As we inch closer to the 2024 Paris Olympics, ESPN India continues to take a closer a look at the top ten prospects/hopes for an Indian medal at the Games: how they are faring and what their current status is as they prepare for the big event. Here, we track how the athletes are doing 70 days out from the start of the Olympics:
Neeraj Chopra
The reigning Olympic and world champion has started his season. In his opener, he finished second in the Doha Diamond League, throwing a solid 88.36m, just 2 cm behind winner Jakub Vadlejch. He then had an unexpected pitstop in India, throwing at the Federation Cup on May 15, just five days after competing at Doha.
Expectedly, he didn't go at 100% but made sure he put in enough intensity to win in his first event on home soil since the Tokyo Olympics. And in doing so, he reminded all of us that he is still a man of the people.
It's Neeraj Chopra's world, and he keeps us all part of it
Mirabai Chanu
With 70 days to go, Mirabai Chanu is training at about 70% of her usual intensity as she targets complete physical recovery by Paris.
"I'm looking at a 90kg lift in the snatch and around 115kg+ in the clean and jerk. I think a total of over 200kgs should be good for a medal and I am targeting 205-207kgs," she told ESPN as she continues her training at the SAI Centre in Patiala.
Mirabai Chanu sets marker for Paris Olympics medal: 205-207kg
Path to Paris: Mirabai Chanu goes back to basics for a shot at second Olympic medal
Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh Phogat won an Olympic quota last month, in the 50kg (her usual weight category is the 53kg where Antim Panghal had already won a quota much earlier) and now awaits communication from the Wrestling Federation of India on the date and venue of any potential trials ahead of the Olympics (quotas are won by the country, the federation can decide who to send to represent the country).
P.S: Six quotas have been won by women wrestlers, only one by an Indian man. That's Aman Sehrawat in the 57kg, and if reigning Olympic silver medalist Ravi Dahiya is to compete in Paris, he would need to defeat Aman if/when a trial is head. Meanwhile, reigning Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia will not be going to the Games since a quota was not won in the 65kg.
Vinesh Phogat's Paris Olympics quota: Why it's more than just a big sporting moment
Sift Kaur Samra
In what turned out to be a closely fought shooting trials to decide who represents India at the Olympics, Sift Kaur Samra firmly established her pole position. She won the first two trials for the women's 50m 3P held last month, and finished second (to Anjum Moudgil) in the third trial (of four) held a couple of days ago. But after T4 qualification rounds on Friday, she returned a splendid 593, she has ensures she will finish in the Top 2 irrespective of the result of the finals on Saturday.
The final trial, and subsequent announcement of squad will be done later this month.
Aditi Ashok
Aditi Ashok's latest outing saw her finish tied 35th in the Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey, an improvement after finishing tied 66th and tied 62nd in her previous two tournaments. She continues to show signs of progress as she heads into the home stretch ahead of the big Games.
With improved driving abilities and measured accuracy being her forte, Aditi will be a different prospect at the Paris Olympics - where the course plays to her strengths.
Path to Paris: Aditi Ashok has form and experience, can she shake off big-event bogey?
Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen continues to be part of the boxing contingent that is camping outside India - shuffling between training camps and competitions. Currently competing at the Elorda Cup in Kazhakstan, the two-time world champion has breezed into the final of the women's 52kg. This underlines the consistency that's being maintained through the camp.
Path to Paris: Why Nikhat Zareen wants that Olympic medal - and has a good shot at it
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy - Chirag Shetty
After a disappointing Thomas Cup, where the defending champions were knocked out in the quarters, the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have returned to action on the BWF Tour, at the Thailand Open. They've breezed through to the semifinals, fortifying their credentials as the top seeds and should be title favourites in an open, depleted men's doubles field at the Super 500 event.
Path to Paris: After historic 2023, 'hungry' Sat-Chi embrace pressure, master the mind games
PV Sindhu
PV Sindhu After a semi-successful European leg where she reached the quarters at the French Open and the Madrid Masters, PV Sindhu has been on a break as she continues her path to 100% physical fitness. She missed the Uber Cup - where India were knocked out in the quarters without her - but she will now return to action next week at the Malaysia Masters. She's slated to take on Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour in the first round on May 21.
Men's hockey team
The hockey team have been in a long camp after a humbling tour of Australia as coach Craig Fulton continues to drive home the importance of control over chaos.
They will be in action soon, though, with Pro League action starting May 22, when they take on Argentina in Antwerp. They will then take on hosts Belgium on May 24 and 25, before facing Argentina again on May 26. June will then see them travel to London to face Germany and Great Britain.
Path to Paris: Indian hockey picks control over chaos in bid for Olympic glory
Lovlina Borgohain
Currently training in Turkey, the reigning world champion and Olympic bronze medalist continues to perfect her technique in this new weight category she's moved to (75kg).
Asian Games: Lovlina loses final but wins Olympics berth and validates her weight switch