पेरिस में 16 मेडल जीत सकता था भारत: 6 इवेंट में चौथा स्थान, 2 में एक जीत दूर रहे; विनेश-निशा की किस्मत रूठी

These individual athletes from India finished fourth in their respective events.

The Paris Olympics are over. America once again remained on top, the country won 126 medals including 40 gold. India could not send as many athletes to the Olympics as America won medals. India sent 117 athletes to the Olympics, who won 1 silver and 5 bronze medals.

India finished 71st in the medal tally, even below Pakistan. However, if the luck and level of play of the Indian athletes had been a little better, India could have won up to 16 medals. How does this happen, you will know in the story…

Fourth place in 6 events kept him away from the medal
India won the maximum of 3 medals in shooting in Paris Olympics, but India finished fourth in 3 events of this sport and missed out on winning a medal. India had been winning medals in badminton continuously since 2012, but this time the country could only get fourth place in men’s singles. The country could not win a medal due to finishing fourth in one event each in weightlifting and archery.

2 players were just one win away from the medal
In Olympic boxing, medals are also confirmed for boxers who qualify for the semi-finals. Two Indian boxers came close to reaching the semi-finals this time but were eliminated after losing in the quarter-finals.

2 medals slipped from hands in wrestling
This time 6 wrestlers qualified from India, all of them performed well, but only one got a medal. In wrestling, Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification just before the final was the biggest shock. In women’s wrestling, Nisha Dahiya’s injury in the quarter-finals was also heartbreaking.

1. Vinesh Phogat, Wrestling
In the 50 kg event of women’s wrestling, Vinesh Phogat played her first match against world number-1 Yui Susaki of Japan. Vinesh won the match by a margin of 3-2 with excellent defense. Vinesh then won the quarter-finals 7-5 and the semi-finals 5-0 and made it to the finals. Vinesh had secured at least a silver medal.

Vinesh Phogat is the first Indian female wrestler to reach the finals of the Wrestling Women’s event at the Olympics.

Looking at her form, there were expectations from Vinesh to win gold. But on the day of the final, at 12 noon, the news came that Vinesh was disqualified during the weigh-in due to being 100 grams overweight. Due to this, she will not get any medal. Vinesh was the first Indian woman to reach the final of Olympic wrestling, but disqualification snatched the medal from the country. Vinesh was so saddened by this decision that she retired.

After being disqualified, Vinesh Phogat had to be admitted to the hospital. She also retired on 8 August.

2. Nisha Dahiya, Wrestling
Nisha Dahiya, who entered the 68 kg women’s event of wrestling, surprised everyone by winning the first match 6-4. She also dominated in the quarter-finals, she was leading 8-0 for 5 minutes. Then she got hurt in her elbow. The injury was so deep that tears started flowing from her eyes, the medical team checked her, but Nisha was still in pain.

Nisha Dahiya was seen writhing in pain after the injury. After 5 minutes she was leading 8-0.

Nisha continued the bout after some time, but the North Korean wrestler started taking advantage of her injury. She attacked Nisha’s hand and equalized the score to 8-8. In the last 12 seconds, the Korean wrestler took the lead and won 10-8. If Nisha had remained fit, she would have definitely reached the semi-finals. It was quite possible that she would have made it to the finals as well, but this could not happen due to the injury.

After losing the bout due to injury, Nisha’s tears were not stopping.