Author: S Kannan

S Kannan in Paris Watching the shooting action unfold in the Paris Olympics at the picturesque ranges in Chateauroux on Saturday, a few points became clear. First, the margin for error is no narrow that one bad shot can destroy the dream. Second, consistency is so crucial that a minor blip can spell doom. As mixed air rifle was on the menu for the morning, Indian fans had started dreaming of a medal, as if this was some balloon shooting competition at a fair. In these Olympics, the focus is on gender equality and how in many events the men-women…

S.Kannan in Paris Call it redemption or a comeback, but to see Manu Bhaker in blazing form at the 10m air pistol range in Chateauroux on Saturday warmed the cockles of millions of Indian hearts. On a day when the shooting programme at the Paris Olympics got off to a flying start, India’s rifle shooters had disappointed. The pressure on Manu had been very high, since the time she decided she would go her own way, with her own coach, in 2023. Her decision to train only under Jaspal Rana was scoffed at, but then everyone realised she was most…

S Kannan in Paris Nightmare. That one word had summed up the mood before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, which got underway formally in the French capital on Friday evening. Anxiety, stress and high-speed rail network hit by “acts of vandalism” — this country had to deal with all this, before the showpiece event sprung to life along the river Seine. French President Emanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach hugged each other. It was more than just symbolic. Friday morning was one of chaos, as the train network within France — regarded as…

S Kannan in Paris Some elite athletes have been pushing their battered and bruised bodies just for one last bow at the Paris Olympics. Great Britain’s Andy Murray, winner of three Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals ( London 2012 and Rio 2016) is one such competitor at Roland Garros. The man the fans love for his fighting spirit has decided, sensibly, not to play singles. It will just be doubles with Dan Evans on the brick-red clay in Paris. “Competing for Britain has been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I am extremely…

S Kannan in Paris For all the hype over 117 Indian athletes qualifying for the Paris Olympics, the actual number who will be seen during the opening ceremony along the Seine River may be just about 50. The total number of Indians who will be on the boat is 68, according to official sources. This will include athletes, led by the two flag bearers, PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal. In addition, there will be Gagan Narang, the chef de mission, and other officials. As it is, out of the 117 athletes, 21 shooters are based in Chateauroux, which is three…

S Kannan in Paris For the shooters competing in the Paris Olympics, there will not be the joy of taking part in the opening ceremony along the Seine River on Friday. As 21 Indian shooters have been preparing hard in Chateauroux, 275km away from the French capital, the last thing on their minds is fanfare and enjoying the atmosphere and energy of the opening night’s glitz. In fact, by the time the opening ceremony ends, some of the shooters may have hit the bed. Manu Bhaker, who begins her second Olympic journey with the air pistol match on Saturday, is…

S Kannan in Paris Team effort, recovery and putting the best medical team in place – these are the most important factors for Indian athletes to peak at Paris 2024 and win medals, said PT Usha, president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), in an exclusive interview with Boria Majumdar, editor-in-chief of RevSportz. Forty years ago, Usha finished fourth in the 400m hurdles at the Los Angeles Olympics. “It was a national heartbreak,” said Majumdar in his first question to Usha, which made her emotional, but she maintained her composure. Usha had lost the bronze medal by 1/100th of a…

S Kannan in Paris The opening ceremony at a summer Olympics is about capturing the ethos and energy of the host city. As Paris awaits the grand opening ceremony on Friday – not inside the Stade de France, but along the Seine River – many memories come flooding back. After all, when the Olympics were held in the year 2000, there was a major issue beforehand with computers and resetting the clock – described as the Y2K problem. So, when Sydney hosted the Games beautifully in September 2000 with a great human touch and passionate efforts from the volunteers, they…

S.Kannan in Paris An overdose of security before a major sporting event never does any good. It was possible in the good old days to have measures not so stringent, not now, when war — Russia vs Ukraine and Israel vs Palestine — has made it so hard for the organisers. The situation is the same for Paris 2024, with a superb opening ceremony planned for July 26, Friday. Security measures in Paris have been bolstered and as the big day nears, the situation is getting worse for the locals. “We have lived in Paris all our lives and to…

S Kannan in Paris In one of the worst possible news one could hear a day before the Paris Olympics, equestrian legend Charlotte Dujardin of Team GB has been banned from participating on the grounds of animal cruelty. According to leaked video footage which is several years old, six-time Olympic medallist Dujardin had behaved in the most cruel manner with her her horse at a training venue. It is believed that she whipped the animal 24 times in the space of a minute. The Briton was supposed to be a star performer even in Paris but the news of her…