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India has announced its largest-ever contingent of 84 athletes to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, scheduled from August 28 to September 8. This marks a significant increase from the 54 athletes sent to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, including 14 women. Notably, India will participate in three new sports at Paris 2024: para-cycling, para-rowing, and blind judo, bringing the total number of sports to 12.Arshad Shaik and Jyoti Gaderiya will represent India in para-cycling, while Kapil Parmar and Kokila will compete in blind judo. Anita and K. Narayana will participate in para-rowing.India's most successful Paralympic Games was Tokyo 2020, where the country won 19 medals, including five gold, eight silver, and six bronze. Avani Lekhara, who won gold in the women's R2 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, will return to compete in Paris 2024. Sumit Antil, the gold medalist in men's F64 javelin throw, will also participate.Table tennis player Bhavina Patel, who won India's first Paralympics medal in the sport, will compete in the women's singles and doubles events. Harvinder Singh, the first Indian to win an archery medal at the Paralympics, will appear in individual and mixed team recurve events.

The Indian Paralympic contingent, despite the absence of star shuttler Pramod Bhagat, remains optimistic about achieving a medal haul of at least 25 at the upcoming Paralympics in Paris. With an 84-member contingent competing across 12 disciplines, the Indian team is aiming to surpass its performance at the Tokyo Paralympics, where it won 19 medals, including five gold.Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time Paralympics gold medalist in javelin throw, expressed confidence in the team's abilities. "The target of 25 medals is based on our current contingent of 84 players. Pramod Bhagat is not included in this," Jhajharia said.While Bhagat's suspension for breaching the BWF's anti-doping whereabouts clause is a setback, Jhajharia believes the team has the potential to overcome this challenge. "Pramod being a gold medal winner of the last Games not being in the Indian team is extremely sad and unfortunate, but we cannot do anything," he said.Jhajharia's confidence stems from the team's rigorous training and preparation. "I have kept this target after closely monitoring our players," he said. "We have worked hard on their physical fitness and mental strength."The Indian contingent includes 47 new players, who are eager to make their mark on the Paralympic stage. Jhajharia expects the highest medal haul from the athletics team, which comprises 38 track and field athletes."Each and every player of our contingent is a medal prospect," Jhajharia said. "We have 38 track and field athletes and I am expecting the most medals from them."The Indian team will also compete in Blind Judo, Para Sailing, and Para Cycling for the first time, expanding its presence in various sports. Jhajharia believes this increased participation will contribute to the team's overall medal tally."I have set a target of 25 medals and to be in the top 20 in the medal table, but we will win more medals than this," Jhajharia said. "We had 56 players in the Tokyo Paralympics, this time 84 players will compete."With a strong contingent and a determined spirit, the Indian Paralympic team is poised to make a significant impact in Paris and bring glory to the nation.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set his sights on hosting the 2036 Olympic Games in India. In his Independence Day speech, he called upon Indian athletes to provide their insights and recommendations for the smooth hosting of the quadrennial extravaganza.The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has already initiated discussions with the Future Host Commission (FHC) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The FHC is responsible for evaluating potential host cities and making recommendations to the IOC Executive Board.PM Modi invited the entire Indian contingent from the Paris Olympics to join him for Independence Day celebrations at his residence in New Delhi. He emphasized the importance of their input, stating, "India is preparing to host the 2036 Olympics. In this regard, the input from athletes who have played in previous Olympics is very important."He urged the athletes to share their observations and experiences from previous Games, highlighting the need to document their insights and share them with the government. "We want to document this and share it with the government so that we don't miss out on any small details in the preparation for 2036," he said.PM Modi referred to the Indian contingent as an integral part of his "2036 team" and asked the sports ministry to draft a document and thoroughly consider player comments and suggestions. "In this way, you are an important part of my 2036 team, helping us host an Olympics like no other in the world," he added.He also encouraged the athletes to provide suggestions on how to improve Indian sports further. "Your feedback and suggestions are very important because it's your responsibility to guide those who will represent the country in the future," he said.The IOC's host selection process is rigorous and involves a detailed evaluation of potential host cities. The FHC engages in a dialogue with interested National Olympic Committees (NOCs), which progresses from a continuous dialogue to a targeted dialogue with selected NOCs.Once the FHC completes its evaluation, the IOC Executive Board holds an election to award the hosting rights for the Olympic Games.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious goal for India: to host the Olympics in 2036. During his Independence Day speech on Thursday, PM Modi announced that preparations are already underway for this grand event.India's Olympic aspirations are not unfounded. The country has proven its ability to host major international events, such as the G20 Summit. PM Modi expressed confidence that India has the infrastructure and capabilities to successfully organize the Olympics.The Prime Minister congratulated the Indian athletes who represented the nation at the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024. He also extended his best wishes to the contingent of athletes traveling to the upcoming Paralympics.India's Paralympic team is expected to continue the country's impressive performance in the Games. At the Tokyo Paralympics, India won 19 medals, while at the Para Asian Games, the team secured a historic 111 medals.For the Paris Paralympics, India has fielded its largest-ever contingent of 84 athletes. They will compete in 12 sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, canoeing, cycling, blind judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and taekwondo.PM Modi's announcement has been met with enthusiasm by sports enthusiasts and the general public. India's hosting of the Olympics would be a significant milestone in the country's sporting history and a testament to its growing global stature.The allotment of hosting rights for the Summer Games is a rigorous process conducted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). India will need to submit a detailed bid and undergo a thorough evaluation by the IOC's Future Host Commission.If India's bid is successful, it will be the first time the country has hosted the Olympics. The event would provide a major boost to India's sports infrastructure and inspire a new generation of athletes.

