117 athletes to carry India’s hopes at the Paris Olympics

India to send 117 athletes to Paris Olympics with increased support staff, including sports science personnel for the first time.

As many as 117 athletes from 16 disciplines and a bigger number of support staff — 140 in all — will represent India in the Paris Olympics.

In comparison to the pandemic-affected Tokyo Games, where the country’s women’s hockey team played, India was represented by a 228-strong contingent, including 127 athletes.

Shot putter Abha Khatua’s name was not there in the list even though she made the cut through world rankings. It was not clear what was the reason behind her omission.

This time, the addition of sports science personnel has also contributed to the increase of the support staff number.

“The athletes are at the centre of our planning and preparations. Instead of the usual 3:1 ratio between athletes and support staff, we have worked hard to change it to slightly better than 1:1 ratio,” said Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P.T. Usha.

“For the first time, a 13-member sports science team under Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala will be in Paris to provide support,” Usha said, adding that a recovery centre would be there in the Athletes’ Village.

Usha said she would ensure there were no delays in any athletes’ non-accredited support staff getting their visas. She promised to take up the case of 53kg World championships bronze medallist wrestler Antim Panghal’s coach Bhagat Singh, physiotherapist Heera and sparring partner Vikas with the France embassy.