Paris 2024: Cash Prizes for Indian Medal Winners Revealed
The Indian contingent performed decently at the Paris Olympics 2024 and secured six medals. Here’s a breakdown of the recognition and cash prizes awarded to the athletes: Men’s Hockey Team Each member of the men’s hockey team got Rs 15 lakh, declared by Hockey India.– The support staff received Rs 7.5 lakh each.– Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Manjhi announced an award of Rs 4 crore to defender Amit Rohidas, and Rs 10 lakh for each support staff member and Rs 15 lakh for each player.– Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared a cash award of Rs 1 crore for each squad member from Punjab. Neeraj Chopra No official announcement has come as of now about the cash prize for Neeraj Chopra. He was given Rs 6 crore by the Haryana government after he won gold in the Tokyo Olympics. Manu Bhaker Manu Bhaker got Rs 30 lakh from the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. She was also given the responsibility of flag bearer for India at the closing ceremony. Sarabjot Singh The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports awarded Sarabjot Singh Rs 22.5 lakh for his bronze winning performance in the mixed team shooting event along with Manu Bhaker. Aman Sehrawat Aman Sehrawat is entitled to a cash prize for his bronze in wrestling, but the amount is yet to be declared. Swapnil Kusale Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced a reward of Rs 1 crore to Swapnil Kusale, who won the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. The Bottom Line The Paris Olympics 2024 turned out to be quite glorious for the Indian athletes, who walked away with six medals and wide recognition in the form of cash rewards. This was a shade lower than the seven medals won in the Tokyo Olympics. 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: 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: Vinesh Phogat Enters Semi Finals in Women’s 50kg Freestyle Wrestling
On Tuesday, 06th August, 2024, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat created a career-high by making it to the semifinals of the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling at the Paris Olympics 2024. In a thrilling quarter-final, Vinesh overcame three-time Oksana Livach of Ukraine, a gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games, to win 7-5. This will be the first time Vinesh has ever appeared in an Olympic semifinal. Semifinal vs Yusneylys Guzman That is a tantalizing semi final encounter up next with Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman, who won the gold in the Pan American Games 2023. Guzman is a formidable greco-roman wrestler and will be one of the obstacles on Vinesh’s path to the final. A Bit Earlier A bit earlier in the competition, Vinesh shocked the reigning Olympic champion, four-time World Champion Yui Susaki from Japan with a 3-2 narrow victory. That win took special prominence as Susaki did not let any of her opponents score a point in the competition of the Tokyo Games. Cementing Her Place At Paris 2024 Vinesh confirmed her place at the Paris Olympics 2024 by reaching the final of the Asian Olympic Qualifier this year, where she outmaneuvered Laura Ganikyzy in the semifinal. This achievement marked a kind of streak with her performance and don’t-give-up quality on the international stage. A Historic Achievement for Indian Wrestling To say that Vinesh’s campaign in the Olympics was not anything but a series of struggles would be an understatement. She lost in the quarterfinals in both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. During Rio in 2016, she suffered a disastrous ACL injury in the midst of battle and due to that had to retire, thus ending her campaign. Vinesh Phogat, competing in her third straight Olympic Games, became the first female Indian wrestler to very well start with the journey in Paris, unbeaten, best in many ways. Now, the fans will be looking at her next encounter against Guzman to break into the final of Paris Olympics 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shteye
Paris 2024: Avinash Sable; A Small Town Boy Who Dreamt Big
Avinash Sable recently made headlines. The Indian steeplechase runner will now head towards the finals of Paris Olympics 2024. On 5th of August, 2024, Avinash Sable timed 8:15.43 in the men’s 3000m steeplechase event and ended in the top 5 and secured a spot in the final. Here’s a bit of his backstory. Early Life Born on 13 September 1994, in Mandwa, Beed district of Maharashtra, Avinash Sable’s childhood was spent entirely in a village upbringing. With his family members being farmers, he would often run or walk the 6 km between his home and school due to the lack of transportation facilities in his village. These experiences instilled in him the habit that he is pursuing today. Military Service and Athletic Transition Sable joined the 5 Mahar regiment of the Indian Army after his 12th standard. His service