Top 10 Indian Medal Hopes for Paris 2024 Olympics: Neeraj Chopra Leads the Charge

Paris, 26th July 2024: India, having achieved its best-ever Olympic performance with seven medals at Tokyo 2020, is preparing for another strong showing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The country will be represented by a robust contingent of 117 athletes aiming to surpass that record. Paris, hosting its third Olympics after 1900 and 1924, will be the stage for their efforts. Here’s a look at India’s top 10 medal prospects:

1) Neeraj Chopra | Athletics, Men’s Javelin Throw: As India’s leading athlete and a major medal contender, Chopra, the Tokyo gold medalist, has excelled in every major competition, including the Diamond League. Despite concerns over a minor adductor injury, he remains a strong medal hope.

2) Nikhat Zareen | Boxing, Women’s 50kg: Dominating Indian boxing for the past two years, Zareen has secured back-to-back golds at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. She is expected to be a strong contender for a medal.

3) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty | Badminton, Men’s Doubles: The pair had a remarkable 2023, winning major titles like the BWF World Tour Super 1000 and the Asian Games gold. Their aggressive style is well-suited to the fast courts in Paris, and they are poised to excel if they manage the pressure well.

4) PV Sindhu | Badminton, Women’s Singles: With a silver in Rio 2016 and a bronze in Tokyo 2020, Sindhu aims to become the first Indian to win three Olympic badminton medals. However, her recent form has been inconsistent, and she might face defending champion Chen Yufei in the quarterfinals.

5) Antim Panghal | Wrestling, Women’s 53kg Freestyle: Panghal has consistently medaled in senior international tournaments, including a bronze at the 2023 World Championships. With Akari Fujinami not in her bracket, Panghal has a solid chance of reaching the final.

6) Aman Sehrawat | Wrestling, Men’s 57kg Freestyle: A promising debutant, Sehrawat is in top form, having won gold at the 2022 Asian Games and the 2023 Asian Championships. His victory over Ravi Dahiya in the selection trials highlights his potential for a medal in Paris.

7) Sift Kaur Samra | Shooting, Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Samra, known for her exceptional composure, has demonstrated her potential with an individual gold and team silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games and a world record in her event. Her performance is expected to be a major asset for India.

8) Manu Bhaker | Shooting, Women’s 25m Pistol & 10m Air Pistol Team: After a challenging Tokyo 2020, Bhaker looks for redemption in Paris. She will compete in three events: women’s 25m air pistol, women’s 10m air pistol, and the mixed team event. Her recent improvement under coach Jaspal Rana is promising.

9) Tarundeep Rai, Dheeraj Bommadevara, Pravin Jadhav | Archery, Men’s Recurve Team: Despite never having won an Olympic archery medal, this trio is a strong contender after clinching team gold at the World Cup Stage 1 in April by defeating reigning champions South Korea.

10) Hockey | Men’s Team: Following a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 and a gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games, India’s men’s hockey team is set to compete in Pool B with strong contenders. Led by Harmanpreet Singh, they need to secure a top-four finish to advance to the quarterfinals.