Top 10 Paris-bound athletes who received biggest funding support in India's Paris Olympics cycle

Published at :July 25, 2024 at 2:02 PM

Modified at :July 25, 2024 at 3:03 PM

Four shooters are featured in the top 10.

As India sends its contingent to the Paris 2024 Olympics, a group of athletes has emerged as the nation’s primary medal prospects, backed by substantial financial support. These competitors, spanning various sports from athletics to shooting and badminton, represent India’s strongest chances for Olympic glory.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 athletes who have received the most significant funding during India’s preparation for the Paris Olympics Games:

10. Rohan Bopanna

Total Funding: 1.56 crores

Rohan Bopanna, at 44, is going strong to represent India in tennis in the men’s doubles discipline with Sriram Balaji.

Bopanna received key government interventions while traveling to major tournaments as well as assistance for hiring a foreign coach and physiotherapist.

9. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar

Total Funding: 1.56 crores

Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, 23 is the reigning world university champion who is set to represent India in the men’s 50m 3p rifle event.

He received key government interventions, including assistance towards training camps and participation in ISSF World Cups, Asian Championships and different International and national competitions.

8. Sift Kaur Samra

Total Funding: 1.63 crores

Sift Kaur Samra, 22 from Punjab is the reigning Asian champion with a world record. She received key government interventions, including assistance for procurement of ammunition.

7. Manu Bhaker

Total Funding: 1.68 crores

Manu Bhaker is the reigning world and Asian champion (in team), set to represent India in three categories, 10m pistol, 25m pistol, 10m mixed pistol events.

She received key government interventions, including assistance towards weapon servicing, air pellets, ammunition testing and barrel selection as well as for training in Germany with a personal coach.

6. Anish Bhanwala

Total Funding: 2.42 crores

Anish Bhanwala, the Commonwealth champion, 21 from Karnal is set to represent India in the 25m rapid pistol event.

He received key government interventions, including assistance towards ammunition support and assistance for foreign training and exposure in Germany with a personal coach.

5. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu

Total Funding: 2.74 crores

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist will be representing India in 49kg category in weightlifting. She received key government interventions, including assistance towards international training at SQUAT University, USA from May 12 to 21, 2023 as well as towards the procurement of bio-mechanical equipment for monitoring her training and rehabilitation programs in December 2023.

Further financial assistance was received towards services of Dr. Aaron Horschig in the pre-Olympics training camp and for a 28-day foreign training camp for pre-Olympic Games weather acclimatization.

4. Pusarla Venkata Sindhu

Total Funding: 3.13 crores

Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, the double Olympic medalist is going for her third one at the Paris Olympics. She received key government interventions, including assistance towards hiring of current foreign coach – Agus Dwi Santoso from 1st January 2024 to 31st August 2024.

3. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy – Chirag Shetty

Total Funding: 5.62 crores

Satwik-Chirag, the reigning Asian Games champions are all set to hoist the tricolour on French soil. They received key government interventions, including assistance towards appointment and extension of tenure of their doubles coach – Mathias Boe and assistance for hiring a video analyst.

2. Neeraj Chopra

Total Funding: 5.72 crores

The reigning world and Olympic champion, the 26-year-old from Haryana will be in action to defend his title at Paris 2024. He received key government interventions, including assistance towards hiring of current foreign coach Dr Klaus Bartonietz as well as assistance towards foreign training and competitions in Europe, USA and South Africa.

1. Indian men’s hockey team

Total Funding: 41.81 crores

The Indian hockey team which brought back glory after 41 years of drought, this time in Paris they’ll be chasing for the elusive gold medal to regain India’s dominance in hockey.

They received key government interventions, including assistance towards 19 foreign training camps and test matches against Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium. Further assistance was provided for the procurement of gym and training equipment of over Rs 4.17 crores for the national camp. It also includes specialist trainers for drag-flickers, penalty-corner specialists and goalkeepers.

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