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Two female athletes from the Indian Armed Forces will take the field at the Paris Olympics 2024, marking the first time women service athletes have represented India in the Olympics. Boxer Havildar Jaismine Lamboria and wrestler CPO Reetika Hooda have been selected as part of the 24-member armed forces athletes contingent in Paris, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release.
Both the Olympic debutants have previously tasted success. Jaismine Lamboria, who competes in the lightweight boxing category, is a bronze medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Meanwhile, Reetika Hooda won a bronze medal at the 72kg event in the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023.
Neeraj Chopra to lead Indian armed forces athletes at the Paris Olympics 2024
The 24 athletes from the Indian Armed Forces will be led by India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who is a subedar in the Indian Army. Chopra, who has already won one gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, will look to add to his sizeable medals tally.
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Other notable athletes in the armed forces contingent are current Asian Games champion Subedar Amit Panghal (boxing), two-times Asian Games gold medalist CPO Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), 2022 Asian Games gold medalists CPO Muhammed Anas Yahiya and PO (GW) Muhammad Ajmal Variyathodi (4x400m relay).
2022 Asian Games bronze medalist Subedar Vishnu Saravanan (sailing), silver medalist CPO Jugraj Singh (hockey), gold medalist Subedar Avinash Mukund Sable (3000m steeplechase), and 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist JWO Abdulla Aboobacker (triple jump) are also members of the armed forces contingent.
"The presence of a formidable Indian Army athletes contingent at the Paris Olympics 2024 showed its ‘commitment to promoting sporting excellence and fostering a culture of athleticism," read a statement from the Ministry of Defence.
Apart from the 24 athletes, the armed forces will also be sending five officials to the Paris Olympics 2024 as coaches and other staff members.
To motivate the athletes from the armed forces, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi held a video interaction with them ahead of their appearance at the Paris Olympics 2024.
