Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra to lead India's 28-member squad in the mega event
Xtra Time Web Desk: India has named a 28-member athletics team for the Paris Olympics, headlined by javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the Tokyo Games gold medallist and reigning world champion. Chopra has decided to skip the last Diamond League in Paris to prepare for the Olympics. The team includes 17 men and 11 women athletes, with prominent names like Asian Games champions Avinash Sable and Tajinderpal Singh Toor, as well as sprint hurdler Jyothi Yarraji.
Jeswin Aldrin, a top Indian long jumper, is expected to join the team after the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) confirms M Sreeshankar's withdrawal due to injury. Aldrin, currently ranked 33rd in the World Athletics ranking quota list, will likely secure a spot as 32 athletes compete in the men's long jump event.
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Jyothi Yarraji will become the first Indian 100m hurdler to compete in the Olympics, and shot putter Abha Khatua also made the team through world rankings. High jumper Sarvesh Anil Kushare, who won gold at the National Inter-State Championships, has been selected as well.
The men's 4x400m relay team, featuring Muhammed Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, and Rajesh Ramesh, will be closely watched after their impressive performance at the last World Championships. In the women's 4x400m relay, Vithya Ramraj, MR Poovamma, and Prachi were selected based on trials at the National Inter-State Championships. The track and field competition at the Paris Olympics will take place from August 1 to August 11 at the Stade de France.
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The Team:
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).
