Paris Olympics 2024 Day 2 (July 28) Live Updates | Léon Marchand breaks Michael Phelps' 16-year old Olympic record in men's 400m individual medley
Catch all the live actions and updates about the Paris Olympics 2024 Day 2 (July 28) as Léon Marchand breaks Michael Phelps' 16-year-old Olympic record in men's 400m individual medley.
Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's LIVE Coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024. Today, we will bring you all the updates of Day 2 (28th July). Thirteen medals are due to be handed out on Day 2 of Paris 2024.
This is Abishek Goswami, Koushik Biswas will join us later to give you all the updates on Day 2 from our web desk.
Swimming: Léon Marchand breaks Michael Phelps' Olympic record
A new Olympic record!
Yes, you heard me right!
Léon Marchand breaks the men's 400m individual medley Olympic record with a timing of 4:02.95. He breaks Micheal Phelp's previous Olympic record of 4:03.84, set at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Jul 28, 2024, 4:31 PM
Archery: Republic of Korea win women's team gold!
The trio of Lim Si-hyeon, Nam Su-hyeon and Jeon Hun-young won the Gold medal as the Chinese team had to be satisfied with Silver. Mexico peeped over the Netherlands to win the Bronze.
🥇Rep. of Korea 🥈People's Rep. of China 🥉Mexico
This is their 12th consecutive Gold in this event in 12 Olympic Games.
Jul 28, 2024, 4:08 PM
Tennis: Nadal vs Djokovic in second round
Rafael Nadal beats Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-1 4-6 6-4. This means he will see Novak Djokovic in the second round at Paris Olympics 2024.
Basketball: South Sudan win first game in Olympic history!
South Sudan defeated Puerto Rico by 90-79 to win their first match in Olympic History. Their Basketball association was established just 13 years ago and they are winning games at Olympics.
Jul 28, 2024, 3:11 PM
Artistic Gymnastics: USA advance to team final
The U.S. Women score a 172.296 in qualifying to lock in their spot for the Team Final!
Jul 28, 2024, 1:07 PM
Arjun Babuta qualifies for 10m air rifle finals
Indian shooter Arjun Babuta qualifies for the 10m air rifle final at the Olympic Games after finishing seventh in the qualification round. The 25-year-old Babuta scored 630.1 points (105.7, 104.9, 105.5, 105.4, 104.0, and 104.6).
Jul 28, 2024, 1:03 PM
Nikhat Zareen enters pre-quarterfinals with a brilliant win over Kloetzer
Nikhat Zareen advanced to the women's 50kg Olympics pre-quarterfinals with a 5-0 victory over Germany's Maxi Carina Kloetzer.
Jul 28, 2024, 12:16 PM
USA are through to the Artistic Gymnastics Team Finals
Simone Biles and the USA are through as top qualifiers. The team of Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, and Hezly Rivera earned the top score in all but one of the four apparatus to finish with a combined mark of 172.296. They are through to the team final on Tuesday.
✨ that team effort feeling ✨
The U.S. Women score a 172.296 in qualifying to lock in their spot for the Team Final! We’ll keep you updated on individual finals as the remaining subdivisions wrap up later today! pic.twitter.com/RFAZ4Ryo6o
Manika Batra beats Great Britain's Anna Hursey 4-1 (11-8, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 ) to move into the Round of 32 of the women's table tennis singles event.
Jul 28, 2024, 11:29 AM
Simone Biles not stopping
Despite a big step backward after landing, Biles receives another big score: 15.800. She also becomes the first woman to land the vault in an Olympic competition.
Jul 28, 2024, 11:23 AM
Dhinidhi Desinghu shines in 200m Freestyle Heat
Dhinidhi Desinghu, the 14-year-old swimmer, finishes at the top in the women's 200m Freestyle Heat with a timing of 2:06.96.
Jul 28, 2024, 11:22 AM
The G.O.A.T at its best
Simone Biles just smashed her beam routine in women's qualifying. The four-time Olympic gold medallist didn't suffer a single wobble on the apparatus and nailed the landing with the smallest of hops. It's a massive score of 14.733.
