India at Paris 2024 Olympics, Day 1, as it happened: Manu Bhaker through to final; Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya Sen off to winning starts
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker headlined the opening day proceedings at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Saturday. The 22-year-old finished third in the qualification round of the women’s 10m air pistol event and made it to the final.
The Indian badminton players were off to a good start. Doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won in straight sets, while Lakshya Sen breezed past his opponent too in the men’s singles. However, Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa lost their opening match in the women’s doubles.
The Indian men’s hockey team came out on top of a thrilling tournament opener against New Zealand. Goals from Mandeep Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and captain Harmanpreet Singh helped them edge out the Black Sticks 3-2.
Sarabjot Singh was inches away from securing a place in the men’s 10m air pistol final, but lost out on the count of inner 10s. Arjun Cheema and Rhythm Sangwan (women’s 10m air pistol) were the other shooters who were knocked out in the qualification round.
Boxer Preeti Pawar won her opening bout in women’s 54kg by unanimous decision, while table tennis player Harmeet Desai made it to the main draw of the men’s singles event.
The Indian contingent, however, finished Day 1 without a medal. Their only opportunity for a podium finish was in the 10m air rifle mixed team event, but both the Indian duos in action failed to reach the medal matches.
Badminton: Ponnappa-Crasto defeated in straight sets
Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto lost their opening match of the women's doubles event in straight sets. Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong of the Republic of Korea defeated the Indian duo 21-18, 21-10 in 46 minutes.
Ponnappa-Crasto will face fourth-seeded Japanese pair Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida next on July 29.
Boxing: Preeti Pawar wins by unanimous decision
Preeti Pawar defeated Vietnam’s Vo Thi Kim Anh by unanimous decision in the women's 54kg round of 32 bout.
Kim Anh was on top after the first round, where the judges gave her a 3-2 split lead. However, the Indian boxer made a terrific comeback in the next two rounds to seal a victory on her Olympics debut.
Pawar will face Colombia's Yeni Arias, who is seeded second in this event at Paris 2024.
"Wanted the opponent to fight in my range" - Preeti Pawar
Preeti Pawar had to overcome a deficit after round one, but remained unfazed to pick up a unanimous decision victory in the women's 54kg event round of 32 bout.
It was not nerves. When I went into the ring I was only thinking about what I needed to do. In the first round I wanted to check her range and make her fight in my range, but I ended up losing the first round by split decision.
But I changed my strategy. I needed to pressure her more and in the second and third rounds I forced her to make backward steps and I went forward a lot more.
Hockey: Dilip Tirkey praises Indian team after opening win
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey heaped praise on the men's hockey team after they edged out New Zealand 3-2 in their opening match of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Mandeep Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Harmanpreet Singh scored for India.
Hockey: Harmanpreet scores from spot to seal a win
Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh, the leading goal-scorer at Tokyo 2020, scored the winner for the eight-time Olympic champions in their Pool B match against New Zealand on Saturday.
A dramatic final quarter at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium saw the Black Sticks equalise with seven minutes remaining. However, New Zealand conceded a penalty stroke with under two minutes left and Harmanpreet Singh smashed it to the keeper's right to make it 3-2.
The Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists will face Argentina in their next match on July 29.
"We deserved to win" - Harmanpreet Singh
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh's goal-scoring exploits are underway at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a winner against New Zealand in the Pool B opener for both teams.
I think we deserved it. We are here to win and we are trying to give our best, but New Zealand are also a good team, which defends well and like (to) score. This is (just the) start and we can improve a lot. I'm so happy that I scored, and we are so happy that we scored three goals. But you need to defend as well, so defence is our first priority.
Hockey: Vivek Sagar Prasad scores to put India on top
A strong early attack in the third quarter helped India take lead against New Zealand in the men's hockey Pool B match. Vivek Sagar Prasad scored from close range after keeper Dominic Dixon saved the initial attempts from the Indian forwards.
India lead 2-1 with nearly 20 minutes remaining in the match.
Hockey: Mandeep equalises in second quarter
Forward Mandeep Singh found himself in the right position at the right time, helping India draw level against New Zealand in the Group B match of the men's hockey tournament. Harmanpreet Singh's shot was saved by the Black Sticks' keeper, but Mandeep scored off the rebound to bring the eight-time gold medallists back in the match.
Earlier, Sam Lane scored for New Zealand in the first quarter.
Tennis: Bopanna-Balaji's match postponed
Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji's first round match in the men's doubles tournament is now postponed as weather conditions didn't permit any play on the outside courts.
The Indian pair will be taking on Gael Monfils and Édouard Roger-Vasselin on Sunday.
Hockey: New Zealand score first
India trail at the end of the first quarter against New Zealand by a goal in the Group B match of the men's hockey tournament. Sam Lane scored the goal for the Black Stickets via a penalty corner.
Tejaswin Shankar has a message for the kids!
Badminton: Satwik-Chirag beat French duo in straight games
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty begin their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign with a straight games win. In their men's doubles Group C match, the reigning Asian Games champions defeated host nation's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar 21-17, 21-14 in 46 minutes.
