Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights, 30th July - MANU BHAKER & SARABJOT WIN BRONZE; Dhiraj narrowly misses out qualification in shoot-off; Bhajan Kaur through to Ro16

Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights, 30th July - Manu Bhaker scripts another bronze, this time in the mixed 10m pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh. India's medal count moves up to two. Follow Sportskeeda for every update on Paris Olympics 2024.

Well, that wraps up Day 4 for the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics 2024, a successful one where India added another bronze to its medal tally courtesy of Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh.

Apart from the duo though, the rest of the shooters in action did not have the best of days, with both Shreyasi and Rajeshwari failing to be in the top 20. With top six qualifying, it's highly unlikely that either of them will make the cut. Prithviraj Tondaiman, in the men's Trap event, shot two perfect rounds of 25 but his misses in the earlier rounds costed him dearly, seeing him crash out of the competition.

Balraj Panwar was in action in the quarterfinals but could not make a mark, finishing 5th. He will play the semifinal C/D which won't see him qualify for the medal race.

In Hockey, India comfortably beat Ireland with a score of 2-0 but the scorecard won't tell you of how the Indian team didn't look its best. They will be looking to set their errors right, especially with matches against Australia and Belgium coming up.

In archery, Ankita Bhakat had an absolutely disastrous day, losing in the Round of 64 to a much lower-ranked and lower-seeded player. Bhajan Kaur, on the other hand, avoided an upset and won two games to go through to the Round of 16.

Dhiraj Bommadevara won his first round match but missed the Ro16 all because of a 2.4cm difference between him and the fifth-ranked Canadian archer's shot in the shoot-off after what was an exemplary display of archery.

Satwik-Chirag cruised to a comfortable win while Ponnappa/Crasto faced their third defeat of the competition, knocking them out which prompted a teary-eyed Ponnappa to bid farewell to the Olympics.

In boxing, both Amit Panghal and Jaismine Lamboria suffered defeats in their first matches of the competition, while Preeti Pawar fought brilliantly but ended up losing by a 2-3 split decision that went against her.

That sums up India's Day 4! And that'll be the end of our coverage for today. Join us back tomorrow at Sportskeeda as there promises to be plenty more excitement and action! Until then, it's goodbye from us. Good night!

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

Yeni Arias def. Preeti Pawar 3-2

A very tight encounter goes the way of the South American boxer. Preeti did well to bounce back from the opening round of 1-4, but it wasn't enough in the end.

Still a great showing from the 20-year-old Bhiwani-native on her Olympic debut. She has plenty of positives to take back from her time in Paris and is bound to come back stronger.

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

Final score: Preet 2 - 3 Arias

Preeti starts the final round better with the southpaw landing a jab straight away. Arias, however, came back strongly with the same sort of energy that she has shown all bout.

Arias worked extra hard to breach her taller opponent’s defence, but Preeti held firm until the very last.

In the end, it was the experience that counted as Arias does just enough with her proactive approach to impress the judges. Preeti, known for her aggressive approach, was just a tad too passive today and that made the difference.

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

Round 2: Preeti 2 - 3 Arias

Arias continued in the same vein, jumping around, being the more proactive of the two. She launched a flurry of punches as Preeti took an uncharacteristically passive stance.

Not the cleanest of rounds from the Columbian. Preeti too landed a jab towards the end as she won the round 3-2, but still trails in the overall score.

The Indian will need to come up something special to turn this advantage around in the final round.

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

Round 1: Preeti 1 - 4 Arias

Preeti has the height advantage, four inches taller than her opponent. That, however, is not stopping Arias from taking her chances as she leaps at the Indian right off the bat.

Arias was trying to be the aggressor and she was awarded in the end, with four judges giving her a full 10 despite their hardly any major punches landing the target.nces as she leaps at the Indian right off the bat.

An animated first half, but both boxers doing well to defend. Arias was trying to be the aggressor and she was awarded in the end, with four judges giving her a full 10 despite their hardly any major punches landing the target.

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

And it's finally time as the announcer introduces the two boxers, who have made their way to ring.

Preeti Pawar is in the Red corner, while her opponent, a quarterfinalist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is in the Blue.

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

Yeni Arias is a silver medallist from the 2023 World Championships held in New Delhi and has been seeded second at the Paris Olympics.

The 20-year-old Preeti Pawar, meanwhile, won her first big medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, bagging the bronze medal. She opened her Olympics campaign with a positive win over Vietnam's Vo Thị Kim Anh, blanking her 5-0. She will look to build on the momentum and get one step closer to the medal.

The last bout at the North Paris Arena is halfway through. Live action is just minutes away.

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

Here’s how the two boxers made their way into the Round of 16:

Preeti Pawar
Round of 32 - Def. Vo Thị Kim Anh 5-0

Yeni Arias
Round of 32 - Bye

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

While we wait for the highly anticipated bout, get to know Preeti Pawar better using the link below 👇

Who is Preeti Pawar? All you need to know about the Indian boxer participating in Paris 2024 Olympics

BOXING - Women's 54 kg Ro16

As we wind down towards the final stretch of Day 4 at the Paris Olympics, it’s time to cheer for young Preeti Pawar.

The Indian pugilist from Bhiwani, Haryana, will take on Colombia’s Yeni Arias in the Round of 16 of the Women’s 54 kg. Stay tuned as live action is slated to begin at 1.22 am IST!

Jaismine Lamboria made her Olympic debut today and faced a first-round exit. However, there was no sympathy shown to her by fans as they took to X to express their disappointment. Read their reactions below 👇

"Just Air Boxing" - Fans express their disappointment after Jaismine Lamboria's early exit from Paris Olympics 2024

To pile on to the heartbreaks, here is another news that certainly won't lift your spirits - Ashwini Ponnappa has declared this to be her last Olympics, amidst tears too after her group stage exit. Read below 👇

"This will be my last, but Tanisha has a long way to go" - Ashwini Ponnappa in tears after Paris Olympics exit

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Eric Peters (CAN) beats Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 5 - 5 (Won in Shoot-off)

2.4 cm was the difference between Eric Peter's and Dhiraj Bommadevara's arrows, but it is that fine margin that sees the World No. 5 Canadian move through to the Round of 16. Dhiraj did nothing wrong in what was an exemplary display of archery that truth be told, would've seen him on the winning side 9 times out of 10, but not today!

The Indian took the early lead, and despite being pegged back, he led 5-3 going into the final set, and after Eric Peters shot successive Perfect Sets, Bommadevara faltered slightly with his last shot, scoring a 9 when a 10 would've sealed his victory, leading to a shoot-off, which ultimately didn't go his way.

After the disappointment of the Men's Team event Quarter-finals, Dhiraj did remarkably well in his two matches, but unfortunately, he just came up against the wrong opponent in Eric Peters, who exhibited nerves of steel, and came up clutch when it most mattered.

Dhiraj Bommadevara will have to buck up and go again in the Mixed Team Round of 16 clash against Indonesia on Friday, and while he'll undoubtedly take the positives from this defeat, he'll wish for some luck to shine on him as well.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Heartbreak for Dhiraj Bommadevara once again!

Both archers shoot a 10 in the shoot-off, but Eric's arrow was that a bit closer to the centre, and unfortunately, that means the end of the road in the Men's Individual Event for Dhiraj Bommadevara.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

To those unacquainted with how a shoot-off works, it's simple: The arrow closest to the centre wins!

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 5 - 5 Eric Peters (CAN) (At the end of Set 5)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (10, 10, 9) 29 - 30 Eric Peters (10, 10, 10)

Back-to-back Perfect Scores for Eric Peters, and that's enough for him to take this match into a shoot-off! Some comeback this from the Canadian!

Dhiraj did brilliantly to hit six successive 10s, but with a 10 required off his last shot, he could only manage a 9, and that fine margin means that it's 5-5 at the end of the five sets.

It's Shoot-off Time!

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 5 - 3 Eric Peters (CAN) (At the end of Set 4)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (10, 10, 10) 30 - 30 Eric Peters (10, 10, 10)

Both archers start off with a 10, and would you believe that? That's a perfect set for both archers! My word, that is some high-quality archery that we've gotten to witness!

Dhiraj hits a bulls-eye with his final two shots, but unfortunately, he doesn't get any extra points for that, and we go into the 5th set here, with Dhiraj leading by two points! A tie or more will secure the win for him.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 4 - 2 Eric Peters (CAN) (At the end of Set 3)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (10, 9, 10) 29 - 27 Eric Peters (9, 9, 9)

Ohh, wonderful start from Dhiraj as he hits the 10 with his first arrow, and follows it up with a 9, but Eric Peters can only manage two 9s.

With a 10 required to win the set, Dhiraj does it! This is wonderful from India's highest-ranked archer, and he's one set away from progressing through to the Round of 16!

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 2 - 2 Eric Peters (CAN) (At the end of Set 2)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (9, 9, 10) 28 - 29 Eric Peters (9, 10, 10)

Once again, both the archers begin with 9s, and with his 5th shot of the match, Eric Peters finally finds his first 10. He finishes strongly with a 10 off his 3rd arrow as well, and with Bommadevara shooting only two 9s with his first two shots, that puts the 2nd Set the way of Eric Peters, and we're level 2 - 2.

Dhiraj did shoot a near-perfect 3rd arrow that found the 10, and that should give him some momentum in the 3rd set.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 2 - 0 Eric Peters (CAN) (At the end of Set 1)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (9, 10, 9) 28 - 27 Eric Peters (9, 9, 9)

Both archers begin with a 9, but Peters is unable to cross the 9-point mark throughout the set. However, Dhiraj's 2nd shot is a 10, and that gives him the win in the 1st Set. Great start from the Indian.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Both the archers are out for the 1/16 Elimination Round match. The winner will progress through to the Round of 16.

Dhiraj will start us off!

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Preview - Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) vs Eric Peters (CAN)

Dhiraj comfortably got past Adam Li, registering scores of 29, 29, 29, and 28, in the four sets. Eric Peters, meanwhile, was taken to a 5th set by his opponent, Ilfat Abdullin, from Kazakhstan, before eventually beating the latter 6-4.

Like Bommadevara, Peters also didn't score a single shot less than 9, and with both archers in good form coming into this match, it's set go down to the wire.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round

Preview - Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) vs Eric Peters (CAN)

We're in for a cracking battle of two top archers as India's Dhiraj Bommadevara goes up against the World No. 5 Eric Peters from Canada in the 1/16 Elimination Round. The stature of his opponent in this match is in stark contrast to what Dhiraj faced mere minutes ago in the 1/32 Elimination Round, but based on how well he did in that one, he isn't likely to mind.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) beats Adam Li (CZE) 7 - 1

A comfortable win for Dhiraj Bommadevara in the 1/32 Elimination Round match, and he certainly looks back to his best and up for it in this Men's Individual Event. The first round was a tie, with Adam Li finding the 10 with his first two shots, but he wasn't able to consistently post that.

Dhiraj, on the other hand, scored seven 10s out of his twelve shots in the match, not scoring a single shot below 9, and that bodes really well for his chances in the upcoming rounds.

His next match will be against Canada's Eric Peters in the 1/16 Elimination Round, which is scheduled to commence within the next 30 minutes.

So don't go anywhere and stay tuned to Sportskeeda as we bring you the live action from that crunch contest!

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 7 - 1 Adam Li (CZE) (At the end of Set 4)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (9, 10, 9) 28 - 26 Adam Li (10, 8, 8)

Adam Li starts strongly with a 10, but can only follow it up with an 8, taking a long time to release that 2nd arrow. His final shot also turns out to be an 8, and his total of 26 is no match for Dhiraj.

He started off with a 9 before hitting a 10, and with only 8 needed to win the match with his last shot, he managed a 9 to register a comfortable 7-1 win over Adam Li.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 5 - 1 Adam Li (CZE) (At the end of Set 3)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (9, 10, 10) 29 - 28 Adam Li (9, 9, 10)

A 10 off his last arrow gives Adam Li a chance at winning or tieing the set, but with 10 required off the last shot to win the set, Dhiraj Bommadevara hits the bulls-eye to claim the 3rd set as well. He's only one point away from a win here.

Interestingly, Dhiraj has hit the same pattern in every set: 9, 10, 10, and with the aggregate amounting to 29, he won't be complaining.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 3 - 1 Adam Li (CZE) (At the end of Set 2)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (9, 10, 10) 29 - 26 Adam Li (8, 9, 9)

Dhiraj pulls clear with a dominant win in this 2nd Set, and he clearly seems to be in full flow here, hitting back-to-back 10s to close out the set, while Li couldn't find a single 10 with his shots.

Adam Li to go first in the 3rd set.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) 1 - 1 Adam Li (CZE) (At the end of Set 1)

Dhiraj Bommadevara (9, 10, 10) 29 - 29 Adam Li (10, 10, 9)

Top stuff from both archers as the first Set finishes in a tie. Dhiraj starts off with a 9 but does well to hit 10s with his next two arrows. Adam Li makes a terrific start too with two 10s, and manages a 9 of his last shot to tie the set.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

We're ready for live action in Dhiraj Bommadevara's 1/32 Elimination Round match. He will start us off.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

We're expecting a small delay in the start of Dhiraj's clash with Adam Li as the previous 1/32 Elimination match between Eric Peters and Ilfat Abdullin is still going on.

Sarabjot Singh's coach Abhishek Rana opened up on the shooter's difficult journey and his mindset going into the bronze medal match, and a lot more in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda! Click on the link below to read the article 👇

Olympics: "That was the only thing that he had to overcome" - Sarabjot Singh's coach Abhishek Rana describes pressure as biggest obstacle ahead of bronze match

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

He may not be a top-ranked player, but at the Olympics, upsets aren't uncommon. Adam Li will definitely look to pose a tough challenge to Dhiraj, and on that note, here's all you need to know about the Czechian archer:

Adam Li: All you need to know about Dhiraj Bommadevara’s opponent in Archery Round of 64 at Paris Olympics 2024

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

As we wait for the earlier matches to conclude, here's what Dhiraj had to say about yesterday's heartbreaking defeat:

"We weren't able to; Specifically, I wasn't able to" - Dhiraj Bommadevara takes the blame after India's disappointing loss in Archery quarterfinals

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

Preview - Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) vs Adam Li (CZE)

However, despite the draws and how strong one may seem on paper, it's all about whether you can deliver on the day, and so far, the Indian archers haven't been able to do so with much success, as evidenced by their sub-par outings in the Team Events.

Dhiraj himself had an off day in the Quarter-Final against Turkiye yesterday, both starting and finishing off his shots in the match with 7s. While he's clearly the favorite to win this match, it'll be a testament to his ability and mental strength if he's able to move past the disappointment of the Team Event and find his rhythm early on in this match.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

Preview - Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) vs Adam Li (CZE)

Dhiraj was the highlight for India in the Men's Archery Ranking Round, as he finished in 4th place. This achievement will help him tremendously through the course of this Men's Individual Event, ensuring that he gets easier draws on paper.

Ranked 12th in the World Rankings, he is India's best bet for a medal in Men's Recurve Archery.

Archery - Men's Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

Preview - Dhiraj Bommadevara (IND) vs Adam Li (CZE)

After the disappointment of yesterday's Men's Team Quarterfinal defeat to Turkiye, Dhiraj Bommadevara, India's highest-ranked Men's archer, will have to pick himself up quickly ahead of his 1/32 Elimination Match against the 109th-ranked Adam Li of the Czech Republic.

The match is scheduled to commence at 10:46 PM IST at the Les Invalides.

India at Olympics, Day 4 - What is coming up?

Just two events remain on Day 4 for the Indian contingent:

10:46 PM IST - Dhiraj Bommadevara will be in action in the 1/32 Elimination round.
11:25 PM IST - In case of qualification, Dhiraj will play his 1/16 Elimination round match today itself
01:22 AM IST (31st July) - Preeti Pawar will look to advance to the quarterfinals as she plays her Ro16 match today

BOXING - Women's 57 kg Ro32

Nesthy Petecio def. Jaismine Lamboria 5-0

The Tokyo Olympics silver medallist, Nesthy Petecio, proved to be a class apart for the young Bhiwani-native. Jaismine fought valiantly, trying her very best to push her opponent onto the backfoot, but she was up against a quicker, smarter pugilist on the day.

So it's curtains for another Indian boxer, with Amit Phangal having already bowed out in the Men's 51kg category earlier in the day. More action from the North Paris Arena is, however, lined up as Preeti Pawar will look to book her spot in the Women's 54kg quarterfinals at 1:22 am IST. Make sure you're there to cheer for the young Indian!

Until then, follow Sportskeeda for all the other latest from Paris 2024.

BOXING - Women's 57 kg Ro32

Final score: Jaismine 0 - 5 Nesthy

Jasmine began to hit with more intent amid chants of her name from the boisterous Indian crowd. The quick-thinking Nesthy, however, found a way to neutralise her opponent’s attacks with equally effective counters.

The Indian kept pushing forward, but it was the lack of accuracy that cost her in the end. Nesthy landed a couple of nice left hooks in the second half to seal the encounter.

BOXING - Women's 57 kg Ro32

Round 2: Jasimine 0 - 5 Nesthy

Nesthy using all her experience, waiting for the young Indian to let her guard down before pouncing.

Jaismine’s plan did not change drastically and that’s perhaps what made her a tad bit predictable, which allowed her opponent to continue to score with quick saves.

The Indian will need to find something special in the final round to turn the deficit around.