Paris Olympics 2024: Nisha Dahiya's dreams dashed, breaks down after dislocating finger in quarter finals

New Delhi: Indian wrestler Nisha Dahiya faced a heartbreaking defeat at the Paris Olympics 2024 after dislocating her finger and losing her women's 68 kg quarterfinal match 8-10 against North Korea's Sol Gum Pak. Nisha started strong, quickly taking a four-point lead and maintaining it until the halfway mark. Pak managed to score but conceded two points, allowing Dahiya to extend her lead to 6-1.

Early Dominance and Injury Setback

As the clock ticked down, Pak engaged in a fierce grapple. Dahiya scored two more points, increasing her lead to 8-1, but injured her right arm in the process. Despite the pain, she continued, grimacing with each grapple. With 33 seconds left, Nisha called for medical assistance due to significant discomfort but chose to carry on after treatment. However, her shoulder soreness persisted, and she struggled to participate effectively.

Dramatic Turn of Events

Pak capitalized on Nisha's weakened state, scoring seven points in the final 12 seconds, tying the match. With less than 10 seconds remaining, Pak executed a decisive takedown, winning the match 10-8. An emotional Nisha, overwhelmed by the defeat and pain, burst into tears and was led out of the arena by her coaches. Nisha still has a chance to compete for a medal in the repechage round if Pak wins her semifinal and advances to the final. However, the injury casts doubt on her continued participation in the Paris Olympics.

Opening Victory Showcases Potential

Earlier in the competition, Dahiya had shown her potential with a 6-4 victory against Ukraine’s Sova Rizhko in her opening women's freestyle 68kg bout. As India's sole entry in the heavyweight category and an Asian Championships silver medalist, she had high hopes of securing a medal.