Page 37 - NIS English 1-15 September 24

Paris Olympics 2024 Nation

Phogat was disqualified... India would
have had 6 more medals in its tally.
The performance of Indian players in Paris
2024 can be gauged from the fact that they
missed out on a possible 6 medals for the
country. Still, they returned to the country with
6 medals against 7 medals in Tokyo Olympics.
Due to the rules in Paris Olympics 2024, Indian
Neeraj Chopra
Javelin Throw, female wrestler Vinesh Phogat was deprived
Silver of playing in the gold medal match, due to
which one more medal could not be added to
He became the first Indian track and field athlete to win India's medal tally. Vinesh Phogat was to fight
an Olympic medal by winning a gold medal at the Tokyo for the gold medal in 50 kg freestyle wrestling,
Olympics 2020. This was a defining moment not only for
Neeraj but for the entire Indian athletics. Then he became but during the weighing as per the rules,
her weight came out to be about 100 grams
the first Indian track and field athlete to win a silver medal
more. Due to this she was disqualified. This
at the World Athletics Championships in 2022, the World
U-20 Championships in 2016. He also became the first Indian broke the heart of every Indian. Prime Minister
javelin thrower to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, the Narendra Modi said in Vinesh's case, "Vinesh,
you are a champion among champions! You
Diamond League champion in 2022 and the first Indian to
become a world champion in 2023.
are the pride of India and an inspiration for
Born on 24 December 1997 in Khandra village of Panipat,
Haryana, Neeraj Chopra's journey to the world stage is no less every Indian. Today's incident is very sad. I
than an inspiration. This makes him one of the most iconic wish I could express in words the feeling of
figures in athletics today. Neeraj's achievements have not only disappointment that I am experiencing. Along
with this, I know that you are full of resilience.
made the country proud but also inspired the new generation
Facing challenges has always been your
to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.
nature. You will come back stronger! We are
all with you.”
i.e. 10 goals were scored by Harmanpreet Singh. In this, 7 Apart from Vinesh Phogat, 6 more Indian
goals were scored from penalty corners and 3 goals from players missed the medal after coming close
penalty strokes. He became the highest goal scorer in the to it. Arjun Babuta in the 10m air rifle event,
Paris Olympics. India defeated Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal
Manu Bhaker in the 25m pistol event, Mirabai
match to win its fourth bronze and 13th Olympic medal Chanu missed by one kilogram in the 49kg
overall in hockey. The 2 goals that India scored against
Spain in the match were scored by Harmanpreet. The only weight category, Indian archer pair Dhiraj
other Indian to score more than one goal was Abhishek, who Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat, Maheshwari
Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh in the skeet
scored two goals. Apart from this, Vivek Sagar, Sukhjeet and
mixed event and badminton player Lakshya
Mandeep scored one goal each.
Though every player in the Indian hockey team played his Sen also remained one step away from the
respective roles well, this bronze medal has been dedicated medal, that is, all these players remained at
by captain Harmanpreet Singh and former captain fourth place. The 6 players reaching the fourth
Manpreet to goalkeeper PR Sreejesh who showed agility
position is a new hope for the future. Union
inside the goalpost. This was the last match for PR Sreejesh,
who remained the wall of hockey for India for about 18 Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh
years. Sreejesh has retired. He was also the captain of the Mandaviya has told the players who missed the
Indian hockey team in the Rio Olympics 2016. Sreejesh's medal by a very small margin that “Every one
of you is a champion. I know it was difficult for
international career has been away from controversies. He
has single-handedly won many matches for India in his some of you to accept that you missed out on
career. Hockey India has decided to retire jersey number 16 a medal by a very narrow margin, but don’t let
in honor of 'God of modern Indian hockey' PR Sreejesh. No
player of the senior team will wear this number. At the same this loss dampen your passion for the sport.
time, PR Sreejesh has been made the coach of the Indian Instead, let it fuel your motivation to perform
junior hockey team. better in future competitions.” n
New India Samachar September 1-15, 2024 35