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Tag: Olympics 2024

  • Indian Men’s Hockey Team Receives Heroic Welcome After Winning Medal At Paris Olympics 2024- WATCH | Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: The Indian men’s hockey team received a warm and enthusiastic reception upon their return from the Paris Olympics 2024 on August 10, Saturday. The team, under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Singh, clinched the bronze medal after a decisive victory over Spain in the play-off match. This achievement marks the team’s second consecutive Olympic medal, a historic accomplishment not seen since 1972.

    Upon their arrival in Delhi on Saturday morning, the hockey team was met with a grand welcome. Harmanpreet Singh, leading the team, was greeted with garlands and tri-colour stoles, and the atmosphere was vibrant with the sounds of dhol playing in the background. Fans and media turned out in large numbers to celebrate the team’s success. Prominent players such as Sukhjeet and Mandeep Singh were seen dancing to the rhythmic beats of the dhol, adding to the festive spirit as they exited the airport.



    Notably, some members of the squad were absent from the arrival ceremony. PR Sreejesh, one of the key players, was still in Paris. He was selected as a joint-flagbearer for the closing ceremony of the Olympics and will return to India after the event concludes.

    In addition to the warm reception at the airport, Hockey India shared a special moment from the team’s journey back. Air India honored the bronze medal winners with a unique tribute. During the flight from Paris, the pilot made an announcement about the hockey team being on board, which was met with a hearty round of applause from passengers and a celebratory acknowledgment from the cabin crew.

    A special gesture from @airindia for the boys as they headed back to India from Paris. #ReturningHome #HockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/StTlB7fc9B — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 10, 2024

    The players will continue their celebratory journey with a meet-and-greet session at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium on Saturday, where they will interact with fans and media personnel. The successful campaign in Paris has added a record-extending 13th Olympic medal to India’s tally, further cementing the country’s reputation in the sport.

  • Indian Hockey Star PR Sreejesh Named India Flagbearer With Manu Bhaker For Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony | Other

    Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced the nomination of hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as the joint flagbearer with pistol shooter Manu Bhaker at the Closing Ceremony of the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.

    IOA President PT Usha said Sreejesh was both an emotional and popular choice within the IOA leadership, including the Chef de Mission Gagan Narang, and the entire Indian contingent. “Sreejesh has served Indian hockey in particular and Indian sport in general admirably through more than two decades,” Usha was quoted by the IOA.

    A brace from skipper Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh’s effortless saves secured a bronze medal for India at the Paris Olympics with a 2-1 win over Spain at the Yves du Manoir Stadium on Thursday. (Arshad Nadeem Also Our Child: Neeraj Chopra’s Mother Wins Hearts After Paris Olympics 2024 Final – Watch)

    PT Usha said she had spoken with javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who claimed his second successive Olympic Games medal by winning silver on Thursday. “I spoke with Neeraj Chopra and appreciate the spontaneity and grace with which he agreed that Sreejesh should be the flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony,” she said.

    “He told me ‘Ma’am, even if you had not asked me, I would have suggested Sree bhai’s name’. It is reflective of the immense respect Neeraj has for Sreejesh and his contribution to Indian sport,” she said. (Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra Clinches Silver As Arshad Nadeem Of Pakistan Wins Gold In Javelin Throw)

    Neeraj Chopra fell short of retaining his gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the ongoing marquee event securing silver with a best throw of 89.45 meters. IOA had earlier named Manu Bhaker as the female bearer after became the first athlete since India attained Independence to win multiple medals in a single Olympic Games. She won bronze medals in the 10m Air Pistol Women and the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team (with Sarabjot Singh), the release added.

    Bhaker opened India’s medal tally in the ongoing Olympics after she secured third place in the women’s individual 10m Air pistol event, becoming the first-ever woman shooter to win an Olympic medal for India. Following that, Sarabjot Singh and Bhaker won the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol (mixed team) event, which was India’s first-ever shooting team medal.

