The Paris Olympics witnessed remarkable performances from Indian women athletes, with Manu Bhaker making history in shooting. Bhaker became the first Indian ever to win two medals in a single edition of the Games. She secured her first bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian woman shooter to stand on the Olympic podium. Bhaker was in strong contention for the silver medal until her final shot, where she was narrowly edged out by South Korea’s Kim Yeji. She later clinched another bronze in the mixed 10m air pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh.
In weightlifting, Saikhom Mirabhai Chanu, who was looking to replicate her Tokyo 2020 success, came agonizingly close to another Olympic medal. Chanu needed a cumulative total of over 200kg to secure a podium finish but fell just short with a total of 199kg, missing out on a medal by a mere kilogram.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s third Olympic campaign ended in controversy and heartbreak. After defeating Japan’s World and Olympic champion Yui Susaki en route to the women’s 50kg final, Phogat was disqualified due to a minor weight discrepancy of 100 grams at the morning weigh-in before the final. Despite managing to cut down her weight on day one, she struggled to maintain it for the second consecutive day, leading to her disqualification ahead of her final against USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. Phogat has appealed her disqualification to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), seeking a joint silver medal, but she has also announced her retirement from the sport.
These performances by Indian women at the Paris Olympics have showcased their determination and skill, even as some fell heartbreakingly short of achieving their ultimate goals.
