In this series we introduce you to the Indian contingent taking part in the Olympics
Join us as we continue our series of profiles of India’s most formidable athletes just in time for the Paris 2024 Olympics. This edition adds 15 more people who represent the true spirit of sportsmanship, hard work, and excellence in their choice of sports. Their successes on national and international forums are clear indications of their hard work and love for the sport.
Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto
Ashwini Ponnappa, born on 18 September 1989, is a seasoned Indian badminton player known for her powerful smashes and tactical play. She has been a pivotal player in India's badminton scene, winning numerous titles in both women's and mixed doubles. Ponnappa is paired with Tanisha Crasto, a rising star born on 5 May 2003. Crasto has shown remarkable potential and skill in her young career. Together, they form a formidable women's doubles team, blending Ponnappa's experience with Crasto's youthful energy. Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto's success in various international tournaments showcases their synergy and skill, making them strong medal prospects for Paris 2024.
Competition Contested In: Women’s Doubles Badminton
Awards Won in the Past:
Gold Medal at the 2023 Abu Dhabi
Silver Medal at the 2023 Syed Modi International
Gold Medal at the 2023 Guwahati Masters
Silver Medal at the 2023 Odisha Masters.
Muhammed Anas/Muhammed Ajmal/Amoj Jacob/Santhosh Tamilarasan/Rajesh Ramesh
Men's Relay Team. Pic Credit Khel Now
The Indian men's 4x400m relay team features an impressive lineup of athletes who have consistently delivered strong performances. Muhammed Anas, known for his speed and endurance, has been a prominent figure in Indian athletics. Muhammed Ajmal brings in his explosive power and speed, complementing the team’s dynamics. Amoj Jacob, another key member, is recognized for his consistent performance and ability to maintain high speed over the quarter-mile distance. Santhosh Tamilarasan and Rajesh Ramesh add depth and versatility to the relay team, making them a formidable unit in international competitions. This team has a strong record in Asian and Commonwealth events and aims to make a significant impact at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Competition Contested In: Athletics Men’s 4x400m Relay
Awards Won in the Past:
National record in Asian relay championship.
Akshdeep Singh
Akshdeep Singh. Pic Credit News 18
Akshdeep Singh, a race walker, has been gradually getting better and overcoming injuries in the recent past. He has performed very well and with much energy during the national championships. He has a silver medal to his name in the National Open Athletics in 2022. Akshdeep may very well win a medal in the 20km race walk event to be held in Paris.
Competition Contested In: Athletics Men’s 20 km Race Walk
Awards Won in the Past:
Gold Medal at the 2022 Asian Games
Silver Medal at the 2021 World Athletics Championships
Bronze Medal at the 2020 Olympics
Gold Medal at the 2019 National Athletics Championships.
Priyanka Goswami
Priyanka Goswami. Pic Credit Orrisa Post
Priyanka Goswami is one of the prominent racewalkers, and she performs well regularly. In the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she created history for India by winning the first-ever women’s race walk medal, a silver in the 10,000-metre event. Priyanka has strength and determination, which will help her win a medal in Paris. Some factors that may help her win the Olympic Games include an excellent strategic race plan and mental preparedness.
Competition Contested In: Athletics Women’s 20 km Race Walk
Awards Won in the Past:
Silver Medal in the 10,000 metres walk at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker. Pic Credit India Shooting
Manu Bhaker is one of the young and leading women in the shooting range, particularly in the shotgun event, and has been a multiple medallist in the World Cup and other competitions. These performances, especially in the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events, are evidence of why she is one of the most favoured to clinch gold at the Paris 2024 games. Manu can think and act fast, and she does not get easily pressured in international competitions, making her a formidable rival.
Competition Contested In: Shooting Women’s 10 metre Air Pistol, Women’s 25 metre Pistol
Awards Won in the Past:
Silver Medal at the 2022 Cairo World Championships (Women’s 25m Pistol)
Gold Medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou (Women’s 25m Pistol)
Bronze Medal at the 2023 ISSF World Cup Series in Bhopal (Women’s 25m Pistol).
Kishore Jena
Kishore Jena. Pic Credit InsideSport
Javelin thrower Kishore Jena has been showcasing his talents at the national and international level competitions. Given his efforts towards the improvement of his skills and the increase in the throw distance, he is a potential medalist in Paris. The commitment that Kishore has shown towards the improvement of his skills and the desire to stretch his boundaries to the extent possible has contributed to his success.
Competition Contested In: Athletics Men’s Javelin Throw
Awards Won in the Past:
Silver Medal at the 2023 Asian Games
Fifth Place at the 2023 World Athletics Championships
Personal Best - 87.54m (Second-best mark by an Indian javelin thrower).
Sarabjot Singh
Sarabjot Singh. Pic Credit Sportskeeda
Another fine shooter is Sarabjot Singh, who has also shown his prowess in the international arena and performed very well. His experience in the 10m air pistol and the mixed team events depict him as a flexible shooter who may easily win a medal for the country in Paris. Sarabjot’s calm temperament and steady performance make hima likely medal candidate
Competition Contested In: Shooting Men’s 10m Air Pistol, 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team
Awards Won in the Past:
Gold Medal at the ISSF World Cup in Bhopal (Men’s 10m Air Pistol)
Gold Medal at the ISSF World Cup in Bhopal (Men’s 10m Air Pistol)
Gold Medal in the Air Pistol Mixed Team in Baku (2023).