Oh Ye Jin (KOR) has just set an Olympic record to win gold. The 2023 World Cup champion scores 243.2 to claim victory ahead of her compatriot Kim Yeji (KOR). It's the first-ever gold medal for Korea in this event.
Jul 28, 2024, 11:05 AM
Manu Bhaker creates history
Manu Bhaker won her nation's first-ever Olympic medal in women's shooting, and India's first medal of Paris 2024.
🥇Oh Ye Jin (KOR): 243.2 OR 🥈Kim Yeji (KOR): 241.3 🥉Manu Bhaker (IND): 221.7
Jul 28, 2024, 9:43 AM
Badminton: Easy win for PV Sindhu
Easy win for Indian ace shuttler PV Sindhu in the first round against Maldives' Fathimath Razzaq in straight sets (21-9, 21-6).
Jul 28, 2024, 9:42 AM
Shooting Update: Ramita in the finals of 10m Rifle event
Brilliant comeback from Ramita to qualify for the finals. 105.3, 105.3, and 105.7 in the last three series, and she goes to the final.
She finished fifth with 631.5 points. Qualification record from Korea's Hyojin Ban.
Jul 28, 2024, 7:14 AM
10m Air Rifle Women's Qualification to start
Elavenil Valarivan, and Ramita Jindal will be in action in 10m Air Rifle Women's Qualification.
Jul 28, 2024, 7:09 AM
Brazil vs Hungary - Handball
The first handball game of the day has started between Brazil and Hungary - it's currently level at 1-1.
Jul 28, 2024, 6:53 AM
Rayssa Leal would love to clinch the gold medal once again
Women's street skateboarding medals will be handed out on Day 2 of Paris 2024. Brazil's Rayssa Leal is the defending champion and will be in action.
Jul 28, 2024, 6:42 AM
Indian athletes on Day 1
Balraj Panwar with a season-best performance 🚣
Indian shooters failing in the mixed event 🔫
Sarabjot Singh failed to qualify in Men's 10m Pistol
Manu Bhaker qualifying for finals 🔫
Lakshya Sen and Sat-Chi in the next round 🏸
Harmeet Desai in the next round 🏓
Indian Men’s Hockey team winning 3-2 against New Zealand 🇳🇿 🏑
Preeti Pawar wins her first bout against Vo Thi Kim Anh of Vietnam 🥊
Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha Crasto exit from Women's doubles in the first round 🏸
AI in Sports: How It's Changing Player Performance & Fan Experience
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence or AI in sports is rapidly growing as it is revolutionizing the experience for both fans and players, bringing significant changes for greater communication.
Artificial Intelligence has been improving the sports we watch and analyze for nearly the past 20 years, but the latest generation of ultra-modern AI tools is revolutionizing every aspect of sports, from improving player and team performances to ensuring safety along with fan engagement and the experiences.
AI can process and store large amounts of data, which allows us to gain insights that we couldn't see before. This capability is at the center of the revolution. For the players, this brings improved strategies, varied training methods, and a significantly lower risk of injury.
The fans enjoy a whole new level of engagement in the game, thanks to Al-powered platforms providing content tailored to them, such as virtual reality experiences and more.
The massive impact of AI in the Sports Industry
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the Sports Industry rapidly by offering solutions to common problems such as individual performance, tactical requirements, injuries and recoveries, variations in training, etc.
The capacity of AI and GenAI tools to analyze complex data and provide instant insights is ushering in a new era of athletic performance and fan engagement as well.
From predictive analytics that improve player safety and performance to AI-powered viewing experiences for fans, the influence of artificial intelligence is setting the bar higher across the industry.
1. Player and team performance
(Image Credit | Markovate)
GenAI can analyze team and player behavior to reach conclusions that would contribute to improved training and coaching. For example, they can monitor and analyze the movements of players with computer vision.
