India’s Paris Olympic prospects
Aspirations to reach the skies - that high are the expectations the Indian athletes have set up for themselves at the international events. With less than four months left for the biggest bragging rights of all, the Paris Olympics, Indian athletes will again be at a crossroads to prove their mettle.
After securing its highest-ever medal tally of seven at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including a first-ever gold in a Track & Field event, India has been steadily making strides in the sports, which is not just limited to cricket. The country last year achieved a century of medals in the Asian Games in China and had a reasonable 2022 Commonwealth Games in England.
Except for a hiccup during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where India achieved only two medals, the subcontinent nation has been able to increase its medal tally every four years. This July, when the Indian contingent will be heading to Paris with an assortment of Olympic medallists and world champions, expectations will be riding high.
Let’s have a look at the events, where we can expect to climb the podium at the Pinnacle of Sports.
Track & Field
The first name that comes to mind, when one hears about this event, is the person whose Javelin catapulted into the bright lights of the Tokyo Olympic Stadium, clinching India’s first gold in the event, Subedar Neeraj Chopra. The obvious question in his scenario is what colour the medal will be this time, given he is still yearning for that 90m throw. While, his competition Johannes Vetter, Anderson Peters, Arshad Nadeem, and Jakub Vadlejch have thrown further than him.
But it all boils down to the game day and how well you throw under pressure and Neeraj has over the last few years become consistent in that. His fellow Javelin throwers Kishore Kumar Jena and DP Manu might not be in medal contention but again on a given day, anything can happen. Along with the javeliniers, the 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m runner Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary, respectively, would also be closely followed in Paris. Then there is also the case of long jumper Sreeshankar Murali, who was ranked world #4 in the list of best jumps in 2023.
Badminton
India’s badminton contingent has the potential to achieve new heights at the games in Paris, especially with the formidable duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with the experience of PV Sindhu at their disposal.
PV Sindhu, though has had a difficult 2023, due to consistent battles with injuries, will be eyeing to become the first Indian ever to win medals at three different Olympic games. While ace duo, Satwik and Chirag will be coming to games on the back of the best season of their careers and a career-high ranking of #1, according to the latest BWF Doubles Men Rankings.
Let's not forget about HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen in the Men’s singles who will also be riding a stellar form coming into the Pars games
Hockey
Despite, the gremlin of the women’s team failing to qualify, the Indian men’s hockey team has been able to regroup itself from the embarrassment of last year’s World Cup. The Men in Blue will be eager to not let another log gap between their podiums in the Olympics and might as well improve by bringing a different colour from last time.
The team has a healthy mix of veteran stars and young blood and they play a refreshing brand of hockey, but will be looking to handle the clutch situations better in order to revive the golden days of Indian hockey.
Boxing
With Indian women's boxing at its peak, it wouldn’t be wrong to have big expectations from the women. Four Indian women boxers have qualified for the games, one of which is a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Games in 2020.
Hopes would be riding high, especially in the cases of Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen, who will be on the hunt to write history in Paris. Zareen was unbeaten for nearly two years until she lost in the Asian Games semifinal last year. But the boxer from Andhra, who plied her trade in the shadows of Mary Kom will be looking to one-up on Mary.
Weightlifting
With the disappointment of the shooting contingent, the emergence of Mirabai Chanu has been a blessing in disguise. But the weightlifter from Manipur has a had year to forget after finishing sixth at the Asian Weightlifting Championships, she skipped the World Championships, before a fourth-place finish at the Asian Games. That last competition ended with her being lifted off the lifting platform after she injured her thigh.
Wrestling
Lastly, we also have wrestling in the fray, albeit Indian Wrestling’s harrowing last year. Wrestling still remains India’s strongest suit in Paris. With Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s greatest female wrestlers having a point to prove at the grandest stage of all.
Vinesh has been an Asian and Commonwealth champion [thrice] and won two bronzes at the World Championships, but an Olympic medal has eluded her in both her attempts.
There is still some time left and many are yet to seal their berth for Paris. We could have some shock defeats, while surprise medals can not also be ruled out. Touching the double-digit mark could be tough and looks highly unlikely but nothing is impossible in sports.
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