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Gagan Narang Lauds Indian Para Athletes' Performance at ParalympicsLondon Games bronze medallist shooter and India's Chef de Mission at the Paris Olympics, Gagan Narang, has expressed his admiration for the country's para athletes for their exceptional performance at the ongoing Paralympics. The Indian Paralympic contingent has already secured a record 25 medals, including 5 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze, and currently stands at the 16th position in the medal tally.Narang praised the para athletes for surpassing the medal tally of the Tokyo Paralympics and expressed his anticipation for more medals in the future. He emphasized the importance of recognizing their achievements and supporting their continued success."A fantastic effort by our Paralympians. They surpassed the Tokyo Paralympics medal tally, looking forward for more medals," Narang said.When asked about his analysis of the Paris Olympic Games, Narang stated that he had not yet conducted a thorough assessment. He stressed the significance of focusing on the present and supporting the para athletes' ongoing performance."I haven't done my analysis of the Paris Olympics yet, everybody has spoken about it. But the most important thing right now is that in the Paralympics we are performing well, we are on the 16th position today," Narang said.Narang also shared his passion for photography and expressed his appreciation for the photographs displayed at the Media Photojournalist Trust's photo exhibition event at the Press Club of India. He emphasized the vital role of photographers in journalism and the irreplaceable value of their perspectives."Fantastic exhibition indeed, photographers are lifeline of journalism. They give us a perspective and no AI (Artificial Intelligence) can replace them. I wish, pray and help the association to do this function every year. Fantastic effort and great pictures," Narang concluded.

The Indian shooting contingent at the ongoing Paris Olympics has made history, surpassing expectations with an unprecedented three Bronze medals. This remarkable achievement marks the best-ever performance by Indian shooters at the Games.Manu Bhaker, the star of the contingent, secured a historic medal in the women's 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian woman to win a shooting medal at the Olympics. She then teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to win another Bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event, marking India's first-ever medal in team shooting.Swapnil Kusale's stunning bronze medal-winning performance in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event further added to India's medal tally. His victory was particularly emotional for former Indian shooter and Olympic medalist Gagan Narang, who recalled competing with Kusale in 2017."It is truly emotional to see him reaching this level and achieving his dream of winning an Olympic medal for India, and that too, on the same day when I had won mine in 2012 in London. It almost feels like destiny," said Narang.Arjun Babuta also narrowly missed out on a medal in the men's 10m air rifle event, finishing fourth. Narang expressed his pride in Babuta's performance, calling it "perhaps the greatest show by Indian shooters in the history of the Games."India's previous best performance in shooting came at the 2012 London Olympics, where Vijay Kumar won a silver in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event and Narang won a bronze in the men's 10m air rifle event.The contingent's success in Paris is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the shooters and their coaches. It is also a source of pride for India, showcasing the country's growing prowess in the sport.

India will send a contingent of 117 athletes and 140 support staff to the upcoming Paris Olympics, which will be held from July 26 to August 11. The contingent includes 29 athletes in athletics, 21 in shooting, and 19 in hockey. Other sports represented include table tennis (8), badminton (7), wrestling (6), archery (6), boxing (6), golf (4), tennis (3), swimming (2), sailing (2), equestrian (1), judo (1), rowing (1), and weightlifting (1).The contingent will be led by chef-de-mission Gagan Narang, a former Olympic bronze medalist in shooting. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been allocated 11 contingent officials, including five medical team members, who will be accommodated in the Games Village. An additional 72 support staff, including coaches, physios, and psychologists, will be accommodated in hotels outside the Games Village at government expense.The shooting contingent, which is the second largest, consists of 11 women and 10 men. The athletics contingent includes 11 women and 18 men, while the table tennis contingent has four players in each category. Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu is the lone weightlifter in the contingent and will compete in the women's 49kg category.The government has emphasized the importance of anti-doping measures and has asked the IOA and concerned federations to take appropriate steps to avoid any doping embarrassments. The Paris Organizing Committee will provide three cars for the Indian contingent without drivers, and the Indian Embassy in Paris will assist in identifying and hiring temporary drivers.