Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights, 28th July - Manu Bhaker clinches bronze; Prannoy, Sindhu post wins; Sreeja and Manika advance to Ro32

Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights, (28th July) - A mixed bag day for India, highlighted by Manu Bhaker winning Bronze. Follow Sportskeeda for every update on Paris Olympics 2024.

Right, so there we have it. India's campaign on Day 2 draws to an end, with the headlines obviously being that of Manu Bhaker clinching a bronze medal in the Women's 10m Air Pistol final and getting India off the mark in the medal tally.

The day started with the 10m Air Rifle qualifications for women, and Ramita Jindal scripted a terrific comeback to seal a spot in the final. Elavenil, who was in the top 8 for the majority of the match, lost out due to a few poor shots in the end. Meanwhile, in the Men's 10m Air Rifle qualifications, Arjun Babuta scored well, securing himself a spot in the final too.

PV Sindhu was in action for the first time this Olympics after serving as India's flag-bearer and she didn't disappoint! She cruised to a comfortable win against Fathimath Razzaq of Maldives. Similarly, later in the day, it was HS Prannoy who made a terrific start to his campaign too, winning a tough match against Fabian Roth.

It was a mixed bag of results for the table tennis contingent. While Sreeja and Manika won their respective contests quite comfortably, Harmeet and Sharath failed to get over the finish line and bowed out of the competition. Meanwhile, a lapse of concentration from the Women's Archery team in the quarterfinals saw them lose to the Netherlands.

In between the medal run of Manu Bhaker, Nikhat Zareen played her opening boxing match and won it unanimously. She's looking in great touch too and was the next boxer for India after Preeti Pawar to qualify. The Tennis contingent of India finished their campaign as well, with both Sumit Nagal and Bopanna/Balaji facing first round exits.

That's all from us at Sportskeeda today! Join us back tomorrow as we have an action-packed day lined-up! Until then, it's good night!

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji bow out of the Olympics! They lose to the hosts duo of Monfils & Roger-Vasselin in straight sets (7-5, 6-2) and are knocked out. That also ends India's tennis campaign at the Paris Olympics, with both Nagal and Bopanna-Balaji suffering first-round exits. For the highlights of how it all unfolded, click here.

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

Not the best of sets for the Bopanna/Balaji pair as they are trailing 1-4 to the hosts. Sriram's service got broken and Monfils managed to hold his service. This is turning out to be quite disappointing for the Indian duo. Click here for the live updates from the match.

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

From a position of almost breaking Roger-Vaselin's serve to losing four rallies on trot, not the best from the Indian pair in the second set. The score is 2-1 in favour of the Frenchmen, with India to serve next. India just cannot afford to lose this set. Click here for the detailed live coverage of this match!

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

Gael Monfils and Edouard Roger-Vasselin take the first set! They break Balaji's serve to win the set! Disappointment for India - they were looking good and played well throughout, only to falter towards the very end. Can India make a comeback? Click here for the detailed coverage of the match.

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

A break from India! They make a comeback and win two games on the trot but the French proceed to hold their serve. 5-4 in favour of the French pair. Click here for the detailed coverage of the match.

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

Bopanna's serve is broken and the French go up 4-2 in the first set! Can the Indians return the favour and remain in the contest? Click here for the detailed coverage of the match!

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

Both pairs holding their serves, winning the games quite comfortably when they have the ball in hand. The game score reads 2-2 in the first set. Who can execute the first break? Click here for the detailed coverage from the match!

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

And we are underway! After a long, long wait, the tennis match has begun! Click here for the detailed coverage of all the live action that unfolds from the match.

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

Right, there's a small update from the match. The doubles match featuring Rohan Bopanna and Sriram Balaji has been shifted to court 14. With all previous matches there complete, we should be expecting action anytime now.

Despite putting up a fight, fans were not pleased at Harmeet Desai's performance against World Rank 5 Felix Lebrun. Here's what they had to say 👇

“It's just a horror show” - Fans call out Harmeet Desai’s poor performance against Felix Lebrun in Paris 2024 Olympics

Read all about the deletion of points that Lakshya Sen is having to face despite winning his first match 👇

Paris Olympics 2024: Why are Lakshya Sen's points deleted despite winning his opening match against Kevin Cordon

BADMINTON - Men's Singles

In other news, Kevin Cordon, who was beaten by Lakshya Sen yesterday, has withdrawn from the Olympics due to an injury. This has resulted in Lakshya Sen's win against Cordon being cancelled. Definitely a tough pill to swallow for the young shuttler. His group now has been reduced from four members to three members, making qualification even tougher.

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

Right, we're almost on the brink of some tennis action, with Rohan Bopanna and Sriram Balaji to finally be in action shortly. They are to play the next and last match on Court 7, with the penultimate one in progress currently. Stay tuned, this will definitely not be a match which'll disappoint.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 4: Harmeet Desai (IND) 8 - 11 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 4-0]

Felix Lebrun gets the better of Harmeet Desai and gets an absolute rousing response from the local crowd. Harmeet tried his level best to make a comeback but the 17-year old French was simply too good for him and he ends the Indian's journey in straight sets.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 4: Harmeet Desai (IND) 7 - 7 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 3-0]

Harmeet has leveled the scores. Can he keep the good work going?

