Paris 2024: Who Is Aditi Ashok and Why Is She Rated So High?
Searches for “golf rules” suddenly spiked in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in India, inspired by an unheralded golfer—Aditi Ashok’s—who represented India at the event and was 178th in world standings. The competition was held on the prestigious Kasumigaseki Country Club’s East Course. Aditi added a bit of sensational news with a scorching start in the Olympic golf tournament. A Thrilling Battle on the Course The course par was 71–the number of strokes a good golfer is expected to take to complete the course. In round one, Aditi returned a brilliant 67 to be level with world number one Nelly Korda of the United States. The second round was just a continuum of great performance by Aditi as she hiked her score to 66, but Korda pulled clear with a great 62 to leave Aditi in second position alongside two other players. Near-Miss and Heartbreak on the Final Day The third round became even more absorbing as Korda dropped behind to let Aditi close the gap and establish her position at second position. However, on the final day, Aditi struggled for under-par scores in the first four holes and lost out to Lydia Ko, the silver medallist from Rio 2016. Despite a fine recovery with birdies—those magical one-stroke-under-par—Aditi just missed the medal podium by a whisker. The near-miss at the 17th – where the ball grazed the edge – was dear as Korda sewed up the gold, and Japan’s Mone Inami defeated Ko in a play-off for silver. Aditi’s Rise in 2023 It has been three years since Aditi Ashok reworked her game and rose as one of the fearsome competitors on the global golf circuit. She worked significantly on driving distances to get closer to the hole off the tee. The best year was 2023 when she had two wins, two seconds, one third and four more top-10 finishes. She finished the year at 42nd in world rankings, touching a career-best of 39th in early 2024. Challenges in 2024 and the Way Forward The 2024 season has been anything but spectacular for Aditi. She has labored to finish in the top 10 in 15 events and has seen her ranking slide to 60th. But she is still in pursuit of that elusive victory in a golf major. She did create history at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games when she won a silver medal for India, though she lost out on gold after squandering a seven-stroke lead. Aditi’s Quest for Glory At Paris 2024 While Aditi Ashok may not be among the top favorites based on statistics for Paris 2024, she certainly stands out to be one of the most powerful contenders to stand on the podium. One of her strengths is a great short game. Olympic fields are typically weaker than professional events because of the limits on the number of golfers each country can send. The twenty-six-year-old Aditi now proved that she could match the very best in the world and was reflective of her outing in a 2023 event where she finished ahead of Korda, who still is the world number one. Aditi’s Medal Hopes The more that Aditi Ashok replicates the strong start she made at Tokyo 2020, the more she can stay within medal contention at Paris 2024. Equipped with talent and determination alike, she stands firmly level with others in the field and all of India will no doubt be watching keenly as she takes to the course in hope of an historic Olympic finish. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: India’s Last Medal Hope on Day 15
All eyes are now on India’s athletes as the nation prays that one of its breeders shines to add to the medal count at Paris Olympics 2024. With India currently at 69 with five bronze and a silver, this shifts focus to the last glimpse of chances in securing more honours. Here’s what India would be having on its plate today at the Paris Olympics 2024. Wrestling: Reetika Hooda’s Decisive Bout In wrestling, Reetika Hooda was the last Indian still in the fray for a medal from the sport. Hooda will be competing in the women’s 76 kg freestyle category and opening her campaign against Bernadett Nagy of Hungary. Bernadett Nagy herself is no ordinary wrestler, having twice finished as the European Championships’ bronze medalist. This presents a big challenge to her. A win for Hooda will not only assure her a passage to the next round but may well set up a meeting with the top-seeded Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan. Golf: Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar in Medal Quest Next in line will be golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar, who will feature in the Women’s Individual Final. As far as the potential of these players is concerned, both are competent enough to net a podium finish and improve India’s position at the medals table. The Paris Olympics 2024 is heating up and India is holding its bated breath, hoping its campaign at the Games comes out triumphantly at the end. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: Neeraj Chopra Brings Home A Sliver For India
