India Shines at Paris Olympics: Preeti Pawar, Lakshya Sen, and Manu Bhaker Lead the Charge

Indian athletes Preeti Pawar, Lakshya Sen, and Manu Bhaker showcase remarkable performances at the Paris Olympics, advancing in their respective sports. Pawar progresses in boxing, Sen in badminton, and Bhaker qualifies for the air pistol finals.

India's Preeti Pawar advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating Vietnam's Vo Thi Kim Anh by unanimous decision in the women's 54 kg boxing match at the Paris Olympics. Kim Anh led after the first round with a 3-2 split decision, but Pawar's comeback in the following rounds secured her a victory in her debut Olympics.

Pawar will face Colombia's Yeni Arias in her next bout. The Indian team, featuring 117 athletes competing across 16 disciplines, aims to surpass its 2020 Tokyo Olympics tally of seven medals. The Paris Olympics, running from July 26 to August 11, are a key battleground for Indian athletes.

Earlier, Harmeet Desai moved to the Round of 64 in men's singles table tennis, defeating Jordan's Zaid Abo Yaman 4-0. Lakshya Sen also triumphed, overcoming Guatemala's Kevin Cordon in men's singles tennis with scores of 21-8, 22-20.

In shooting, Manu Bhaker finished third in the qualification round of the women's 10-meter air pistol, securing a spot in the final. Bhaker, 22, impressed with scores of 97, 98, and 96 points across six series, totaling 580-27x. Rhythm Sangwan, however, placed 15th and did not advance.

In the men's 10 m air pistol, Sarabjot Singh and Arjun Cheema did not reach the finals, finishing 9th and 18th respectively. This marks a mixed day of results for Indian shooters at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

(With inputs from agencies.)