In this way, they can assess whether an athlete is moving wrongly or could be injured. Machine learning algorithms can watch game videos to identify patterns of the opposing team. Sports coaches can be made to develop wiser game plans and strategies by artificial intelligence.
Some techniques, including motion tracking and motion analysis, can capture changes in the posture, movement, or technique of a player that indicte fatigue or poor motor control.
According to a study by Grand View Research, the sports analytics market size was valued at $1.9 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $5.2 billion by 2028, showcasing the rapid growth and demand for advanced analytics tools in sports.
The following two tools are widely applicable to player and team analysis:
SportVU: This system tracks detailed player and ball motion in a game with computer vision and machine learning. It can analyze shot mechanics, accelerations and decelerations, speed, and distance.
KINEXON: This system tracks positional and motion data in real-time by equipping players with sensors.
2. Injury Prediction and Prevention
(Image Credit | Sportsmith)
Injuries occur regularly in professional sports. Identifying and preventing injuries before they even occur is likely one of the most thrilling applications of AI.
Teams can utilize AI algorithms to monitor an individual's motion as they move their joints and strain their muscles. It can search for patterns or instabilities that signify an injury before the symptoms themselves appear.
AI can recognize a slight deviation in the amount of strain a soccer player puts on their knee joint and warn the coaches or medical staff. Way before the injury became acute enough to cause the player to miss games, the team could either give them rest or do exercises to help them recover.
A report by MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global sports medicine market, which incorporates AI-driven health monitoring solutions, is projected to reach $9.3 billion by 2026, underlining the significant role of AI in athlete well-being.
The following two tools could be used in the AI-powered prediction and prevention of injuries:
Sparta Science: It uses computer vision and motion sensing in analyzing movement patterns of an athlete. Based on motion data, biomechanical deficiencies, and especially risks of increased injury, machine learning models are able to identify those.
Zone 7: It measures injury risk using factors such as workload, degree of fatigue, and others through artificial intelligence and research in sports science. Their methods take age, position, body composition, and medical history into account.
3. Training Through AI-Powered Analytics and Wearables
(Image Credit | Sports Tomorrow)
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are examples of wearable technology that have become essential for tracking many of the parameters mentioned earlier.
Wearable GPS devices that can track athletes' speed and location, overall distance traveled, and movement patterns are available to provide relevant information.
Wearable heart rate monitors use optical sensors to measure blood flow in real-time, tracking the heart rate. This is an important aspect of monitoring heart health, fitness levels, and recovery. It also helps in tracking blood oxygen levels, which is another important component of modern-day fitness trackers. They use optical sensors to track the oxygen saturation level of blood.
Since the 2010s, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), such as GPS tracking vests, have been commonly used in professional sports. Such vests are offered with discrete and effective GPS tracking and sensors located on the back and shoulders; they are typically worn as tank tops.
In football and rugby, the vest is mainly utilized to track the location and movement of a player and, thereby, report strengths and weaknesses.
4. Sports Commentary and Reporting
Sports commentary and reporting can automatically be generated from match events and live data by employing natural language processing(NLP) methods like GPT-3. Artificially intelligent commentary not only comments on a strategy but also summarizes the critical events of match play.
Similarly, GenAI can create such highlights, summaries, and post-match data reportage for viewing audiences as well.
NLP methods can make the commentary more dramatic and interesting by taking into account the game statistics and situations in real-time data. With the use of generated personalities and tones, it is possible to accommodate various fan interests in the coverage.
Automated GenAI reporting enhances sports coverage and commentary without losing interesting and captivating stories.
5. Sports Officiating
(Image Credit | Griffon Webstudios)
The use of AI in sports officiating is not without controversy, including traditional backlash and concerns regarding technology's influence on the game. Yet, the improvements it introduces, such as real-time analysis and decision support, are dramatically enhancing the accuracy and fairness of officiating.
Its capabilities to review plays from multiple angles and analyze them in seconds are proving invaluable in high-level games where every call matters.
