2024 Paris Olympics: A Look At The Shocking Absence Of Notable Indian Names From This Edition

The countdown for the 2024 Paris Olympics has begun with just 8 days left until the action hits the floor. Over 115 players across 16 disciplines will represent India at the event this year. However, the exact number of players in 2024, 117, is a decline from the last edition’s 124 at the Tokyo Olympics. The Indian contingent clinched 7 medals in Tokyo with 4 Bronze, 2 Silver, and a Gold. The performance was India’s best run ever in the Summer Olympics. While Neeraj Chopra became the first-ever track-and-field athelete to win a Gold for India, Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya extended India’s claim on the Bronze in wrestling. Now, what comes as a shock for wrestling enthusiasts across the country is that both champions are set to miss the Paris Olympics because of the qualification debacle.

Who Are The Major Indian Athletes Missing The 2024 Paris Olympics?

At first look, India’s strength seems fortified by the presence of stalwarts like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Neeraj Chopra across various sports disciplines. However, a detailed look at what transpired during the qualifiers reveals that the contingent is moving ahead without some notable names in the armory. Apart from wrestling, India’s Thomas Cup-winning shuttler, Srikanth Kidambi, will miss his second consecutive Olympics season. Read further to know the major names who will be absent from the forthcoming marquee event.

1.Ravi Dahiya - Wrestling

The 26-year-old wrestler returned from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a silver medal to his credit. However, the wrestler now stands out of India’s Paris Olympics procession owing to a defeat in the qualifiers. Freshly out of an injury scare, Dahiya went against Aman Sehrawat in the men’s freestyle 57 kg category. The duo staged a thrilling bout before Dahiya went out with a 13-14 defeat at the hands of Sehrawat. To put a final stamp on his ousting from Olympic Games contention, Dahiya lost his final bout against the U20 Asian champion, Udit.

2.Bajrang Punia - Wrestling

Wrestling has been the most consistent discipline for the Indian medal dream at the Olympics for a while now. Wrestlers like Bajrang Punia solidified their hopes with a medal-winning finish at the Tokyo Olympics. The wrestling star missed out on a Silver medal at the last edition. Nonetheless, Punia added to the tally with a Bronze.

However, as it stands now, the Indian contingent is moving ahead for the Paris Olympic games sans the notable name. Punia failed to qualify for the Olympic Games, facing a 1-9 defeat against Rohit Kumar in the semifinal of the men’s freestyle 65 kg bout. 

3.Indian Women’s Team - Field Hockey

The Indian Women’s field hockey team earned consecutive qualifications previously for the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team even went on to fourth place in the table before bowing out of the last edition. However, things have taken a wrong turn for the team since then. The qualification dreams of Indian women came crashing down earlier this year in Ranchi. Team India went down 1-0 against Japan in the FIH Women’s Qualifiers. The heartbreak was amplified for the team, considering they had 9 penalty corners but failed to convert any of them into a goal.

4.Kidambi Srikanth - Badminton

Kidambi’s name has been etched in every Indian Badminton fan’s mind ever since India’s historic Thomas Cup win in 2022. The shuttler shined bright among other brilliant performers like Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Lakshya Sen. However, Kidambi has now missed his Olympics qualifications for a second time. The former world No. 1 singles champion staged a disappointing BWF tour this year. The minimum criteria for qualification included a finish within the top 16. However, facing defeat in 10 out of 11 BWF tournaments, Kidambi ended up on the wrong side of the qualifications scenario. 

With Kidambi out of the scene, India’s Badminton run at the Paris Olympics will have Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy at the forefront. Moreover, qualifying in the Top 3, the star Badminton duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are stepping into Paris as India’s best bet at a glistening medal finish in Badminton. The women’s Badminton contingent will feature the seasoned two-time medal winner PV Sindhu along with Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponappa.

5.Murali Sreeshankar - Long Jump 

The 25-year-old Indian long-jump athlete qualified for the Olympic Games with flying numbers at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2023. The athlete marked an 8.37-metre jump at the Championship, easily breaching the qualifying mark of 8.27 metres for the Olympics. Moreover, Sreeshankar won a Silver medal, contributing to India’s eventual claim of 27 medals at the event. 

However, the athlete suffered an unfortunate knee injury back in April during a training session in his hometown of Palakkad. Murali Sreeshankar displayed an impressive run at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. While he missed out on a medal, the athlete bounced back on the scene with a Silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. What followed in 2023 was an unsaid promise for a medal finish for India in the Paris Olympics. 

Sreeshankar’s 2023 season included a Silver medal win at the Hangzhou Asian Games along with the Silver earned at the Asian Championship. Furthermore, Sreeshankar set his personal best record with an 8.41-metre jump at the Indian Open Jumps Championships. The contender informed of his decision to withdraw from the Paris Olympics with a heartfelt note on his social media account. Noting his recent performances, the Indian athletic contingent will surely miss Sreeshankar’s presence at the Paris Olympics.