Paris Olympics day 13 highlights: Lyles, suffering from COVID, finishes 3rd in Olympic upset at 200m won by Botswana’s Tebogo

Cindy Ngamba won the Refugee Olympic Team their first ever medal on Thursday when she clinched a bronze in women’s boxing.

Ngamba, who was born in Cameroon but sought safe haven in Britain aged 11, was beaten by Panama’s seventh seed Atheyna Bylon by split decision in the semi-finals of the women’s 75kg category.

That denied her a place in Saturday’s final but boxing hands out bronze medals for losing semi-finalists.

The Refugee Olympic Team first competed at the Rio 2016 Games and is designed to represent forcibly displaced people worldwide.

-AFP

Nina Kennedy (Aus): Women’s Pole Vault

Roje Stona (Jam): Men’s Discus

Soufiane El Bakkali (Mar): Men’s 3000m Steeplechase

Oleksandr Khyzhniak (Ukr): Boxing Men’s 80kg

Erislandy Alvarez (Cub): Boxing Men’s 63.5kg

Ruggero Tita & Caterina Banti (Ita): Sailing Mixed Multihull

Lara Vadlau & Lukas Maehr (Aut): Sailing Mixed Dinghy

Panipak Wongpattanakit (Tha): Taekwondo Women’s -49kg

Park Tae-joon (Kor): Taekwondo Men’s -58kg

Hou Zhihui (Chn): Weightlifting Women’s 49kg

Sarah Ann Hildebrandt (USA): Wrestling Women’s Freestyle 50kg

Sharon van Rouwendaal (Ned): Marathon Swimming Women’s 10km

Veddriq Leonardo (Ina): Sport Climbing Men’s Speed

Liu Hao & Ji Bowen (Chn): Men’s Canoe Double 500m

New Zealand: Women’s Kayak Four 500m

Germany: Men’s Kayak Four 500m

Xie Siyi (Chn): Diving Men’s 3m Springboard

Luo Shifang (Chn): Weightlifting Women’s 59kg

Eleanor Aldridge (GBr): Sailing Women’s Kite

Ellesse Andrews (NZl): Cycling Track Women’s Keirin

Saeid Esmaeili (Iri): Men’s Greco-Roman 67kg

Benjamin Thomas (Fra): Cycling Track Men’s Omnium

Semen Novikov (Bul): Wrestling Men’s Greco-Roman 87kg

Netherlands: Hockey Men

Letsile Tebogo (Bot): Men’s 200m

Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA): Women’s long jump

Arshad Nadeem (Pak): Men’s Javelin

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA): Women’s 400m Hurdles

American Grant Holloway won Olympic gold in the men’s 110m hurdles in Paris on Thursday.

The three-time world champion, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Games three years ago, clocked 12.99 seconds for victory.

Teammate Daniel Roberts claimed silver in 13.09sec in a photo-finish with Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell.

Olympic gold was the one medal missing in Holloway’s impressive haul.

The 26-year-old American is the second-fastest man in history in the event, with a personal best of 12.81sec.

-AFP

Noah Lyles lost the Olympic 200 meters Thursday, falling to Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, then being tended to by medics who carted him off the track in a wheelchair suffering with what The Associated Press learned was a case of COVID.

After crossing the line third for the second straight Olympics, Lyles fell to his back and eventually sat up to be tended to by medical staff. A person familiar with Lyles’ condition, who did not want to be identified, told AP was diagnosed with COVID two days before the final.

It’s the second straight Olympics the virus has played a major role in Lyles’ trip to the Games. He also won the bronze in the Tokyo Olympics, and he has said the empty stands and a year delay before the Games led to depression that he said hampered his performance and inspired his road to Paris.

-AP

India’s Neeraj Chopra comes in next. It is a foul from the Indian superstar. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem threw 84.87m with one more throw to go. The Pakistani is still in the gold medal stage

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem threw a 79.40m throw after a foul from India’s Neeraj Chopra.

Neeraj Chopra in his third throw and it is another foul from the Indian champion

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in his third throw. His 88.72m throw fell way below his second throw.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo wins Olympic 200m gold. Lyles finished with a bronze

Netherlands defeated Germany to win the men’s Olympic hockey gold. Having being levelled after the full time, Netherlands won the gold medal through penalty shootout (3-1)

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem throws but it was a foul. Fans await Neeraj Chopra. In his first throw, Neeraj begin with a foul

Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen specially praised goalkeeper Sreejesh for his show. “Bronze it is! Huge congratulations to the Indian Hockey Team. A special shoutout to @16Sreejesh bhaiya our incredible goalkeeper on your retirement day. You’ve been the backbone of the team, and your saves will be remembered forever.”