Despite initial doubts, the use of AI in officiating is increasingly being accepted, with many seeing its potential to eliminate human error and ensure a level playing field.
As the technology improves and its uses extend, its role in assisting fair play and accuracy in sports is poised to increase, ushering in a new era in the use of technology and sportsmanship.
6. Player Scouting
(Image Credit | Intuz)
Team owners are using artificial intelligence to review the performance of the players. To determine the most skilled people to invest in, they use data analysis using artificial intelligence. It takes millions of dollars to find talent in the sports world.
So, team owners would like to ensure that scouting one player is the best decision. Artificial intelligence is used widely in scouting players for any sport, be it cricket, football, or basketball.
AI-powered Change in Fan Engagement and Experiences
1. Personalized Fan Engagement
To provide customised fan experiences, GenAI algorithms can model the preferences and behaviours of audiences. Sports teams and broadcasters can use these insights to optimize engagement across media channels.
For example, social media platforms can deliver tailored video highlights, personalized promotions, and AI-recommended content to resonate with each fan.
The NBA revealed 'NB-AI', allowing fans to activate "movie mode" and watch live games animated like popular films, such as Spider-Man
Based on their past interactions and activities, the Generative AI identifies what content types, sports stats, and topics each fan finds most appealing. It creates and sends personalized content for each person. This level of customization, enabled by GenAI in sports, helps sports organizations connect more deeply with their audiences.
2. Viewing Experiences
GenAI can process live video to generate augmented reality (AR) overlays and graphics that enhance broadcasts or live streams.
For example, shot trajectories, real-time player stats, and situational analysis can be visualized and overlaid onto the gameplay footage. For virtual reality (VR), GenAI can create real-world simulated environments for an immersive in-game perspective.
The key innovation is using Generative AI to dynamically generate and adapt AR/VR overlays and environments on the fly, customized to each moment. As the narrative and action of the game shift, the GenAI-powered augmented experiences shift with them, elevating viewing to multidimensional engagement.
A survey conducted by PwC found that 65% of sports fans are interested in using AR or virtual reality (VR) devices to watch sports, indicating a growing appetite for immersive experiences enabled by AI-driven technologies.
Conclusion
AI collaboration with sports is making the place safer as well as fairer. Predictive modeling and algorithms in AI are becoming a must for injury prevention. AI guarantees that more accuracy and fairness can be introduced in the outcome of a game by enhancing officiating. Both the aspects of performance and integrity are vital components in ensuring the prosperity and popularity of sports continue.
The impact of AI reaches sports journalism, advertising, and the creation of next-gen sports equipment, beyond the field or court. These innovations create new revenue streams and provide more exciting ways for fans to engage with their beloved sports and teams.
In this sense, artificial intelligence in the sports field could be said to be, by itself, a change not only for the athletes or for the coaches but for the sports system in general. With AI, the sports of the future could easily be foreseen because technology would harmoniously mix with manly athleticism at its highest levels.
Puma announces Indian badminton superstar PV Sindhu as its brand ambassador in a multi-year deal, marking the German sports apparel giants' official entry into Badminton.
PUMA has roped in the Indian Badminton sensation PV Sindhuas its new brand ambassador, partnering in a multi-year deal.
The German Sports Apparel brand has chosen India as the first country to expand its orbit in the world of sports, marking its official appearance in Badminton.
Ahead of the announcement, PUMA has executed a pioneering move, changing its brand signage to 'PVMA' at several official stores in the country for almost a week.
PV Sindhu becomes the new brand ambassador of PUMA
PV Sindhu is undoubtedly one of the greatest Indian badminton icons of this generation, surging the excitement of the game into millions of fans in India. The two-time Olympic medalist has achieved numerous accolades throughout her career, popularizing the game among Indian sports fanatics.
Sindhu has not only become the first Indian to conquer five badminton world championship medals, but also she has earned noteworthy honours such as the Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Arjuna Award.
