Paris Olympics Fact Box: India’s Youngest and Oldest Athletes

As the Paris Olympics unfold over the next 15 days, the question on everyone’s mind is whether India will surpass its medal count from the Tokyo Games. At Tokyo, India achieved its best-ever haul of seven medals. Now, with a 117-strong contingent, there are high expectations for a historic performance in Paris.

Second Largest Contingent

With 117 athletes—70 men and 47 women—India’s team in Paris is its second-largest Olympic contingent ever. The largest was at Tokyo 2020, with 121 athletes. If the women’s hockey team had qualified, India would have surpassed its previous record.

Participation in 16 Events

Out of the 32 disciplines at the Paris Olympics, India will compete in 16: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Equestrian, Golf, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Wrestling, and Weightlifting.

Largest Contingents in Athletics and Shooting

India’s largest group of athletes is in athletics, with 29 participants. The shooting team is the second-largest, featuring 21 shooters, the most ever for India in this discipline at the Games.

First-Timers and Veterans

Of the 117 Indian athletes, 72 are making their Olympic debut. The most experienced athlete is paddler Sharath Kamal, who is competing in his fifth Olympics. Other veterans include tennis player Rohan Bopanna, badminton player PV Sindhu, paddler Manika Batra, and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, all participating in their third Olympics.

Youngest and Oldest Athletes

Rohan Bopanna, at 44, is the oldest athlete in the Indian contingent, returning to the Games after missing the Tokyo Olympics. The youngest member is 14-year-old swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu, competing in the 200m freestyle event.

Medal History and Hopes

India has won 35 Olympic medals to date, with 12 from team sports. Notably, 37 Indian athletes have won more than one medal in team events, and three—Norman Pritchard, Sushil Kumar, and PV Sindhu—have won multiple individual medals. PV Sindhu could become the first Indian to win three individual Olympic medals if she reaches the podium in Paris.

Previous Medalists in Paris

The Indian contingent includes five previous Olympic medalists: Neeraj Chopra (javelin), Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), PV Sindhu (badminton), Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), and the men’s hockey team.

Best Medal Hopes

India’s top medal contenders in Paris include:

• Neeraj Chopra in javelin
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in men’s doubles badminton
• PV Sindhu in women’s singles badminton
• Indian women’s archery team
• Indian men’s archery team
• Indian men’s hockey team
• Sift Kaur Samra in shooting
• Manu Bhaker in shooting
• Nikhat Zareen in boxing
• Antim Panghal in wrestling

As the Indian athletes compete over the next two weeks, the nation eagerly waits to see if they can exceed the achievements of Tokyo and bring home a record number of medals.

 

 

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