Indian sailors Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumanan faced challenges in their quest for qualification at the ongoing Paris Olympics. On day four of the men’s and women’s dinghy competitions, Saravanan finished 24th with 24 race points, while Kumanan placed 31st with 31 race points after eight races.
Saravanan’s campaign started promisingly, with a 10th-place finish in race one. However, he slipped to 34th place after race two. Despite a seventh-place finish in race seven, he dropped to 24th after race eight.
Kumanan, who secured India’s second Olympic quota in sailing, also faced setbacks. After a sixth-place finish in race one, she struggled in subsequent races, dropping to 28th place after race four. She managed to improve to 21st place after race seven but slipped to 31st after race eight.
To qualify for the medal race, boats must finish between 1st and 10th place after race 10. With only two races remaining, Saravanan and Kumanan face an uphill battle to secure a spot in the medal race.
Saravanan, who won a bronze medal at the Asian Games last year, secured India’s first sailing quota for the 2024 Olympics in January. Kumanan earned her quota in April at the Last Chance Regatta in France.
Despite the challenges, both sailors remain determined to give their best in the remaining races. They will be hoping to improve their positions and secure a place in the medal race, where they can compete for a podium finish.