In a thrilling men’s javelin throw at the Paris Olympics 2024, on Thursday, Neeraj Chopra, the reigning champion from Tokyo 2020, claimed silver, taking his second-best throw ever. Surely to put up a good fight, Neeraj’s performance was just overshadowed by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who took gold with a truly jaw-dropping record of 92.97m for the Olympic record. Struggles with Form and Technique Neeraj Chopra, who managed just one valid throw of 89.45 meters in his six attempts, spoke with some disappointment after the event. “It was a good throw but I’m not that happy with my performance today,” he admitted. “My technique and runway were not that good. (I managed) only one throw, the rest I fouled.” Injury Concerns and Challenges in Preparation Speaking reflectively on his struggles during the final, Neeraj Chopra said, “(For my) second throw I believed in myself to think I can also throw that far. But in javelin, if your run is not so good, you can’t throw very far.” That silver-medal-winning throw came on his second attempt, and it was patently obvious that he was not at his best. Impact of Persistent Injuries The 26-year-old Indian ace also admitted that he was not doing well in the past two-three years and acknowledged that this was pulling him back once more. “I am always getting injured. I really tried hard, but I have to work upon my injury and technique,” he added. Adductor Muscle Issues Neeraj Chopra’s preparations for Paris 2024 had been marred by problems with his adductor muscles, which even forced him to pull out of several crucial meets, including the Ostrava Golden Spike. He had earlier disclosed that the problems with these adductors were dragging on intermittently for almost the past two years. He had added that he would seek further medical consultation for the same after the Olympics. “I’m not doing much throwing in training because of my groin (injury). But I will work hard in future,” he promised his fans. Gracious Congrats to Nadeem Despite his own challenges, Neeraj Chopra gracefully congratulated his competitor and friend, Arshad Nadeem, for his performance. “Today’s competition was really great. Arshad Nadeem threw really well. Congratulations to him and his country,” he said. Historic Gold for Pakistan Arshad Nadeem brought a lot of history to Pakistan with his gold medal, being the first-ever individual Olympic gold won by any Pakistani athlete and the country’s first Olympic medal since the Barcelona 1992 Games. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: India’s 13th Olympic Hockey Medal; The Most Any Country Has
The Indian hockey team earned its first Olympic medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, where they scored 29 goals across five matches to secure the gold medal. Dhyan Chand, renowned for his extraordinary skill, scored 14 of those goals, including a hat-trick in the final against the Netherlands. In the Paris Olympics 2024, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian men’s team claimed their 13th Olympic hockey medal by defeating Spain in the bronze medal match. Read this to know how the Indian Hockey Team bagged a bronze at Paris 2024. Here is a complete list of all the medals won by India in hockey at the Olympic Games. INDIAN HOCKEY TEAM’S DREAM RUN AT OLYMPICS OVER THE YEARS MEDAL EDITION Gold Amsterdam 1928 Gold Los Angeles 1932 Gold Berlin 1936 Gold London 1948 Gold Helsinki 1952 Gold Melbourne 1956 Silver Rome 1960 Gold Tokyo 1964 Bronze Mexico City 1968 Bronze Munich 1972 Gold Moscow 1980 Bronze Tokyo 2020 Bronze Paris 2024 India has a rich tradition in men’s hockey, winning as many as eight gold medals. The last time India won gold, though, was in 1980. Other than these eight golds, India has won a silver medal in 1960 and three bronzes in 1968, 1972, 2020 and most recently at the Paris Olympics 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: India Brings Home Bronze In Hockey
It turned out to be a historic win for Indian hockey as the national team captured the bronze medal at Paris Olympics 2024—the country’s second consecutive Olympic medal in the game (1st in Tokyo, now in Paris) since a 52-year hiatus. This achievement highlights the resurgence of India’s rich hockey legacy that had remained dormant since their last medal in 1972. A Dramatic Final The last match played was between India and Spain, where the Indians came out very strong. Though slow to get off the blocks, an early Spanish lead was netted home by none other than Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh. Singh netted two exceptional dragflicks that turned the game for India. The first of these came with just 20 seconds left in the first half, while the second came three minutes into the second half and was a neat, low flick that found the far corner. Defensive Masterclass This victory takes India to its 13th Olympic medal in hockey and the fourth bronze. The crucial defense, led ably by veteran goalkeeper Sreejesh and bolstered by Amit Rohidas in the final quarter, turned out to be the most important factor. Sreejesh played the farewell game, pulling off a number of critical saves to thwart late attempts by Spain