Category: Sports

** Was Norman Pritchard India’s first Olympic medallist? Athlete-Hollywood star divides historians

A controversy has erupted among Olympic historians over whether the Subedar with the Rajputana Rifles can be described as the first winner of a track and field medal for India in the Games.

On the sidelines of Neeraj Chopra’s historic ‘golden throw’ in Tokyo, a controversy has erupted among Olympic historians over whether the Subedar with the Rajputana Rifles can be described as the first winner of a track and field medal for India in the Games. Should the honour not belong to Kolkata’s Norman Pritchard, the athlete-turned-Hollywood actor who won two silver medals at the 1900 Paris Olympics?

The jury is clearly divided. The doyen of Olympic historians, Ian Buchanan, wrote a lengthy article in the Journal of Olympic History (January 2000) arguing that Pritchard was British and that he was sent to the Paris Olympics by the British Amateur Athletics Association (AAA).

** Hockey: India clinch Olympic bronze medal, edge past Germany in thrilling encounter

Simranjeet Singh scored a brace, while Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh were the other goal getters for the Men in Blue

** Tokyo Olympics: Assam celebrates Lovlina’s bronze

“There is nothing to feel disappointed about. We are very happy and satisfied with her achievement even if it is a bronze. We all wanted her to qualify and then wanted her to win a medal. After she achieved both, we wanted her to win the gold, which she too wanted badly. It was our collective dream. We need to celebrate her journey. And hope she does the golden turn in Paris 2024,” said Devojit Phukan, a family friend of the Borgohains who, many say, shared Lovlina’s inspiring story with the world —14 articles on Facebook — before her Olympic debut.

He is also the man who broke the news of Lovlina’s defeat to her parents like the earlier two bouts she had won because her parents do not watch her matches.

** From Sonipat to Tokyo, wrestler Ravi Dahiya’s road to the Olympics final

Wrestler Ravi Dahiya was down and out. His opponent in the semifinal of the men’s 57kg category, Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev, had just taken a 9-2 lead.

With a minute and 30 seconds left on the clock, it was a do-or-die situation for the youngster. Dahiya inflicted a double-leg attack on Sanayev, locked his arm and leg and rolled him to put his shoulders down to the mat, thereby moving from 7-9 to winning by forcing the fall, thus completing a remarkable comeback.

** Not mere bluster: Kamalpreet Kaur raises hopes of another medal by easing into discus final

With a grin on her face, Kamalpreet – an imposing figure at 6 ft 1 inch – flexed her right arm for the cameras before pointing to her name that was emblazoned on the front of her jersey