"Hope we can see double digits in medals" - Nita Ambani on India’s campaign in Paris Olympics 2024
Nita Ambani, the co-founder of Reliance Foundation, backed India to win 10 or more medals in the Paris Olympics 2024. Back in 2021, India won seven medals in the Tokyo Olympics as the likes of Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain and others upped their game on the biggest stage.
India have sent a contingent of 117 athletes (70 men and 47 women), as compared to 121 in Tokyo, who will play in 16 sports disciplines. Expectations will be high from Chanu, Neeraj, Lovlina and PV Sindhu Sindhu, who is the only Indian woman to have won back-to-back Olympic medals.
“We are going to do very well. Forty-seven percent of our athletes are girls. We are all for women power and supporting our young athletes. I hope we can see double digits in medals for the first time. Go India go, make India proud,” Ambani said during the opening of ‘India House’ at La Villette.
Notably, Manu Bhaker has already opened India's medal account with a bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event.
"India has arrived" - Nita Ambani
Ambani also sounded confident that India could host the Olympic Games in the future. Back in 2010, India hosted the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. They are believed to be some way away from hosting the Olympics but Nita Ambani believes otherwise.
"India has arrived. The day is not far when we will host the Olympic Games," Ambani said.
Earlier, former cabinet minister Anurag Thakur had said that India will be ready to host the Olympics in 2036. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also signaled India’s intentions and willingness to host the quadrennial event during the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai.
India started their campaign in the Paris Olympics on July 25, with the archery ranking rounds. The likes of Balraj Panwar, Preeti Pawar, Lakshya Sen, Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Sarabjot Singh, Harmeet Desai, Manu Bhaker, and the hockey team have already started their respective campaigns.