Dutch B-Girl ‘India’ Triumphs Amid Breaking Controversy

India’s quest for gold at the Paris Olympics 2024 concluded with Neeraj Chopra securing a silver in the javelin throw. However, a surprising twist emerged in the sport of Breaking, leading to a mix-up over the country’s participation.

The name ‘India’ echoed through the Breaking arena, but it turned out that India did not field any athletes in the Breaking event. Instead, the spotlight was on 18-year-old B-girl India Sardjoe from The Hague, Netherlands, who competed under the stage name ‘India’.

Sardjoe made headlines by defeating refugee team member B-girl Talash in the opening match of the women’s Breaking event. She then competed in Group A alongside athletes from China, the United States, and Portugal. Sardjoe became the first-ever winner of a Breaking battle at the Olympics.

Starting her athletic career in football, Sardjoe transitioned to hip-hop and eventually to breakdancing. By age 10, she had already won the Dutch national championship in the Under 12 category. Her rapid rise continued as she claimed Dutch, European, and world titles within six months in 2022.

This clarification resolves the confusion about India’s involvement in Breaking. India had a strong showing at the Paris Olympics, fielding 117 athletes across various sports and earning six medals—five bronze and one silver. Other countries participating in Breaking included Canada, Japan, France, Lithuania, China, and the United States.

Breaking, a high-energy dance style that originated in the 1970s Bronx, New York, made its Olympic debut in Paris. Initially introduced at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Breaking was added to the Paris 2024 Olympic program due to its growing global popularity.

In a statement to the Olympics committee, Sardjoe expressed pride in her achievement, highlighting the significance of Breaking’s Olympic debut: “It’s such a highlight in the Breaking world.”

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