Historic Wins and Heartbreaks: Olympic Achievements at Paris 2024

Athletes from the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and Australia make history in women's boxing at Paris 2024, while India's Neeraj Chopra secures a silver medal in men's javelin. Ngamba and Parker win bronzes, marking milestones for their respective teams, while Chopra falls short of defending his gold medal.

Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and Australia's Caitlin Parker both secured bronze medals in women's 75kg boxing on Thursday, 8 August, at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Ngamba's win is particularly historic as it marks the first Olympic medal for the Refugee Olympic Team since its inception in 2016. Despite her strong performance, Ngamba lost in a 4-1 split decision to Panama's Atheyna Bylon.

Parker's bronze is a landmark for Australian boxing, as she earned the nation's first-ever medal in women's boxing. She lost to Li Qian from the People's Republic of China in a unanimous 5-0 decision. 'The game plan didn't go as I wanted, but I'm proud of myself for making history for Australian boxing,' Parker said to Olympics.com. Parker, a two-time Olympian, is resolute about returning for future competitions.

In the men's javelin throw, India's Neeraj Chopra secured silver with a best throw of 89.45 meters. Despite leading the qualification rounds, Chopra struggled with fouls and fell short of retaining his gold medal. His performance remains notable as he becomes the second male athlete from post-independence India to win two Olympic medals in an individual event.

The gold-medal match for women's 75kg boxing will see Bylon face off against Li on Saturday, according to Olympics.com. Chopra, meanwhile, faces the challenge of bettering his accolades in upcoming events after a day filled with highs and lows.

(With inputs from agencies.)