The nation anticipates an improved efficiency in comparison with the earlier version of the Video games.India’s haul of seven medals from Tokyo has raised hopes for a double-digit tally this time round.Aside from the wrestlers, who’ve endured a tumultuous lead-up to the occasion, athletes throughout all disciplines have expressed satisfaction with their preparations. The meticulous planning, which included abroad coaching stints and entry to top-notch services, has been instrumental in honing their expertise.
Nevertheless, the lingering query stays: will the dedication, well-crafted methods, and unwavering help from the nation translate right into a bathe of medals for India? Solely time will inform because the world’s best sporting spectacle unfolds within the French capital.
WILL NUMBER SEVEN BE BREACHED?
Matching the spectacular tally of seven medals from the Tokyo Olympics will probably be an arduous problem for India on the upcoming Video games, contemplating that aside from the present Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, few athletes are thought of high contenders of their respective occasions.
Nearly all of the 117-member Indian contingent comes from three sports activities: athletics (29), capturing (21), and hockey (19). Amongst these 69 athletes, 40 are making their Olympic debut.
Debutants will also be present in different sports activities, reminiscent of tennis participant N Sriram Balaji and wrestler Reetika Hooda. Though they don’t seem to be completely inexperienced, India’s marketing campaign will largely be pushed by athletes who’re competing on such a grand stage for the primary time.
Concurrently, there are seasoned athletes who’re anticipated to raise their efficiency accordingly.
For PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist in badminton; tennis icon Rohan Bopanna; legendary desk tennis participant Sharath Kamal and hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, it will undoubtedly be their closing Olympic look.
The hockey group’s type main as much as the Video games has been inconsistent, whereas the boxers and wrestlers have had restricted actual competitors expertise. Equally, the shooters have delivered blended leads to the lead-up to the Olympics.
The latest performances of Indian monitor and area athletes, notably Avinash Sable, have been spectacular. Nevertheless, when in comparison with their worldwide counterparts, their achievements will not be adequate to position them as sturdy contenders for medals.
Sable, a steeplechaser, has persistently improved his personal nationwide report, together with his greatest time at present standing at 8:09.94. Regardless of his exceptional progress, there are seven worldwide athletes who’ve recorded sooner instances main as much as the Olympic Video games.
Contemplating the fierce competitors, reaching the finals alone can be thought to be a big accomplishment.
THE CHIEF MEDAL CONTENDERS
India’s aspirations for Olympic glory relaxation closely on the shoulders of Neeraj, the javelin sensation, regardless of lingering considerations about his adductor niggle. Alongside him, the dynamic badminton pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who’ve been in scintillating type, are additionally anticipated to make a big impression.
Though the elusive 90m mark has remained past Neeraj’s grasp from Tokyo to Paris, the ace javelin thrower has persistently delivered performances which were simply sufficient to safe world titles. When it issues most, on the grandest phases of competitors, Neeraj has outshone his extremely regarded rivals.
If he can keep his health, the Panipat-born athlete has a real alternative to etch his identify in India’s sporting annals by changing into solely the third athlete to clinch back-to-back Olympic medals.
Solely Sindhu (2016 Rio and 2012 Tokyo) and wrestler Sushil Kumar (2008 Beijing, 2012 London) have managed to win two consecutive medals.
Satwik and Chirag have blossomed into certainly one of India’s most formidable males’s doubles groups in badminton, and they’re broadly thought to be sturdy contenders for a podium end. Their distinctive expertise and unwavering willpower have positioned them as critical medal hopefuls.
As for Sindhu, regardless of not being in peak type and going through a difficult draw, her wealth of expertise may show invaluable if she will be able to navigate via the preliminary rounds. Her previous successes and psychological fortitude may propel her into the medal rounds as soon as once more.
STRONG HOPES
The Indian males’s hockey group’s latest efficiency has been erratic. Throughout their tour of Australia, they suffered defeats in all 5 matches, following an inconsistent displaying within the Professional League. This contrasts sharply with their triumphant marketing campaign on the Asian Video games in Hangzhou, the place they secured the championship title.
The group continues to grapple with points associated to changing penalty corners and sustaining their depth all through the period of a match.
To compound their challenges, India finds itself in a formidable group alongside powerhouses reminiscent of Australia and Belgium, moreover Argentina, New Zealand and Eire. To be able to advance to the highest 4 from this pool, the group can not afford any missteps or lapses in efficiency.
The Indian capturing group, consisting of 21 members, has quietly ready for the upcoming occasion, marking their largest contingent ever. This contrasts with the earlier Video games in London and Tokyo, the place rising stars like Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary had generated vital medal expectations attributable to their excellent performances main as much as the competitions. Nevertheless, they didn’t dwell as much as the hype.
Equally, Divyansh Panwar and Elavenil Valarivan have been as soon as thought to be future superstars, however they too haven’t met expectations. Regardless of the dearth of consideration on the shooters this time round, Sift Kaur Samra (50m three place), Sandeep Singh (10m air rifle), and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (males’s 50m rifle) possess the potential to interrupt the 12-year medal drought for India in capturing.
The final Indian shooter to safe a medal was Gagan Narang, who clinched the bronze within the 10m air rifle occasion on the 2012 London Video games. Narang is serving as India’s Chef de Mission for the Paris Video games.
The final 4 Olympic Video games have seen India safe a medal in wrestling. Expectations have been excessive for the Paris Video games, with hopes of successful 4 to 5 medals, however a protest towards the Wrestling Federation of India introduced the game to a halt.
Nationwide camps and competitions have been suspended for an prolonged interval. The certified wrestlers have been coaching independently at varied facilities inside India and abroad.
Whereas the health ranges of many wrestlers stay unsure, Anshu Malik, Antim Panghal and Aman Sehrawat are thought to be India’s high prospects heading into the Video games. Reetika Hooda, the reigning U-23 world champion, may emerge as a shock contender, whereas Vinesh Phogat can’t be neglected.
DON’T RULE THEM OUT
The desk tennis gamers and archers have secured their spots within the upcoming Video games based mostly on their rankings. Whereas the TT gamers’ qualification is a big accomplishment, the archers’ efficiency leaves room for doubt.
Previously, the archers have made grand guarantees however didn’t dwell as much as expectations. The latest incident involving their coach being refused accreditation for the Video games has forged a shadow over their marketing campaign from the very starting.
Mirabai Chanu, the weightlifter who received silver on the Tokyo Video games, has been grappling with accidents and inconsistent type just lately, which can have affected her psychological preparedness. There are doubts about whether or not she will be able to replicate her earlier success.
The skilled boxer Nikhat Zareen and her teammate Nishant Dev will probably be carefully monitored, as their latest outcomes have been promising.
So far, India has secured 35 medals on the Olympics, with shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008) and Neeraj Chopra (2021) being the only particular person gold medalists.
(With PTI inputs)
