Paris Olympics: India's judo campaign ends with Tulika Maan's opening-round defeat

India's judo athlete Tulika Maan faced a disappointing exit from the women's +78kg event at the Paris Olympics on Friday.

In the opening round at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, she was defeated by Idalys Ortiz of Cuba, the London Games champion, with a score of 0-10 by ippon.

In judo, an ippon is awarded when a judoka throws their opponent to the mat with significant force and speed, resulting in the rival landing on their back. It can also be achieved by immobilizing the opponent with a grappling hold-down for 20 seconds or when the opposite judoka concedes defeat.

Ortiz, who boasts an impressive Olympic record with two silver medals and a bronze besides the London 2012 gold, quickly overpowered the 25-year-old Indian.

The match lasted a mere 28 seconds, with the experienced Cuban trapping Tulika in a chokehold, which led to her defeat.

Tulika's loss marked the end of India's judo campaign at the Games, as she was the sole representative from the country in the sport.

Despite her commendable silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Tulika, who lost her father when she was just two and is the only child of a widowed mother, couldn't overcome the challenge posed by her seasoned opponent.