Dubai: It has been a case of so near yet so far for India in the Paris Olympic Games, which is heading the home stretch.
India have clinched their fourth bronze medal after the Harmanpreet Singh-led team beat Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal match on Thursday, adding to the three shooting bronze medals. Manu Baker won the women’s individual and mixed team, along with Sarabjot Singh, 10-m air pistol bronze, while 28-year-old Swapnil Kusale clinched the third place in the men’s 50m air pistol.
Hopes evaporate
When Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat made history when she became the first women to enter the final of the 50kg freestyle, giving the country the hope to add a different colour to the medal tally, but the high hopes evaporated when she was disqualified the next day after weighing 100 grams more before the final.
Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra leads India’s hopes on Thursday, after he topped the Group B to qualify for the men’s javelin throw final with a distance of 89.34 metres.
Indian golf duo
Wrestler Aman Sherawat could achieve what Phogat missed by making it to the final on Thursday. The 21-year-old faces Japan’s Rei Higuchi in the semi-finals.
Anshu Malik, who featured in the women’s 57kg freestyle category, lost to USA’s Helen Maroulis by 2-7 on Thursday, but still could win another bronze through repechage.
India’s Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar are in the running for the women’s individual stroke play medal after finishing tied 14th with one under par-72 at the end of the second round on Thursday, seven stroke behind leader Morgane Metraux of Switzerland.
Indian women’s 4x400 relay and men’s 4x400 relay teams will be in action on Friday while Reetik Hooda will take part in the women’s freestyle 76kg round 16 on Saturday.
