Paris Olympics 2024 Day 13 Highlights: Neeraj Chopra bags silver in Javelin final; Pakistan's Arshad sets Olympic record, wins historic gold

CHENNAI: The India men's hockey team defeated Spain 2-1 to win bronze medal in Day 13 of the Paris Olympics on Thursday. This was India's 13th hockey medal and after 53 years they won back-to-back hockey medals.  

Neeraj Chopra throws season's best of 89.45m but Nadeem destroys competition with Olympic record of 92.97m. With his silver, Chopra becomes first Indian track-and-field athlete to win two Olympic medals.

Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat lost the semi-finals in men's 57kg freestyle against Rei Higuchi of Japan. He will play for bronze medal match on Friday against Darian Toi Cruz of Puerto Rica.  

Day 13 of the Paris Olympics started with yet another heartbreak – the news of India's star wrestler Vinesh Phogat announcing her retirement from the sport. She was disqualified yesterday after being found 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in ahead of her gold medal match.

Meanwhile, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver its verdict against Vinesh's disqualification Thursday morning, following her appeal. She has asking to be awarded the silver medal.

As messages of comfort and solidarity pour in worldwide for Vinesh, here is a quick look at the events lined up today at the Games.

Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar willl be in action in the women’s individual stroke play ground 2.

At 2:05 pm, Indian athlete Jyothi Yarraji will feature in the women’s 100m hurdles repechage round. She finished at the 7th place in the qualification round.

In wrestling, India's Aman Sehrawat will face Vladimir Egorov of North Macedonia in the men’s 57kg freestyle round of 16 at 2:30 pm.

Another Indian wrestler Anshu Malik is up against USA’s Helen Louise Maroulis in the women’s 57kg freestyle round of 16 at 2:45 pm.

If Aman and Anshu both qualify in the round of 16, they will enter the quarterfinals, scheduled for 4:20 pm.

But the one event the entire country is looking forward to is the India vs Spain hockey match which will take place at 5:30 pm. If the Indian team wins the match, it will secure a fourth bronze medal for the country in the Games.

Finally, we have India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra participating in the men’s javelin throw final at 11:55 pm, giving us another chance to hope for a medal.

Indian athlete Jyothi Yarraji finishes at 4th place in women's 100m hurdles repechage round.

She finishes with a timimg of 13.17 seconds.

She failed to enter semi-final.

Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat will face Vladimir Egorov of North Macedonia in the men's 57kg freestyle 1/8 final.

In the first period time, Indian wrestler Aman leads 6 - 0 against Vladimir of North Marcedona.

Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat wins the match by technical superiority 10 - 0 against Vladimir Egorov of North Marcedona.

He enters into quarter-final.

Indian wrestler Anshu Malik is up against USA’s Helen Louise Maroulis in the women’s 57kg freestyle

After 1st period of time, USA’s Helen Louise Maroulis leads 2 - 0 against Indian wrestler Anshu Malik

Indian wrestler Anshu Malik loses 2 -7  against USA's Helen Louise Maroulis.

Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat is up against Zelimkhan Abakarov of Albania in the men's freestyle 57kg quarter-final match.

After first period of time, Indian wrestle Aman Sehrawat leads 3 -0 against Albania's Zelimkhan Abakarov

By technical superiority, Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat wins the match against Albania's Zelimkhan Abakarov  12 - 0

"As I stand between the posts for the final time, my heart swells with gratitude and pride. This journey, from a young boy with a dream to the man defending India's honour, has been nothing short of extraordinary", Sreejesh wrote on X. 

He further added, "Today, I play my last match for India. Every save, every dive, every roar of the crowd will forever echo in my soul. Thank you, India, for believing in me, for standing by me. This is not the end, but the beginning of cherished memories. Forever a custodian of dreams. Jai Hind." 

Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat will face Japan's Rei Higuchu in the semi-final men's freestyle 57kg match.

If India win today's game, they will win their fourth bronze medal. 

They have won 12 medals so far in hockey (8 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze)

Sreejesh PR, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh.

