With a population of billions and facilities well above the rest of the world, a country like India is expected to produce world-class athletes who can deliver consistently on big-stage events. Sadly, the reality is different. In India’s 25 previous appearances in the Summer Olympic Games, the country has produced nearly 25 medal winners tallying around 35 medals. The tally is 56th overall in the rankings with the USA, China, Russia, and a few European countries holding the top spots in Olympic history. Jarmanpreet Singh Ready for Special Paris Olympic Games 2024 Debut With Mom in Stands.

It's not that India has completely failed at the international level. Athletes have performed extensively well in the Commonwealth Games and continental events, where India has acted as a big player, a big fish ruling the waters, but when the pond gets bigger, ‘the fish’ looks smaller. The Olympics has always been the pre-eminent event when it comes to sports and looking at past performances, India is labelled as a ‘small fish in a big pond’. Can the 2024 Paris Olympics be the ‘turning point’ in India’s sporting history? Can the country break the shackles and deliver in the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024?

India’s Preparations for Paris Olympics 2024

When it comes to being the best, preparations play an important role. In the case of sports split seconds can turn the tide in one’s favour and athletes prepare for these small details for years. Famous sprinter Usain Bolt once said, “I trained four years to run nine seconds”. One of the greatest athletes Michael Phelps also mentioned “You’re tired; you feel you can’t move; you’re truly hurting. That’s when he would throw down especially hard sets.” While both these multi-medal winners have laid the plans for preparations, most of the Indian athletes also got plenty of support and preparation time for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Paris Olympics 2024: All Eyes on Rohan Bopanna and Sumit Nagal As India Aim To Relive 1996 Tennis Triumph.

Earlier when ‘sport’ was seen as an entertainment package in India, things have been completely different in current scenarios. Players like Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, and others were given special grants and facilities in foreign countries to prepare for the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Dedicated support staff were allocated to each medal-probable athlete to start preparing them for Paris 2024. Training camps at different locations even in India were given by the IOA (Indian Olympic Association). Athletes also responded well to the facilities and pushed themselves to the limits focusing on a goal to win a medal for India.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics event also, India’s squad of 117 members have a massive support staff of 140 members. Staff includes professionals from every field including medicals, specialized sports experts, and even mental health experts. This is the first time in India’s Olympics history, apart from preparations for the sport, special care for athletes’ wellbeing is considered highlighting the country and government’s approach towards the sport. Mandeep Singh Used To Skip Meals After School To Go for Hockey Practice, Reveals Forward’s Sister Bhupinderjeet Kaur Ahead of Paris Olympics 2024.

India’s Strong Medal Contenders at Paris Olympics 2024 with Possible Surprises

Will this change in approach will result in a change of fortune? The Maximum number of medals India has ever won in the Summer Olympic Games is seven (in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics) while only seven sports disciplines have produced medals for the country. But with current form, quality, preparations, and hunger could see a significant surge in the medal tally for India. India at Paris Olympics 2024: Check Full Schedule in IST of Indian Athletes, Time Table and Important Dates.

Players like Neeraj Chopra, PV Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, Manu Bhaker, Amit Panghal, Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, India Men’s National Hockey Team, Mirabai Chanu and Aman Sehrawat are strong contenders for at least one medal. Archery team and shooting team along with individual competitors like Avinash Sable, Kishore Jena, and Jyothi Yarraji can also produce a miracle. #Cheer4India might not only tread on social media but would work in the Paris Olympics 2024. Expect India to cross the double-digit mark in medals in this edition of the Summer Olympic games while ‘breaking the shackles’ might take some more time for Indian athletes.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2024 01:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).