The rivalry between India and Pakistan, once confined to hockey, has found a new battleground in javelin throw. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India's Neeraj Chopra emerged victorious, while Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem missed out on a medal. However, in Paris 2024, the tables turned.Nadeem shattered the Olympic record to claim gold, while Chopra, despite an impressive throw of 89.45m, could only manage silver. To surpass Nadeem's throw, Chopra would have needed to break his own personal best and cross the 90m mark, a feat he has yet to achieve.Despite the disappointment, Chopra's performance was lauded by Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra. Bindra acknowledged the immense pressure on Chopra, who was expected to deliver gold. "He performed admirably," Bindra said. "A lot of expectations were on him. It's not easy to be in that spot, but he delivered."Bindra also highlighted the challenges of performing at the Olympics. "The Olympics is a very, very hard platform to perform at," he said. "There's external expectations, and you also have internal expectations, that just doesn't allow you to let go."Athletes need a certain level of freedom to perform at their best, but that is often difficult to achieve at the Olympics. "Performance sometimes is almost artistic in nature," Bindra explained. "That's where you almost have to allow it to happen. And the ability to let go is very difficult."Despite the challenges, Chopra's silver medal is a testament to his talent and determination. He has proven himself to be a formidable competitor, and the rivalry with Nadeem is sure to continue in the years to come.

India's performance at the Paris Olympics, while marked by some notable achievements, also highlighted the need for a comprehensive system to foster sporting excellence. Despite Manu Bhaker's medals and Neeraj Chopra's silver, India's overall medal tally of six (including four bronze) fell short of expectations.The post-Games analysis has focused on the failure to win more medals, but it is crucial to examine the methods available in India to ensure sporting success. A clear pathway and system must be established to identify, nurture, and develop young athletes.Australia's national swimming squad provides a model for such a system. They establish relationships with clubs and states, identifying talent early and providing them with specialized training and support. They focus on stroke-specific development and seek athletes with a competitive mindset.India's lack of a comprehensive system was evident in the case of Vinesh Phogat, whose weight management issues marred her Olympic hopes. The absence of accountability and responsibility for such failures is a major concern.The boxing federation also faced challenges due to coaching issues, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in sports administration.While national camps and exposure trips are important, they are not sufficient. Athletes like Jeswin Aldrin and Shaili Singh have struggled despite their talent, indicating a lack of options for athletes to seek alternative coaching or training environments.The Indian men's hockey team's bronze medal demonstrated the importance of fitness, discipline, and teamwork. However, India needs to develop systems that consistently produce champions to make bidding for the 2036 Olympics meaningful.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the men's javelin final witnessed a historic moment as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem claimed gold with a record-breaking throw of 92.97m, while India's Neeraj Chopra secured silver with 89.45m. This 1-2 finish marked a rare triumph for both nations in athletics at the Olympics.World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who witnessed the event, acknowledged the significance of this achievement. "There was some bragging rights," he said, referring to the friendly rivalry between India and Pakistan. "It's absolutely fantastic, also because it was a sumptuous competition."Coe noted that Nadeem's victory shattered the Olympic record and surpassed the gold-winning mark in Tokyo. He also recalled a conversation with Chopra, who had expressed confidence in his ability to win in Paris. However, Nadeem's exceptional performance proved to be a formidable challenge.Chopra, despite his silver medal, expressed joy for Nadeem's historic achievement. Both athletes have played a pivotal role in elevating the profile of athletics in their respective countries.Coe emphasized the global reach of athletics, stating that the sport is becoming increasingly popular in both track and field events. He highlighted the importance of India as a market and talent hub for World Athletics."India is an important market for us," Coe said. "It's great to know that young people are talking about athletics now as well. And recognising that cricket is not the only game in town."The historic 1-2 finish by India and Pakistan in the men's javelin final at the Paris Olympics serves as a testament to the growing global presence of athletics and the potential for the sport to inspire and unite nations.

