[In Pictures] Indian sailor Vishnu Saravanan gears up for Paris Olympics 2024
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in collaboration with the Indian sailor Vishnu Saravanan posted his preparation pictures on Instagram in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics 2024, scheduled to start on July 26.
It’s worth noting that Vishnu takes part in the Laser Standard (ILCA7) category. The Laser Standard boat is a small and lightweight one with a single mast. Notably, the ILCA 7 is a single-handed dinghy for men at the Summer Games.
In the pictures posted on Instagram, Vishnu Saravanan can be seen posing with his ILCA7 boat, which he will be competing on at the Paris Olympics 2024. Men's Dinghy races will take place from August 1. The medal race is scheduled to take place on August 6.
Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumanan will be India’s sailors at Paris Olympics 2024
Vishnu Saravanan turned out to be the first Indian sailor to secure a berth at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has been accompanied by his physiotherapist Sarath Lal in Paris.
Vishnu, who made his Games debut at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, will emerge as only the second Indian sailor to represent India in multiple Olympic Games after Farokh Tarapore, who was part of three Olympics at Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, and the Barcelona 1992 Olympics.
Vishnu clinched his Paris Olympics 2024 quota at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. Another Indian sailor Nethra Kumanan is also set to take part in the Paris Olympics 2024 after securing the quota at the Last Chance Regatta in April 2024.
Saravanan bagged the 20th rank out of 35 sailors at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, finishing the competition as the second-best sailor after Jeemin Ha from the Republic of Korea.
After the conclusion of the Games in Tokyo, he competed at the Asian Sailing Championships in Abu Dhabi, Dubai in 2022, emerging as the champion, and securing the gold medal. Later at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, he bagged the bronze medal.
Hailing from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, Vishnu currently resides in Mumbai. He holds the Subedar rank in the Indian army, training at the Army Yachting Node in Mumbai.