New Delhi: Reigning champion Neeraj Chopra will lead India’s 28-member athletics contingent at the 2024 Paris Olympics that begins on July 26.
Chopra is India’s only gold Olympic gold medallist in track and field after emerging on top in javelin at Tokyo Games, after which he was also become the world champion and defended his Asian Games gold.
The 26-year-old is currently preparing for Paris 2024 and has decided to skip the Paris Diamond League this weekend as he is recuperating from a adductoe muscle injury.
The thigh injury has limited his preparations as he has only featured in three events this year in the build-up to the Olympic Games, two less than what he did for Tokyo 2020.
Chopra has said he has matured and now gives his body ample rest to recover from injuries and events and keeping in mind the Olympics, he isn;t willing to put his body at risk.
There are no surprises in the squad chosen by the Athletics Federation of India, comprising 17 men and 11 women athletes.
Apart from Chopra, Asian Games gold medallists Avinash Sable, Tejinderpal Singh Toor and sprint hurdler Jyothi Yarraji are the other notable names in the squad while the 4x400m men’s relay team of Muhammed Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob and Rajesh Ramesh will also demand attention.
The track and field competition of Paris 2024, which will be staged at the Stade de France, will begin on August 1 and stretch till August 11.
In this edition of the Games, World Athletics has introduced marathon race walk mixed-relay event, while excluding the men’s 50km race walk event.
Squad:
Men: Avinash Sable (3,000m steeplechase), Neeraj Chopra, Kishore Kumar Jena (javelin throw), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Praveen Chithravel, Abulla Aboobacker (triple jump), Akshdeep Singh, Vikash Singh, Paramjeet Singh Bisht (20km race walk), Muhammed Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, Santhosh Tamilarasan, Rajesh Ramesh (4x400m relay), Mijo Chacko Kurian (4x400m relay), Suraj Panwar (race walk mixed marathon), Sarvesh Anil Kushare (High Jump).
Women: Kiran Pahal (400m), Parul Chaudhary (3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m), Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Abha Khatua (shot put), Jyothika Sri Dandi, Subha Venkatesan, Vithya Ramraj, Poovamma MR (4x400m relay), Prachi (4x400m), Priyanka Goswami (20km race walk/race walk mixed marathon).
Neeraj Chopra is India’s only gold Olympic gold medallist in track and field and is the defending men’s javelin champion Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
