A tearful Simone Biles said "mental health concerns" were behind her shock withdrawal from the team final on Tuesday with the superstar gymnast's participation in the rest of the Tokyo Olympics now uncertain.
The 24-year-old American arrived in Japan as one of the headline acts of the pandemic-postponed 2020 Games, her diminutive frame shouldering an immense weight of expectation as she pursued a record-equalling nine Olympic titles.
Biles came into the team finals after uncharacteristic stumbles in qualifying that left the US women behind their Russian opponents.
The slate was clean however for Tuesday, but after failing to nail her opening vault Biles' night took a dramatic turn as she walked off the competition floor, causing consternation at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
Manipur state gave a grand reception to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu who got silver medal in Tokyo Olympic in 49kg category of women weightlifting when she arrived at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal on Tuesday.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with his cabinet colleagues, MLAs, officials, her family members , friends and supporters received her at the airport. Mirabai Chanu attended a grand reception function organised by the Directorate of Youth Affairs and Sports, Manipur at City Convention Auditorium just after her arrival at Imphal this afternoon.
CM Biren Singh handed over a cheque of Rs. 1 crore and an appointment letter to Mirabai to be the Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) in the reception function where the olympian parents and family members were present
There was resilience on display in hockey, a tactical mind sparkled in the boxing ring but the free fall in shooting remained perplexing and worrying as India's Olympic campaign oscillated between some celebration and a lot of dejection on day 4 of the competitions here on Tuesday.
At the Asaka shooting range, the Indians largely misfired and with that the hopes of medals in the 10m air pistol and 10m air rifle mixed team events went up in smoke.
The performance so far has resurrected the ghosts of 2016 Rio Games when similar hype and expectations had ended in a deflating medal-less campaign.
But perhaps the shooters can take a leaf out of the men's hockey team's book and find a way out of their current misery.
Hammered 1-7 by Australia on Sunday, the Manpreet Singh-led side claimed a 3-0 triumph over Spain to inch closer to a quarterfinal berth.
It was a tremendous fightback after a loss that could have easily scarred them for the entire Games