included a tough stint at Siachen Glacier from 2013 to 2014, followed by postings in the deserts of north-western Rajasthan and Sikkim from 2015. During this time, he was initiated into cross-country running by fellow colleagues, which eventually led to his steeplechase training. Breakthrough Avinash Sable’s potential was spotted in January 2017 during a cross-country race in Hyderabad by Army coach Amrish Kumar. Sable was far from being an athlete then. He weighed around 76 kgs then. Under Kumar’s guidance, he lost 20 kgs in three months that set the track for his success in athletics. After the setback of the ankle injury that ruled him out of the Asian Games qualification, Sable broke the 37-year-old national record at the Open National Championships in 2018 with a timing of 8:29.80. On his streak of record-setting, in 2019 he started the year with a new national record of 8:28.94 at the Federation Cup and took a silver at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha. International Recognition In 2019 Avinash Sable became the first Indian male steeplechaser since way back in 1991 to qualify for the World Championships. At the World Championships, he bettered his national record to 8:21.37 and finished the final in 13th place. In 2020, he set a national record at the Delhi Half Marathon and finished seventh at the Summer Olympics in a national record time of 8:18.12. Again, in 2022, Sable broke other national records at the Indian Grand Prix with a timing of 8:16.21 and at the Meeting International Mohamed VI with 8:12.48. His performance in the Commonwealth Games sealed him a silver with a national record time of 8:11.20. Achievements and Future Prospects In 2023, Sable finished 35th at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships and took gold in the steeplechase and silver in the 5000 meters at the Asian Games. Avinash Sable is going to be a watched athlete heading into the finals of Paris Olympics 2024 as he eyes to strike gold for India. He will compete in the final on the night of 7th August (8th Aug) at 1:13 am IST. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: Lakshya Sen to Face Lee Zii Jia for Bronze
Indian star badminton player Lakshya Sen will have the opportunity once again to win an Olympic medal at Paris Olympics 2024. After engaging in a nail-biter of a semifinal against the reigning Olympic champion and top seed Viktor Axelsen, Sen lost 20-22, 14-21, and now faces off in the bronze medal match against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia on Monday, 5th August 2024, at the Adidas Arena. Determined to Make History Even with this setback, Lakshya Sen remains keen to become the first-ever Indian men’s singles shuttler to win an Olympic badminton medal and only the third Indian overall to finish on the podium. His opponent in this event, Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia, also lost his semi-final encounter with the world champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, in straight games 14-21, 15-21. Head-to-head Advantage Historically, Lakshya Sen has held sway over Lee Zii Jia with a 4-1 win-loss record between them. All matches between them have been riveting and tightly fought. Indeed, Sen went on to win their last fight in the All England Open 2024 quarterfinals in an intriguingly tightly contested match, 20-22, 21-16, 21-19. Recap of Their Last Five Meetings LAKSHYA SEN VS LEE ZII JIA- LAST FIVE MEETINGS Tournament Round Winner Score All England Open 2024 Quarterfinal Lakshya Sen 20-22, 21-16, 21-19 Indonesia Open 2023 Round of 32 Lakshya Sen 21-17, 21-13 Thomas Cup 2022 Quarterfinal Lee Zii Jia 21-23, 9-21 All England Open 2022 Semifinal Lakshya Sen 21-13, 12-21, 21-19 India International Series 2016 First Round Lakshya Sen 11-13, 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 1. India International Series (2016) Sen won that first ever clash on the junior circuit 4-0, though the format of the match was 11 points per set as opposed to the current norm. 2. All England Open 2022 Semi-Final Sen won an intense contest 21-13, 12-21, 21-19 to become the first Indian men’s singles player since Pullela Gopichand in 2001 to make it to the All England Open semi-finals. 3. Thomas Cup 2022 Quarter-Final He alone lost to Lee Zii Jia, Sen (21-23, 9-21), when he struggled with his form during the competition. 4. Indonesia Open 2023 Round of 32 Both players were struggling for form, but Sen won (21-17, 21-13). 5. All England Open 2024 Quarter-Final The exciting battle saw Sen pip Lee Zii Jia at the post (20-22, 21-16, 21-19). Looking Ahead to the Bronze Medal Match With a 4-1 head-to-head advantage over Sen, he will go into the bronze medal match at the Paris Olympics 2024 quite confidently. While Lee Zii Jia will come back hard at him and make it a great contest, the Indian shuttler will also draw confidence from the two previous victories against Lee and will come into the bronze medal match brimmed with confidence to script history for Indian badminton at the Paris Olympics 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: Indian Athletes Gear Up for a Crucial Day 7
