Sumit Antil, who has participated in able-bodied events including the Indian Grand Prix, said his goal is to qualify for both the Paralympic Games and the Olympics in 2024 and he will begin his training once he returns to India. Indian javelin thrower Sumit Antel now wants to compete against able-bodied athletes at the Paris Olympics three years from now. The 23-year-old from Sonipat shown his impressive performance on Monday when he broke his own world record not once but five times to take gold in the men's F64 javelin with a throw of 68.55 meters. Antel, who has participated in able-bodied events including the Indian Grand Prix, said his goal is to qualify for both the Paralympic Games and the Olympics in 2024 and will begin his training once he returns to the country. During my training, I have been touching the 70m-mark. And I dream of throwing between 75 to 80m and that should be enough to compete amongst the able-bodied athletes. “I wish to take part in both the Olympics and Paralympics. That’s my dream,” Antil, who lost his left leg below the knee after he was involved in a motorbike accident in 2015, said in a release issued by Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). “Once I return from Tokyo, I will be training for that for sure,” he added. If Sumit is allowed to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, he will compete against countryman Neeraj Chopra, who recently won gold medal in men's javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics. Interestingly, as the son of a JWO officer in the Indian Army, Antel competed against Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra in the able-bodied 3rd series of the Indian Grand Prix on March 5 at Patiala, where he finished seventh with a best throw of 66.43 meters. On Tuesday, Antel broke the previous world record of 62.88 meters, which is also set by him, five times a day. His last throw was a foul. His series read 66.95, 68.08, 65.27, 66.71, 68.55 and foul.Also Read- Shooter Avani Lekhara First Indian Woman To Win Gold At Paralympics"At the 2019 World Para-Athletics Championships, I settled for silver. I always wanted to win the gold medal," said Antel, who was inspired by Neeraj Chopra medal show. "My coach told me to be aggressive at the Paralympic Games. I'm glad I was able to finally come out with a good performance and inspire the upcoming generation." It was very hot and humid that day in Tokyo, but Antil never looked bothered. "During the pandemic, I got special permission from the Sports Authority of India to train at home. I was prepared for all conditions - hot and humid. I trained late at night and this paid off well," said Antel, who hails from Sonepat. The Haryana athlete now hopes that Paralympic gold will give him a job once he returns to India. "Currently, I am unemployed and I am doing full-time training but I hope to get a job after this. Let's see what happens when I return to India," he signed off.Also Read- US Open 2021: Naomi Osaka kicks off title defence with straight sets win over Marie Bouzkova
The Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics will be the largest event ever arranged in France. The Olympics are scheduled for 26 July to 11 August 2024, during which Paris will be at the heart of the global spotlight, not just in sports, but also in other aspects. The Games, embraced by people worldwide, are a beloved multicultural event that offers France a unique and unprecedented experience.OLYMPIC GAMES IN A FEW FIGURESBillions of television viewers worldwide350,000 hours of TV broadcastMillions of spectators35 venues10,500 athletes20,000 accredited journalists45,000 volunteers+600,000 meals served at the Athletes’ Village every dayPARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES KEY FIGURESThe XXXIII Olympiad26 July to 11 August 202419 days of competition (handball, football and rugby take place from 24 July)329 eventsAthletes from over 200 NOCs and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team32 sports (including the 4 additional sports)754 sessions (competitions and ceremonies)10,500 athletesWANT TO LEARN MORE?Additional sportsParis 2024 has utilized the chance given by the IOC through the Olympic Agenda 2020 to suggest more sports to improve its program and overall idea. The IOC is eager to establish a fresh guideline for Games that are inclusive, gender-balanced, and focused on youth. Paris 2024 presented its plan to the IOC to include four extra sports linked to youth and celebrating both creativity and athletic achievement. Sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing are all set to make their Olympic debut, breaking into the world of the Games. All four are simple to adopt and members create highly engaged communities on social platforms.Leaving a legacyHosting the largest event globally will inevitably bring about changes to our country. Paris 2024 aims for sport values to integrate into everyday life and demonstrate that we can reach excellence while promoting sustainability.Our venue conceptDue to its unique characteristics, Paris is set to offer a full spectacle during the Games, catering to athletes, spectators, and TV viewers.Paris's famous landmarks are being turned into sports venues to give spectators a unique experience and serve as a remarkable setting for athletic talent. This special idea shapes our blueprint for the 35 locations.The Games championed by athletesParis 2024 aims to host a event that is planned by and for the athletes. We have established the Athletes' Commission in order to provide them with a platform to speak out. Each Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee has one, but Paris 2024 has chosen to expand its focus.Also Read: Check out five significant types of swimming styles!