The Asian Tour is poised to make a grand return to India in 2025, bringing one of its prestigious International Series (IS) events to the country. This exciting development was hinted at during the International Series England at Foxhills Golf Club, where Asian Tour officials expressed their enthusiasm for a return to the Indian market.Rahul Singh, Head of International Series, confirmed that advanced talks are underway with a golf course and a sponsor. He emphasized that the Tour is committed to bringing an IS tournament to India next year, but stressed the importance of securing all necessary contracts before making an official announcement.India remains a crucial market for the Asian Tour, with a significant number of Indian professionals holding Tour memberships. However, the formation of an association between the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and the DP World Tour has reduced the number of Asian Tour events in India.Despite these challenges, the Asian Tour is determined to return to India in a sustainable and commercially viable manner. Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner of the Asian Tour, stated that the Tour is not interested in funding tournaments on its own. Instead, it seeks partnerships with local sponsors and venues to ensure the long-term success of IS events in India.The proposed LIV Golf schedule for 2025 will also play a role in the Asian Tour's plans. The Tour has strategically scheduled IS events close to LIV tournaments and in nearby countries to attract top players from the Saudi Arabia-backed league.Singh acknowledged the importance of LIV Golf to the Asian Tour's strategy. He emphasized that the partnership provides playing opportunities for LIV members and contributes to the growth of the IS.The remaining six IS events will form an exciting conclusion to the Asian Tour season, culminating in the $5 million PIF Saudi International. This tournament will crown both the International Series Ranking winner and the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.

Aman Sehrawat's bronze medal victory in the men's 57kg freestyle wrestling event at the Olympics has brought some respite to the Indian contingent amidst controversies. The 21-year-old U-23 world champion lived up to expectations, defeating Darian Toi Cruz of Puerto Rico 13-5 in the bronze play-off.Sehrawat's triumph ensures that India's streak of winning at least one wrestling medal at every Olympics since 2008 remains intact. Sushil Kumar (2008), Yogeshwar Dutt (2012), Sakshi Malik (2016), Ravi Dahiya, and Bajrang Punia (2021) have all contributed to this impressive run.Sehrawat's victory also marks India's sixth medal at the Tokyo Games, bringing the country closer to matching its tally of seven from the previous edition. However, the Indian wrestling contingent has been marred by controversies, including the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the gold-medal bout due to being overweight and the deportation of Antim Panghal for using her sister's accreditation card.Sehrawat's journey to the bronze medal was not without its challenges. He faced a tough test in the semifinals against Japan's Rei Higuchi, but he had earlier stormed into the last four without conceding a single point.The Indian wrestler's success is a testament to his hard work and dedication. Having lost his parents at a young age, Sehrawat found solace in the Chhatrasal stadium, where he honed his skills under the guidance of renowned coaches. The same stadium has produced four other Olympic medalists for India, including Sushil Kumar and Bajrang Punia.Sehrawat's victory is a source of inspiration for aspiring wrestlers in India. It demonstrates that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible.