For the upcoming Paris Olympics, India has high hopes with a strong contingent of 117 athletes aiming to surpass their best-ever medal tally of seven from Tokyo 2020. Here are the key medal prospects:
1. Neeraj Chopra | Athletics, Men’s Javelin Throw:
Profile: Tokyo 2020 gold medalist and Diamond League champion.
Concerns: Slight issue with a dodgy adductor muscle.
Outlook: India’s top medal hope, with strong chances of another gold.
2. Nikhat Zareen | Boxing, Women’s 50kg:
Profile: Reigning world champion with back-to-back golds in the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.
Outlook: Expected to secure a medal.
3. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty| Badminton, Men’s Doubles:
Profile: 2023 saw them win the BWF World Tour Super 1000 title and gold at the Asian Games. They climbed to world No. 1.
Outlook: Their aggressive play suits the fast Paris courts; likely to finish on the podium if they manage the pressure.
4. PV Sindhu | Badminton, Women’s Singles:
Profile: Silver in 2016 Rio and bronze in 2020 Tokyo. Aiming for a third medal.
Concerns: Recent form has been inconsistent, and a tough draw may pit her against defending champion Chen Yufei in the quarterfinals.
5. Antim Panghal | Wrestling, Women’s 53kg Freestyle:
Profile: Medals in every senior international tournament, including a bronze in the 2023 World Championships.
Outlook: With top competitor Akari Fujinami not in her half, she has a decent chance to reach the final.
6. Aman Sehrawat | Wrestling, Men’s 57kg Freestyle:
Profile: Gold at the 2022 Asian Games and 2023 Asian Championships. Recently beat Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Dahiya.
Outlook: Strong contender for a medal in Paris.
7. Sift Kaur Samra | Shooting, Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions:
Profile: Exceptional calm under pressure. Gold and silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games, with a world record in the 50m rifle 3 positions.
Outlook: Shooting’s brightest hope, likely to be a strong medal contender.
8. Manu Bhaker | Shooting, Women’s 25m Pistol & 10m Air Pistol Team:
Profile: Returning for redemption after a malfunction in Tokyo 2020. Competing in three events: women’s 25m air pistol, women’s 10m air pistol, and 10m air pistol mixed team.
Outlook: Improved performance under coach Jaspal Rana; a potential medal winner.
9. Tarundeep Rai, Dheeraj Bommadevara, Pravin Jadhav | Archery, Men’s Recurve Team:
Profile: No Olympic archery medals yet, but won team gold at World Cup Stage 1 by defeating South Korea.
Outlook: The team is a strong candidate for a medal.
10. Hockey Men’s Team:
Profile: Ended a 40-year medal drought with a bronze in Tokyo and won gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Outlook: In Pool B with strong teams like Belgium, Australia, and Argentina. Must finish in the top four to advance to the quarters.
These athletes and teams represent India’s best hopes for a successful outing at the Paris Olympics, aiming to exceed their historic performance in Tokyo.
