A FEW GRAMS OF DESPAIR

A COUNTRY'S success at the Olympics is always measured in medals.

- INDRANEEL DAS

India have six so far, not exactly the best effort from a contingent that had been expected to break into double figures for the first time. Only one of them is a silver Neeraj Chopra won that in the men's Javelin throw event as a follow-up to his gold in Tokyo. That achievement, which came almost a week after the shooters had ended up with three bronze medals, put Neeraj where no other Indian had gone before.

India's love affair with hockey continued at the Yves de Manoir stadium, an iconic venue that had staged Olympic events a century ago in 1924. The team's passion was on display when they beat Spain to win the bronze. India's custodian PR Sreejesh, arguably the best goalkeeper of his generation, ended his career with that feat and walked into the annals of history.

One more medal was added when Aman Sehrawat, a Chhatrasal prodigy won a bronze in wrestling. That was India's sixth medal. Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale's three shooting medals seemed like they had come a long time ago.