India finished 48th in the Tokyo Olympics medals table with 1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze medals. This total tally of seven medals marks India's best performance at the Olympics to date. The expectations for the Paris Olympics are high, with hopes of rising from the top 50 in Tokyo to potentially breaking into the top 30. However, according to medal projections by Nielsen's Gracenote Sports, a provider of statistical analysis, India is not expected to be in the top 30.As usual, the United States is anticipated to win the most medals, although China may surpass them in terms of gold medals, according to Gracenote's predictions. The United States is projected to win 112 medals in total, comprising 39 gold, 32 silver, and 41 bronze. China is expected to secure 86 medals, including 34 gold, 27 silver, and 25 bronze.In the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021 due to the pandemic, the United States topped both the overall medal count and the gold medal tally, leaving China in second place. Gracenote bases its rankings on the total number of medals won, although some other rankings prioritize the number of gold medals earned.The United States is projected to lead the medal count for the eighth consecutive Summer Games. The last time the US did not top the overall medal count was in 1992 in Barcelona, when the Unified Team, comprised of athletes from the dissolved Soviet Union, took the top spot. The last time the US didn't secure the highest number of gold medals was in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.Following the United States and China, the countries expected to perform well in both overall and gold medal counts are: Britain (63 total, 17 gold), France (60 total, 27 gold), Australia (54 total, 15 gold), Japan (47 total, 13 gold), Italy (46 total, 11 gold), Germany (35 total, 11 gold), Netherlands (34 total, 16 gold), and South Korea (26 total, 9 gold).Rounding out the top 20 are: Canada (21 total, 7 gold), Hungary (20 total, 7 gold), Brazil (18 total, 8 gold), Spain (18 total, 5 gold), Poland (17 total, 3 gold), Denmark (14 total, 5 gold), Turkey (14 total, 4 gold), New Zealand (14 total, 4 gold), Ukraine (13 total, 2 gold), and Ethiopia (12 total, 6 gold).France, as the host nation, is expected to see its medal count soar, potentially tripling their gold medal haul from the Tokyo Games. The medals for the Paris Olympics will be unique, featuring a small piece of the iconic Eiffel Tower embedded within them.Hosting the Olympics often leads to increased investment in sports and the advantage of competing on home turf, boosting athletes' performances. For instance, Japan achieved a record-breaking 58 total medals, including 27 gold, when they hosted the Tokyo Olympics. However, their medal count is likely to decrease this time around.The suspension of Russian and Belarusian participation due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is expected to have an impact. In the previous Tokyo Olympics, over 300 Russian athletes competed, but this time, their numbers may be reduced to just a handful, competing as 'Neutral Athletes' and not representing their respective countries. The IOC has mandated that any medals won by these athletes will not be included in the official medal table.Also Read: Paris 2024 Olympics - Latest News, Schedules & Results
India’s Neeraj Chopra has breezed through to the men’s javelin final after an impressive qualification round.The 26-year-old qualified in first place with a season-best throw of 89.34m.“It was a good throw. Maybe the biggest ever in qualifying for me. All the throwers look in good shape. The final will be a really good competition for sure,” he said after qualifying.Chopra will be looking to add yet another medal to his growing list of achievements in Paris, as he continues to cement himself as one of the brightest talents in track and field.After winning Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago – the first Asian athlete to do so in the javelin – Chopra was crowned world champion in Budapest last year, becoming the first Indian to win a world title in a track and field event of any kind.It perhaps comes as no surprise, given his historic career to date, that the understated athlete has proven a hit back in India.Also Read: Which country will win most medals at Paris Olympics?