However, Sindhu's unparalleled achievements have injected interest among the youth, and PUMA has adopted the plan to capitalize on the popularity of the 29-year-old.
According to the Google-Deloitte Think Sports report from 2024, India has a growing fanbase of Badminton, which stands at nearly 57 million.
(Image Source | X)
PUMA adopted an unprecedented marketing strategy to draw the interest of Indian sports fans, changing their brand name to 'PVMA' in several stores and many billboards across India for almost a week.
This move left the netizens and fans wondering as some speculated the possibility of onboarding PV Sindhu, whereas the partnership has been made official today.
Many PUMA stores across India have changed their logo and branding to “PVMA”. This change can be seen in the Indian website as well.
However, The partnership between PUMA and Sindhu will debut at the India Open 2025 in New Delhi. This exciting collaboration will bring a high-performance badminton range soon, featuring specialized footwear, apparel, and accessories.
Sindhu has expressed her elation regarding this move, stating the following.
I’m excited to join the PUMA family, a brand that shares my belief in the power of sport to inspire. This partnership with PUMA India isn’t just about being part of something bigger—it is an opportunity to connect with those who value pushing boundaries and embracing challenges.
“Badminton has always been a platform for growth and self-discovery for me, and through this collaboration, I hope to encourage others, especially women, to take risks, believe in themselves, and strive for more—both on and off the court,
Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director of PUMA India, said:
PV Sindhu is a legend and a trailblazer, and we are proud & delighted to welcome her into our PUMA family. She is the most followed badminton athlete in the world. Her extraordinary legacy in Indian sports which includes a lot of historic firsts has not only placed India on the badminton map globally but has also inspired millions, pushed the boundaries, and paved the way for future generations of athletes.
“As we make our first-ever step into badminton, this association will further our goal to increase PUMA’s footprint in the rapidly growing sports landscape in the country, inspiring more youngsters to take up the racquet-sport,
Commonwealth Games 2026: A trailer for permanent shut down?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 faces rejections from Victoria, Australia, and Malaysia due to overwhelming costs, with Glasgow grabbing the opportunity, reducing it to a 10-discipline event.
On Tuesday, the organizers of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 confirmed that only 10 sports will be played in limited venues to keep the finances in check.
A previously proposed event, that had a minimum of 20 disciplines was reduced to half, which has sparked disappointments amongst many Indians. The reason is quite simple. The Indian-dominated sports like badminton, hockey, cricket, and weightlifting have been axed.
Not only that, a sport like squash, which gets major highlights in the CWG due to its absence in the Olympics, has been eliminated.
The IOA (Indian Olympics Association) president, PT Usha, too expressed her despondency towards the decision. But, why?
The point is, how relevant are "Commonwealth Games," previously known as "British Empire Games," in a decolonized era?
The Idea behind Commonwealth Games
Photo courtesy- Getty Images
A brainchild of revered Canadian sportswriter and editor Melville Marks Robinson, the Commonwealth Games had its origin in 1930, bearing an essence of still-accepted colonialism. A total of 54 countries, who were once colonies of the British Empire, participated in this event.
The 2022 version, however, saw 72 nations participating.
Inspired by the 1911 Inter Empire Championships, this unique event has been hosted across nine countries. Australia and Canada lead with five editions each.
Standing in 2024, when the phrase "third-world country" seems nonexistent, who would ever succumb to the pre-established boot-licking attitude toward the English, that too spending some billion dollars for hosting?
Finance definitely raises eyebrows, but the motto it has been carrying for so long should come into question, even in countries like India.
U-turn from Australia to Glasgow
Opening Ceremony in the Gold Coast CWG, 2018
Australia, a country that has hosted the event at least five times, has denied hosting it. Initially, it was Victoria's assignment to conduct the event. However, the arrangement costs skyrocketed from an estimated Aus$2 billion to an alarming Aus$7 billion.