    She had a shot at returning with three medals from Paris. But in her final event, she narrowly missed out on the historic grand treble and finished fourth in the women’s 25m pistol shooting event. She missed out on the opportunity to become the first Indian to win three medals at the Olympics. Bhaker is the first athlete from the Indian contingent after independence to get two medals in a single edition of the Paris Olympics.

    Earlier in the 1900 Olympics, Norman Pritchard won two medals while representing India, both silver in the 200m and 200m hurdles. Bhaker also joined an elite group of athletes to have multiple individual medals at the Olympics: PV Sindhu (badminton silver at Rio 2016 and bronze medal at Tokyo 2020) and Sushil Kumar (wrestling bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics).

  • Paris Olympics 2024: Vinesh Phogat Eyes Gold Medal After Win Over Yusneylis Guzman Lopez In Semifinal | Other

    India Wrestler Vinesh Phogat scripted history on Tuesday (August 6) as she became the first athlete who will win a silver or gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 for India. She defeated Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semifinal to secure her spot in the final of Women’s 50kg Freestyle Wrestling.

    Following a flawless outing on the mat, Vinesh became the first Indian to reach the Olympic final in women’s wrestling. She waved her hand towards the crowd for their unwavering support after confirming India’s fourth medal at the Paris Olympics. Vinesh adopted an aggressive approach in the opening minutes of the bout. But the Cuban grappler stood firm with her defensive approach and didn’t allow Vinesh to take away any point. (Meet Vinesh Phogat’s Husband Somvir Rathee Who’s Also A Wrestler: Know All About Their Love Story – In Pics)

    Guzman Lopez was handed a passivity warning and had thirty seconds to score a point. Vinesh didn’t give her much of an opening and took the first point in the semi-final bout. The Indian grappler maintained the slender one-point lead in the second half. She showed her aggression and managed to get Lopez in her grip. She turned her around and took a 5-0 lead. Towards the end, Lopez tried to turn things around with one final surge. Vinesh deflected the attacks that were thrown her way and stormed into the final to fight for gold. Earlier in the day, Vinesh starred in the quarter-finals against Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan.

    Susaki was leading 1-0 at the end of the first period, but Vinesh made a brilliant turnaround in the second period, outdoing her Japanese opponent by miles to secure a 3-2 win to make way to the quarter-finals. She handed the Japanese wrestler her first defeat in 82 international matches.

    In the quarter-finals against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach, Vinesh took a lead of 2–0 in the first period. However, Oksana managed to deliver a fight in the second period. But Vinesh, the World Championships medalist held off the challenge from Ukrainian and secured a semi-final berth. (With ANI Inputs)

  • Paris Olympics 2024: Vinesh Phogat Two Wins Away From Gold Medal, Check Where To Watch Her In Action Here Against Yusneylys Guzman In Semifnal | Other

    Seasoned Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat entered her maiden Olympic semifinals in the 50kg category, beating Ukraine’s Oksana Livach in the last-eight stage on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Vinesh defeated Livach 7-5 in a hard-fought bout to get closer to an elusive Olympic medal in her third attempt. This was after she caused the biggest wrestling upset in this games when she shocked four-time world champion and reigning gold-medallist Yui Susaki of Japan on points to enter the quarter-finals.

    Trailing 0-2 after conceding penalty points for passivity, the Indian wrestler came back brilliantly in the last five seconds to take down the top seed by clinching three points to win 3-2. Vinesh had failed to win a medal in her two previous Olympic appearances. (India vs Germany LIVE Action Hockey Semifinal At Paris Olympics 2024)

    Here are the livestreaming details of Vinesh Phogat’s semifinal match…

    When will Vinesh Phogat’s semifinal match against Yusneylys Guzman take place?

    Vinesh Phogat’s semifinal match against Yusneylys Guzman will take place on Tuesday (August 6).

    What time will Vinesh Phogat’s semifinal match against Yusneylys Guzman take place?

    Vinesh Phogat’s semifinal match against Yusneylys Guzman will take place at 9:45 PM (IST) at the Paris Olympics 2024.

    Where to watch Vinesh Phogat’s semifinal match against Yusneylys Guzman?

    For those eager to watch Vinesh Phogat’s semifinal match against Yusneylys Guzman at the Paris Olympics 2024, they can watch it on the Sports18 Network in India.