Arpinder Singh
Arpinder Singh. Pic Credit Olympic Games
Arpinder Singh's achievements in major international events highlight his skill and potential, making him a strong contender in the triple jump at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Competition Contested In: Triple Jump
Awards Won in the Past:
Gold Medal at the Asian Games
Bronze Medal at the Commonwealth Games
Bronze Medal at the Asian Championships
Bronze Medal at the World (Continental) Cup.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
It is not a new thing to hear about the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the Indian badminton followers. Some of the achievements include winning the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as well as the 2022 BWF World Tour Finals. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's historic accomplishments in badminton, including becoming the first Indian doubles pair to achieve such milestones, position them as top medal prospects for Paris 2024.
Competition Contested In: Badminton Men’s Doubles
Awards Won in the Past:
World No. 1 in BWF World Ranking
Gold Medal at the BWF World Tour 1000 Series
Gold Medal at the Asian Games
Bronze Medal at the World Championships 2022
Silver Medal at the Commonwealth Games 2018
Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
Deepak Punia
Deepak Punia, another Indian freestyle wrestler and a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army is also backed by OGQ. He won the silver medal at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships and got a spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Punia is the current Commonwealth Champion having won the gold in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games after pinning down Pakistan’s Muhammad Inam in the 86 kg final.
Competition Contested In: Wrestling
Awards Won in the Past:
Gold Medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham
Gold Medal at the 2019 Junior Wrestling Championship, Tallinn
Silver Medal at the 2021 Asian Championship, Almaty
4th Place at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Annu Rani
Annu Rani. Pic Credit Olympic Games
Annu Rani Dharayan, an Indian javelin thrower from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, supported by OGQ, made history as the first Indian to reach the finals of the women's javelin throw at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. She qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics through world rankings and boasts a career-best throw of 63.24m. In the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, she became the first Indian female javelin thrower to win a medal, securing a bronze. Annu continued her historic achievements by winning a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Competition Contested In: Javelin Throw
Awards Won in the Past:
Top 8 at the World Championships (twice)
Gold Medal at the Asian Games
Silver Medal at the Asian Championships
Bronze Medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Pranati Nayak
Pranati Nayak. Pic Credit Sportskeeda
Pranati Nayak was born on April 6, 1995, is an artistic gymnast, and the 2019 Asian Championships vault bronze medalist. The 23-year-old Indian gymnast is the third Indian to win an international medal in vault event and that too at the Commonwealth Games, the others being Dipa Karmakar and Aruna Reddy. Nayak competed for India at the 2020 Summer Olympics making her one of the only two Indian female gymnasts to qualify for the Olympic games. Also, she is the 2019 Indian all-around champion and has represented in the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games, and the 2014, 2017, and 2019 World Championships.
Competition Contested In: Gymnastics
Awards Won in the Past:
Bronze Medal in the women’s vault event at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup 2024 in Cairo, Egypt
Sift Kaur Samra
Sift Kaur Samra. Pic Credit The Hindu
Sift Kaur Samra, born on 9 September 2001, is an Indian sport shooter supported by OGQ. She set the current world record in the Women's 50 metre rifle three positions final, winning the gold medal in this event at the 2022 Asian Games. Additionally, she was part of the team that secured the silver medal in the Women's 50 metre rifle three positions team event at the same games.
Competition Contested In: Shooting Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions
Awards Won in the Past:
Broke the world record in September 2023 with a score of 469.6 points
Gold Medal at the 2022 Asian Games in the Women's 3P category
Team Silver Medal at the 2022 Asian Games
Five medals at the Junior World Cup
Gold Medal at the National Games (2022)
Bronze Medal on debut at the ISSF World Cup in the 50m rifle 3P.
Sourabh Verma
Sourabh Verma. Pic Credit Olympic Games
Sourabh Verma, born on 30 December 1992, is an Indian badminton player. He is a three-time men's singles title champion at the Indian National Championships and reached a career-high world ranking of No. 28 in December 2019. Verma has represented India in various international tournaments, showcasing his skill and consistency in the sport.
Competition Contested In: Badminton Men’s Singles
Awards Won in the Past:
Titles at the Hyderabad Open and Vietnam Open Super 100 events (2019)
Silver Medal at the 2019 Syed Modi International Badminton Championships
Victory at the 2019 Slovenian International
Titles at the Russian Open and Dutch Open Super 100 events (2018)
Winner of the men’s singles event at the 2016 Chinese Taipei Masters
Titles at the 2014 Austrian International and Iran Fajr International, 2013 Tata Open India International, and 2011 Bahrain International tournaments.
Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen is another talented boxer in the Indian team who has made a mark in international boxing. She won a gold medal in the 2011 AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships conducted in Antalya and a gold medal in the 2022 Women’s World Boxing Championships. Nikhat is ready to enrich her collection of awards with an Olympic medal.
Competition Contested In: Boxing
Awards Won in the Past:
Two Gold Medals at the World Championships.