India’s Baby Olympians at Paris: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Antim Panghal, Sift Kaur Samra, Sreeja Akula – first-timers who could win big at 2024 Games

With the Olympics just around the corner, India has its fair share of medal contenders with names like Neeraj Chopra, Satwik-Chirag and Nikhat Zareen already established as big time forces. But there are athletes in the contingent who might turn out to be the next big thing in the annals of Indian sporting history.

Here, we look at the emerging sportspersons who might steal the limelight from the more established names with impressive performances if not medals:

Sift Kaur Samra (Shooting): Samra, who will be debuting in this Olympics, will be one of India’s medal hopes in shooting. A reigning Asian Games gold medallist and world record holder in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions, she will be looking to continue her hot streak in Paris. The gold medal at Hangzhou was also India’s first-ever individual shooting Asiad gold medal in 3-position so she already has a penchant for making history though she will go up against razor-sharp Chinese rivals. At the Asian Games, she claimed the lead after the third series in the final, and never gave up thereafter, winning the gold by a margin of more than seven points over then reigning world champion, Zhang Qiongyue of China.

Esha Singh (Shooting): Another strong contender for a shooting medal is Esha Singh, the 19-year-old pistol shooter from Hyderabad. Despite being so young, Singh has already won silver in individual category and gold in team category at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. A national champion beating the likes of Manu Bhaker and Heena Sidhu when she was just 13, she was also a gold medallist in the 2022 Junior World Championships in 25m air pistol event. In January, she won India’s 15th Paris Olympics quota with a gold medal in the women’s 10m Air Pistol final in the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Jakarta. However she made the team for sports pistol – 25 metre pistol from the trials.

Dhiraj Bommadevara (Archery): The 23-year-old Dhiraj from Andhra Pradesh is another name to look out for in this Olympics with a silver medal in men’s recurve team at the Asian Games already in his kitty. He was also the first person to secure the country a quota for the Paris Olympics in individual recurve last November at the Archery Continental Qualifying Tournament, but primarily raises hopes of a men’s team medal. He also won bronze medals in World Cup stages in 2023 and 2024. Known for his adaptability in adverse windy conditions, the armyman is known for his steady temperament in pressure situations.

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. She will feature in 200m freestyle.

Reetika Hooda (Wrestling): Last April, Reetika became the first from India to book a quota in the heaviest Olympic weight class (76kg) for women which makes her one of the brightest prospects heading into Paris representing the wrestling contingent. Following the footsteps of Sakshi Malik, a Rio Olympics bronze medalist, who is also from Rohtak, Reetika had joined the centre at the Sir Chotu Ram Stadium, Malik’s alma mater. Now, she’ll hope to replicate the success that Malik had on the big stage.

Sreeja Akula (Table tennis): A pretty familiar name to people who follow table tennis, Akula is one of the top prospects to bring in a maiden Olympic medal in TT from Paris. India’s No.1 ranked paddler has had an eventful 8 months leading up to the Olympics, becoming the first Indian to win a WTT tournament when she won at the Corpus Christi Feeder tournament, to beating a top Chinese player, to adding another WTT title. She is also a Commonwealth Games gold medallist in mixed doubles alongside Sharath Kamal.

Antim Panghal (Wrestling): With a list of accolades already to her name, Panghal is the most recognizable athlete in this list and it’ll be surprising to many that she will just be making her Olympics debut in 2024. A two-time Under-20 world champion wrestler and an Asian Games, Asian Championships and senior world wrestling championships medal winner, it feels as if Panghal has been at her craft for decades. Truth is, she is just 19 years of age and has her whole career in front of her with the sky being the limit for the prodigy from Haryana, who staked claim to the 53 kg spot held by renowned Vinesh Phogat.

Raj Kumar Pal (Hockey): Young Indian midfielder Raj Kumar Pal will be hoping to make an impact for the Indian men’s team after failing to get into the Tokyo Olympics squad the last time the Olympics rolled into town. The player has made over 50 appearances for India and has been an integral part in their bronze medal winning performances at the Asia Cup in Jakarta in 2022 and the Asian Champions trophy in Dhaka in 2021. Last time in Tokyo, India had won the bronze and this time, Raj Kumar and the team will be aiming for an upgrade. Craig Fulton opted for the midfielder for his 1v1 elimination skills, and a dash of creativity he brings over someone steadier like Nilakanta Sharma.

Tulika Maan (Judo): Maan is India’s lone judoka in this Olympics with the 25-year-old looking to win India’s first ever medal in judo at the Olympics. Last time in Tokyo, Sushila Devi Likmabam was India’s lone judoka and she could not get past the first round but Maan, a Commonwealth Games 2022 silver medallist, might have a better chance of going further.

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