Top five Indian athletes who are making their final Olympic appearance in Paris

India has sent a total of 117 athletes for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sportspersons would say that there is nothing bigger than representing the nation. Millions dream to be the ones to win for the country and in a nation like India, the competition is among billions. The cherry on top of the cake is representing India at the Olympics and 117 Paris-bound Indians have got the opportunity to do so.

Sportspersons live for a short period and their careers are even shorter, but the legacies they create live on forever. These 117 athletes and their performances in the next fortnight could build their legacy for decades. Coming to the Paris Olympics, a few athletes will be representing India at the Olympics for the final time. Let’s look at the top five Indians who might be wearing the Olympic jersey for one final time.

5. Tarundeep Rai

At 40-years-old, Tarundeep Rai is a master in archery. It’s a sport in which India has a rich history, but an Olympic medal is still elusive. Tarundeep will be one of six archers who will be aiming to hit the target and break the jinx. This summer’s Olympics in Paris will be his fourth. Rai competed in his first Olympics in 2004 in Athens.

The Sikkim archer holds two silver medals from the World Championships as well as three gold and six silver medals from the World Cups. The 40-year-old has won a plethora of medals at the Asian Games, Asian Archery Championships, Asia Cup, Commonwealth Games (CWG) and South Asian Federation Games. The subedar in the Indian Army would want to add an Olympic medal in what might be his last Olympics.

4. Ashwini Ponappa

Ashwini Ponappa is a known name in badminton circles along with her former senior teammate Jwala Gutta, as the pair were Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games champions. But, a decade later, Ashwini is now a senior compatriot and will be partnering with another youngster who is 13 years younger than her in Tanisha Crasto, to achieve the Olympic dream.

Not long ago, Ashwini surprised everyone by taking a break from the sport after the 2022 World Championships. Talk about her retirement started doing the rounds, but the 34-year-old silenced the critics by not only making a comeback but also spearheading the Olympic dream. It could well be her last Olympics, but the twin Commonwealth Games champion would want to make it memorable.

ALSO READ: Full list of badminton players who have been flag-bearers at Summer Olympics

3. PR Sreejesh

Sreejesh has earned the nickname “The Wall” for his outstanding work as the men’s hockey team’s goalkeeper. The Tokyo Olympics witnessed it when he made an outstanding save in the final minutes to end India’s 41-year wait for a hockey Olympic medal. The Kerala-born hockey player, considered one of the top goalkeepers of his generation will compete in his fourth Olympics at age 36.

Making his debut in 2006 and wearing the Indian colours for 328 matches, Sreejesh and the Indian hockey team have won gold at the Asian Games, the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy and silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. India are one of the contenders in hockey and it would be a fitting tribute for Sreejesh to end his Olympic career on a high, probably with a gold.

#2 Achanta Sharath Kamal

In the last two decades, whenever India went to the Olympics, there was one man who was on the probable medal contenders’ list. Sharath Kamal has been carrying the hopes of table tennis for the last 20 years and in a fitting tribute the Indian Olympic Association has honoured him by picking him to carry the nation’s flag during the opening eremony of the 2022 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The Chennai boy is currently 41-years-old, but Kamal’s dedication to the sport is so strong that he is still pushing himself to improve. The legend is presently rated 38th in the entire globe. He’ll be competing in the men’s team event as well as the men’s singles. Having won medals in all other quadrennial events, he deserves to add an Olympic medal to his CV and Paris could probably be his last chance.

1. Rohan Bopanna

Not sure if Rohan Bopanna has read Walter Pitkin’s book “Life Begins at Forty,” but he is surely living one. Bopanna is the oldest player to win the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open this year and the oldest player to be ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles. After winning the Miami Open this year, the tennis player went on to become the oldest ATP Masters 1000 finalist and winner.

Bopanna, 44, will probably compete in his final Olympic Games in Paris. Bopanna competed for India as a representative at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, but an injury kept him out of the Tokyo Olympics. He will be partnering with N. Sriram Balaji. Having done great things this year, it won’t be surprising if he could pull it off one more in his final push at the Olympics.

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