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 abilities.
Nonetheless, the lingering query stays: will the dedication, well-crafted methods, and unwavering assist from the nation translate right into a bathe of medals for India? Solely time will inform because the world’s biggest sporting spectacle unfolds within the French capital.
WILL NUMBER SEVEN BE BREACHED?
Matching the spectacular tally of seven medals from the Tokyo Olympics shall 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-about high contenders of their respective occasions.
Nearly all of the 117-member Indian contingent comes from three sports activities: athletics (29), taking pictures (21), and hockey (19). Amongst these 69 athletes, 40 are making their Olympic debut.
Debutants will also be present in different sports activities, corresponding to 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 remaining Olympic look.
The hockey crew’s kind 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 observe and subject athletes, notably Avinash Sable, have been spectacular. Nonetheless, when in comparison with their worldwide counterparts, their achievements might not be ample to position them as sturdy contenders for medals.
Sable, a steeplechaser, has persistently improved his personal nationwide file, along with his finest time at the moment standing at 8:09.94. Regardless of his outstanding progress, there are seven worldwide athletes who’ve recorded sooner occasions main as much as the Olympic Video games.
Contemplating the fierce competitors, reaching the finals alone could be considered a major 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 kind, are additionally anticipated to make a major 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 preserve his health, the Panipat-born athlete has a real alternative to etch his title 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 one in every of India’s most formidable males’s doubles groups in badminton, and they’re extensively considered sturdy contenders for a podium end. Their distinctive abilities and unwavering willpower have positioned them as severe medal hopefuls.
As for Sindhu, regardless of not being in peak kind and dealing with a difficult draw, her wealth of expertise may show invaluable if she will navigate by means of 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 crew’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 crew continues to grapple with points associated to changing penalty corners and sustaining their depth all through the length of a match.
To compound their challenges, India finds itself in a formidable group alongside powerhouses corresponding to Australia and Belgium, in addition to Argentina, New Zealand and Eire. So as to advance to the highest 4 from this pool, the crew can not afford any missteps or lapses in efficiency.
The Indian taking pictures crew, 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 important medal expectations on account of their excellent performances main as much as the competitions. Nonetheless, they didn’t stay as much as the hype.
Equally, Divyansh Panwar and Elavenil Valarivan have been as soon as considered 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 taking pictures.
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 in opposition to 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 considered 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 ignored.
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 major accomplishment, the archers’ efficiency leaves room for doubt.
Up to now, the archers have made grand guarantees however didn’t stay 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 kind not too long ago, which can have affected her psychological preparedness. There are doubts about whether or not she will replicate her earlier success.
The skilled boxer Nikhat Zareen and her teammate Nishant Dev shall be intently monitored, as their latest outcomes have been promising.
Thus far, India has secured 35 medals on the Olympics, with shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008) and Neeraj Chopra (2021) being the only real particular person gold medalists.
(With PTI inputs)
