New Delhi: The Indian contingent is set to commence its Paris Olympics campaign on July 25, featuring 112 athletes in 69 medal events across 16 sports.
Leading a 29-member athletics team, Neeraj Chopra will be a significant part of the group heading to France for the Olympics. Additionally, a robust 21-member shooting team, the largest India has ever sent to the Olympics, will participate, surpassing the 15 shooters at Tokyo 2020, according to Olympics.com.
Notable archers such as Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai will vie to elevate the Indian flag in Paris, starting with the individual ranking rounds on July 25, preceding the opening ceremony the following day.
India’s initial opportunity for medals will be at the mixed team air rifle events on July 27 at the National Shooting Centre in Chateauroux, with two teams, Sandeep Singh/Elavenil Valarivan and Arjun Babuta/Ramita Jindal, in contention. Manu Bhaker will also take part in two individual pistol events and the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
The spotlight, however, will be on Olympic and World champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, competing in August. The men’s javelin throw qualifiers are scheduled for August 6, with the final following two days later.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, aims for a third consecutive medal in the badminton events from July 27 to August 5.
Mirabai Chanu, the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist weightlifter, will compete in the women’s 49 kg category on August 7.
Bronze medalist from Tokyo, Lovlina Borgohain, will participate in the boxing events beginning July 27, and concluding in August.