Hockey India president and former defender Dilip Tirkey said the win was the outcome of years of hard work and patience. “Tears of joy! Our Indian hockey heroes have done it again! Winning the bronze medal in Paris is more than just a victory, it’s a testament to their unwavering dedication, perseverance & passion!”

In Tokyo, goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh perched himself on top of the goalpost after India broke a 41-year-old medal drought by securing a bronze. In Paris, he prostrated in front of the post, which he protected and abused with equal passion, before recreating the Tokyo moment after India won the bronze again to bring the curtain down on his unparalleled two-decade-old international career.

On Thursday (August 8, 2024), as the 36-year-old Sreejesh — a veteran of 330international caps — paid obeisance to the sport he so dearly loves, it brought back memories of Sachin Tendulkar bowing to the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium 11 years ago.

China’s men and women reached the table tennis team finals at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, with their sights set on winning the last two gold medals to complete a sweep of the five on offer at the Games. 

China’s women easily overcame South Korea in a one-sided match, with Korea surprisingly not using their best singles player, Shin Yu-bin, in the first singles match at South Paris Arena. 

World number one Sun Yingsha dominated Lee Eun-hye, winning three straightforward games and allowing her opponent to score only nine points in total. This was followed by another win from Wang Manyu, who defeated Jeon Ji-hee and limited her to just three points in the final game. 

“No matter what order they play in, it’s the same for us,” said Chen. 

Earlier in the day, China’s men’s met a bit more resistance, beating hosts France with a 3-0 score that belied the close nature of the matches that captivated a packed stadium of French and Chinese fans. 

From the start, French duo Alexis Lebrun and Simon Gauzy put pressure on China’s top players Ma Long and Wang Chuqin and got to an 11-11 tie, but the Chinese seized match point and took the game 13-11 and then the match 3-0 to reach the final against Sweden. 

Lebrun’s 17-year-old brother Felix, who had lost 4-0 to Fan Zhendong in the men’s singles semi-finals, managed to switch things up when the two met again and play a better game. He kept it tied until 11-11 in the second game and took the third game 11-8. 

In the fourth game, Felix delayed his opponent’s victory as much as possible with some incredible saves, earning loud cheers. Eventually, Fan won 16-14, far beyond the usual 11 points required to win a game. 

Alexis, 20, also played an impressive match against world number one Wang Chuqin, involving many spectacular lobs. He won multiple points by disrupting Wang’s rhythm and forcing errors, taking the first game 11-7. 

Wang then regained his footing and took three games in a row, limiting Alexis to just one point in the last game.

The Indian hockey team’s bronze-winning feat at the Paris Olympics provided unadulterated joy to millions across the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and legendary shooter Abhinav Bindra leading the tributes to the Harmanpreet Singh-led side for clinching a second consecutive medal in Paris on Thursday (August 8, 2024).

India broke a 41-year drought in Tokyo in 2021 on way to winning a bronze, and three years later, in Paris, they won a second consecutive medal.

The last time India won back-to-back Olympic medals was in 1968 (bronze) and 1972 editions (bronze).

Spain gets another chance to equalise at the dying moments through a penalty corner. Spain goes for a referral for penalty stroke but was denied. Penalty corner stays. Sreejesh saves but another penalty corner for Spain. What a match this is? Beautifully saved from the Indian defence. INDIA WINS THE BRONZE MEDAL FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE TIME.

Spain get a penalty corner with 1.30 minutes to go. They misses the first one but they get another chance to equalise. Excellent save from Sreejesh. Spain goes for a referral. But it was denied in the end. What a closing moment for Spain. India still leads 2-1.

The public reaction in India to Vinesh Phogat’s exit from the Olympics has been unsettling — not because she left unexpectedly but because statements by political leaders, public personalities, and many people (as spotted on social media platforms) reveal no introspection, and no concern for the wrestlers’ conditions in the country.

A penalty corner for India but a good save from Spain goalkeeper. At the end of the third quarter, India leads Spain 2-1 to give a glimmer of hope for Indian fans. Can India hold on to their lead to get their consecutive bronze medal?