Premier Daniel Andrews, in the press conference in Melbourne, clearly stated that he would never dare to pluck in a huge sum from the funds of hospitals and schools for a sporting event.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) scrambled to find a replacement, offering Malaysia£100 million to step in. Even with such a hefty financial contribution, Malaysia turned down the offer, citing insufficient preparation time and the prohibitive costs of hosting the event.
Even Canada's Alberta province last year withdrew its support for a bid for the 2030 Games.
Financial Suffering
The rejections have somehow brought in a raw, uncut picture to the world. The sentiments, accompanied by the suffering, take a long time to recover.
Countries are unwilling to foot the massive bill for an event, even when provided with financial assistance. The event brings in little to no economic return and dwindling global interest.
The Commonwealth Games, which seemed like a prestigious event, has been a burden — a relic of the past whose significance is diminishing in a world with far more pressing priorities.
Glasgow steps in
Opening Ceremony in 2014 CWG
Following the repeated rejections, there was a point when the Commonwealth Games future looked uncertain for the 2026 version. Countries backing out brought clouds of a postponed tournament before its centenary year in 2030.
At that point, Glasgow stepped in. Glasgow had its experience of hosting a CWG, as it did in 2014. This time, it made the event easy.
Glasgow decided to host a severely pared-down version of the CWG in 2026, with 4 venues in an 8-mile radius. Not only that, the number of participants will also be restricted.
Birmingham's Commonwealth Games: A Legacy of Financial Strain?
Birmingham stepped up to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games when Durban withdrew, promising a grand event to boost the city. However, financial issues soon arose, leading to political tension and public concern.
Max Caller, former adviser to Birmingham City Council, called the decision to host the Games "a mistake" amidst longstanding financial problems. Hosting the event diverted attention from the council’s critical issues, including a £760 million bill for equal pay claims and a botched IT system that may cost £100 million to fix.
While the Games were an "amazing event," their financial aftermath sparked debates, with citizens worried about budget cuts affecting essential services. Community centres, libraries, and even the famed German Christmas Market could face closures as the council struggles with bankruptcy.
But is finance the real concern?
India had hosted the 2010 CWG, followed by financial turmoil in the country. It took years for the country to overcome. India has now successfully bid for the Olympics 2036.
Hosting the Olympics has also led to never-ending financial scars for many countries. Athens is a prominent name in that.
But yet, countries hardly step back to host it. Is it really the finances or the pride that pushes them to bid for the Olympics?
Will India suffer from the reduction?
Manpreet Singh and PV Sindhu—flagbearers for the Indian contingent at the 2022 CWG
In the idealistic world of sport, India shouldn't. In such a situation, the question comes: how relevant is CWG to the sporting world?
With the rising popularity of the Asian Games that have dominated countries like China and the Olympics, which is the oldest and largest form of multidisciplinary sports event, CWG falls short in both glamour and relevance.
The limited exposure giving year-old consolation to the country with an "international medal" has been falling short repeatedly in the Olympics. The count of CWG medalist athletes who have earned a medal in the Olympics is relatively low. A Mirabai Chanu, a PV Sindhu, or a NeerajChopra is countable.
When at one corner, it is justified to be upset knowing that Indian dominance has been restricted, then at the other corner, another question gets tossed—why does India need going-to-be-abolished events to prove its excellence?
India, which takes pride in being a sporting excellence and a country that tried to push cricket hard in the Olympics, should think if it's really dominant or not.
Does Commonwealth participation assure greatness?
Usain Bolt, at his peak point in his career, decided to participate only in the 4x100m relay in Glasgow (2014). Not only that, he was nowhere in New Delhi (2010) too, despite India's desperate request to have him.
Sir Chris Hoy, too, stayed away from the Delhi games because a win wouldn't have added any decorated feather to his already stellar career.
In the harshest reality, a hundred medals won't assure at least 50 medals in the Asian Games itself. Olympics are out of reach!