for a comeback, including those of the crucial penalty corners. Nail-Biting Final Moments The last quarter became nail-biting when Spain pushed hard, and though India’s defense was at times unconvincing in judgment, it held. Rohidas’s effective rushes at the penalty corners and Sreejesh’s goalkeeping ensured that the lead the team had managed was never relinquished. Recipe For Success What worked for Coach Craig Fulton was the strategy of a strong defensive unit, and the players could sustain the pressure. It was Harmanpreet Singh’s ten goals that made all the difference in India’s victory and ranked him as one of the top scorers in the tournament. India Rejoices While the team celebrates its victory, the actual significance of back-to-back medals will take some time to sink in. The win reinstates India’s place at the Olympic podium and reignites the nation’s love for its historic sport. “Hockey is back,” said captain Harmanpreet Singh aptly, and it was a moment of pride for Indian sports. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: Neeraj Chopra Turns Custodian Of Hope As India Dreams For Gold
As Neeraj Chopra gets ready to beat the odds once more and compete for Olympic gold for a second time, the stakes couldn’t get any higher. Victory will make him the most decorated Indian athlete at the Olympics in any individual sport. Currently, shuttler PV Sindhu – with one silver and one bronze, wrestler Sushil Kumar – with one silver and one bronze, and shooter Manu Bhaker – with two bronzes hold two Olympic medals each, all post independence. Enthrown in a fantastic throw, which is the second-best of his career performance-wise, Chopra has thus silenced the biggest question that people had going into the Games: his fitness. The athlete had confessed to carrying an adductor niggle into the Games. Of course, his personal best remains an impressive 89.94 meters, achieved in 2022. This 89.34 meters he recorded is not only sealing his place as one among the top contenders but has also revived the hopes of millions of Indian fans who are awaiting the day—Thursday—when perhaps Chopra would cross the elusive 90-meter mark. Noteworthy is the fact that this effort stands as the second-best throw in the qualifying rounds at the Olympics, only after the legendary Jan Zelezny’s 89.39 meters during the 2000 Sydney Games. But right before Neeraj Chopra enters the fray to defend that gold, just so dear, let us take a moment to recollect those world-beating achievements that have defined this illustrious career. Year Competition Venue / Country Medal 2016 Asian U20 Championships Vietnam Silver 2016 World U20 Championships Bydgoszcz, Poland Gold 2017 Asian Championships Bhubaneshwar, India Gold 2018 Commonwealth Games Australia Gold 2018 Asian Games Jakarta, Indonesia Gold 2021 Tokyo Olympics 2020 Japan Gold 2022 World Championships United States Silver 2022 Diamond League Zurich Gold 2023 Diamond League Doha Gold 2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary Gold 2023 Asian Games Hangzhou, China Gold 2024 Diamond League Doha Silver Neeraj Chopra once again has found himself as the custodian of dreams as India would be banking on him for that elusive Olympic gold medal at Paris Olympics 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
List Of Accolades Vinesh Phogat Won Over Her Wrestling Career
Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from the sport after a glorious campaign spanning over a decade. The 29-year-old declared it on social media after she exited the Paris Olympics 2024 due to disqualification for missing weight before the gold medal bout. But even with that Olympic heartbreak of 2016, Vinesh leaves you with a series of scintillating achievements under her name. She is now considered one of the greatest-ever wrestlers produced by India: the first Indian woman to fight in three Olympics, the first to make an Olympic final, and the first to win gold at the Asian Games. She is also India’s only female wrestler with more than one world championship medal. Olympics 2024 Paris Olympics – Final (50kg) Vinesh’s campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics was nothing short of dramatic. She made it to the final following a thrilling 3-2 win over reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan making it her first loss after a streak of 84 consecutive matches. She then beat both Oksana Livach and Yusneylys Guzman to become the first-ever Indian woman to make the final of an Olympic wrestling event. But on the day of the final, she was disqualified for failing to make the weight. 2020 Tokyo Olympics – Quarterfinal (53kg) Vinesh Phogat was seeded as the world number one for the Tokyo Olympics but fell to a bitter defeat in the quarterfinal at the hands of Belarus’ Vanesa Kaladzinskaya, a two-time world champion who later took bronze. 