Paris Olympics 2024: Top Contenders Who Will Lead India's Medal Hopes At The Olympic Games

July 26th will mark the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games, set to unfold in the capital city of France, Paris. A total of 117 athletes across 16 sport disciplines will take on the event from India. India performed exceptionally well in the last edition, winning 7 medals, the most until now at the Olympic Games. With Neeraj Chopra, India laid claim to their second Olympic gold medal. Apart from the gold, India bagged 2 silvers with Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting and Ravi Dahiya in wrestling. Moreover, PV Sindhu in badminton, the Indian Men’s Hockey team, Lovlina Borgohain, and Bajrang Punia in wrestling won a bronze each, completing the medal tally. While Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia have failed to qualify this time, the other winners from last season will look to repeat and improve their heroics. Read more to know which athletes are going to the 2024 Paris Olympics as India’s best bet for a medal finish.

1. Neeraj Chopra - Javelin Throw

India’s first-ever track and field Olympics medallist has built a temperament that doesn’t demand a position below the top 3. Since his 2021 heist at the Tokyo Olympics, where he earned a gold medal for India, Chopra has gone on to double his medal tally. The javelin thrower will land in Paris now as a gold medallist at the 2023 World Athletics Championship.

Furthermore, the thrower has added two golds to his tally with wins at the Paavo Nurmi Games and the Federation Cup. Chopra will enter the competition as India’s best bet at a medal in the prestigious event. The only concern hazing Chopra’s performance can be the adductor niggle that the champion is recovering from.

2. PV Sindhu - Badminton

Winning the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, PV Sindhu became the only woman athlete to win an Olympic medal twice for India. Sindhu’s initial win at the event came in 2016 when the ace shuttler snatched the silver at Rio. Now, Sindhu is heading to Paris as India’s sole contender in the women’s singles category. Naturally, all the hopes are pinned on Sindhu’s capabilities.

The seasoned player is known for her ability to bring her best for such events. Furthermore, Sindhu’s chances at a medal finish are amplified given her group placement. The shuttler will face Estonia’s Kristin Kuuba and Maldives’ Fathimath Nabaah to reach the quarterfinals. However, her recent outings in the Indonesia Open and Singapore Open have raised concerns over her form. Nonetheless, PV Sindhu is currently placed at the top in the list of players who can earn a medal for India at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

3. Chirag Shetty And Satwiksairaj Rankireddy - Badminton

Satwik-Chirag have swiftly jumped ranks in the Indian badminton scenario. The dynamic duo have emerged as the highest-performing shuttlers for the country in recent years. Satwik-Chirag’s performances across various tournaments recently made them the world’s No.1 men’s doubles pair. Moreover, the duo will come to Paris with a high from winning the French Open and the Thailand Open. The shuttling duo, otherwise at the top of their form, will hope for Satwik’s recent shoulder injury to not play as a spoilsport in the party.

4. Mirabai Chanu - Weightlifting

The country recognizes Chanu as the athlete who set the tone for India at the Tokyo Olympics. Chanu’s silver win in the 49 kg category was India’s first taste of a medal at the 2020 edition. The weightlifter will have all eyes set on her, given her newly brewed reputation at the Olympics. Chanu is facing some minor injury scares in her shoulder and wrist. However, she appeared in high spirits in her recent public interaction, urging the audience to cheer for India in the forthcoming event.

5. Aditi Ashok - Golf

With Aditi Ashok, India overlooks a bright possibility of acing the first-ever medal in a new discipline. Ashok turned pro back in 2016, simultaneously becoming the youngest golfer at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In the last edition, Ashok finished at the fourth spot, emitting a hope of a better future for India in golf at the Olympic Games. The youngster has recently won a silver at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Additionally, Aditi trumped the Magical Ladies Kenya Open earlier this year. Her recent performances seem like a promise for the nation to witness their first-ever medal win in golf.

6. Aman Sehrawat - Wrestling

Sehrawat earned the qualification for the Paris Olympics after overthrowing Ravi Dahiya from the race. The youngster won the bout 13-14 against the former bronze winner. The 20-year-old is seeded sixth in the tournament. Sehrawat, the only men’s wrestler to qualify for this edition, boasts an enthralling record to his name. The wrestler became the World U23 champion in 2022 and won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Championships. His most recent exploit is a bronze earned at the 2023 Asian Games in the 57 kg category.

7. Lovlina Borgohain - Boxing

Lovlina Borgohain was among the 7 medal winners for India in the last edition. The boxer won a bronze in the 69 kg category. Borgohain will now be competing in the 75 kg category, pertaining to the 69 kg category being scrapped off the tournament. However, the transition seems smooth for Borgohain. The boxer will come to Paris after winning a gold at the World Championships in the same category. Moreover, Lovlina comes fresh off a silver medal win in the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem in the Czech Republic.

8. Indian Men’s Team - Field Hockey

Historically, field hockey has been India’s most adorned discipline at the Olympic Games. The men’s team brought a bronze medal for India at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Now, the team will go to Paris with mostly the same squad. The team finished 7th in the recently wrapped FIH Pro League. The team is placed in a group along with the likes of Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Ireland, and the defending champions, Belgium. Led by Manpreet Singh, the squad will look to back their previous bronze win with a consecutive win this year.