On a day when Neeraj Chopra took the spotlight in the men’s javelin throw qualification round, wrestler Vinesh Phogat produced India’s headline performance on Day 11 at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Vinesh, notably, became the first Indian female wrestler to make the gold medal match at the Olympics and scripted an incredible story along the way.
The 29-year-old Indian wrestler stunned defending champion Yui Susaki, mounting a comeback with 10 seconds to go, in the first round. Later, she beat Oksana Livach in the quarter-final and stormed past Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semi-final.
Earlier, India’s golden boy Neeraj Chopra, defending his Olympic title, topped the field in the men’s javelin throw qualification round. He aced his first attempt, logging a season best 89.34m throw, his second-best overall, to make consecutive finals at the Summer Games.
Kishore Jena, however, failed to replicate Chopra’s success and ended his campaign in the qualification round.
Meanwhile, India were defeated 3-2 by Germany in a topsy-turvy men’s hockey semi-final. While it shattered the dreams of a first hockey gold since Moscow 1980, India will now look to replicate their bronze medal finish from Tokyo 2020.
Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar, who kickstarted the day, were unable to upstage the People’s Republic of China in the men’s team round of 16 table tennis match.
In the women’s 400m event, Kiran Pahal failed to make the semi-finals after finishing last in her repechage round heats.
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The Indian men’s hockey team lost 2-3 against Germany in the semi-final at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Tuesday.
Harmanpreet Singh and Co. will now feature in the bronze medal match against Spain on Thursday, August 8, and hope to replicate their Tokyo 2020 podium finish at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium.
Germany, meanwhile, are set to face the Netherlands in the goal medal match on Thursday.
Though India were the more aggressive side in the first half of the semi-final, Germany took a 2-1 lead at the interval. The Indian team equalised in the third quarter but Germany scored a decisive late goal to go past the eight-time Olympic champions.
Score: Germany beat India 3-2 in the men’s hockey semi-final. The Indian men’s hockey team will play Spain in the bronze medal match.