With the Olympics simply across the nook, India has its justifiable share of medal contenders with names like Neeraj Chopra, Satwik-Chirag and Nikhat Zareen already established as massive time forces. However there are athletes within the contingent who may develop into the following massive factor within the annals of Indian sporting historical past.
Right here, we take a look at the rising sportspersons who may steal the limelight from the extra established names with spectacular performances if not medals:
Sift Kaur Samra (Taking pictures): Samra, who can be debuting on this Olympics, can be one among India’s medal hopes in capturing. A reigning Asian Video games gold medallist and world file holder within the girls’s 50m rifle 3 positions, she can be trying to proceed her sizzling streak in Paris. The gold medal at Hangzhou was additionally India’s first-ever particular person capturing Asiad gold medal in 3-position so she already has a penchant for making historical past although she is going to go up in opposition to razor-sharp Chinese language rivals. On the Asian Video games, she claimed the lead after the third collection within the closing, and by no means gave up thereafter, profitable the gold by a margin of greater than seven factors over then reigning world champion, Zhang Qiongyue of China.
Esha Singh (Taking pictures): One other robust contender for a capturing medal is Esha Singh, the 19-year-old pistol shooter from Hyderabad. Regardless of being so younger, Singh has already received silver in particular person class and gold in staff class on the Hangzhou Asian Video games final 12 months. A nationwide champion beating the likes of Manu Bhaker and Heena Sidhu when she was simply 13, she was additionally a gold medallist within the 2022 Junior World Championships in 25m air pistol occasion. In January, she received India’s fifteenth Paris Olympics quota with a gold medal within the girls’s 10m Air Pistol closing within the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Jakarta. Nonetheless she made the staff for sports activities pistol – 25 metre pistol from the trials.
Dhiraj Bommadevara (Archery): The 23-year-old Dhiraj from Andhra Pradesh is one other identify to look out for on this Olympics with a silver medal in males’s recurve staff on the Asian Video games already in his kitty. He was additionally the primary individual to safe the nation a quota for the Paris Olympics in particular person recurve final November on the Archery Continental Qualifying Event, however primarily raises hopes of a males’s staff medal. He additionally received bronze medals in World Cup phases in 2023 and 2024. Identified for his adaptability in opposed windy circumstances, the armyman is thought for his regular temperament in strain conditions.
Preeti Sai Pawar (Boxing): Among the many extra celebrated names in boxing like Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, Preeti Sai Pawar is somebody who may go below the radar generally however the boxer who can be representing India within the bantamweight class is somebody it is advisable to regulate. An Asian Video games bronze medallist, she had secured her Paris ticket after coming into the semifinals at Hangzhou. A diminutive boxer, she would look to hold on the legacy of Bhiwani, a boxing hotbed. She comes from a household of wrestlers and kabbaddi gamers.
Dhinidhi Desinghu (Swimming): Dhinidhi is the youngest member of the Indian contingent going to Paris at simply 14 years outdated and she or he is anticipated to realize expertise from the large occasion. She has received medals on the Nationwide Video games and the senior Nationwide championships final 12 months and can be the highest ranked Indian feminine swimmer after good performances this 12 months. She’s going to characteristic in 200m freestyle.
Reetika Hooda (Wrestling): Final April, Reetika grew to become the primary from India to ebook a quota within the heaviest Olympic weight class (76kg) for ladies which makes her one of many brightest prospects heading into Paris representing the wrestling contingent. Following the footsteps of Sakshi Malik, a Rio Olympics bronze medalist, who can be from Rohtak, Reetika had joined the centre on the Sir Chotu Ram Stadium, Malik’s alma mater. Now, she’ll hope to copy the success that Malik had on the large stage.
Sreeja Akula (Desk tennis): A fairly acquainted identify to individuals who observe desk tennis, Akula is without doubt one of the high prospects to usher in a maiden Olympic medal in TT from Paris. India’s No.1 ranked paddler has had an eventful 8 months main as much as the Olympics, changing into the primary Indian to win a WTT event when she received on the Corpus Christi Feeder event, to beating a high Chinese language participant, to including one other WTT title. She can be a Commonwealth Video games gold medallist in blended doubles alongside Sharath Kamal.
Antim Panghal (Wrestling): With a listing of accolades already to her identify, Panghal is essentially the most recognizable athlete on this checklist and it’ll be shocking to many who she is going to simply be making her Olympics debut in 2024. A two-time Beneath-20 world champion wrestler and an Asian Video games, Asian Championships and senior world wrestling championships medal winner, it feels as if Panghal has been at her craft for many years. Reality is, she is simply 19 years of age and has her complete profession in entrance of her with the sky being the restrict for the prodigy from Haryana, who staked declare to the 53 kg spot held by famend Vinesh Phogat.
Raj Kumar Pal (Hockey): Younger Indian midfielder Raj Kumar Pal can be hoping to make an influence for the Indian males’s staff after failing to get into the Tokyo Olympics squad the final time the Olympics rolled into city. The participant has remodeled 50 appearances for India and has been an integral half of their bronze medal profitable performances on the Asia Cup in Jakarta in 2022 and the Asian Champions trophy in Dhaka in 2021. Final time in Tokyo, India had received the bronze and this time, Raj Kumar and the staff can be aiming for an improve. Craig Fulton opted for the midfielder for his 1v1 elimination abilities, and a touch of creativity he brings over somebody steadier like Nilakanta Sharma.
Tulika Maan (Judo): Maan is India’s lone judoka on this Olympics with the 25-year-old trying to win India’s first ever medal in judo on the Olympics. Final time in Tokyo, Sushila Devi Likmabam was India’s lone judoka and she or he couldn’t get previous the primary spherical however Maan, a Commonwealth Video games 2022 silver medallist, may need a greater likelihood of going additional.