2016 Rio Olympics – Quarterfinal: 48kg Vinesh Phogat made her Olympic debut in Rio at 21 years of age. She was participating in the 48kg category, and during the quarterfinal match against China’s Sun Yanan, she suffered an ACL tear that forced her to withdraw from the event. She got the prestigious Arjuna Award later that year. World Championships 2022 Belgrade Worlds – BRONZE (53kg) Vinesh Phogat won a bronze at the World Championships in 2022 after losing the semifinal to eventual silver medal winner Batkhuyagiin Khulan of Mongolia in the first round. She won the repechage clearing two-time European champion Jonna Malmgren of Sweden. 2019 Nur-Sultan Worlds – BRONZE (53kg) Her 2019 World Championships bronze came after a defeat to Japan’s Mayu Mukaida, herself a three-time world champion and Tokyo gold medallist. Vinesh Phogat sealed her place on the podium by beating Paris gold medallist Sarah Hildebrandt and three-time worlds medallist Maria Prevolaraki of Greece in the repechage. Asian Games 2018 Jakarta – GOLD (50kg) It was also at the 2018 Asian Games where Vinesh Phogat avenged her Rio Olympics loss by defeating Sun Yanan in the Round of 16. She went on to win gold after defeating two-time Asian champion Yuki Irie, thus becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold at the Asian Games. 2014 Incheon – BRONZE (48kg) At just 20 years old, Vinesh Phogat bagged a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games and became the third Indian woman to do so. She won the bronze through the repechage route after having lost to the three-time world champion and reigning Rio Olympics gold medallist Eri Tosaka of Japan. Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham – GOLD (53kg) From the heartbreak of Tokyo and a subsequent fall-out with the Wrestling Federation of India, to Vinesh Phogat bouncing back at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, becoming the first Indian woman to win three CWG golds. 2018 Gold Coast – GOLD (50kg) Phogat was making a stunning comeback from her Rio injury after winning all her bouts, bring home gold in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. 2014 Glasgow – GOLD (48kg) Vinesh Phogat’s first big win on the international circuit came at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she won gold a month shy of her 20th birthday. Brilliant Asian Championship Performances Vinesh Phogat has been a consistent performer at the Asian Wrestling Championships and won medals in every edition that she participated. Her personal medals include four bronze medals (2014, 2016, 2019, 2020), three silver medals (2015, 2017, 2018) and a gold medal in 2021. Personal Accolades and Legacy Phogat is widely recognized for her contributions in the field of wrestling. In 2019, she became the first Indian to be nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award and for the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year in 2022. Vinesh was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2016 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2020. She returned both these awards in 2023 during the wrestler protests. With the retirement of Vinesh Phogat, one great career in Indian wrestling finally comes to an end. Her journey was one of resilience, perseverance, and unparalleled success. The type of legacy she will leave behind will motivate generations of wrestlers when she steps away from the sport. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: Sri Lanka Tame India after 27 Years
After 27 long years, Sri Lanka has managed to end its losing streak in ODI series against India. The last time the island nation was successful against India was back in 1997 when the former defeated India by a margin of 3-0. Sri Lanka Sets Challenging Target Sri Lanka, through its sterling performance, managed to trounce India in the third and final ODI by 110 runs to notch up their first-ever series victory over India in the 50-over format since 1997. This victory was therefore a huge one, given that it came just after they failed to qualify for the upcoming Champions Trophy. India Faces Tough Chase Thanks to Avishka Fernando’s impressive 96 runs, Sri Lanka set a 248-run target. In the first two ODIs, India had struggled to chase targets of 231 and 241; a highest target of the series against Sri Lanka on a dry, difficult pitch was always going to be tough. India started well in their chase with the smashing of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli on the other hand misfired. The other Indian batters fell quickly in the face of some good spin magic by Wellalage and lost six wickets in under 13 overs. Dunith Wellalage was the star for Sri Lanka with his left-arm spin, picking four of the first six Indian wickets. He removed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. India’s middle-order collapse saw them lose a record 24 wickets to spin in this series, any bilateral ODI series. At 92/6, India still had Shivam Dube and debutant Riyan Parag at the crease. Parag, included to beef up the middle order, was bowled by Jeffrey Vandersay. Another change in the team, Rishabh Pant replacing KL Rahul, didn’t make much of a difference. Also know more on Riyan Parag’s ODI debut for the Indian Cricket Team against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Seals the Win