Spain gets a penalty corner now with five minutes to go in the third quarter. After appeal the goal was denied. India still leads 2-1.

India once against gets a penalty corner. Can Harmanpreet Singh convert it and make it a hat-trick for him? The Spain defenders deny him a hat-trick for now

Another penalty corner for India this time with 11 minutes to go in the third quarter. Good save from Spain goalkeepet. Harmanpreeet for now misses the hat-trick.

Immediately after the penalty corner conversion from India, Spain gets a penalty corner but misses it. India leads 2-1

India gets penalty corner early in the third quarter. Another goal from captain Harmanpreet singh. India leads 2-1.

After a referral, India gets a penalty corner. India misses out. Another penalty corner for India in the second quarter. Harmanpreet did not miss this time and scores a scorching goal to level the score at 1-1.

Spain gets a penalty stroke with 12 minutes to go in the first half. Spain goes into the lead 1-0 in the second quarter. Spain gets a penalty corner with 10 minutes to go. Another penalty corner but saved by Sreejesh.

India and Spain were locked in 0-0 in the first quarter of the men’s hockey bronze medal match at Paris Olympics.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Sanjay Singh on Thursday (August 8) urged a crestfallen Vinesh Phogat to not take decisions like retirement from the sport in “a sad state of mind” as he looks to meet the grappler personally. 

Her long-cherished Olympic dream shattered by a cruel twist of fate, Vinesh bid adieu to her international wrestling career, stating that she doesn’t have the strength to continue anymore. 

The 29-year-old, who was disqualified for being 100gm overweight ahead of her 50kg category gold medal bout in the Olympics on Wednesday, announced her decision on social media. 

“I got to know about her retirement through social media and I am also shocked to learn she decided to retire on her own,” Sanjay Singh told PTI Video. 

“So I would urge her on behalf of the Wrestling Federation of India to not make decisions in a sad state of mind and make a rational decision once she has recovered from the debacle mentally. We will also talk to her.” Vinesh has appealed against her disqualification from the 50kg category Olympic finals in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), demanding that she be awarded a joint silver medal after being forced out for being 100gm overweight in the weigh-in. 

Asked about grappler Antim Panghal, who caused embarrassment to the Indian Olympic contingent by trying to facilitate her sister’s entry into the athletes village through her accreditation card, the WFI chief said the country wouldn’t have to go through this if the federation was allowed to work without interference from some coaches. 

“It is ridiculous. The Wrestling Federation of India is not being allowed to do what we want. We create a discipline. We send the selected coaches to international events. But there are few officials who are acting arbitrarily, leading to indiscipline in wrestling. 

“We should be allowed to work on our own, if that would have been the case, there would not have been such embarrassment,” Sanjay Singh said.

India fought gallantly against Germany in the semifinals but failed to qualify for the finals, the Harmanpreet Singh-led side is aimed to give an all-out performance against Spain in the bronze-medal match. If India wins this match, the team will snatch bronze for the second consecutive time after the Tokyo Olympics.

Young Indian grappler Aman Sehrawat rekindled India’s hopes of a medal in wrestling, demolishing former world champion Zelimkhan Abakarov of Albania by technical superiority to seal a place in the 57kg free-style semifinal at the Paris Olympics here on Thursday (August 8, 2024).

Aman was in imperious form as he toyed with Abakarov in the second round. The 21-year-old Indian locked his legs at the start of the second round and turned him over multiple times to earn eight straight points to secure a 12-0 victory.

Aman will meet Japanese top seed Rei Higuchi in the last-four round later in the day.

- PTI

Double World champion Chase Jackson of the United States failed to qualify for the Olympic shot put final on Thursday (August 8, 2024) after a miserable performance in the heats.

Jackson had two fouls and then managed only 17.60 metres with her third throw, almost two metres short of the automatic qualifying mark of 19.15, to finish 17th, with 12 advancing to Friday’s (August 9) final.

“I do not really know what happened,” she said. “I guess the pressure got to me. I don’t really have a lot to say about it. I just want to get to my family.”

In a low-quality session, only three athletes made the automatic mark, with Sarah Mitton of Canada (19.77) leading the way ahead of Maddison-Lee Wesche of New Zealand (19.25) and Yemisi Ogunleye of Germany (19.34).

- Reuters

Indian Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra posted on X saying, “You are a fighter – on and off the mat. Through you, we are learning what it means to never lose the fight in us, even as a loss weighs heavily. You embody the true spirit of a warrior.”