Day 7 will look for a rejuvenated performance in athletics by Indian athletes after Day 6 turned out to be a mixed bag at the Paris Olympics 2024. The hopes of the nation were lifted by Swapnil Kusale, who secured the third medal for India on Day 6, but it also marked the exit of some key athletes. Star athletes like PV Sindhu, Nikhat Zareen, and dynamic badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty bowed out of the competition. Manu Bhaker Leads India’s Charge As Day 7 of the Paris Olympics 2024 unfurls, India’s contingent looks ahead for impactful performances by their representatives, led by none other than shooting sensation Manu Bhaker. Bhaker, who has so far claimed two medals in the ongoing games, will feature in the 25m pistol qualification, trying to push one more medal home. Also check Manu Bhaker’s journey to redemption here. High Stakes in Hockey and Badminton The Indian men’s hockey team is all geared up for a mighty Australian side in the Pool B match, which has been one of the most highly-anticipated encounters. This match will be critical to the advancement of India in this event and will surely create immense anticipation for the followers for a strong performance by the squad. Attention will now shift to Lakshya Sen, who faces a stiff challenge in the men’s singles quarterfinal contest against Chou Tien Chen. Sen’s form and never-say-die attitude will be put on trial as he strives to move further ahead. Archery Mixed Team and Sailing Events The archery mixed team event will have Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat in the 1/8 Eliminations. Though the duo has a stiff competition against them, good run to the end lies with a possible medal at stake. Balraj Panwar will feature in sailing’s Final D of the men’s single sculls, which, in effect, is a classification race. Though this is not a medal race, Panwar will look to finish strong. Other Indian Athletes in Action Other Indian athletes in action include Tulika Mann, the judoka woman and sailors Nethra Kumanan and Vishnu Saravanan. Slightly later in the evening, athletics fans will also be keenly watching out for shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor and 5000m runner Parul Chaudhary, who are scheduled to compete in their respective events. Where to Watch: Live Streaming and Broadcast Details Fans in India can catch all the action from the Paris Olympics 2024 live on the JioCinema app and website, and it’s absolutely free. The events are also broadcast on the Sports18 TV channels, so that one does not miss a single moment of the action. With India looking to improve upon its medal count, Day 7 at the Paris Olympics 2024 is again going to be one of hope, resolve and competitive spirit. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: Head to Head In ODI’s
The ODI series will see India and Sri Lanka moving to Colombo right after the series conclusion of the T20I series. In the IND vs SL ODI series, there are three matches scheduled for the series, out of which the first one is on Friday, August 2, 2024. The return of captain Rohit Sharma, who comes back into the team following Suryakumar Yadav‘s captaincy in the T20I series, will certainly boost India. Indeed, Sharma is the captain of the team in both ODIs and Tests. It will be the same case for Sri Lanka, who will retain Charith Asalanka as their skipper for the ODI series. Though he was not able to handle his team as expected in the T20I series with an end result of 3-0. Ahead of the IND vs SL 1st ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium, here are the complete head-to-head records between India and Sri Lanka in One Day Internationals. Check out more insights from the ODI leg of India’s tour of Sri Lanka here. Head-To-Head India has played 168 ODI matches against Sri Lanka. Out of these, India has won 99, while Sri Lanka has won 57 games. Besides, 11 matches ended without a result, and 1 match ended in a tie. INDIA vs SRI LANKA HEAD-TO-HEAD IN ODI’s CATEGORY INDIA SRI LANKA Matches Played 168 168 Matches Won 99 57 Matches Lost 57 99 No Result 11 11 Tied 1 1 Home Wins 40 28 Away Wins 32 12 Neutral Venue Wins 27 17 Head-to-Head: Recent 5 Encounters Of the last five ODI outings between these two teams, all have been won by India. However, the home series in July 2021 did see Sri Lanka win one ODI game out of the three. Of these five matches, three have been hosted in India and two in Sri Lanka. India will eye to add one more series win against their name while Sri Lanka will be playing for their pride after a 3-0 loss in theT20I series. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: ODI Series Kicks Off in Colombo
