Bharat is sending a team of 117 athletes to the Paris Olympics, aiming to make a mark even though not all are expected to secure medals. This represents a significant opportunity for each athlete to showcase their skills and perhaps surprise us with their performances.
Anush Agarwalla: Breaking New Ground in Equestrian Sports
Anush Agarwalla will represent Bharat in equestrian sports at the Paris Olympics, competing in the dressage event — a first for the country in this discipline. Previously, Indian equestrians have only participated in eventing categories.
Since September, Agarwalla has had a remarkable run, contributing to Bharat’s historic Asian Games success with gold in dressage and an individual bronze, marking Bharat’s first in this category. Training in Paderborn, Germany, Agarwalla is focused on delivering his best performance with his horse, Sir Caramello Old. “The Olympics is the pinnacle of sports, and I’m thrilled to see my childhood dream come true. It’s hard to express how I feel,” he remarked.
Table Tennis: Bharat’s Debut in Team Events
For the first time, Bharat will compete in both the men’s and women’s table tennis team events at the Olympics, having broken into the top 16 in global rankings.
Veteran Sharath Kamal and world No. 24 Manika Batra will lead their respective teams. The men’s team includes Sharath, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar, while Manika, Sreeja Akula, and Archana Kamath make up the women’s team. Despite past setbacks at the Olympics and Asian Games, their qualification has reignited hopes for an Olympic medal. Manika, reflecting on her Tokyo experience, emphasized a focused approach to each match, with her main goal being to avoid past mistakes and strive for a medal.
Tennis: Bopanna and Balaji’s Clay Court Strategy
Bharat’s tennis contingent for Roland Garros includes Sumit Nagal in singles and a men’s doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji. Bopanna, a former world No. 1, earned his spot through a top 10 ranking and chose Balaji as his partner due to his proficiency on clay. Nagal is the first Indian since Leander Paes in Sydney 2000 to participate in consecutive men’s singles events.
Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu’s Comeback
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won silver in the 49kg weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics, faces a promising comeback after a severe hip injury at the Asian Games in September 2023. Despite being advised to rest for five months, Chanu has made a recovery and will compete in her third Olympics, continuing her pursuit of excellence on the global stage.
