Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 1 Updates

A day of intense battle marked the beginning of the Paralympic Games, showcasing the amazing talent and spirit of competitors from all over the world. With mixed emotions, India's para-athletes entered the venue with great expectations and faced both obstacles and successes. Day 1 was a monument to the courage and determination of these competitors, as they gave it their all on one of the biggest venues in the world, from thrilling finishes to sad defeats. Here's a recap of the key highlights from the first day of the Paralympics.

► Mansi Joshi Faces Tough Start in SL3 Group Stage

Indian para-badminton player Mansi Joshi began her Paralympic campaign with mixed fortunes. In her opening match of the Women's Singles SL3 Group Play Stage, Mansi won the first game against Indonesia's Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh with a score of 21-16. However, the momentum shifted in the second game, where Mansi struggled and lost 13-21. Despite her efforts to make a comeback in the decisive third game, she ultimately lost the match. This early setback places pressure on Mansi as she aims to progress further in the tournament.

► Mandeep Kaur Faces Defeat in Group B Opener

Mandeep Kaur had a challenging start to her campaign in Group B of the Women's Singles category. She faced the third-seed Mariam Eniola Bolaji from Nigeria and lost in straight games, 21-8, 21-14. With one group game remaining against Australia's Celina Aurelie Vinot, Mandeep must secure a victory to keep her hopes alive for advancing to the quarterfinals.

► Suhas Yathiraj Dominates in Men's SL4 Category

Suhas Yathiraj, the top-seeded player in the Men's SL4 category, displayed his dominance on Day 1. Suhas, an IAS officer, secured a comfortable 21-7, 21-5 victory over Indonesia's Hikmat Ramdani. The match lasted just 22 minutes, showcasing Suhas's efficiency on the court. His next challenge will be against South Korea's Kyung Hwan Shin. A win in this upcoming match will likely secure Suhas a spot in the semifinals.

► Aruna Tanwar Suffers Heartbreaking Loss in Para-Taekwondo

India's sole representative in Para-Taekwondo, Aruna Tanwar, faced a disappointing first-round exit. Despite her valiant effort, she lost to Turkey's Ekinci Nurcihan. Unfortunately, Aruna sustained an injury to her right knee just a minute into the contest, forcing medical staff to attend to her. This injury echoes her experience at the Tokyo Paralympics, where a hairline fracture ended her journey in the quarter-finals. Aruna's resilience and fighting spirit remain a source of inspiration for many.

► Palak Kohli Shines in Women's Singles

Palak Kohli, competing in the Women's Singles category, started her campaign on a positive note by winning the first game against France's Milena Bunsun with a convincing score of 21-12. As Palak continues her match, all eyes will be on her to see if she can maintain her form and secure a win.

► Sheetal Devi Narrowly Misses World Record in Compound Archery

In the compound archery individual ranking round, Sheetal Devi came tantalizingly close to breaking the world record. She scored an impressive 703 points over 12 series of six arrows each, surpassing the previous world record of 698. However, Turkey's Girdi Oznur set a new world record by scoring 704 points, edging out Sheetal by a single point. Despite narrowly missing the record, Sheetal's performance was outstanding, and she remains a strong contender in the competition. Sarita of India also put in a solid effort, finishing 9th in the ranking round.

► Manisha Ramadass Triumphs in Women's Singles SU5 Category

Manisha Ramadass, India's second seed in the Women's Singles SU5 category, started her Paralympic journey with a thrilling victory. She faced local favourite Lefort Maud and, despite losing the first game 8-21, made an incredible comeback to win the match 8-21, 21-6, 21-19. Manisha's resilience and determination were on full display, setting the stage for her next group match on August 31.

Inputs by Agencies

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