Day 1 of the Paris Olympics 2024: Live Updates Manu Bhaker Shines: Women’s 10m Air Pistol Finals Beckon
Day one of the grandiose Paris Olympics 2024 is in full swing. Spearheading India’s robust participation are rower Balraj Panwar and an array of adept shooters. The Indian men’s hockey squad is also set to commence their pursuit against New Zealand. Enthralling contests in badminton, tennis, and table tennis are also on the docket.
As for immediate medal prospects, only one final on Saturday holds promise for India: the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event in shooting. Among the hopefuls embarking on their journey are notable medal contenders Satiwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in men’s doubles badminton.
Olympic Update: Iga Swiatek Progresses
World number one, Iga Swiatek, carved out a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu to advance to the second round of the rain-interrupted tennis tournament on Saturday. The 23-year-old Swiatek, returning to Roland Garros where she recently clinched her fourth French Open title, benefitted from the shelter of Court Philippe Chatrier’s roof.
First Olympic Final for Manu Bhaker
Displaying supreme confidence, Manu Bhaker has soared into the 10m women’s air pistol final, providing a beacon of hope after a lukewarm start for India in shooting. The 22-year-old Bhaker amassed a score of 580, securing third place in the qualifications, with Hungarian ace Veronika Major leading with 582. Rhythm Sangwan, another Indian competitor, concluded in 15th place with a score of 573. Bhaker’s final is slated for Sunday.
Manu Bhaker’s Quest for Gold
Scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 PM IST, Manu Bhaker’s 10m Air Pistol final will be a test of her mettle. Despite her experience, the pressure of the Olympic finals can be daunting. Staying composed and focused will be key to her pursuit of glory.
Rhythm Sangwan Misses Out
Rhythm Sangwan did not qualify for the final, finishing 15th in the women’s 10m air pistol qualification. Her scores across the six series were 97, 92, 97, 96, 95, and 96.
Manu Bhaker Secures Final Spot
Manu Bhaker impressed with another 96 in her sixth series. Her scores were 97, 97, 98, 96, 96, and 96, culminating in a total of 580 points. This achievement marks India’s first entry into the finals at the Paris Games. The final featuring Bhaker is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 PM IST.
Rhythm Sangwan Struggles to Qualify
Rhythm Sangwan’s score of 95 in the fifth series kept her within the top 20, but she remains far from the top 8 needed to qualify for the finals, currently standing at 19th position.
Manu Bhaker on Track for Finals
With another solid performance of 96 in the fifth series, Bhaker remains in contention, needing to stay in the top eight to secure a final spot.
Women’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification: Manu’s Strong Start
Manu Bhaker’s consistent scores of 97, 97, and 98 in the early rounds have placed her in the second spot. Rhythm Sangwan’s early scores included a strong 97, but she stumbled with a 92, dropping to 26th position.
Medal Tally Update: China Leads
As the games progress, China remains the sole nation with a gold medal tally so far.
Opening Day Highlights for India
India’s presence on the opening day included notable performances in rowing and shooting, with Balraj Panwar finishing fourth in Heat 1 of Men’s Single Sculls and the shooting team vying for spots in the finals.
South Korean Misidentification
The opening ceremony’s celebrations were marred by an unfortunate incident where the 143-member South Korean team was mistakenly introduced as North Korea. The IOC has since issued an apology for the error.
India’s Shooting Aspirations
Manu Bhaker and Rhythm Sangwan began their qualifications with hopes of securing India’s first final entry in shooting. Despite early challenges, Bhaker’s consistent performance has kept her in contention.
Weather-Delayed Tennis Opener
Rain has delayed India’s men’s doubles tennis opener, with Bopanna and Balaji’s match against Monfils and Roger-Vasselin postponed.
Hockey and Other Sports
India’s men’s hockey team will face New Zealand later today, while the Belgian team in India’s pool has secured a 2-0 victory over Ireland. Australia will play Argentina next.
Men’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification: Near Misses
Sarabjot Singh narrowly missed the final qualification spot, finishing ninth with a score of 577. Arjun Singh Cheema placed 18th with 574.
First Gold Medal Awarded
China clinched the first gold medal of the Games in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event, defeating South Korea.
Qualification Rounds Continue
Sarabjot and Arjun showed promise in the early rounds of the men’s 10m air pistol qualification but fell short of the top eight needed for the finals.
Badminton Highlights
China’s He Bing Jiao quickly advanced in the women’s singles badminton, defeating Azerbaijan’s Keisha Fatimah Azzahra in just 29 minutes.
Finals and Medal Hopes
India’s best hopes for medals lie in the finals of shooting events, with the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event being a significant focus today.
India’s Olympic Journey
India’s storied history in Olympic hockey and shooting continues, with high hopes from a 21-member shooting contingent aiming to end a 12-year medal drought.
Today’s Schedule for India
Highlights include matches in rowing, shooting, tennis, badminton, table tennis, and boxing, with significant medal hopes in shooting and badminton.
Opening Ceremony Recap
India’s contingent, led by Achanta Sharath Kamal and PV Sindhu, made a grand entry during the unique Seine river opening ceremony.
A Promising Start
India’s athletes have begun their Olympic quest with determination, aiming to surpass their best-ever medal tally from the Tokyo Games and achieve a landmark presence in the global sports arena.