The French pair fought hard with the support of the home crowd, but Satwiksairaj and Chirag eventually sailed through.
The third-seeded Indian pair will play Germany's Marvin Seidel and Mark Lamsfuss next on July 29.
"We love Paris" - Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
Indian duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar in straight sets earlier on Saturday, but the home crowd left no stone unturned in cheering their favourite players.
Satwiksairaj was elated with the support for the sport on the opening day of the Paris 2024 Olympics. He said:
The Parisian crowds always support badminton. Even at 8am, the stadium was fully packed. I love the feeling of playing in front of such a large crowd. They call it 'the city of love', so we love Paris.
The Indian duo is one of the favourites to go all the way in the men's doubles event. Addressing those expectations, Chirag said:
We are not looking that far. The pressure is there for everyone. All 17 pairs who are participating in the Olympics, every single person is under pressure. So we are taking it in our stride, as positively as possible.
Hockey: India name starting XI to face New Zealand
The Indian men's hockey team the most successful in Olympic history with eight gold medals, will kick-start their quest for glory in Paris at 9:00 PM IST.
Harmanpreet Singh, India's leading goal-scorer in a bronze-winning campaign at Tokyo 2020, will be leading the team in France. Manpreet Singh, captain in the last edition, is named in tonight's starting XI.
Indian cricket legend Ravi Shastri is at the Olympics
Badminton: Satwik-Chirag win first game against French duo
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty take the first game 21-17 against France's Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar in the Group C match of the men's doubles tournament.
The home crowd rallied beind Corvee and Labar as they took the game to the third-seeded Indian pair. However, the Asian Games champions eventually bettered their opponents by four points to go 1-0 up in the match.
Badminton: Lakshya Sen off to a winning start
Lakshya Sen is off to a terrific start at the Paris 2024 Olympics, beating Kevin Cordon of Guatemala in straight games. The Group L match of men's singles tournament ended 21-8, 22-20 in 42 minutes.
Sen got off to a flying start after winning the first game 21-8 in only 14 minutes. Cordon pulled things back and took a commanding lead in the second and had four game points. However, the 22-year-old Indian turned things around by winning six points in a row to wrap up the game and match.
Lakshya Sen will play Julien Carraggi of Belgium next on July 29.
Table tennis: Harmeet Desai through to main draw
Harmeet Desai defeated Zaid Abo Yaman of Jordan 11-7, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 in the preliminary round of the men's singles table tennis tournament. The match lasted 30 minutes.
Harmeet is through to the main draw of the men's singles event. He will next face France’s Felix Lebrun, the world No. 5, in the round of 64.
Manu Bhaker ends a two-decade drought
Manu Bhaker is through to the women's 10m air pistol final and her exceptional performance in the qualification round ended a 20-year wait.
Suma Shirur, who reached the final of the 10m air rifle event at Athens 2004, was the last Indian female shooter to make it past the qualification rounds at the Summer Olympics. At Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo, none of the Indian female shooters made it to the finals.
Bhaker herself competed in the women's 10m and 25m air pistol events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but didn't make it past the qualifier round.
Indians in action later today
The Indian contingent have some good news to take out of the opening day in Paris, courtesy of Manu Bhaker's terrific performance in the women's 10 air pistol qualification round. Plenty of action still remaining on Saturday in tennis, hockey, badminton and boxing.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, one of the favourites in the men's doubles tournament, will face French duo Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar in their opening Group C match. Lakshya Sen will be featuring later in the day in men's singles, as well as women's doubles duo Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa.
Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji's men's doubles tennis match remains on halt with rain delaying events happening on outside courts.
The men's hockey tournament is underway, with all the last edition's medallists set for their opening matches today. Tokyo 2020 champions Belgum and silver medallists Australia have won their opening matches, while bronze medallists India will take on New Zealand at 9:00 PM IST.
Boxer Preeti Pawar and table tennis player Harmeet Desai will play their opening round matches too.
Shooting: Manu Bhaker through to 10m pistol final
Shooter Manu Bhaker produces India's first big result in Paris. The former Youth Olympics champion is through to the women's 10 air pistol final.
In the qualification round, Bhaker shot an aggregate score of 580 and finished third. At Tokyo 2020, Bhaker finished 12th in the same event and now is in contention for a medal. Bhaker shot 27 times in the inner 10s, more than any other shooter in the qualification.
Meanwhile, Rhythm Sangwan bowed out of the competition having finished 15th with an aggregate of 573.
Tennis: Rain delays action at Roland Garros Stadium
Adverse weather conditions in Paris have delayed the tennis matches to be played at the Roland Garros Stadium. India's Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji were slated to play the second match on court No. 12, with the first match initially scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM IST.
The Indian duo will face the host nation's Gael Monfils and Édouard Roger-Vasselin in their opening match of the men's doubles event.
Bopanna, entering his third Olympic Games, expressed his excitement to be back in Paris, where he won the mixed doubles Grand Slam title alongside Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski in 2017.
Shooting: Sarabjot Singh finishes ninth in qualification
Indian shooter Sarabjot Singh fell agonisingly short of a place in the men's 10m air pistol final. He finished ninth in the qualification round with an aggregate score of 577 after six series of shooting.