India vs Spain at Olympics 

India won-  7

Spain won - 1

Draw-   2

Sukhjeet Singh had an opportunity at the sixth minute of the game but didn't angle it properly and missed the chance to open the account for India 

5 minutes to go for the first quarter to end. And as of this moment both India and Spain are not playing aggressively. Both had a couple of chances to score but failed to capitalise. 

Both India and Spain didn't score in the first 15 minutes of the game. Despite Spain getting a great chance to score in the eighth minute when Maria Jose's shot looked like it was going to give Spain a lead, but once again it is the goalie Sreejesh who saved and they haven't got any more realistic chance inside the box yet.  

Both teams are yet to earn a PC in the first quarter.

Marc Miralles scored Spain's first goal in a penalty stroke 

Amit Rohidass played a good stroke but good save from Spain goal keeper

Harmanpreet you beauty!!!!!!

He did it once again, and whenever India needs something from him he is there to deliver. 

Harmanpreet once again scores India 

India takes lead 2-1 against Spain 

But they couldn't make it 3-1 as it was a good block from Spain goalie 

5 minutes to go before third quarter ends.....

PC for India but they couldn't stretch their lead as it was a good save from Luis 

India leads 2-1 against Spain with just 15 minutes to go. 

Can they maintain the same scores and bring home bronze. 

Within 30 seconds of the fourth quarter Spain got a chance with a penalty corner, but Marc Recasens shot missed the goalpost. 

Sukhjeet was given green card.  

All Indian players go to Sreejesh who draws curtain in his hockey career with this game. And till the last minute he was doing his job and crucially saved the last minute PC from Spain. 

It's a historic win for India!!!!

This is India's 13th Hockey Olympic medal and India wins back-to-back medals after 58 years. 

"I think this is the better way to finish an Olympic Games, with a medal. We are not going home empty-handed, that's a great thing," Sreejesh said after the match.  

Indian golf player Diksha Dagar stands at 15th place and Aditi Ashok stands at 18th place in women's individual stroke play.

Japan's Higuchi Rei won 10-0 by technical superiority against India's Aman Sehrawat 

Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar were at tied 14th place after two rounds. 

Can India's golden boy retain his gold medal?

Hockey India announces cash prizes for Indian Men's Hockey Team following historic Bronze medal victory at 2024 Paris Olympics

Hockey India announced a cash prize of INR 15 lakhs for each player of the Indian Men's Hockey Team and INR 7.5 lakhs for each member of the support staff in recognition of their outstanding achievement at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

A total of 12 athletes will be participating in the event 

The finale will consist of six rounds of one throw each. At the end the athlete with the longest throw will be declared winner. 

The elimination will take place after the end of third round. Four athletes at the bottom will be eliminated and the rest will continue with the remaining three chances. 

Neeraj Chopra is on the track runway preparing for the finals 

And here comes the reigning champion Neeraj Chopra with loud cheers in the field

Julian Weber of Germany do not have quite the start as his first one will be counted as 'No Throw'

Not off to a good start for the golden boy from India as his first attempt was a foul throw 

The first attempts are over for all the 12 athletes 

Neeraj Chopra, Julian Weber from Germany and Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan are the three who didn't register a time in the first round 

New Olympic record created in the Javelin finals as Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan throwed a 92.97m in his second attempt 

Neerajjjjjjj!!!!!!!! 

Not Bad from Neeraj. He posted a 89.45m and a season best throw for him. 

This puts him in second position 

It's 88.72m 

Not a bad throw, but for the benchmark he set in his previous throw, it's highly unlikely he can top that. But you never know 

Ahhhhhhh..... Not the best one from Neeraj. 

Another foul from Neeraj. It wasn't his best.

He only have one legitimate throw in the finals. 

Neeraj Chopra.....ahhhhh once again its a foul throw 

Silver confirmed for Neeraj but can he eye for gold with his final attempt ??

He tried... he gave it all but at the end no one could reach what Arshad Nadeem did. 

Arshad Nadeem is the new Olympic champion