New Delhi: India has dispatched a strong team of 117 members to the Paris Olympics 2024, aiming to surpass their previous tally of seven medals from the Tokyo Olympics three years prior.
The Indian team boasts a blend of youth and experience across various sports.
Rohan Bopanna, India’s celebrated tennis player, will be one of the oldest competitors at 44 years of age in Paris. Meanwhile, Dhinidhi Desinghu, at just 14, will be the youngest athlete representing India at this global event.
Rohan Bopanna: India’s Veteran at the Paris Olympics
Bopanna is set to compete for an Olympic medal once more in Paris, marking his third Olympic appearance. He teamed up with Mahesh Bhupathi in the 2012 Olympics, advancing to the second round in men’s doubles.
In 2016, he joined forces with Leander Paes for the same event but was eliminated in the opening round. However, in the mixed doubles, Bopanna and his partner Sania Mirza came close to securing a medal, only to lose the bronze medal match in straight sets to the Czech Republic’s Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek.
Despite not qualifying for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Bopanna—whose career has matured exceptionally—secured his spot in the Paris Olympics with a World No.4 ranking. He will partner with World No. 62 N Sriram Balaji, entering the event after an impressive season, including becoming the oldest World No.1 and winning the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open with Matthew Ebden earlier this year. They also reached the semifinals of the French Open 2024.
However, Bopanna and Balaji’s initial partnership this year saw an early exit in the first round of the Hamburg Open.
Dhinidhi Desinghu: India’s Prodigy at the Paris Games
Bengaluru’s young swimmer, Dhinidhi Desinghu, aged 14, will be making history at the Paris Games as India’s youngest participant.
Desinghu will be participating in the women’s 200m freestyle event and is the second youngest Indian Olympian as Aarti Saha held the record for being the youngest as she was just 11 years old when she participated in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. She is currently in ninth grade and has already shown grit and dedication for this sport.
This won’t be her first major tournament as she was also seen in action in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha.
