Athletes of India at Olympics 2024
Indian athletes are returning to Paris three years later in search of medals they missed at Tokyo 2020, seeking redemption or cementing their place in Olympic history.
India will be represented in 16 sports at these Games and here are some stars to keep an eye out for.
1. Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra is one of the favorites to win gold at Paris 2024. The javelin thrower, commonly referred to as ‘Sarpanch’ (village head) due to his formal attire, began javelin throwing when he was 15 thanks to encouragement from his family and started learning the sport through practice sessions at home.
Olympic Champion Will Train in Finland, Germany and Turkey For 60 Days Before Summer Games Coach Klaus Bartonietz and Physio Ishaan Marwaha will accompany him.
Chopra hails from Khandra village in Panipat district in Haryana. He has won multiple medals at Asian competitions and currently holds the rank of Subedar (junior commissioned officer) in the Indian army. Furthermore, he received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and serves with 4 Rajputana Rifles unit.
2. Manu Bhaker
Shooting star Manu Bhaker has emerged as one of India’s strongest medal hopes at the Olympic Games. She holds two world championship titles and has set an all-time score. Her career took off after her father unexpectedly bought her her first gun at 14 years old.
Since her Olympic debut at 10m air pistol final, 22-year-old Jasmin Patil has had many things to learn since. Now looking to redeem herself after an unsuccessful 10m air pistol final at London 2012, she qualified for both women’s 25m sports pistol and mixed team event through strong showing at Olympic trials; beating Abhidnya Patil and Simranpreet Kaur Brar for second spot while Olympic quota winner Esha Singh placed further down alongside Rhythm Sangwan; both events will take place simultaneously at Paris 2015.
3. Parul Chaudhary
Parul Chaudhary stands as an inspirational example of an Indian athlete who has achieved success through hard work and grit. Hailing from Eklota village near Meerut, Chaudhary began running barefoot at school – now she holds both national records in 5000 metres and 3000 metre steeplechases!
On that fateful night in Hangzhou, Chaudhary found herself trailing Japan’s Ririka Hironaka during the final stages of 5000 metres race – but in an instant Parul launched her afterburners to overtake her rival and win gold medal.
Under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ Target Olympics Podium Scheme, a runner will train at a high-altitude centre in Colorado, USA. Funding provided will cover airfare, boarding and lodging for both athletes as well as their coaches and physiotherapists.
4. Akshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh won the Under-19 World Cup as part of India in 2018, and since then he has been an outstanding medium-fast bowler for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League. With left arm medium-fast speed and great death bowling skills PBKS retained Arshdeep ahead of this season’s auction to keep their services.
He has been an impressive T20I performer, taking 18 wickets at an economy rate of 7.71 and notching five dismissals against Rajasthan Royals in 2021.
He is also an adept marathon race walker, having reached 1:20:10 during National Race Walking Championships to surpass qualification standard for Paris 2024 race walk in men’s 20km event quota for India – this selection process will be determined via national trials.
5. Suraj Panwar
Suraj Panwar was constantly looking at his wrist watch when he took part in Chandigarh’s Indian Open Race Walking Competition last week, not just for timing purposes but also because his performance could depend on it. But that wasn’t his only worry – he also needed to concentrate on staying calm during each step he was taking along the track and not injuring himself as much as he normally would have done otherwise.
Panwar was only infant when his forest department father, Sanat Panwar, was killed while trying to prevent illegal logging. Poonam soon after remarried and raised him and two older brothers on her income from working at Karbari Forest Nursery near Dehradun.
Paramjeet Bisht first approached 23-year-old Dildeep’s dreams of athletics as distant. However, he persevered and made them come true – by winning silver at the Youth Olympics! However, his journey is far from over; Paris awaits!