    Where to live stream Vinesh Phogat’s semifinal match against Yusneylys Guzman?

    For online streaming, fans can watch the Vinesh Phogat’s Paris Olympics 2024 semifinal match against Yusneylys Guzman live on the JioCinema app and website.

    Earlier in the quarterfinal, as the match progressed into its final moments, Phogat’s perseverance paid off. She made a remarkable comeback by pinning Susaki down, which earned her two crucial points. In the dying seconds of the bout, Phogat added another point to secure a 3-2 victory, showcasing her tactical prowess and determination.

    Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Yui Susaki had clinched the gold medal in the Tokyo Games’ 50kg category, having won all four of her bouts without conceding a single point. Throughout her wrestling career, Susaki has only lost 34 matches out of over 700, underscoring her dominance. She has also secured World Championship gold in 2017 (48kg), 2019, 2022, and 2023. Remarkably, Vinesh Phogat is the first international wrestler to defeat Susaki on the mat. (With PTI Inputs)

  • India Vs Germany Hockey Semifinal: Men In Blue To Miss Services Of Amit Rohidas Key Player At Paris Olympics 2024 | Other

    Indian Men’s Hockey Team defender Amit Rohidas is set to miss the semifinal clash against Germany on Tuesday after receiving a one-match ban for his foul in the quarterfinal clash against Great Britain. In the second quarter of the match, Rohidas was given a red card after he raised his stick and caught opponent William Calnan’s head. India played the rest of the match one-man down.

    The International Hockey Federation (FIH) released an official statement where they announced that the player is set to miss one match because of his misconduct. (Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshya Sen Loses Out To Axelsen But Bronze Medal Hope Still Alive, Details Here)

    “Amit Rohidas was suspended for one match for a breach of the FIH Code of Conduct which occurred during the India vs Great Britain match on August 4,” the FIH official statement read as quoted by Olympics.com.

    “The suspension affects match No. 35 (India’s semi-final match against Germany), where Amit Rohidas will not participate and India will play with a squad of 15 players only,” the statement added. (“You Rock PR Sreejesh;’ Fans Go Crazy As India Hockey Team Cruises Into Semis With Win Against Great Britain)

    Amit Rohidas who mans India’s defense along with captain Harmanpreet Singh serves a dual role in the team as he is also India’s first rusher during the penalty corners. (Paris Olympics 2024: Manika Batra’s Clutch Performance Gets India Women’s Table Tennis Team Into Quarterfinals)

    Coming to the match, Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian men’s hockey team defeated Great Britain in a thrilling quarter-final match at the Paris Olympics and advanced into the semi-final. As the scores were level at 1-1 after the end of regulation time, India won the shootout 4-2 and made the semi-finals.

    In the second quarter of the encounter, India took a 1-0 lead after skipper Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner. India had four penalty corner opportunities while Great Britain had five in the second quarter.

    Before halftime, Great Britain’s Lee Morton scored the equalizer and gave his side a moment to breathe. In the second half, Great Britain failed to score, despite multiple opportunities. Meanwhile, in the shootout, India scored all four of their attempts. While Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh saved one, helping India move into the semis of the tournament.

  • Lovlina Borgohain’s Paris 2024 Olympic Medal Hopes End With Quarterfinal Loss To Li Qian | Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: The 26-year-old’s loss ended India’s boxing campaign in the Olympics after Nishant Dev was ousted from the men’s 71kg quarterfinals on Saturday night, also a close contest.A six-strong boxing contingent, comprising four women and two men , was representing the country in the Games. Out of these, four had crashed out in the preliminary stage itself.

    It was a pacey start to the proceedings as Borgohain and Qian quickly got into a tangle. However, none of the boxers seemed willing to launch the first attack. The holding and clinching started pretty early in the bout and the referee had to repeatedly step in to separate the two old foes.

    Qian seemed determined while Borgohain came across the more animated of the two early on. The Chinese connected some clean combination punches and a left hook towards the end of the first round. She was particularly impressive before she took a 3-2 lead in the contest.