Medal tally for India in CWG, in its popular sport
"Looking at the Olympics performance, its unfortunate that we didn’t win a medal": Mary Kom hints to make a comeback in Pro-Boxing
Notably, so far only three Indian boxers have won medals in the Olympics – Vijender Singh (bronze in Beijing 2008), Mary Kom (bronze in London 2012) and Lovlina Borgohain (bronze in Tokyo 2020).
Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom expressed disappointment over the poor performance of Indian boxers in the Paris Olympics 2024. She said that being a medal winner, it is natural that she feels bad.
India had sent a team of six boxers to the Paris 2024, which included two men and four women. It also included Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain and world champion Nikhat Zareen.
Mary Kom expressed her desire to re-enter professional boxing
Mary Kom expressed her desire to re-enter professional boxing, stating, "I am planning to make a comeback.I will try to make a comeback in pro-boxing." In the same event, she shared her happiness in participating in sports-promoting events but remained concerned about India's performance at the Olympics.
'We will assess what needs to be done'
Mary Kom told IANS during the Army Sports Conclave, "Looking at the Olympics performance, its unfortunate that we didn’t win a medal in the 2024 Olympics. We will assess what needs to be done moving forward and what shouldn’t be done,"
India's boxing campaign was disappointing
Lovlina (women's 75kg) missed out on a historic second medal at the Paris Olympics and lost to China's Li Qian in the quarterfinals. At the same time, in the men's 71 kg category, Nishant Dev had reached the quarter-finals, but he had to face defeat from Marco Verde of Mexico.
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (women's 50kg), Commonwealth Games champion Amit Panghal (men's 51kg) and Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg) lost in the round of 16 in their respective categories. Jasmine Lamboria (women's 57 kg) was eliminated in the round of 32. Overall, India's Paris Olympics boxing campaign was disappointing.
"As a world champion and medallist myself, its natural to feel disappointed. We'll focus on more practice and hard work for the upcoming tournaments," Mary Kom added.
Only three boxers achieved olympic medal
Notably, so far only three Indian boxers have won medals in the Olympics – Vijender Singh (bronze in Beijing 2008), Mary Kom (bronze in London 2012) and Lovlina Borgohain (bronze in Tokyo 2020).
Indian Badminton players struggle with the slow court: Here is why
Indian Badminton players even after dominating in the Asian countries fail repeatedly in countries like Europe and Olympic stages. What can be the underlying problem?
The contemporary Indian Badminton has so far gained the popularity in its country. However, certain issues need to be resolved. The biggest concern lies in the shuttlers facing a different environment in the non-Asian Countries. The major problem they face is the thick and slower court.
This issue had made India short of many assured medals by whiskers. Be it peak Kidambi Srikanth missing his World Title in 2017 to Reddy-Shetty failing in big tournaments.
How do Indian and Asian Courts differ from European Courts?
The Asian Summers
Speaking about the weather in the Asian summers, it is humid. The Asian stadia provide full on air-conditioned courts for athletes.
Air-conditioned rooms are marked favorable for shuttles, as the shuttles fly faster here. Here are the reasons:
Lower air density: Air conditioning reduces temperature and humidity, resulting in denser air with fewer air molecules. This decrease in air resistance allows shuttlecocks to travel faster.
Reduced air turbulence: Air conditioning systems circulate and filter the air, minimizing turbulence and air pockets that can slow down the shuttlecock.
Consistent airflow: Air conditioning maintains a consistent airflow, reducing unpredictable air currents that can affect shuttlecock trajectory.
Lower humidity: Dry air reduces the shuttlecock's drag coefficient, enabling it to fly faster.
This helps the athletes to maintain faster rallies and increased smashes with an attacking play. The also helps them to read the speed and work on their reaction time'
Added to this, the enhthralling supporters add more fuel to the pagddlers when tired.
European winters
European winters contradics the humid weather. Unlike the windy weather here, the air feels cal, slow and still.
Slow and still air significantly impacts shuttlers' performance, technique, and strategy. it included different physical challenges along with rectified techniques and strategies.
The challanges a shuttler faces due to these conditions are as follows:
Reduced shuttlecock speed: Slower reactions, less power.
