"The confidence is at a new high" - Gagan Narang opens up on huge change in Indian athletes’ mindset ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics

As 117 athletes look to better India’s tally of seven medals from Tokyo, Chef-de-Mission at the Paris 2024 Olympics Gagan Narang has said that the mindset of Indian athletes has improved over the years, and they are now challenging for gold medals against international opponents.

“There is a huge change in the motivation and the level of thinking our athletes have today. We used to feel scared, under-confident because other countries were better. But slowly that's changed, the mindset [has] changed,” Narang said, according to PTI.

“People started watching sports, playing it, then we had great performances. The confidence is at a new high. Today's athletes don't go just to participate, they go to perform," he added.

Several members of the Indian contingent in the Paris 2024 Olympics are going into the tournament on a high note after recent personal successes. Neeraj Chopra will aim to retain his gold medal, while the badminton pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will aim for a podium finish as well.

Boxer Lovlina Borgohain will also go to Paris on a personal high after winning the gold medal at the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

“Someone in the top 8 or 5 wants to win a medal today and not just any medal but a gold. That's the difference in thinking of the athletes today. They don't think anyone is above them. They rate competitors at par and that's a very positive sign for Indian sport,” Gagan Narang added.

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“It's an honor for me” - Gagan Narang on becoming Paris 2024 Olympics Chef-de-Mission

Four-time Olympian Gagan Narang, who won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics, expressed his gratitude for becoming India’s Chef-de-Mission in Paris.

“I feel happy and proud to be one of the few Chef De Missions who is also an Olympics medalist. There are a handful of people. It's an honor for me. I was contributing to shooting athletes and now I'm able to contribute to all Indian athletes,” Narang said.

“It's a proud moment for me and also a responsible one. I'm hoping I can handle pressure like I did in London [2012 Olympics]. It's a different kind of pressure,” he concluded.