Wellalage cleaned up Kuldeep Yadav to claim his fifth wicket as India’s innings folded for 138 in 26.1 overs. Nine of India’s wickets fell to spin, and Wellalage became the first spinner to take a five-wicket haul against India more than once. Sri Lanka’s Strong Start Earlier, Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Fernando shared a solid 89-run opening stand. Axar Patel broke the opening stand as Nissanka was dismissed. Fernando batted well as he hit a half-century before getting out to Parag, who ended up taking three wickets. Despite losing the middle order, Kusal Mendis scored a final overs fifty to help Sri Lanka add 31 runs in the last three overs. Memorable Series Win for Sri Lanka The total proved to be more than adequate as Sri Lanka pulled off a memorable series win – its first set of back-to-back ODI victories over India since August 2010. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
“Alvida Kushti” Says Vinesh Phogat After Olympic Disqualification
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from the sport through an emotional social media post. The 29-year-old, who was bound to compete for the 50kg gold medal bout, revealed her decision after dramatic events unfolded when she was ruled out of contention at the Paris Olympics 2024 due to an overweight of 100 grams. A Tearful Goodbye Having made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to enter a gold medal bout in her category, Phogat expressed deep disappointment. In a message to her mother, Premlata, Phogat wrote, “Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I shall be indebted to you all. Forgive (me),” Phogat, a two-time world championship bronze medalist, has now retired from wrestling. Phogat’s Disqualification The disqualification came barely minutes before the final contest Wednesday, with Phogat way above her category’s limit. Severe dehydration—in the wake of extreme measures taken to make the weight in, including fasting and without fluids all day, and staying awake all night—saw her spend much of the day at a polyclinic inside the Games village. Appeal and Legal Proceedings Phogat had appealed CAS to turn her disqualification into a joint silver medal with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who took her place in the final bout against American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt went on to win that bout and take the gold medal. The appeal of Phogat was to be heard in the next few hours by the ad-hoc division of CAS set up in Paris for disputes arising from the Olympic Games. Phogat’s Legacy Phogat has had a career resonating with gold medals in Asian and Commonwealth Games and has been one of the icons in wrestling. Her recent efforts also include spearheading protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment. Vinesh Phogat’s retirement brings curtains on one of the remarkable journeys as a three-time Olympian and the trailblazer of Indian women in wrestling. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: Riyan Parag Shines With The Ball On ODI Debut
07th August, 2024, is surely a day Riyan Parag will remember for ages. And it’s not only for his ODI debut for the Indian Cricket Team against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo but also for the three wickets he took in the eight overs he bowled. Skipper Shows Faith Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat. India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma soon handed over the ball to Riyan Parag. And he lived up to the skipper’s expectations. Parag, the 256th player to represent India in ODI’s spun a web and trapped Avishka Fernando (96 off 102), Charith Asalanka (10 off 12) and Dunith Wellalage (2 off 3). Parag’s First ODI Wicket Avishka Fernando was thoroughly overdue a deserved hundred, on 96 from 102 balls, 9 fours and 2 sixes, but then stepped Riyan Parag and everything had to change: he dismissed Fernando when he was only 4 runs from the magic figure—breaking an important partnership in the process. Parag Traps The Opposition Captain Parag wasn’t done yet. The very next over, he trapped the Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka leg-before-wicket. After a bit of consultation with Kusal Mendis, Asalanka decided to review the decision. UltraEdge confirmed there was no bat involved, while HawkEye lights showed three reds, thus sealing Asalanka’s fate on 10 runs off 12 balls. A 3 Wicket Haul On Debut Next in to bat was Dunith Wellalage, who was in dangerous form in the previous couple of games. However, Parag was unstoppable, clean bowling Wellalage with just 2 runs off 3 balls. Riyan Parag, who usually plays as a batting all-rounder has not only delivered with the ball in the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka but also was one of the key members in the bowling unit while undoing the Sri Lankan batters in the recent T20I series. Well if Parag keeps on delivering the goods with the ball, it wouldn’t be surprising to call it a ‘Reverse Steve Smith Phenomenon.’ The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye