Paris Olympics, Day 5: Why India is unlikely to win a medal at the Games today
India had a momentous Day 4 at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday with shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh powering the country’s second medal, a bronze, during their 10m Air Pistol mixed team event against South Korea.
The team medal followed Bhaker’s historic individual bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event. The 22-year-old became the first Indian in independent India to win two medals at the same Games.
However, Day 5, Wednesday in all likelihood will only be a day of progression towards the medal stages for the Indian athletes rather than a direct tussle for the podium. Ahead of Wednesday’s events, shooters Rajeshwari Kumari and Shreyasi Singh were the Indians in contention for medals. However, a below-par outing on the opening day of the Women’s Trap qualification placed Rajeshwari 21st and Shreyasi 22nd in a field of 30 shooters.
The duo will have a tall task ahead of them to make the final as only the top six shooters from the qualification will proceed to the final.
The other Indian shooters that will be in qualification are Aishwary Tomary and Swapnil Kusale, both featuring in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions.
Other key Paris Olympics events for India today, July 31
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will play her final group-stage game against Estonia’s Kristin Kuuba. A win will propel Sindhu through to the Round of 16 where she will face China’s He Binjiao in a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics bronze-medal match that the Indian superstar won.
India’s HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen will also face virtual knockout battles in their last group-stage matches on Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, paddler Manika Batra will be returning to action as she attempts to become the first Indian to make the quarterfinals of the singles event.