Paris Olympics 2024, Day 11 Live Updates: Vinesh Phogat stunned Olympic champion Yui Susaki and then won her quarterfinal bout as well in women's 50kg wrestling. She is now one win away from confirming her first Olympic medal. Meanwhile, Neeraj Chopra qualified for the men's javelin final with a monster throw of 89.34m in his first attempt.Paris Olympics 2024, Day 11 Live Updates:Vinesh Phogat, looking for her first medal in her third Olympic appearance, started off in extraordinary fashion, stunning defending champion and the seemingly inconquerable Yui Susaki of Japan to go through to the women's 50kg quarterfinal. She then went on to win her quarterfinal bout as well and is now just one win away from confirming at least a silver medal for herself. Meanwhile, Neeraj Chopra started his gold medal defence by qualifying for the final in men's javelin with a monster throw of 89.30m in his first attempt itself. Earlier, Meanwhile, the men's table tennis team lost to China in the pre-quarterfinal.Vinesh now faces 2018 world championship bronze medallist Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarterfinal. Vinesh was the medal contender at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 for India. Her campaign in 2016 came to an end due to a career-threatening injury during the tournament while she missed out on a medal in Tokyo and later revealed that she was managing another injury during the tournament.Day 10 turned out to be a rollercoaster of emotions for India with athletes from the country finishing in fourth places in two different events. Badminton star Lakshya Sen, looking to become the first Indian man to win a singles medal at the Olympics and the third from his country to do so overall, got off to a good start but ultimately lost 21-13 16-21 11-21 defeat against Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia. In shooting, Maheshwari Singh, Anant Jeet Singh reached the bronze medal match of mixed skeet, but lost in the medal encounter.In table tennis, India managed to seal a 3-2 win vs Romania in the team round of 16 and booked a quarter-final berth. In athletics, Kiran Pahal finished in seventh position in her Round 1 heat of women's 400m, and into the repechage stage. Meanwhile, Avinash Sable bagged fifth spot in men's 3000m steeplechase Round 1 Heat 2, and is through to the final. Nisha Dahiya was left extremely disappointed in wrestling, losing to North Korea's Pak Sol Gum in the quarters. She sustained a shoulder injury and is also out of repechage, which was confirmed after Pak's semi-final defeat.Also Read: Neeraj Chopra, who has gained unlikely stardom in India, closes in on another javelin success
Paris Olympics: Heartbreaking Disqualification for Vinesh PhogatIndian wrestler Vinesh Phogat faced a devastating setback at the Paris Olympics, as she was found marginally over the weight limit on the second day of competition in the 50 kg category. This disqualification means she will not compete for a medal on Wednesday evening.In an unfortunate turn of events, Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics after being slightly above the 50 kg weight limit on the morning of her gold medal bout. Despite the Indian team's best efforts through the night, she was just a few grams over the required weight.The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) expressed their regret in a statement: "It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand."Sources earlier indicated that Vinesh was approximately 100 grams over the permissible limit, leading to her disqualification. As per competition rules, this means she is not eligible even for a silver medal. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) later confirmed that Vinesh will be replaced by Yusneylis Guzman, the Cuban wrestler she defeated in the semi-final, in the gold-medal bout.The IOC statement read: "According to article 11 of the International Wrestling Rules, Vinesh will be replaced by the wrestler who lost against her in the Semifinal. Therefore Guzman Lopez Yusneylis (CUB) will compete in the Final. Repechage SUSAKI Yui (JPN) vs LIVACH Oksana (UKR) will become the Bronze Medal Match."Vinesh made the weight for Tuesday’s bouts, but competition rules require wrestlers to remain within their weight category on both days of the event.Also Read: Paris 2024 Olympics - Latest News, Schedules & Results
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is set to impose a three-year ban on wrestler Antim Panghal, according to a source who spoke to PTI on Thursday.Panghal's actions during the Olympics brought shame to the Indian contingent when she attempted to use her accreditation card to grant her sister access to the Athletes Village.On Wednesday, Panghal was eliminated from the Olympic competition after suffering a defeat in her first match in the women's 53kg weight class."The decision will be formally announced after she reaches India," the contingent source said.The breach of conduct was deemed serious enough to warrant their immediate return to India."Her sister was caught for impersonation and was taken to a police station to record her statement," a source had revealed last night.Also Read: Paris Olympics Day 13 Schedule
