India’s journey at the Paris Olympics will begin on July 25, with a total of 112 athletes competing in 69 events across 16 sports.
A key part of India’s team is the 29-member athletics squad led by javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who is a major medal hopeful. The shooting team is the second largest contingent from India, with 21 athletes, marking the largest shooting team India has ever sent to the Olympics. The previous largest team was 15 shooters sent to Tokyo 2020.
Archers Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai will be among the first to compete, starting with the individual ranking rounds on July 25, before the official opening ceremony the next day.
India’s first medal opportunity will come in the mixed team air rifle event on July 27 at the National Shooting Centre in Chateauroux. Indian teams Sandeep Singh/Elavenil Valarivan and Arjun Babuta/Ramita Jindal will participate, and Manu Bhaker will compete in two individual pistol events as well as the 10 m air pistol mixed team competition.
Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and World champion, will be competing in the men’s javelin throw qualifiers on August 6, with the finals set for August 8.
Badminton player PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, aims to win her third medal in events scheduled from July 27 to August 5.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won silver in Tokyo 2020, will compete in the women’s 49 kg category on August 7.
Boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who won bronze in Tokyo, will participate in events from July 27 to August 10. Nikhat Zareen, a two-time world champion, will make her Olympic debut with high medal expectations.
India will compete in 16 sports: Archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and tennis. The Olympics will end on August 11, and India hopes to surpass its seven medals from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which included one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.