Paris Olympics 2024: Mirabai Chanu misses medal by a whisker, Vinesh Phogat disqualified on disappointing day for India

India’s difficult campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics continued on Wednesday as the country’s athletes endured yet another medal-less day. The day began with heart-break after wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who had made it to the final of the women’s 50 kg category, was found to be overweight by 100 grams on the second day of the weigh-in.

Vinesh was eventually disqualified from the Gold medal contest and Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who ad lost to Vinesh in the semi-finals, took on USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt, who eventually won gold with a 3-0 win over the Cuban.

On Tuesday, Vinesh had gone on to beat Japan’s Yui Susaki, Ukraine’s Aksana Lavich and Cuba’s Guzman en route to the final, but the title clash was not meant to be.

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The United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic responded to the issue, saying that it was “impossible” to even give Vinesh a silver medal, adding that “rules are rules”.

Also read | In Vinesh Phogat’s constant battle with destiny, a comeback is guaranteed

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha later said that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had appealed to the UWW to overturn Phogat’s disqualification.

There was more heartbreak for India on Wednesday. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who had won silver in Tokyo Olympics, missed out on a medal in the women’s 49 kg category by the narrowest of margins —1 kg.

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Mirabai lifted a total of 199 kg across both the snatch and the clean-and-jerk round, but that was 1 kg lesser than that of Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao, who won bronze with a lift of 200 kg.

Also read | Mirabai Chanu left standing alone at doorstep of glory after 4th-place heartbreak

Mirabai began with an attempt of 85 kg in the snatch round and eventually lifted 88 kg in that round. She was initially listed at 107 kg in the clean-and jerk round, but would go onto lift 111 kg to bring her aggregate total of 188 kg. Yet, that was still not enough as her Thai opponent registered 112 in the clean-and-jerk to bring her total to 200 kg.

In men’s 3000m steeplechase event, Avinash Sable finished in 11th place with a timing of 8:14.8s. Sable had been in the lead for a brief time during the earlier stages of the race, but his opponents were just too strong for him. Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali won gold, whereas Kenneth Rooks of USA and Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya took silver and bronze respectively.

In women’s 100m hurdles, Jyothi Yarraji finished seventh in her heat with a timing of 13.16 seconds ad will participate in the repechage round next. Annu Rani scripted a throw of 55.81m n the women’s javelin throw qualification, but that was not enough for her to go through to the final.

In men’s triple jump qualification, Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker failed to advance after finishing with jumps of 16.25m and 16.49m respectively.

In table tennis, the India women’s team consisting of Sreeja Akula, Manika Batra and Archana Kamath went down to Germany 1-3 in the quarter-finals.

Let’s now take a look at India’s results from 7 August in detail:

Athletics

Mixed Marathon Walk Relay (Medal round): Priyanka Goswami and Suraj Panwar – did not finish

Men’s High Jump (Qualification): Sarvesh Kushare – 2.15m (three misses in 2.20m). Does not qualify

Women’s 100m Hurdles (Round 1): Jyothi Yarraji – seventh in her heat with time of 13.16 seconds. Goes into repechage round

Women’s Javelin Throw (Qualification): Annu Rani with best throw of 55.81m. Does not qualify

Men’s Triple Jump (Qualification): Abdulla Aboobacker Narangolintevida and Praveen Chithravel fail to qualify after registering best attempts of 16.49m and 16.25m respectively.

Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase (Final): Avinash Sable finishes 11th with a timing of 8:14:18.

Golf

Women’s Individual (Round 1): Aditi Ashok is tied 13th and Diksha Dagar is tied 7th after Round 1 of the women’s individual golf tournament.

Table tennis

Women’s Team (Quarter-final): India (Sreeja Akula, Manika Batra and Archana Girish Kamath) lose 1-3 vs Germany

Wrestling

Women’s Freestyle 53kg (1/8 Finals): Antim Panghal loses 0-10 by technical superiority vs Zyenep Yetgil

Weightlifting

Women’s 49kg (Medal round): Saikhom Mirabai Chanu finishes fourth with a total score of 199kg (88 in snatch and 111 in clean-and-jerk) and narrowly misses out on a medal.