    The second round didn’t start any different but Qian was more purposeful in her approach. Her right straights were on target while Borgohain was cautioned twice for excessive holding. It was once again 3-2 in favor of Qian but with a different set of judges scoring in her favor this time, she only had a slender one-point lead on one card, while the remaining four were tied.

    The holding and clinching continued in the third round too and both the women seemed a bit drained.

    However, Qian showed great presence of mind throughout to keep Borgohain at a distance. Borgohain was not up to it when it came to controlling the pace of the bout and repeatedly took hits on counter-attacks.

    The Assamese had fought Qian in the Asian Games final last year and went down 0-5. She later beat Qian in the semifinals of the world championship semifinal in 2023. But more recently, she was bested by the veteran in a pre-Olympic tournament in Czechia in June.

  • Paris Olympics 2024: Lakshya Sen Vs Viktor Axelsen; All You Need To Know About Semifinal | Other

    On August 2, Lakshya Sen made history by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals at the 2024 Olympics. In a remarkable performance, Lakshya, who has been in stellar form throughout the Paris Games, secured a comeback victory over 12th seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei. At 22, he stands as India’s sole hope in badminton after the exits of prominent players like Satwik-Chirag and PV Sindhu.

    Lakshya Sen will face a familiar opponent in the semifinals, Viktor Axelsen. The two have a shared history, as Lakshya trained with the former World No. 1 in Dubai after being dropped from the Thomas Cup team.

    According to his coach, Vimal Kumar, Lakshya gained valuable insights from the Danish star during their training sessions. The head-to-head record heavily favors Viktor Axelsen, who has won 7 of their 8 encounters.

    Lakshya Sen’s sole victory over the current World No. 2 came in the 2022 German Open semi-finals, where he won 21-13, 12-21, 22-20. In their most recent matchup at the Singapore Open 2024, Axelsen triumphed in a closely contested round-of-32 clash, winning 21-13, 16-21, 21-13.

    The semifinal match between Lakshya Sen and Viktor Axelsen at the Paris Olympics 2024 is scheduled for August 4, Sunday, and will take place not before 12 PM IST. It will be the second semifinal of the day, following the first semifinal between Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Jia Zii Lee.

    Recapping Lakshya’s match with Chou Tien Chen, the first set was a neck-and-neck battle, creating an electrifying atmosphere throughout the arena. The intensity of the smashes from Chou and Lakshya’s elegant defensive shots was a delight for the fans. The first set began on a back-and-forth note. Chou took a couple of points, and Sen fought back, picking up two consecutive points to restore parity at 2-2.

    Three consecutive powerful smashes from Chou allowed him to enjoy a three-point buffer over the Indian shuttler.

    The lengthy rallies continued, and Lakshya started to take control in the opening set. With an exquisite crosscourt smash, Lakshya once again leveled the score at 5-5. Lakshya continued to ride high on the momentum and went ahead for the first time in the first set, 6-5. Chou quickly bounced back to restore parity after his drop shot glanced off the net, which Lakshya was unable to return.

    For the next point, a 51-stroke rally kept the fans glued to the screen. In the end, Lakshya emerged victorious and once again leveled the score at 7-7. Chou took back-to-back points, and Lakshya responded with an excellent smash to level the game at 9-9. From that point, Chou upped the ante and took five consecutive points to go ahead in the game. By claiming four consecutive points, Lakshya fought back to keep the first set alive at 15-15.

    The Indian shuttler took three consecutive points to take a step closer to making history. But Chou’s relentless attacking play helped him overtake Lakshya and seal the first set with a 19-21 win.

    After a gripping opening set, Lakshya fought hard in the second set and lured Chou into making errors. He raced to a 4-1 lead, but Chou asserted dominance with his pinpoint smashes.

    Chou went ahead with a two-point lead at 7-9. Lakshya didn’t let his shoulders drop and replied by showcasing amazing levels of athleticism. After trailing briefly, Lakshya went ahead and didn’t leave room for Chou to make a comeback. He capped off an impressive display by sealing the second set with a 21-15 win. In the decider, once again, Chou exercised early dominance, but Lakshya dug deep and overcame the challenge to become the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semi-finals of the men’s singles event at the Olympics.