Sarabjot finished on level terms with Walter Robins of Germany, but missed out on a top-eight finish on the count of inner 10s. The German had shot 17 inner 10s to finish eighth, while Sarabjot managed 16.
Arjun Cheema, the other Indian in the event, finished 18th with an aggregate of 574.
Gagan Narang, India’s Chef-de-Mission in Paris and Olympic bronze winner, sums up the emotion.
Tennis: Gael Monfils steps in for doubles match against Bopanna-Balaji
French tennis player Gael Monfils will be replacing Fabien Reboul and will partner Édouard Roger-Vasselin in the men's doubles event. The duo will be facing India's Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji in the first round later today. Reboul has withdrawn himself from the ongoing Summer Games.
Monfils is a renowned name in the singles circuit, having reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the US Open previously.
Bopanna, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, will step on court for the third time at the Summer Olympics on Saturday.
Kazakhstan win first medal of Paris 2024 Olympics, China bag first gold
Kazakhstan shooters Islam Satpayev and Alexandra Le claim the first medal of this edition's Summer Olympics. The duo claimed a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at Chateauroux.
In the bronze medal match, Satpayev and Le defeated Germany's Maximilian Ulbrich and Anna Janssen.
Meanwhile, Lihao Sheng and Yuting Huang of the People's Republic of China bagged the first gold medal at Paris 2024, beating Jihyeon Keum and Hajun Park of the Republic of Korea in the final of the same event.
Three Asian countries have taken the first gold, silver and bronze medals of this edition.
Shooting: Ramita Jindal-Arjun Babuta finish sixth in 10m air rifle mixed team qualification
Indian duo Arjun Babuta and Ramita Jindal missed out on a spot in the medal matches of the 10m air rifle mixed team event, having finished sixth in the qualification round. Ramita and Arjun aggregated a score of 628.7 across three rounds in the qualification.
Sandeep Singh and Elavenil Valarivan, the other Indian pair in this event, finished 12th with an aggregate score of 626.3.
The top four teams in the qualification round to the medal events - top two feature in the gold medal match, while third and fourth-placed teams compete for the bronze medal.
Four other Indian shooters - Manu Bhaker, Rhythm Sangwan, Sarabjot Singh and Arjun Cheema - will be in action later in the 10m air pistol individual events.
Rowing: Balraj Panwar finishes fourth in heats
Rower Balraj Panwar got India's campaign underway at Paris 2024 in the men's single sculls heats.
Balraj finished fourth in Heat 1 having finished his race in 7:07:11 and will be competing in the repechage round tomorrow, where he will get another opportunity to reach the quarter-finals. The top three rowers in each of the heats make it to the quarter-finals.
Opening Ceremony: Sharath Kamal and PV Sindhu led Indian contingent
A little recap from last night, where a glittering Opening Ceremony kicked off the Paris 2024 Olympics. Sharath Kamal, all set for his fifth appearance at the Olympic Games, and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, were India's flag-bearers at the Parade of Nations.
The Indian athletes donned traditional outfits, featuring ikat-inspired prints and Banarasi brocade, designed by Tarun Tahiliani. The men were draped in traditional kurta bundi sets while the women wore sarees.
Some of the biggest names in the sporting world like Zinedine Zidane, Carl Lewis, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Nadia Comaneci, Chares Coste were called upon to carry the torch. Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec were the final torchbearers, who lit up the Olympic flame to commence the world's biggest sporting festival.
Here's what Indian stars PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal had to say yesterday.
India at Paris 2024 Olympics live: Welcome to the blog!
Bonjour and namaste! Welcome to the opening day coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics. A number of Indian athletes, including tennis star Rohan Bopanna will be in action on Saturday at the French capital.
Bopanna, with partner N Sriram Balaji, will take on host nation’s Fabien Reboul and Édouard Roger-Vasselin in their opening match of the men’s doubles tournament. The tennis matches kick off at 3:30 PM IST and the Indian pair is slated to compete in the second match on Court No. 12 at the iconic Roland Garros Stadium.
Indian badminton players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will face French duo Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar in their opening Group C match in the men’s doubles tournament. The match is scheduled to start around 4:30 PM.
Lakshya Sen in men’s singles and Tanisha Crasto-Ashwini Ponnappa in women’s doubles will be playing their opening matches as well.
The shooting contingent will have India’s first medal shot at Paris 2024 on the day. Two Indian pairs - Arjun Babuta-Ramita Jindal and Sandeep Singh-Elavenil Valarivan - will be aiming for the sky in the 10m air rifle mixed team event, which starts at 12:30 PM.
The medal matches for the event will begin from 2:30 PM onwards.
Manu Bhaker will also feature in the qualification round of the women’s 10m air pistol alongside Rhythm Sangwan. In the men’s 10m air pistol qualifiers, Sarabjot Singh and Arjun Cheema, will shoot for a place in the medal round.
The Indian men’s hockey team, bronze medallists at Tokyo 2020, will take on New Zealand in their opening Group B match at 9:00 PM IST.