Even though they are just starting out, the youthful glory-chasers have the potential to cause quite a commotion in the days to come.
India boasts a strong roster of medal contenders for the upcoming Olympics, including well-known athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Satwik-Chirag, and Nikhat Zareen. However, there are sportsmen in the group that have the potential to become the next big thing in Indian sports history.
Here, we examine the up-and-coming athletes who have the potential to dethrone more well-known athletes by putting on standout performances, if not medals:
Sift Kaur Samra:
Samra, who is making her Olympic debut, is one of India’s medal prospects in the shooting competition. She holds the world record for the women’s 50-meter rifle three positions and is the current Asian Games gold champion. She will be hoping to keep up her winning ways in Paris. Even though she would be up against incisive Chinese competitors, the gold medal she won in Hangzhou also marked India’s first-ever individual shooting Asiad gold medal in 3-position. She took the lead at the Asian Games following the third series in the championship match.
Esha Singh:
The 19-year-old Hyderabadi pistol shooter Esha Singh is another serious medal candidate. Singh has already won gold in the team category and silver in the individual category at the Hangzhou Asian Games in spite of his tender age. At the age of 13, she defeated prominent competitors such as Manu Bhaker and Heena Sidhu to become the national champion. She also won the gold medal in the 25-meter air pistol event at the 2022 Junior World Championships. She earned a gold medal in the women’s 10m Air Pistol final at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Jakarta in January, earning India its 15th Paris Olympics quota.
Dhiraj Bommadevara (Archery):
At the age of 23, Andhra Pradesh native Dhiraj is a competitor to watch in 2018 Olympics. He already has an Asian Games silver medal under his belt from the men’s recurve team. At the Archery Continental Qualifying Tournament in November of last year, he was the first person to guarantee the nation a quota for the Paris Olympics in individual recurve, but his main accomplishment raises hopes for a men’s team medal. In 2023 and 2024, he also took home bronze medals at World Cup competitions.
Preeti Sai Pawar (Boxing):
Among the more celebrated names in boxing like Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, Preeti Sai Pawar is someone who might pass under the radar sometimes but the boxer who will be representing India in the bantamweight category is someone you need to keep an eye on. An Asian Games bronze medallist, she had secured her Paris ticket after entering the semifinals at Hangzhou. A diminutive boxer, she would look to carry on the legacy of Bhiwani, a boxing hotbed. She comes from a family of wrestlers and kabbaddi players.
Dhinidhi Desinghu (Swimming):
Dhinidhi is the youngest member of the Indian contingent going to Paris at just 14 years old and she is expected to gain experience from the big event. She has won medals at the National Games and the senior National championships last year and is also the top ranked Indian female swimmer after good performances this year.