  • Paris Olympics 2024: Nikhat Zareen In Tears After Crashing Out In Round Of 16 Following Loss Against Wu Yu | Other

    Ace India boxer Nikhat Zareen bowed out after defeat against People’s Republic of China’s Wu Yu in the women’s 50kg round of 16 match at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Thursday. Nikhat Zareen lost 5:0 against the People’s Republic of China’s Wu Yu. Wu Yu advanced to the last eight and is one win away from winning an Olympic medal. Wu Yu dominated the first round. However, Zareen bounced back in the second but the Chinese boxer edged the round. Meanwhile, in the third round, Wu Yu won unanimously.

    Earlier in the previous round, Nikhat Zareen powered her way into the women’s 50kg pre-quarterfinals by defeating Germany’s Maxi Karina Kloetzer in a hard-fought 32-round bout. The 28-year-old Indian boxer emerged victorious with a 5-0 unanimous decision win on Sunday.

    Zareen’s journey in this Olympic campaign has been nothing short of impressive. The bout was challenging and messy, yet Zareen’s experience and tactical prowess saw her through to the next round. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Swapnil Kusale helped India to win their third medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics. (Swapnil Kusale’s Journey: From Railway TT To Paris Olympics 2024 Medal Winner For India)

    Swapnil Kusale won the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3P event at the ongoing Paris Olympics. Kusale also became the first Indian shooter to win a medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3P event.

    Nikhat zareen couldn’t control her emotions in the mix zone.

    I’ve never seen Nikhat in tears. You are a fighter Nikhat. We are proud of you. The entire country is with you.@nikhat_zareen #Paris2024 #OlympicGames #Olympics pic.twitter.com/JAnYhJ6LF3

    Abhijit Deshmukh (@iabhijitdesh) August 1, 2024

    Kusale clinched the bronze medal for India in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men’s Final after finishing in third place with an aggregate of 451.4. He secured India’s 3rd medal in shooting overall.

    In the qualification round, Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale finished seventh in the qualification round of men’s 50m 3P to qualify for the final at the ongoing Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

    Indian shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Swapnil Kusale both appeared in the men’s 50m 3P qualification round at the Paris 2024 Olympics. On his Olympic debut, Kusale finished seventh with a score of 590-38x. While Tomar ranked 11th with a total of 589-33x. Only the top eight shooters qualified for the final round, and Tomar failed to make his place in the final round. Kusale was also the first Indian shooter to make a place in the men’s 50m rifle 3P medal event at the Olympics. (With ANI Inputs)

  • Paris Olympics 2024 Day 5 India Schedule: Sindhu, Lakshya & Lovlina Lead India’s Star-Studded Lineup | Other

    The excitement continues to build at the Paris Olympics 2024 as Indian athletes gear up for another thrilling day of competition. With a schedule packed with high-stakes matches and potential medal-winning performances, Day 5 promises to be a landmark moment for India’s contingent. From the badminton courts to the boxing ring, Indian athletes are poised to make a mark on the global stage.

    Shuttlers Ready to Soar: Sindhu, Lakshya, and Prannoy in Focus

    India’s badminton stars PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and HS Prannoy are set to captivate fans with their performances in the singles events. Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, started her campaign on a high note, defeating Maldives’ Fathimath Abdul Razzaq in straight games. She now faces Estonia’s Kristin Kuuba in what promises to be a riveting encounter. Sindhu’s experience and determination will be crucial as she aims to secure another podium finish for India.

    In the men’s category, Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy are also set for challenging matches. Lakshya, known for his agility and tactical prowess, will take on Indonesia’s Jonathan Christie. Prannoy, another seasoned player, faces Vietnam’s Duc Phat Le. Both matches are critical for India’s hopes in badminton, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome.

    Shooting for Success: Aiming for the Podium

    The shooting range has already been a fruitful venue for India, with Bhanu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh clinching a bronze medal in the mixed 10m air pistol event. On Day 5, the spotlight shifts to Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Swapnil Kusale, who will compete in the 50m rifle 3 Positions Men’s Qualification round. Additionally, Shreyasi Singh and Rajeshwari Kumari will represent India in the Women’s Trap Qualification, aiming to add to India’s medal tally.

    Boxing: Lovlina Borgohain’s Quest for Glory

    Lovlina Borgohain, a bronze medalist from Tokyo 2020, is set to begin her campaign in Paris with a bout against Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad. Lovlina’s journey has been one of resilience and determination, and she enters the ring with hopes of improving her previous performance. Her bout is one of the most anticipated events for Indian fans, who are eager to see her secure another medal.

    Table Tennis: Sreeja Akula’s Moment to Shine

    Young table tennis sensation Sreeja Akula will face Singapore’s Jian Zeng in the Women’s Singles Round of 32. Sreeja’s rise in the sport has been meteoric, and this match presents a crucial opportunity for her to showcase her skills on the Olympic stage. A win here could propel her into the spotlight, marking a significant milestone in her career.

    Archery and Equestrian: The Pursuit of Excellence

    Indian archers Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai are set to compete in the 1/32 Elimination rounds of their respective categories. Deepika, a seasoned campaigner, faces Estonia’s Reena Parnat, while Tarundeep will go head-to-head with Great Britain’s Tom Hall. In equestrian, Anush Agarwalla will participate in the Dressage Individual Grand Prix, representing India’s aspirations in this discipline.

    Shooting

    50m Rifle 3 Positions Men’s Qualification

    Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar — 12:30 PM Swapnil Kusale — 12:30 PM

    Women’s Trap Qualification

    Shreyasi Singh — 12:30 PM Rajeshwari Kumari — 12:30 PM

    Badminton

    Women’s Singles (Group Stage)

    PV Sindhu vs Kristin Kuuba (Estonia) — 12:50 PM

    Men’s Singles (Group Stage)

    Lakshya Sen vs Jonathan Christie (Indonesia) — 1:40 PM HS Prannoy vs Duc Phat Le (Vietnam) — 11:00 PM

    Table Tennis

    Women’s Singles Round of 32

    Sreeja Akula vs Jian Zeng (Singapore) — 2:20 PM

    Boxing

    Women’s 75kg Round of 16

    Lovlina Borgohain vs Sunniva Hofstad (Norway) — 3:50 PM

    Men’s 71kg Round of 16

    Nishant Dev vs Jose Gabriel Rodriguez Tenorio (Ecuador) — 12:18 AM (August 1)

    Archery

    Women’s Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

    Deepika Kumari vs Reena Parnat (Estonia) — 3:56 PM

    Men’s Individual 1/32 Elimination Round

    Tarundeep Rai vs Tom Hall (Great Britain) — 9:15 PM

    Horsemen

    Dressage Individual Grand Prix Day 2

    Anush Agarwalla – 1:30 PM

  • Paris Olympics 2024: Veteran Commentator Bob Ballard Removed After Sexist Remark On Australian Swimmers | Other

    Veteran sports commentator Bob Ballard has been dismissed from his role at the Paris Olympics following a sexist remark about Australian female swimmers. The incident occurred as the 4x100m freestyle relay team, featuring Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack, celebrated their gold medal win.

    As the triumphant Australian team was leaving the pool deck, Ballard made an inappropriate comment, saying they were “finishing up” and adding, “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make up.” The comment quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation.

    Eurosport, the broadcaster for the Olympics, responded promptly by removing Ballard from their commentary lineup. In a statement, Eurosport condemned the remark, stating, “During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment. To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”

    Ballard, a seasoned commentator known for his extensive coverage of sports since the 1980s, had been a fixture in global sports broadcasting, including multiple Olympic Games and World Championships. His coverage spanned various sports, from swimming and diving to water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis.

    The comment was made as O’Callaghan, McKeon, Harris, and Jack celebrated their victory over the US and China, marking Australia’s fourth consecutive gold medal in the event. Ballard’s co-commentator, British swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds, immediately criticized the remark as “outrageous,” which led to laughter from Ballard.

    Swimming Australia has been approached for a comment on the incident. Ballard has yet to address the controversy publicly.