Paris Olympics 2024 will start on Saturday, with over 10,500 athelets to partcipate in the event. Among these India’s young athletes will be seen in the Paris Olympics. In the 117-member Indian team, 70 athletes will participate in the Olympics for the first time. This includes 29 women players. Boxer Nikhat Zareen, Wrestler Anant Panghal, Ritika, Athlete Jyoti Yaraji, Shooter Shift Kaur Samara, Ramita, Rhythm Sangwan are playing in the Paris Olympics.
These athletes have the potential to win an Olympic medal for the country in their first appearance. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat, Javelin thrower Kishore Jena, Archer B Dheeraj, Boxer Nishant Dev, Shooter Sarabjot Singh, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Babuta, Arjun Cheema, Anish also have the potential to achieve something when playing Olympics for the first time.
Only 47 players have prior participating in the multinational event. This includes five medalists from the men’s hockey team. India won one gold, two silver and four bronze medals in the Tokyo Olympics. Gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, silver medalist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, bronze medalist boxer Lovlina, badminton player PV Sindhu. The men’s hockey team will once again be pushing hard for a medal.
India with bag of experience in Paris Olympics
Sharath Kamal is going to play the fifth Olympics. He might have been one of the most experience member in the side. He will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent at the inauguration ceremony. This will be the fourth Olympics for archers Tarundeep Roy, Deepika Kumari, hockey players PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh.
The oldest player in the Indian team is 44-year-old Rohan Bopanna, while the youngest player is 14-year-old swimmer Dinidhi Desinghu. The latter will be is the second youngest athlete to play in the Olympics. Previously Aarti Sahan participated in the 1952 Olympics at the age of 11. Trap shooter Prithviraj Tondaiman (37), hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh (36), golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar (36), athlete MR Poovamma (34), badminton player Ashwani Ponnappa (34) and HS Prannoy (32) are the other senior players.
16 players have been selected in the Indian hockey team selected for Paris and three players have been selected as reserves. Among them are 12 athletes who won bronze medals in the Tokyo Olympics. India will start their campaign against New Zealand on July 27. Then they will face Argentina on July 29. After this, India will face Ireland on the next day and defending champions Belgium on August 1. India are scheduled to play Tokyo Olympic gold medalists Australia on August 2.
Here’s the list of athletes with the most Olympic appearances
- Sharath Kamal, Table Tennis (5)
- Manpreet Singh, Hockey (4)
- PR Sreejesh, Hockey (4)
- Tarundeep Roy, Archery, (4)
- Deepika Kumari, Archery (4)
- Rohan Bopanna, Tennis (3)
- Ashwini Ponnappa, Badminton (3)
- Mirabai Chanu, Weightlifting (3)
- P. V. Sindhu, Badminton (3),
- Vinesh Phogat, Wrestling (3)
