As the Paris 2024 Olympics get underway, India is making a grand statement with its largest-ever Olympic delegation. With 112 athletes competing across 69 medal events in 16 different sports, the event promises to be a significant showcase for Indian talent. The Games will commence on July 25 and run for 16 action-packed days, featuring strong Indian representation in athletics, shooting, archery, and more.

India’s Massive Contingent at Paris 2024

India’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics marks a historic high, with 112 athletes making up the country’s delegation. This surpasses their previous record of 15 athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Among the largest contingents is the athletics team, with 29 members, while the shooting squad, consisting of 21 athletes, is also notably substantial.

Archery Kicks Off the Games

Archery will be the first sport where Indian athletes will make their mark at Paris 2024. Archers Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai are set to compete in the individual ranking rounds at Les Invalides on July 25, just ahead of the Opening Ceremony scheduled for the evening of July 26. India’s early medal hopes are concentrated on the shooting events at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, with the mixed team 10m air rifle events set to begin on July 27.

Key Competitors and Events

• Neeraj Chopra: The defending champion in men’s javelin throw will have his qualifiers on August 6, with finals scheduled for August 8.
• PV Sindhu: The two-time Olympic medallist will compete in badminton from July 27 to August 5.
• Mirabai Chanu: Tokyo 2020 silver medallist will aim for gold in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category on August 7.
• Lovlina Borgohain: The Tokyo bronze medallist will be in action from July 27, with boxing events concluding on August 10. Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen will make her Olympic debut in Paris.

Sports and Schedules

Indian athletes will participate in a diverse array of sports including archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, wrestling, table tennis, and tennis. The comprehensive schedule spans from July 25 to August 11, with daily events across multiple sports.

Detailed Day-by-Day Schedule

• July 25: Archery starts, with women’s and men’s ranking rounds.
• July 27: Badminton, boxing, rowing, and shooting events commence.
• July 28: Badminton group stages and shooting qualifications continue.
• July 29: Swimming and shooting finals, along with archery team events.
• July 30: A packed day with shooting finals, boxing, equestrian dressage, and more.
• August 1: Athletics begins with race walks, while badminton and boxing continue.
• August 2: Mixed team archery and athletics events, including women’s 5000m and men’s shot put.
• August 3: Archery individual finals and athletics shot put finals.
• August 4: More archery finals and badminton medal matches.
• August 5: Finals in athletics, badminton, and other sports.
• August 6: Athletics javelin throw qualifiers and hockey semi-finals.
• August 7: Mirabai Chanu’s weightlifting competition and further athletics events.

India’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics is highly anticipated, with hopes of surpassing their record medal tally from Tokyo 2020, where they secured seven medals, including one gold.

The depth and variety in India’s participation reflect a strategic focus on multiple disciplines, aiming for an improved medal tally. The diverse events and high calibre of athletes are expected to push India’s Olympic performance to new heights.

  Deepika Kumari, India, Lovlina Borgohain, Mirabai Chanu, Neeraj Chopra, Nikhat Zareen, Paris 2024 Olympics, PV Sindhu, Tarundeep Rai