IOA publishes list of 117 athletes, 140 support staff for Olympics; shot putter Abha Khatua missing

IOA publishes list of 117 athletes, 140 support staff for Olympics; shot putter Abha Khatua missing

Vartha Bharati | 07/17/2024 | 12:07:00 IST

Image credit: PTI

New Delhi (PTI): India will be represented by 117 athletes at the Paris Olympics this month. The Sports Ministry has approved the final roster, which also includes 140 support staff and officials. Of these, 72 have been approved at “government expense” to meet the “requirements” of the travelling athletes.

The only qualified athlete missing from the list is shot putter Abha Khatua. The Games will be held from July 26 to August 11.

Khatua, who was ranked world number one, was removed from the list without explanation after her name disappeared from the World Athletics list of Olympic participants a few days ago.

There is no word yet whether her name was removed from the list due to injury, a doping violation or some other technical issue.

The rest of the contingent that has been released is on the expected lines with bronze medal-winning former London Olympics shooter Gagan Narang as the chef-de-mission. Narang is also the vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

“The permitted limit for the stay of support staff at the Games Village against accreditation as per the standards of the Paris Organizing Committee for the 2024 Olympic Games is 67, including 11 1OA contingent officials, including five members of the medical team,” said a letter from the ministry to IOA chairman PT Usha, explaining the ratio of permitted support staff based on the size of the contingent.

“To cater to the needs of the athletes, 72 additional coaches and other support staff have been approved at government expense. Arrangements have also been made for their accommodation in hotels/locations outside the Games Village,” the report said.

Despite Khatua’s absence, athletics and hockey form the largest group with 29 names (11 women and 18 men), followed by shooting (21) and hockey (19).

Table tennis is represented by eight players, while badminton (7) has seven participants, including two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu.

Wrestling (6), archery (6) and boxing (6) each have six representatives, followed by golf (4), tennis (3), swimming (2), sailing (2) and one each for equestrian, judo, rowing and weightlifting.

The shooting team, which is the second largest, consists of 11 women and 10 men, while table tennis has four players each in both categories.

Mirabai Chanu, silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, is the only weightlifter in the contingent and competes in the women’s class up to 49 kg.

At the Tokyo Olympics, India was represented by a contingent of 119 members and the country achieved its best ever performance with seven medals, including the historic gold in javelin throw by Neeraj Chopra. Chopra will defend his medal in Paris.

In addition, there will be 21 contingents, 11 of which will be based at the Games Village, including Narang, two deputy chiefs of mission, a press officer, two headquarters officials and five members of the medical team.

The remaining 10 officials (eight members of the medical team, a social media officer and a team official) will be accommodated in hotels outside the Games Village, the cost of which will be borne by the government.

The shooting department (18) will have the largest number of support staff, including one High Performance Director and six coaches, who will be based at the Games Village, while the remaining 11 (four coaches, four physiotherapists, two psychologists, one strength and conditioning expert) will stay in hotels.

Athletics will have 17 support staff, followed by wrestling (12), boxing (11), hockey (10), table tennis (9), badminton (9), golf (7), equestrian (5), archery (4), sailing (4), weightlifting (4), tennis (3), swimming (2) and judo (1).

The ministry’s letter further stated that Air Commodore Prashant Arya, Air Force Attaché at the Indian Embassy in Paris, will be the Olympic Attaché. He will be accredited and will visit the Games Village and competition venues to resolve any issues that require the embassy’s assistance and intervention.

The golf competition will be held at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, about 42 km from Paris. To ensure smooth travel and practice arrangements, the Indian golf contingent will be staying at a hotel near the venue instead of the Games Village.

“…at the request of the golfers and the Indian Golf Union, arrangements have been made for accommodation for members of the golf team, including players, coaches, physiotherapists and caddies, at a hotel near the competition venue,” the ministry said in its letter.

To prevent doping problems in Paris, the government has asked the IOA and the associations concerned to take appropriate measures.

“The IOA, SAI, National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the concerned national sports federations may take appropriate measures for conducting doping tests. The IOA may also ensure the fitness of the team/individual athlete prior to their departure,” the report said.

In addition, the Paris organizing committee will provide three driverless cars for the Indian contingent.

“The Indian Embassy in Paris has been requested to assist in identification and temporary employment of these drivers,” the ministry’s letter said.

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