Paris Olympics 2024: Here's a list of the most heartbreaking moments for Indian athletes at the Olympics.
From Vinesh Phogat's disqualification due to a slight weight excess to PT Usha's near-miss for bronze by 1/100th of a second, these are some of the most heartbreaking moments for Indian athletes at the Olympics.
1. Vinesh Phogat
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India’s wrestling sensation, Vinesh Phogat, showcased an incredible performance in the Women’s Wrestling 50kg event. She secured thrilling victories over top opponents, including a stunning 3-2 win against Japan’s Yui Susaki, who had been unbeaten in 82 international bouts. Phogat continued her dominance by defeating Ukrainian Ostava Livach and Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez with a 5-0 scoreline. However, just as she was on the brink of making history, Phogat was disqualified for being slightly over the 50kg limit during the weigh-in.
2. Nisha Dahiya
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Nisha Dahiya's Olympic journey in the 68kg wrestling category was marked by heartbreak. Leading 6-1 in her quarter-final bout against Pak Sol Gum of North Korea, Dahiya suffered a finger injury. Despite receiving medical attention, she was unable to maintain her lead and eventually lost 10-8. The injury was later diagnosed as a dislocated shoulder and a fractured finger, compounding her challenges.
3. Milkha Singh
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The legend of Milkha Singh, known as the "Flying Sikh," is a tale of near misses. At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Singh was favored to win a medal in the 400 meters. Leading the race for the first 200 meters, a momentary glance back cost him precious time. South Africa's Malcolm Spence surged ahead, pushing Singh to fourth place with a time of 45.73 seconds, just 0.1 seconds shy of the bronze medal. This heartbreaking near-miss remained a source of pain for Singh and his fans.
4. PT Usha
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PT Usha, the "Payyoli Express," was a trailblazer for Indian athletics. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she competed in the 400-meter hurdles, a new event for women. Usha clocked 56.81 seconds in the heats and 55.54 seconds in the semi-finals, setting a Commonwealth record. However, a false start in the final disrupted her rhythm, and she narrowly missed the bronze by 1/100th of a second, finishing fourth with a time of 55.42 seconds.
5. Joydeep Karmakar
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Joydeep Karmakar's story in rifle shooting is one of perseverance and heartbreak. At the 2012 London Olympics, Karmakar competed in the Men's 50-meter Rifle Prone event. Despite a strong comeback, he found himself tied with nine others and had to compete in a shoot-off to reach the finals. Battling a cramp in his right calf, Karmakar finished fourth, missing the bronze by a mere 1.9 points.
