2024 Paris Olympics and a billion hopes

The 2024 Paris Olympics open this Friday. India is sending a 117-member strong contingent to represent the country in 16 events.

The government invested over $56 million (₹470 crore) to prepare the players for the Games, minister of youth affairs and sports Mansukh Mandaviya said last week.

At the last Games in Tokyo, India had stacked up seven medals. So, this time around, which key players carry the expectations of over a billion people? Let’s take a look:

Parul Chaudhary

After setting a national record in the women’s 3000m steeplechase finals at the World Athletics Championships in Hungary, Parul Chaudhary’s 9:15.31 shattered her personal record while also surpassing the qualifying standards for the Paris Olympics.

Events: 3000m steeplechase, 5000m race

Neeraj Chopra

The only Olympics gold medallist in this year’s Indian contingent, Neeraj Chopra qualified for the 2024 Olympics in the javelin event at the World Athletics Championships in Hungary as well, with an impressive 88.77m throw, his fifth best, and 1.19m farther than his gold medal winning throw at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Event: Javelin

Kishore Jena

India will be looking out for newcomer Kishore Jena alongside reigning champion Neeraj Chopra in the men’s javelin throw event. After a silver medal finish at the 2022 Asian Games, with a 87.54m throw, Jena set a personal record, and went on to finish 8th at the 2024 Paris Diamond League, with a 78.10m throw.

Event: Javelin

Sreeja Akula

After clinching mixed doubles gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games with Sharath Kamal, 2024 has seen Sreeja Akula take her career to new heights.

In April, she climbed to a career-high rank of 38, dethroning Manika Batra as India’s number one ranked female table tennis player.

In June, she won the 2024 WTT Contender Lagos and became world number 24.

Event: Table tennis

Lakshya Sen

The 22-year-old badminton prodigy, Lakshya Sen, is the current world number 19.

Back in 2022, Sen earned a victory at the German Open against the world No. 1 Victor Akelsen. Since then, Sen has continued to impress, adding a World Championship bronze medal, a Commonwealth Games gold, and a Thomas Cup victory to his list.

Event: Badminton

Rohan Bopanna

After attaining the world No. 1 rank following his win in the mixed doubles tournament at the Australian Open 2024, veteran tennis player Rohan Bopanna became the oldest person to win a grand slam, at the age of 43.

Bopanna ranked 4th in the world in doubles at the time of qualifying for the Paris Olympics, and secured his spot for India in the Paris Olympics doubles tennis competition, and by being in the world’s top 10, he got to choose his teammate from an existing roster of players. Bopanna picked N Sriram Balaji.

Event: Men’s doubles tennis

Mirabai Chanu

Being a Tokyo Olympics silver medalist in the women’s 49 kg event, this edition of the tournament will be weightlifter Mirabai Chanu’s third.

Chanu sat at No. 2 in the Olympic Qualification Rankings (OQR) in early April, for the women’s 49 kg category. Only the top 10 lifters in the OQR for each weight class can earn a coveted quota spot at the Paris 2024 Games.

Event: Women’s 49 kg weightlifting

Lovlina Borgohain

Representing India in the 75kg category, Assamese boxer Lovlina Borgohain boasts impressive credentials.

She already has an Olympic bronze from Tokyo 2020, a gold medal from the 2022 Asian Championships and a silver at the recent 2023 Asian Games.

Borgohain cemented her qualification for Paris by clinching the World Championship title in Delhi.

Event: Boxing

Nikhat Zareen

Boxer Nikhat Zareen’s rise to stardom began in 2022 with a gold medal at the World Championships in the 52 kg category.

This victory placed her among boxing greats like six-time world champion Mary Kom, who paved the way for Indian women’s boxing with her 2012 Olympic bronze in the flyweight category.

Now a two-time world champion, Zareen is one of India’s best bets for an Olympic gold in boxing.

Event: 50 kg boxing