Author: Boria Majumdar

Boria Majumdar in Paris ‘Her career is over,’ whispered the stretcher-bearer. Just minutes before, Vinesh Phogat had been leading in her 2016 Olympic quarter-final match against her Chinese opponent, Sun Yanan, in the 48kg category. Now, she was screaming while being carried away from the mat on a stretcher. It was around 11 am in Rio on August 16, 2016. Vinesh had started the bout well, having won her pre-quarter-final earlier in the day fairly convincingly. Many had tipped her to break India’s medal jinx at the 2016 Olympics, and it was no surprise that the entire Indian media contingent…

Boria Majumdar in Paris Dear Prakash Sir, As it is for millions of Indians, you are also my hero. And I make no qualms about it. In our many interviews, I have repeatedly expressed my appreciation for you. And that won’t change. But let’s agree to disagree, Sir, on a few things you mentioned yesterday. When we were walking out together, I asked you: “What went wrong with Lakshya?” And you said something, which both G Rajaraman – India’s media attache – and I agreed was right, but I won’t mention it here. Then, once outside and speaking to the…

Boria Majumdar in Paris He had just saved the fourth shoot-out attempt from Great Britain, and it was a spectacular effort to say the least. Just then, his reaction said it all. Half-crouched on the turf, PR Sreejesh was roaring. And with him, India. He knew his last dance had turned memorable, and the emotion had all come out. He isn’t, however, done yet. Sreejesh, we all know, wants to better Tokyo. He has said it time and again to us in multiple interviews. And now, he is a step away. Germany, who India beat to win the bronze medal…

Boria Majumdar in Paris She has 40 medals at the Olympics and World Championships, of which an astonishing 30 are gold. No, we aren’t making these numbers up. We are just speaking about Simone Biles. An extraordinary athlete at her imperious best here in Paris, and she isn’t done yet. Three of her seven Olympic gold medals have been won here, and with two events still left, Biles is easily the athlete of these games alongside France’s Leon Marchand. And then, when you recall that she had almost given up in Tokyo and withdrawn from a host of events, you…

Boria Majumdar in Paris India has traditionally been known to mess up on the finer points related to athletes’ comfort and well-being at the Olympic Games. Vinesh Phogat crying out in pain in Rio, in the absence of a proper medical team, was a grim reminder. Not so in Paris. The presence of Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala has made a real difference in that regard. What is also as important is the conscious effort to ensure athletes’ comfort. At the insistence of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Sports Ministry, 40 portable air conditioners were delivered to the Indian contingent…

Boria Majumdar in Paris “It doesn’t matter how you are playing the whole year, but when it’s the Olympics, you need to peak in that particular week,” said Prakash Padukone ahead of Lakshya Sen’s badminton men’s singles quarterfinal against Chou Tien-chen. True to those words, Lakshya played some incredible badminton to advance into the semi-finals. He seems to have peaked at just the right time. Soon after the match, Sen, who seemed in a hurry to go and watch the other quarterfinal, said: “I don’t mind whoever I play. I will watch the match and strategise with my team. I…

Boria Majumdar in Paris Lakshya Sen versus HS Prannoy had just ended, and it was a no-contest. Lakshya, riding on some stellar form and some fantastic shots, won the match easily against his senior rival and made it to the quarterfinals. Prannoy, batting physical and mental fatigue, had expectedly lost and his Olympic dreams were over. For the few Indian journalists who were there in the mixed zone, it was a routine interaction. Lakshya said he would try everything to be at his best for the quarterfinal, while Prannoy had come because there is a compulsion to do so. Every…

Boria Majumdar in Paris Lakshya Sen is the only Indian player left in the badminton. Harsh, but true. And he will be up against Chou Tien-chen today in what promises to be an exciting quarterfinal. With Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty losing out and with PV Sindhu failing to go past He Bingjiao, he is the only hope left for India in the sport. Speaking to Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, Prakash Padukone exuded confidence about Lakshya, and said while he wasn’t promising a medal, Lakshya was indeed playing well and doing exactly what he needed to do. Extracts from the…

Boria Majumdar in Paris She was in tears, and understandably so. Months and years of effort, and it had all ended after the crushing loss. “For two days, I did not eat anything or drink water even,” said Nikhat Zareen. “I did not sleep at night. If you don’t eat, how will sleep? If I had won, all of this would be looked at as positive. Now, people will say I am giving excuses, so I don’t want to say much.” She was already crying by then. “I tried my best, and now will take a break,” said Nikhat. “I…

Boria Majumdar in Paris It is the round-of-16 match that none of us wanted. And did not want to speak about either. And yet, it is now upon us. Two of India’s best, two of our absolute favourites, clash on the Olympic stage with one advancing to the quarterfinals. HS Prannoy v Lakshya Sen is a tough one to call. On form, it has to be Lakshya. But as an Indian sports lover, you just don’t want to call this one. I’d much rather buy myself a glass of Coke, sit in the media centre and follow the action, rather…