New Delhi, Jul 17 : India will be represented by 117 athletes at this month’s Paris Olympics after the sports ministry cleared the final contingent, which also includes 140 support staff and officials. Of these, 72 have been approved at the “cost to the government” to meet the “requirements” of the traveling sportspersons.
Notably, the only qualified athlete missing from the list is shot-putter Abha Khatua, who made the cut through a world rankings quota. Khatua’s name was found missing from the World Athletics’ list of Olympic participants a few days ago without any explanation, leaving uncertainty whether her exclusion is due to injury, a doping violation, or another technical issue.
The rest of the cleared contingent includes London Olympics bronze medal-winning former shooter Gagan Narang as chef-de-mission. Narang is also a vice president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
“The permissible limit for stay of support personnel in the Games Village against accreditation as per norms of the Paris Organising Committee for the 2024 Olympic Games is 67, including 11 IOA Contingent Officials, which includes five Medical Team Members,” stated a letter from the ministry to IOA President P T Usha, explaining the ratio of support staff allowed per the contingent size.
“To cater to the requirements of the athletes, additional coaches and other support staff numbering 72 have been approved at cost to the Government, and arrangements for their stay have been made in hotels or locations outside the Games Village,” it added.
Despite Khatua’s absence, athletics will form the largest group in the contingent with 29 members (11 women and 18 men), followed by shooting (21) and hockey (19).
Table tennis will have eight players, while badminton will feature seven competitors, including two-time Olympic medalist P V Sindhu. Wrestling, archery, and boxing will each have six representatives, followed by golf (4), tennis (3), swimming (2), sailing (2), and one each for equestrian, judo, rowing, and weightlifting.
The shooting contingent, the second largest, consists of 11 women and 10 men. Table tennis will have four players each in both categories.
Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu is the lone weightlifter in the contingent and will compete in the women’s 49kg category.
At the Tokyo Olympics, India was represented by a 119-member contingent, and the country recorded its best-ever performance with seven medals, including the historic javelin throw gold by Neeraj Chopra, who will defend his title in Paris.
The ministry’s letter further stated that Air Commodore Prashant Arya, Air Attache in the Embassy of India in Paris, will serve as Olympic Attache, who will have accreditation and visit the Games Village and competition venues to address any issues requiring assistance and intervention from the Embassy.
The golf competition will be conducted at the Le Golf National in Guyancourt, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, around 42 km from Paris. To ensure hassle-free travel and practice arrangements, the Indian golf contingent will stay at a hotel near the venue instead of the Games Village.
“…accordingly, arrangements for accommodation for members of the Golf Team, including players, coaches, physio, and caddy at the request of the Golf players and Indian Golf Union have been made in a hotel near the competition venue,” the ministry said.
To avoid doping embarrassments in Paris, the government has asked the IOA and concerned federations to take appropriate measures. “The IOA, SAI, National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and concerned National Sports Federations may take appropriate measures for conducting dope tests. IOA may also ensure the fitness of the team/individual sportsperson prior to their departure,” it said.
Additionally, the Paris Organising Committee will provide three cars for the Indian contingent without drivers. “The Embassy of India in Paris has been requested to assist in identifying and temporarily employing these drivers,” the ministry letter stated.
