Paris: In a gripping contest at the Paris Olympics, the clock was ticking down as Reetika Hooda of India and Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan found themselves locked in a 1-1 stalemate. The tension in the arena was palpable as the two wrestlers, clearly drained from their intense battle, faced the final moments of their bout. Exhaustion was etched on their faces, yet they continued to fight with every ounce of strength they had left. As the seconds dwindled, Reetika took a brief pause, stepping off the mat to touch it one last time, a gesture that symbolized the end of her Olympic journey—a moment of profound significance in her career.
Reetika Hooda, one of the select few Indian athletes competing in the higher weight categories, had proven her mettle against the seasoned Aiperi Medet Kyzy. The quarter-final match was nothing short of a nail-biter, with each wrestler pushing the other to the limits. Both competitors managed to score points, but these were not from aggressive maneuvers or technical superiority; rather, they capitalized on the other’s moments of passivity. It was a contest that could have gone either way, but ultimately, it was Kyzy who edged ahead, securing the crucial and decisive point that would take her to victory.
The loss was a bitter pill for Reetika, but all was not lost at that moment. Her hopes for Olympic glory still flickered, hinging on a possibility that would allow her to compete for a bronze medal through the repechage round. For this to happen, Kyzy needed to advance to the final in her weight category. If Kyzy, a highly decorated wrestler with two World Championships medals to her name, had managed to win her semi-final bout, Reetika would have had a second chance to fight for a place on the Olympic podium. However, fate was not in Reetika’s favor that day.
In a dramatic turn of events, Kyzy faced American wrestler Kennedy Alexis Blades in the 76kg semi-final. It was a closely contested match, with both wrestlers demonstrating immense skill and determination. The match concluded with a score of 8-6 in favor of Blades, a result that not only ended Kyzy’s journey to the final but also extinguished Reetika’s hopes of entering the repechage round. The defeat of Kyzy meant that Reetika’s path to a bronze medal was irrevocably blocked, marking the end of her Paris Olympics campaign.
The heartbreak of Reetika’s elimination was felt across the Indian contingent, as her exit also signaled the end of India’s participation in the Paris Olympics. The nation’s performance at these Games culminated in a total of six medals—five bronze and one silver. This tally fell just one medal short of India’s record at the Tokyo Games and, notably, did not include a gold medal, a gap that resonated deeply with the aspirations of millions of Indians. With this outcome, India secured the 71st position in the overall medal tally—a standing that, while commendable, left room for reflection and a desire for greater achievements in the future.
Despite the disappointment, a glimmer of hope remained on the horizon for India. There was still a possibility of a seventh medal—a silver—pending a crucial decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The CAS was scheduled to deliver a verdict the following day on the case of Vinesh Phogat, another of India’s wrestling stars. If the ruling were to go in Phogat’s favor, it would add a final, significant chapter to India’s Olympic narrative in Paris, offering a measure of redemption for the nation’s athletes and fans alike. The outcome of this decision was eagerly awaited, as it held the potential to lift the spirits of a nation that had invested so much hope and pride in its Olympians.
