Neeraj Chopra to Lead 28-Member Squad at Paris
Olympics 2024
A 28-member Indian athletics contingent, spearheaded by defending men’s javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra, is set to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics, as announced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on June 4.
Neeraj Chopra, who made history three years ago by clinching India's first track and field Olympic gold, will be accompanied by debutant Kishore Jena in his signature event.
Overview of Paris 2024 Olympics
The upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and branded as Paris 2024, will be held from July 26 to August 11 in France. Paris serves as the primary host city, with competitions spanning across 16 other cities in Metropolitan France and one site in Tahiti, part of French Polynesia.
Athletes Highlighted
Annu Rani, gold medallist at the 2023 Asian Games, will represent India in women’s javelin throw. The team includes eight athletes who participated in the Tokyo Olympics. Among the 28-member squad, there are 17 men and 11 women athletes.
Besides Neeraj Chopra and Annu Rani, the squad features prominent athletes such as Avinash Sable in men’s 3000m steeplechase, Tajinderpal Singh Toor in men’s shot put, Priyanka Goswami in women’s race walking, and Muhammed Anas, Amoj Jacob, and Subha Venkatesan in the 4x400m relay team.
Debutants and Returning Athletes
Muhammed Anas will make his third consecutive appearance at the Summer Games, while newcomers include Jyothi Yarraji in hurdles, Abha Khatua in shot put, and Parul Chaudhary, who will compete in both the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m race events. Parul Chaudhary, a gold medallist in the 5000m race at the Asian Games, also secured a silver in the 3000m steeplechase.
Selection Challenges
National record-holders Akshdeep Singh, Vikash Singh, and Paramjeet Singh Bisht will participate in the men’s 20km race walk, alongside Suraj Panwar in the mixed marathon event with Priyanka Goswami.
Final Selections
While several athletes met entry standards, only a select few could be chosen due to the maximum quota of three athletes per event per country. Notably, Murali Sreeshankar, qualified for men’s long jump, had to withdraw from the team due to injury.
This diverse and accomplished Indian squad aims to build on past successes and make a mark at the prestigious Paris 2024 Olympics.
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