India will have a robust team of 117 athletes (including reserves) to participate in several events at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. India has sent two of the greatest delegations to the Olympics after the 121 participants competed in Tokyo 2021.
Athletics leads the pack with 29 representatives, including promising talents like long jumper Murali Sreeshankar (though unfortunately injured) and the race walkers Priyanka Goswami and Akshdeep Singh, who were among the first Indians to secure their spots. With 21 competitors, shooting has a strong representation and seeks to carry on India’s long history in the sport. Veterans like Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary, who have often won medals in past Games, will be closely watched by fans.
Hockey is a game of love for the nation. It has both women’s and men’s teams always fighting for medals on the podium. The men’s team, under the dynamic leadership of Harmanpreet Singh and experienced Sreejesh Parattu, seeks to do even better than they did in a successful Tokyo show. The women’s squad, renowned for their aggressive play, is equally focused on leaving an impression.
In addition to these core sports, India will have strong representation in boxing (with Nikhat Zareen in the women’s 50kg category), wrestling (with Vinesh Phogat as a promising medal contender), sailing (with Vishnu Saravanan in the men’s dinghy), swimming (with Srihari Nataraj in the men’s 100m backstroke), badminton (led by seasoned players Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra). Olympic weightlifting silver winner Mirabai Chanu is a strong bet for a podium finish.
Global giants will give the Indian team serious competition, but the players have been putting in a lot of training under the direction of knowledgeable trainers. Throughout the Games, the 140-member support crew will look out for their physical and emotional well.
The whole country will be riveted to their TVs, supporting their heroes as they pursue greatness, with an incredible Olympic spirit. It is hoped that India will outperform its past Olympic results and set a new record for the most medals won, cementing its place in sports history.
