The Paris Olympics 2024 main events will be starting from Saturday. As all the nations gear up for the multinational event. India has sent 117 athletes for the upcoming events. The nation is expecting a double medals tally. After almost 100 years they are expected to win more medals than the Tokyo Olympics.
Indian athletes won a total of seven medals in the Tokyo Olympics. Out of 117 Indian players, 70 players are playing in the Olympic event for the first time. 47 athletes have competed in the Olympics one or more times. Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohen, and P. V. Sindhu are expected to win medals once again.
The nation has won 35 medals so far. This includes 10 gold, 9 silver, and 16 bronze medals. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was India’s biggest ever. India won a total of seven medals including one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals. This time the Indian players will try to take their country to double digits.
Neeraj Chopra won a gold medal for India at the Olympics after 13 years. Earlier in 2008, Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in shooting. After Abhinav, Neeraj is the second athlete to win a gold medal in an individual event. A similar performance is expected from him in Paris. Along with this, India also won two silver and four bronze medals in Tokyo.
The journey will not be an easy one. But the Indian players abroad or providing them with the best facilities. There are no stone has been left unturned and now it is up to the players to deliver the results. But matching the feat of seven medals at the Tokyo Olympics is not easy. The Indian team also includes some experienced players. They have to raise their game.
Big challenge for Indian athletes to surpass Tokyo Olympics
These players also include badminton player PV Sindhu, tennis player Rohan Bopanna, table tennis legend Sharath Kamal, and hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. Avinash Sable has done well recently in the field of athletics. But his performance compared to his world rivals does not seem to be enough to keep him among the medal contenders. His reaching the final would also be considered a great achievement.
India ended a long wait of 41 years by winning a bronze medal in the last Olympics. But recently, the team’s performance has shown a lack of consistency. They have been placed in a tough group with Australia, Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland. Even a small mistake in such a situation can cost the team dearly.
India’s medal hopes rest on the in-form badminton duo of Neeraj and Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. Given the performance of the pair of Satwik and Chirag, they are strong contenders for the medal. Sindhu is also determined to win a third medal in a row.
India’s 21 players will present their challenge in shooting.
They also include Manu Bhakar and Saurabh Chaudhary who are considered medal contenders. Apart from this, Sifat Kaur Samara (50m 3 Position), Sandeep Singh (10m Air Rifle), and Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar (Men’s 50m Rifle) have also shown their potential to end a 12-year wait for a medal in shooting.
India has won medals in wrestling in the last four Olympics. Despite this, Anshu Malik, Anant Panghal, and Aman Sehrawat are considered to be India’s best contenders. Under-23 world champion Ritika Hooda could also prove to be a dark horse.
Archery and table tennis players are ranked in these sports based on their ranking. but is still waiting for its first medal. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a bronze medal in the last Olympics. However, has been struggling with injuries and poor form for quite some time now.
