Day 7 was an action-packed day for India at the 2024 Paris Olympics, filled with spectacular performances and some tough moments. After a challenging Day 6, Indian athletes made a strong comeback. Here’s a detailed summary of how they fared:

Lakshya Sen scripts history!

Lakshya Sen! Remember the name! At just 22 years old, he became the first Indian men's badminton player to reach the semifinals in the singles competition at the Olympics. Lakshya achieved this historic feat by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in a thrilling match: 19-21, 21-15, 21-12. Despite losing the first set, Lakshya staged a remarkable comeback, dominating the next two sets with ease. Go for gold!

IC: Ritu Raj Konwar/ The Hindu

Balraj Panwar Finishes Fifth

Balraj Panwar participated in the final D of the men’s single sculls rowing event and secured the 5th position, clocking a time of 7:02.37. With this result, India's journey in rowing for this edition of the Olympics came to an end. The 25-year-old rower took up the sport just four years ago and managed to place 23rd overall in his Olympic debut. This performance is commendable, considering his short time in the sport, and it bodes well for his future prospects.

Heartbreak in Judo

Tulika Maan, making her Olympic debut in Judo, faced a challenging match and lost to Cuba’s Idalys Ortiz in just 28 seconds in the women’s 78kg elimination round of 32. Maan, who is a Commonwealth Games silver medalist and a former South Asian Games champion, has shown great potential in her career. She has also won two bronze medals at the Asian Junior Championships. Despite this early exit, her achievements and experience at the Olympics will surely contribute to her growth as an athlete.

Another Medal Incoming?

Manu Bhaker has continued her impressive form by qualifying for the finals of the Women’s 25m pistol event. She started the day by scoring 294 in the precision stage and 296 in the rapid stage. Having already bagged two medals in this edition of the Olympics, Manu is now chasing history. She could become the first Indian to win three medals in individual events at the Olympics, cementing her status as one of India’s greatest shooters. Meanwhile, Esha Singh, another promising shooter, stood 18th after the Women’s 25m pistol qualification round, scoring 581-17x, while Manu had a score of 590-24x.

52 Years Later…

In a historic moment, India’s hockey team defeated Australia, a feat that last happened on August 30, 1972, at the Munich Olympics. India emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline. Abhishek scored in the 12th minute, followed by Harmanpreet Singh in the 13th minute, giving India an early lead. Australia managed to bounce back with a goal in the 25th minute, but Harmanpreet Singh scored again to make it 3-1. Despite Australia scoring another goal to make the match interesting, India held on for the win. This victory ensured India finished 2nd in their group, just behind Belgium, and they now look forward to the quarter-finals starting on August 4.

IC: Olympic Khel

Not a Great Outing for Anant Jeet Singh Naruka

Indian shooter Anant Jeet Singh Naruka had a tough outing on the first day of the men’s skeet qualification event. He ranked 26th with a total of 68 points, shooting 23 in the first round and 22 in the second. Naruka, an Asian Games silver medalist, will need to regroup and focus on improving his performance in future events.

Tough Day for Vishnu Saravanan!

In the men’s dinghy event, Indian sailor Vishnu Saravanan faced a challenging day after four races. He currently lies in 22nd place. He finished 20th and 19th in the third and fourth races, respectively, accumulating a total of 83 points. Meanwhile, Nethra Kumanan is performing well in the women’s dinghy event. She ranks 11th after her third race, having finished sixth in the first race. She now has a total of 48 points and is positioned to potentially improve her standings in the coming races.

Archers Stumble

The mixed team of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara had a commendable run but missed out on a historic bronze medal, losing to the USA’s Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison with a score of 2-6. This was their first-ever Olympic semi-final appearance. India had previously defeated Indonesia in the pre-quarterfinals and Spain in the quarterfinals, which had raised hopes for a medal in a sport other than shooting. Despite the disappointment, their performance was an excellent effort and sets a strong foundation for future competitions.

IC: Reuters

Gaganjeet and Shubhankar improve

Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar improved their performances on Friday compared to Thursday. Shubhankar completed the 18-hole course in 69 shots, one stroke better than his previous round. Gaganjeet also delivered a stronger performance in the second round. As a result, Shubhankar moved up to T25 and Gaganjeet advanced to T52, both climbing four positions.

Ankita Dhyani and Parul Chaudhary miss out on a final spot!

It was a challenging day for Parul Chaudhary and Ankita Dhyani as they missed out on a place in the final of the women’s 5000m event. Parul finished 24th in her Olympic debut, while Ankita ranked 20th in Heat 1. Parul will have another opportunity to compete in the 3000m steeplechase event.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor does not make the cut!

India’s shot put athlete, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, finished 15th in Group A and ranked 29th overall in the men's shot put qualification round. Competing in his second Olympics, Toor threw 18.05m in his first attempt this year, falling short of his previous best of 19.99m in Tokyo.

Conclusion

Day 7 was filled with a mix of highs and lows for India at the Olympics. From Manu Bhaker’s continued excellence in shooting to the historic hockey victory, Indian athletes displayed great strength. While there were moments of heartbreak, the determination and potential shown by the athletes promise a bright future.