Dutt, bronze medal victor in the previous Games in London four years ago, failed to sign off his Olympic career with a podium finish, losing in the opening round to Mongolian Ganzorigiina Mandakhnaran whose quarterfinal defeat dashed the Indian’s hopes of a second career bronze through repechage.
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Just two days after India opened their account, ace shuttler P V Sindhu scripted history by becoming country’s first woman athlete to clinch an Olympic silver medal.
Pullela Gopichand, who is being praised for both putting efforts in lifting Sindhu as well as badminton fraternity, can be seen sharing the frame with the two champions.
The 21-year-old lanky shuttler from Hyderabad produced a flawless blend of power and precision to register a 21-19, 21-10 win over reigning All England singles champion Nozomi Okohura of Japan in a thrilling women’s singles contest on Thursday.
Malik, a 23-year-old wrestler from the northern state of Haryana, defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova in the 58 kilogram freestyle. By embracing the rarely-attempted “death vault” (Produnova), Dipa showed the world that she was prepared to risk everything to win laurels for the country.
Taking a cue from Malik’s speech, India’s flag carrier airline Air India has now offered her two business-class return tickets for Malik and her chosen companion to any destination across the globe in the airline’s existing network. Beijing gold medallist Bindra all signed off with a bronze.
Shooters, archers and tennis and hockey players flattered to deceive, once again.
Expectations were high from Yogeshwar after he was touted as a strong medal prospect.
“If things are not going our way we need to find ways to make things better”. The world largely ignored India till Sakshi and Sindhu came to the party.
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Shooter Jitu Rai belied the hopes of several officials for a medal when he ended up eighth in 10m air pistol final after playing brilliantly throughout the qualifying round. “She has really done well and made the country proud”, he said at a Healthcare summit he attended in New Delhi. Babar finished 10th in the finals.