Woman grappler Anshu Malik displayed great determination but could not breach the defence of USA’s vastly experienced Helen Louise Maroulis, losing 2-7 in the 57kg pre-quarterfinals.

It was a rematch of the 2021 World Championship final in Oslo where Anshu had to settle for silver against the American.

Anshu’s hopes of qualifying for the bronze-medal bout now hinge on ‘repechage’ provided Helen, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist and Tokyo Games bronze medallist, reaches the final.

Anshu was up against one of the most reputed wrestlers in the world, but she fought with a lot of gumption to concede just two points in the first round. Helen attacked Anshu’s left leg and then pushed the Indian to the mat to take a 2-0 lead.

- PTI

Wrestler Antim Panghal, who caused embarrassment to the Indian Olympic contingent by trying to facilitate her sister’s entry into the athletes village through her accreditation card, will be banned for three years by the IOA, a source told PTI on Thursday (August 8, 2024).

Panghal had crashed out of the Olympics after losing her opening bout in the women’s 53kg category on Wednesday (August 7, 2024).

“The decision will be formally announced after she reaches India,” the contingent source said.

“Her sister was caught for impersonation and was taken to a police station to record her statement,” a source had revealed last night.

- PTI

Young Indian grappler Aman Sehrawat ensured himself an easy passage into the quarterfinal with a dominating performance against North Macedonian rival Vladimir Egorov in the 57kg freestyle category at the Paris Olympics here on Thursday (August 8, 2024).

The 21-year-old Indian, an Asian Championship gold medallist and the only male wrestler from the country to qualify for the Olympics, was amazingly agile as he kept his defence intact while regularly overpowering his 29-year-old former European champion with leg holds to win the bout on technical superiority (10-0).

Aman’s last-four bout will take place later in the day.

- PTI

Shooter Swapnil Kusale, who won a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, arrived in Pune city of Maharashtra on Thursday(August 8, 2024), where he was accorded a grand welcome.

Kusale clinched the first ever Olympic bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions event last week.

He is scheduled to visit the shooting range at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi in the city, where he will be felicitated.

- PTI

National record holder Jyothi Yarraji failed to make the semifinals of the women’s 100m hurdle after finishing fourth in her repechage heat at the Paris Olympics on Thursday (August 8, 2024).

The first Indian to compete in the 100m hurdles in the Olympics, the debutant produced another below-par show as she clocked 13.17s in her repechage heat to finish 16th overall out of 40 total runners.

South Africa’s Marioune Fourie (12.79s) and Dutch athlete Maayke Tjin-A-Lim (12.87s) advanced to the semifinals from Heat 1.

- PTI

Hours before his last hurrah, celebrated India hockey goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh described his international career as “nothing short of extraordinary” and expressed his gratitude to the countrymen for believing in him.

Sreejesh (36) from Kerala will hope to end his illustrious 18-year-long career with a medal when he steps on to the field for one last time along with his teammates in the bronze playoff against Spain in the Paris Olympics.

Sharon van Rouwendaal from the Netherlands made a late surge to win gold in the women’s 10k marathon swimming at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Van Rouwendaal won with a time of 2hr 03min 34.2sec, with Australian Moesha Johnson taking silver 5.5 seconds behind and Italy’s Ginevra Taddeucci claiming bronze.

The race took place on the River Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the background after water pollution levels were deemed sufficiently safe for competition.

Van Rouwendaal, the gold medallist in Rio in 2016 and silver medallist in Tokyo, made her move past Johnson around a pilon coming under the Pont des Invalides bridge. 

AFP

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (August 8, 2024) showered praise on star pistol shooter Manu Bhaker as he met the double Olympic bronze medallist after her triumphant return from the Paris Games.

- PTI

An anguished Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar left the House for some time during the morning session on Thursday (August 8, 2024), following an uproar and walkout by Opposition party members, who were not allowed to raise the issue related to the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Olympics.

Soon after the listed papers were tabled in the House, Leader of Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stood up to raise the Phogat disqualification issue and wanted to know “who is behind” it.

In the meantime, Derek O’Brien of TMC, stood up to raise some issues but was not allowed by the Chair.

To this Dhankar cautioned the TMC member, saying “You are shouting at the Chair. Your conduct is ugliest in the House. I condemn your actions. Next time I will show you the door”.

- PTI