The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka gets underway on Friday, 2ns August, 2024 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Big Names Return for India Bolstered by the return of senior players, including captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, and Kuldeep Yadav, the Indian Cricket Team is looking to keep the winning momentum going. Unlike the T20 format, India has an extremely solid core for the 50-over game; this series will go a long way in cementing places within the team and grooming future talent. Squad Focus and Strategy With only six ODIs to be played before the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025, the upcoming series becomes very important for the new coach and captain to stamp their strategy. The third pacer to complement Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj features at the top of the list of areas to focus on. On the other hand, Mohammed Shami, an exceptional performer in the World Cup last year, will be tried alongside new talent like Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and IPL sensation Harshit Rana. The blinding six-wicket haul was by Siraj at this very venue during the Asia Cup, so he will spearhead the pace attack. Wicketkeeper Dilemma Another call pending for the Indian team is at the wicketkeeper’s position. K.L. Rahul has been effective both as a batsman and ‘keeper, but with Rishabh Pant back in the ODI set-up, the team has a strategic call to make. Pant would provide an extra left-hand option in batting, but may restrict India to five bowlers. Sri Lanka’s Injury Woes It’s an injurious start to the series for Sri Lanka, with key pacers Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana out of action. Clearly a case of improvements needed, their struggles in the T20 series were marked by middle-order collapses. A second-string pace attack makes Sri Lanka heavily dependent on their spinners to test India’s strong batting line-up. The team is keen to end a ten-match losing streak against India and provide a boost for their fans. INDIA Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Ꮪhubman Gill, Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana. SRI LANKA Charith Asalanka (Capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga. Match Details The first ODI will start at 14:30 IST and both the teams will be looking to start the series on a winning note. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Swapnil Kusale: The Calm Marksman Inspired by MS Dhoni
Hailing from Kambalwadi village near Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Swapnil Kusale started competing at the international level back in 2012 and finally made his Olympic debut at the Paris Olympics 2024. The 29-year-old shooter hopes to emulate another cricket icon, M S Dhoni, who happened to be a former railway ticket collector. Inspired by Dhoni Kusale, working with Central Railways since 2015, has always been an admirer of former India captain Dhoni because of his calmness and patience, which are two very important virtues for cricket and shooting alike. “I don’t follow anyone specific in the shooting world. Outside of that, I admire Dhoni for the person that he is. My sport requires me to be as calm and patient as he is on the field. I also relate to his story as I am a ticket collector like he was,” Kusale shared. One could see his admiration for Dhoni’s life story as he has watched the biopic of the World Cup-winning cricketer numerous times. Family Support and Local Roots Kusale draws strength from more than just his admiration for Dhoni. His father and brother work as teachers in a district school, and his mother is the sarpanch of Kambalwadi village. It is this strong family foundation that has contributed heavily to his rise through the ranks to the Olympics. An Aim to Win Olympic Medals In a tight qualification, Kusale finished seventh and only ahead of his Czech rivals through counting inner 10s – he scored 38 to their 36. Afterwards Kusale explained his strategy for the event: “Every shot is a new shot. I was just trying to be patient. The whole match I had the same mindset. Just shoot with patience. At the back of the mind, you are thinking about your scores but it is better if you don’t.“ Coach’s Confidence and Peers’ Motivation National coach Manoj Kumar Ohlyan sounded quite confident about Kusale’s prospects in the finals, saying, “He is in a good frame of mind. We are hoping for the best. We just want him to perform the way he did today. He was patient. He is good technically and physically.“ She also took inspiration from fellow shooter Manu Bhaker, who had enjoyed unprecedented success at the Games. “It has been a great experience so far. I love shooting and I am glad that I have been able to do it for so long. Seeing Manu do well gives us a lot of confidence. If she can do it, we can do it too,” Kusale said. Keeping cool, his Dhoni-like patient calm will be equally important as he waits for a final placing, hopefully inside the top three, that will catapult him into the ranks of Indian sport’s high achievers. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye