AFI announces 28-member squad for Paris Olympics 2024; Jeswin Aldrin, DP Manu miss out

The Paris Olympics 2024 is scheduled to begin in just a few days. India has been preparing in full swing for the mega-event, which will commence on July 26 and go on until August 11, 2024.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced a 28-member team for the track and field events in Paris. Shortlisted by the AFI selection panel for the Paris Olympics 2024, the athletics team includes India's 26-year-old Olympic and world champion in men's javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra.

The 28-member Indian athletics contingent is split into male and female athletes. It includes as many as 11 female athletes. The track and field competitions for the Paris Olympics 2024 will be conducted at the Stade de France Stadium in Paris between August 1 to August 11.

The team includes some key names such as Avinash Sable, Kishore Kumar Jena, and Akshdeep Singh among others in the men's category while the likes of Kiran Pahal, Jyothi Yarraji, and Parul Chaudhary are some names in the women's category.

This list includes athletes who gained direct qualification as well as those who qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 via their world ranking quota.

Kiran Pahal, however, has been left out of the relay team as AFI decided to stick to its policy of not including national campers. Having qualified through the world rankings, javelin thrower DP Manu also failed to make the cut after being suspended provisionally for doping.

Rajesh Ramesh, who did not take part in a single individual 400m race this year due to injury, is now fit and has been included as well.

Additionally, World Athletics has also introduced a marathon race walk mixed relay event at the Paris Games. On the other hand, the men's 50km race walk has been excluded from the Olympics programme this time around.

---

28-member Indian athletics squad for Paris Olympics 2024

Here is the complete 28-member athletics squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics as announced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) selection panel.

Men:

Men: Avinash Sable (3,000m steeplechase), Neeraj Chopra, Kishore Kumar Jena (javelin throw), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker (triple jump), Sarvesh Kushare (high jump), Akshdeep Singh, Vikash Singh, Paramjeet Singh Bisht (20km race walk), Muhammed Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, Santhosh Tamilarasan, Rajesh Ramesh, Mijo Chacko Kurian (4x400m relay), Suraj Panwar (race walk mixed marathon).

Women:

Kiran Pahal (400m), Parul Chaudhary (3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m), Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Abha Khatua (shot put), Jyothika Sri Dandi, Subha Venkatesan, Vithya Ramraj, Poovamma MR, Prachi (4x400m relay), Priyanka Goswami (20km race walk/ race walk mixed marathon).