b-girl India wins the first break dancing battle in Olympic Games history

The Paris Olympics witnessed a historic moment as breaking (breakdancing) made its debut, with B-girl India from the Netherlands winning the first-ever Olympic breaking battle. India Sardjoe, known as “B-girl India,” defeated Manizha Talash, or “B-girl Talash,” a member of the refugee team from Afghanistan, in the initial pre-qualifying round of the women’s competition. Talash, who missed registration for qualifying events, was later invited by the International Olympic Committee due to her courageous defiance of Taliban restrictions in her home country. The competition featured intense routines, with India showcasing power moves and Talash emphasizing toprocking and footwork, even unveiling a cape reading “Free Afghan Women.” The event now progresses to a round-robin phase, where groups of breakers will compete, leading to quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final showdown. The competition opened with a lively atmosphere, highlighted by an appearance from rapper Snoop Dogg, who energized the crowd with his performance. The judges, experienced b-boys and b-girls, took their places between a circular floor and a massive boombox, honoring the musical roots of breaking.

Source: AP News