Paris 2024 Olympics: Nikhat Zareen Wins Opening Round; Manika and Sreeja Progress in Table Tennis

Nikhat Zareen Shines in Boxing Debut

Nikhat Zareen showcased her resilience and skill in her Olympic boxing debut. Despite a slow start and losing the first round on the judges’ scorecards 2–3, Zareen quickly found her rhythm. The 28-year-old Indian boxer, known for her mastery at maintaining range, initially struggled against Germany’s Maxi Carina. Carina’s aggressive forward charges left Zareen open to some crisp right hooks, making it a tough round for the judges to score.

Nikhat Zareen throws a punch during her bout against against Germany’s Maxi Carina, Manika Batra plays against Britain's Anna Hursey during a women's singles round of 64 table tennis game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France.

However, Zareen turned the tide in the second round. She landed several clear hooks on Carina, using her range effectively to dominate the exchanges. The judges deducted a point from each for blows to the back of the head, but Zareen’s cleaner punches earned her unanimous approval from the judges for that round.

In the final round, Carina tried to tire Zareen out with clinching tactics. Despite this, Zareen managed to connect crucial shots, securing a 10–9 on all five judges’ cards. Zareen will face Yu, the current Women’s 50 kg World Champion, in her next bout on Thursday, marking a significant challenge ahead.

Table Tennis Success for Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra

Indian paddlers Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra advanced smoothly through their round of 64 matches in table tennis. Batra secured a 4–1 victory over Anna Hursey, while Akula impressed with a 4–0 win against Christina Kallberg. This marks the first time India has two players in the women’s singles round of 32 at the Olympics.

However, there was disappointment for veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal, who lost a hard-fought match against Slovenia’s Deni Kozul. Despite leading by six points in the sixth game, Sharath’s errors during the tiebreaks cost him the match, ending his singles campaign.

Archery Hopes Dashed

In archery, the Indian women’s team of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and Bhajan Kaur faced disappointment. Despite their potential, they lost 0–6 to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Inconsistent shooting, particularly from Ankita and Deepika, with Ankita even scoring a 4 at one point, led to their early exit.