India will send more than 100-strong contingent at the Paris Olympics which starts on July 26.
New Delhi: With just 18 days until the Paris Olympics 2024, excitement is building as the countdown to the world’s biggest sporting carnival continues. Over 100 athletes have qualified to represent India at the Paris Olympics with the sole aim of finishing at the podium, no matter what the colour of the medal is. While some of the top stars are training abroad, others decided to be at home and prepare in a desi way. Hopes will rest on India’s golden boy Neeraj Chopra, who clinched a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Here’s a detailed look at the top 5 Indian medal prospects and how their preparations are shaping up ahead of the grand event.
Neeraj Chopra (Javelin)
India’s javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra will look to make history by becoming the first athlete from India to clinch back-to-back gold medals. The Haryana lad last competed at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on June 18, where he secured the gold medal with an impressive throw of 85.97m. However, Chopra decided to give Paris Diamond League a miss, meaning his next appearance would be at the Olympics. Currently, he is training in Germany for the upcoming big challenge.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty (Badminton, men’s doubles)
Ranked fifth in the world, the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are one of the medal hopefuls for India in the Paris Olympics. The Indian duo have been in red-hot form, winning two out of four finals they have played in 2024. However, their first-round exit at the Singapore Open saw them dropping from coveted No.1 position to third. In the previous Olympics, the pair nearly secured a spot in the quarterfinals, winning two out of their three group stage matches. Satwik and Chirag won a historic gold medal at the Asian Games last year.
PV Sindhu (Badminton)
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is one of India’s top contenders for a medal. Her recent shows at Singapore open and Indonesia Open have been below par considering Sindhu’s potential but can’t be ruled out. She is currently training with her coach Agus Dwi and her team in Saarbrucken, Germany and hasn’t participated in any competition since the Indonesia Open last month. If she is able to secure a medal in Paris, Sindhu will become India’s most successful athlete with Olympic medals. She had won a silver in Rio 2016 and a bronze in Tokyo 2020.
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting- Women’s 90 kg)
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, after securing a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics, has set her sight on securing another podium at the upcoming Paris games. It has been a difficult journey for Mirabai since the Tokyo glory as she faced a tough period due to injuries. Nevertheless, she’s considered one of the strong favourites in her category for Paris, believing she can reach the podium if she lifts in the range of 200-210 kg. She has been training at the NIS Patiala and will be heading to France next week to acclimatise to the conditions before her big competition.
Lovlina Bogohain (Boxing Women’s 75 kg)
Lovlina Birgohain, who clinched a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, recently participated in the Grand Prix Tournament held in Czech Republic, where she secured a silver medal with two losses and one win. She, along with Nikhat Zareen, is currently in Saarbrucken, Germany, for a month-long training camp. After concluding the camp on July 22, Lovlina will head to Paris, aiming for her second Olympic medal.
