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However, the Harmanpreet Singh-led hockey team will be fighting for a bronze medal for the second successive Games after a 2-3 loss in the semifinal against Germany. Their next match will be against Spain.
The highlight of the day was Vinesh Phogat’s tenacity. After spending much of the past year leading a protest against alleged sexual harassment by the national federation’s former President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, she made it to the 50kg summit clash by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semifinals. Regardless of the outcome, India is assured of its fourth medal at the Olympics, surpassing the three bronze medals won so far in shooting.
Vinesh’s campaign was remarkable. It began with a 3-2 victory over defending Olympic and world champion Yui Susaki of Japan, who was unbeaten in her 82-fight international career until today. The 29-year-old then dismantled world number 7 Ukrainian Ostava Livach before defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 to secure her spot in the final.
After defeating Susaki, she let out a scream but mostly kept her emotions in check as she continued to take down her opponents. “Tomorrow is an important day, will talk then,” she told journalists after a quick video call with her mother, promising to bring back gold. Vinesh will face American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the final.
Neeraj Chopra, the defending champion, stormed into the men’s javelin throw final with a season’s best effort of 89.34m on his first attempt in the qualification round. Much like his qualifying round performance in the Tokyo Olympics, the 26-year-old crossed the automatic qualifying mark of 84m in his opening throw, securing the top spot in Group B. This tremendous effort, his second-best career throw, also dispelled concerns about his fitness following an adductor niggle in the lead-up to the Games. His personal best remains 89.94m, achieved in 2022.
Chopra, the reigning world champion, topped the qualification round, which combined Groups A and B, with his monster throw. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada was second overall with a throw of 88.63m, followed by Julian Weber of Germany with 87.76m. Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan also qualified for the finals with a throw of 86.59m.
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, the only man to have beaten Chopra this year in the Doha Diamond League, was seventh overall with a first-round throw of 85.63m. The other Indian contender, Kishore Jena, failed to make the 12-man final with a throw of 80.73m, finishing ninth in Group A and 18th overall.
In the final, Chopra has the chance to become only the fifth man in Olympic javelin throw history to defend his title. Winning gold or any medal would make him the most decorated Indian in individual sports at the Olympics. Shuttler PV Sindhu, wrestler Sushil Kumar, and shooter Manu Bhaker each have two Olympic medals post-independence.
The Indian hockey team, aiming for a maiden final spot in 44 years, went down 2-3 to Germany and will now face Spain in the bronze medal playoff. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored for India, while Gonzalo Peillat, Christopher Ruhr, and Marco Miltkau scored for Germany. Germany will face the Netherlands in the final.
