India’s Olympic campaign in Paris 2024 got off to a flying start on Tuesday, with Neeraj Chopra and Vinesh Phogat securing impressive victories.
Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion in javelin throw, qualified for the final with a mammoth throw of 89.34m on his first attempt. This was his second-best throw ever, behind only his 89.94m effort at the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022.
Vinesh Phogat, a three-time Olympian, registered two stunning wins in the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling category. She first defeated Japan’s Yui Susaki, a five-time world champion, in a major upset. Phogat then overcame Ukraine’s Oksana Vasylivna Livach in the quarterfinals to book her place in the semifinals.
Phogat’s victories were particularly significant given her recent struggles. She had been a vocal critic of the former President of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Singh, and had faced backlash for her protests. She also suffered a serious knee injury in 2023, which ruled her out of the Asian Games.
Chopra, who is also the reigning world champion, praised Phogat’s performance, saying, “This is extraordinary. To beat Susaki is unreal. The effort she has put in shows. After what she has been through, I pray for her that she wins a medal.”
Phogat, who narrowly missed a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016, will be aiming to make history in Paris. She is the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the semifinals of an Olympic Games.
India’s strong start to the Paris Olympics is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its athletes. Chopra and Phogat are both medal contenders, and their performances have raised hopes for a successful Games for India.