LAUSANNE: Indian javelin sensation Neeraj Chopra delivered a remarkable performance in the Lausanne Diamond League, securing second place with a season-best throw of 89.49m. The 26-year-old's gritty display comes amidst ongoing fitness concerns, including a long-standing groin injury.Neeraj Chopra's Performance HighlightsChopra's performance was nothing short of impressive as he overcame a challenging start. Initially ranked fourth, he managed to move up the ranks with a throw of 85.58m in his fifth attempt. However, he saved his best for the last, launching his spear to an impressive 89.49m, narrowly surpassing his previous season-best of 89.45m, achieved during the Paris Olympics.His performance kept him in the running for the final round, as only the top three competitors after five rounds advance to the last attempt. Despite some concerns about his fitness, Chopra's mental toughness and determination were on full display.Competitors and ResultsThe event was dominated by two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, who won with a massive throw of 90.61m in the second round. Germany's Julian Weber claimed third place with a throw of 87.08m.Peters' dominant performance solidified his place as a top contender in the Diamond League standings, while Chopra's strong showing earned him seven points, placing him joint third in the standings with a total of 15 points, tied with Weber. Peters leads the standings with 21 points, followed by Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, who is in second place with 16 points after finishing seventh in Lausanne with a throw of 82.03m.Neeraj Chopra's ReactionAfter the event, Chopra expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "The feeling wasn't great at first, but I am happy with my throw, especially the second-best throw of my career on my last attempt. It was a tough start, but the comeback was really nice, and I enjoyed the fighting spirit I showed."Chopra emphasized the importance of mental resilience at such a high level of competition, particularly when his earlier throws were only in the 80-83m range. However, he pushed through in the final two attempts, finishing strong and securing his place in the top three.Chopra's Ongoing Groin InjuryChopra has been managing a groin injury since winning gold at the Budapest World Championships last year. Despite this, he continues to compete at an elite level. Earlier in the Paris Olympics, he claimed a silver medal, adding to his historic gold from the Tokyo Games three years ago. Notably, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m, edging out Chopra for the gold in Paris. However, Nadeem was absent from the Lausanne field.Chopra had confirmed his participation in the Lausanne Diamond League only after deciding to postpone surgery until the end of the season. He has previously won the Lausanne leg in 2022 and 2023 and finished second in last year's Diamond League final in Eugene, USA, behind Vadlejch.Upcoming Diamond League EventsChopra's performance in Lausanne keeps him in contention for the Diamond League finals, scheduled for September 14 in Brussels. To qualify for the finale, Chopra needs to finish in the top six of the series standings. Before that, he will have another opportunity to secure his place in the final at the Zurich Diamond League on September 5, which also features a men's javelin throw event.This season, Chopra is yet to clinch a Diamond League win, finishing second in Doha earlier this year, also behind Vadlejch. However, with his season-best performance in Lausanne, Chopra continues to prove why he remains one of the most formidable javelin throwers on the global stage.Also Read: In Indias Paris Dickensian Olympics, Neeraj Chopras silver launches him into countrys....
Avani shot a total of 1159 across the three stages of kneeling, prone and standing while Mona aggregated 1147.India's Avani Lekhara, centre, and Mona Agarwal, right, pose for photos after winning the gold medal and bronze medal repectively in the women's 10m air rifle (SH1) event at Paralympics 2024.Credit: PTI Photo Chateauroux: India's ace shooter Avani Lekhara entered the final of the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 competition after finishing the qualification in seventh place at the ongoing Paralympics here on Tuesday.The other Indian shooter in the field, Mona Agarwal, however, could not clear the qualification hurdle and ended in the 13th position.Avani shot a total of 1159 across the three stages of kneeling, prone and standing while Mona aggregated 1147.The top eight shooters from the qualification progress to the finals.This SH1 class is designated for athletes with lower limb impairment for competition in rifle shooting events.After kneeling and prone, Avani was holding on to the eighth position and Mona was 15th. Having started the standing stage with a disappointing 92, back-to back series of 96 lifted her into the seventh position, and a 97, in the last series, further brightened her prospects of reaching the final.The 22-year-old Avani, paralysed waist-down owing to a car accident that she suffered as an 11-year-old, claimed a landmark gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 event last Friday. In the same event, Mona bagged a bronze.She successfully defended her title three years after taking the Tokyo Games by storm, becoming the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at the Paralympic Games with a record score of 249.7 in the final.However, Avani could not replicate that form in the mixed 10m air prone SH1 event on Sunday, and ended the competition in the 11th position with a total score of 632.8.Also Read: Which country will win most medals at Paris Olympics?
