Paris Olympics 2024: Jeswin Aldrin and Ankita Dhyani qualify for the mega event via world rankings

A few days after the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced the 28-member athletics contingent for the forthcoming Paris Olympics 2024, long jumper Jeswin Aldrin and long-distance runner Ankita Dhyani have made the cut for the mega event through the World Athletics rankings system through reallocations.

While Aldrin will take part in the men’s long jump event after being ranked as the 33rd player globally, Ankita Dhyani is ranked 96th in the women’s 5000m event. She will have Parul Chaudhary as her company at the quadrennial event. This increases the Indian contingent strength to 30 in athletics.

It’s worth noting that Aldrin’s qualification came after the withdrawal of his compatriot Murali Sreeshankar, who has been suffering from a knee injury that he sustained during a practice session.

Though Sreeshankar’s absence left a gap in the Indian athletics team, Aldrin filled it, and the onus will be on him to carry the baton in the men’s long jump event at Paris Olympics 2024.

Notably, Aldrin holds the national record with a distance of 8.42m, achieved during the second Indian Open Jumps Competition in March 2023.

Asian Championships bronze medalist Ankita found her name after the World Athletics published the final list through reallocation after an undisclosed player pulled out of the mega event in Paris.

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A look at the Indian athletics contingent for Paris Olympics 2024

Men: Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw), Kishore Kumar Jena (javelin throw), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Praveen Chithravel (triple jump), Abdulla Aboobacker (triple jump), Sarvesh Kushare (high jump), Akshdeep Singh (discus throw), Vikas Singh (discus throw), Paramjeet Singh Bisht (20km race walk), Muhammed Anas (400m), Muhammed Ajmal (800m), Amoj Jacob (800m), Santhosh Tamilarasan (marathon), Rajesh Ramesh (marathon) - Mijo Chacko Kurian (4x400m relay) - Suraj Panwar (race walk mixed marathon), Jeswin Aldrin (long jump)

Women: Kiran Pahal (400m), Parul Chaudhary (3000m steeplechase and 5000m), Ankita (5000m), Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Abha Khatua (shot put), Jyothika Sri Dandi (discus throw), Subha Venkatesan (discus throw), Vithya Ramraj (heptathlon), Poovamma MR (400m), Prachi (4x400m relay), Priyanka Goswami (20km race walk/ race walk mixed marathon)

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