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 4: Harmeet Desai (IND) 2 - 4 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 3-0]

Four consecutive points for Lebrun as he comes storming back into the game and Harmeet calls for a timeout. He needs one!

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 4: Harmeet Desai (IND) 2 - 0 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 4-0]

Lebrun puts the ball back on the table from a countrymile back before Harmeet puts it away and then forces another error from the Frenchman. Once again, Harmeet has the early lead and this time has no wiggle room to slip up.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 3: Harmeet Desai (IND) 6 - 11 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 3-0]

The ball flies long and Felix Lebrun betters the scoreline from the previous 2 games as he is now just 1 game away from winning this one. Harmeet needs to dig deep and win every game from here on, a herculean task on hand for him.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 3: Harmeet Desai (IND) 2 - 8 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 2-0]

Lebrun is now running away with it as he is on a run of 5 consecutive points looking to close the door on Harmeet in the third game as well.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 3: Harmeet Desai (IND) 2 - 1 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 2-0]

Harmeet has the early lead once again in this third game and this time he needs to make sure that he hold on to it. Lebrun will not give him a lot to go after and Harmeet needs to put in the hard yards.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 2: Harmeet Desai (IND) 8 - 11 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 2-0]

Harmeet was within touching distance but just like the first game Lebrun runs away from him at the very end and now the Frenchman has won the first two games with identical scorelines and it is up to Harmeet to do the talking.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 2: Harmeet Desai (IND) 6 - 9 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 1-0]

The PENHOLDER GRIP from Lebrun is causing Harmeet some major trouble as Harmeet has been unable to string in a run of points and instead it is Lebrun who is closing in on the second game as well.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 2: Harmeet Desai (IND) 2 - 4 Felix Lebrun (FRA) [Game Score: 1-0]

A strong start from the local man and he is starting to show his prowess in the middle with the crowd egging him on. Harmeet is being pushed to a corner.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 1: Harmeet Desai (IND) 8 - 11 Felix Lebrun (FRA)

Lebrun does it the first time of asking as Harmeet hits the ball long and the Frenchman takes a 1-0 lead much to the liking of the crowd.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 1: Harmeet Desai (IND) 8 - 10 Felix Lebrun (FRA)

Two game point opportunities for Lebrun after some intriguing rallies. The Indian is doing well to keep himself in this but it is the Lebrun who just has enough to keep himself ahead in this contest.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 1: Harmeet Desai (IND) 7 - 7 Felix Lebrun (FRA)

They are trading blows are both these paddlers and there is almost nothing to choose between the two men as we go deeper into the first game.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 1: Harmeet Desai (IND) 5 - 5 Felix Lebrun (FRA)

A return on the service from Harmeet makes the scores level. But the initial signs have been excellent from the Indian paddler where he has been able to force the errors from the Frenchman as the Indian keeps his calm.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 1: Harmeet Desai (IND) 3 - 2 Felix Lebrun (FRA)

3 quick points for Harmeet and he is in the lead just like that. The points so far have been pretty quick with the paddlers opting for fast and short rallies.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Game 1: Harmeet Desai (IND) 0 - 2 Felix Lebrun (FRA)

A couple of early errors from the Indian and that gives the Frenchman a 2-point lead to start off the match. Each point is being cheered on by the crowd.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Both the players shake hands with each other as well as with the referee after which Harmeet wins the flip of the coin. Just to repeat, there is massive support for Lebrun and this will add to the humongous challenge that Desai has on his hand.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Both the paddlers have made their way out to the middle in the arena where the French crowd is in full voice and that will only bolster the chances of Felix Lebrun who enters this contest as the favorite. Harmeet Desai though looks calm and composed as he makes his entrance.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Here is a look at Harmeet's opponent for the day, Felix Lebrun, who is going to pose a serious threat to the Indian paddler in this Round of 64 contest 👇 -

Felix Lebrun: All you need to know about Harmeet Desai’s opponent in table tennis Round of 64 at Paris Olympics 2024

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
Today, though Harmeet will have a much tougher opponent to content with in the form of the Frenchman Felix Lebrun who will have the crowd behind him. He is ranked number 5 in the World and could prove to a tough nut to crack for Harmeet.

TABLE TENNIS - Men's Singles Round of 64
It has been a bittersweet day for India at South Paris Arena 4 where the paddlers have been in action throughout the day. While the girls in Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula have progressed to the next round by winning their respective matches, the 42-year old veteran Sharath Kamal made a first round exit as he lost to his opponent from Slovenia. Hoping to end the day on a positive note, will be India's only remaining competitor in the Men's Singles draw, Harmeet Desai. Harmeet is coming in on the back of a victory in his Round Of 128 match when he brushed aside Jordan's Zaid Abo Yaman in straight games.

HS Prannoy's group has three members, off which only one will qualify. How has a win for Prannoy today shaped up his group's points table? Click on the link below to find out 👇

Paris 2024 Olympics Badminton Points Table: Group K updated standings after HS Prannoy vs Fabian Roth

TENNIS - Men's Doubles

Well, we are in for a long wait as far as the Men's Doubles match of Rohan Bopanna and Sriram Balaji is concerned. The duo are set to play sixth on Court 7. With just one set having being completed in the fourth match, it will definitely be another two hours before the Indian pair are in action.

Despite what the scorecard suggests, it was not an easy win for HS Prannoy by any means as he begun his campaign in style. Click on the link below to read about how it all unfolded 👇