Increased drag: Shuttles dip and drop unexpectedly.
Unpredictable trajectory: Difficulty judging distance and direction.
Fatigue: Players expend more energy to generate power.
However, these are the "negetives" bigger stages like Olympics, offer.
Slow court, A Bane to the Shuttlers
Here are some instances when paddles were denied their crown due to the courts' behaviour.
2017 Kidambi Srikanth, a fast court specialist in India missed his Worlds Title in the slow Glaswegian conditions. The slow pitch defied from the title as the Korean Son Wan-ho defeated him in the quarterfinal.
Tanvi Patri, a 13 year old rookie got defeated in Thailand's sluggish pitch last December. The thick air denied her speed, showing a red alert that she needs to gain some strength.
And the most discussed duo- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty. Right now, Reddy-Shetty is the finest doubles player in Indian Badminton periphery. Reddy still has his world fastest smash of 493km/hr. Even then, this duo cannot assert full power in slow court. And thus, they lost a few of the most serious and well-deserved titles.
Demands of Sluggish Pitches
Slow and still air significantly impacts shuttlers' performance, techniques, and strategies. Someone who was been trained on faster courts will find it difficult to adapt to the conditions if exposed.
The shuttles face certain physical changes that are listed below:
Reduced shuttlecock speed: Slower reactions, less power.
Increased drag: Shuttles dip and drop unexpectedly.
Unpredictable trajectory: Difficulty judging distance and direction.
Fatigue: Players expend more energy to generate power.
An athlete thus needs to make a few technical adjustments to combat the challenges.
Slower stroke speed: Compensate for reduced shuttlecock speed.
Increased wristwork: Generate power and control.
Softer touches: Reduce shuttlecock's descent.
More spin: Control shuttlecock trajectory.
The strategic changes include:
Patient play: Waiting for opportunities to attack.
Defensive focus: Exploiting opponents' struggles.
Net play: Using precise, soft shots.
Angle play: Creating sharp angles to disrupt opponents.
Effects on a few notable Shots:
Smashes: Less effective due to reduced power.
Clear shots: More difficult to execute.
Drops: Harder to control.
Slow Court? Not an Issue!
Not an old story when Lakshya Sen lost to Victor Axelsen in the Olympics semi-final. Slower Courts like that in Europe, especially in stages like Olympics demand patience and exquisite footwork, with strong defence. Lakshya had his defence in the checklist, but his footwork was still a sore in his throat. The Denmark giant was a set ahead when Lakshya fought but lost to nerves.
Lakshya Sen shaking hands with Victor Axelsen after being defeated in the Olympics Semifinal. (AP)
The bronze medal match had all these including his exposed injury in his smashing hand. The defence he has can aid in this condition but muscular opponents are still a challange to him.
The other veteran on court H.S. Pranoy is a clever lad with versatile techniques. He has got his techniques handy to combat the sluggishness. He thus not only won in Malaysia, but has a Worlds medal round his neck.
Two-time Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhuwith her blazing power heft and work rate till 2019, defies these challanging conditions. The Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal with her sturdy power smash overshadowed her limitations in court coverage capabilities.
Indian Approach
India has a love for stroke-making. Even though it is aesthetically pleasing, it question the practicality in World Badminton.
With the October ticks in, the Europe session starts. The badminton camp then comes back and does a wide India-hoping, visiting smallcities playing number of tournaments! But how that that judge their efficiency in slow courts!
The slow courts host a major number of important international tournaments. With India not getting enough time their will never expire the frustration of them not getting medals.
Rookies like Priyanshu Rajawat will depend more on strokeplays like his ancestor Srikant used todo. Not failing the later, Rajawat will succumb to frustrating errors, missing points. Srikant had Son Wan-ho, but Rajawat will have way more equipped opponents- Kunlavut Vitidsarn and of Kodai Naraoka.
Its high time for Indian to spend more time on slow courts, count quality over quantity, in order to not miss any well deserved title in fututre,