey team will face a tougher test against Argentina. The Rio 2016 champions pushed Australia to the limit in a 1-0 loss. Another win for India would bring them closer to the quarter-finals.Judo:The Champ-de-Mars Arena will host the women's 57kg and men's 73kg medal matches in judo. The day will feature two bronze medal matches in the 57kg followed by the final, with the same sequence repeated in the men's 73kg event.Swimming:The women's 400m individual medley final will take place at Paris' La Defense Arena. Canadian Summer McIntosh is the favorite after breaking her own world record in May. McIntosh will also compete in the women's 200m freestyle, the last swimming final of the night.