India will send a contingent of 117 Athletes who will represent the nation in different games in the Paris Olympics 2024 which is scheduled to start from July 26. Team India will look to break the medal record of the last edition of the Games where the side won seven medals including one gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Interestingly there are Indians who will represent another nation in the marquee event hosted by Paris. Here is the tally of Indian-origin players who will represent another nation in the Olympics.
Rajeev Ram (Tennis, USA)
Rio Olympics 2016 Tennis mix doubles title winner Rajeev Ram and Venus Williams made headlines after their heroics in the multinational event. Interestingly Rajeev is an Indian origin athlete who represents United States. He is also known as the doubles expert after clinching our men’s doubles and one mixed doubles Grand Slam for the USA. Rajeev’s parents moved from Bengaluru while he was born in Denver, USA.
“I am very proud to be of Indian heritage and represent the community in any way I can. In tennis, there are not many of us from the community”, Rajeev once spoke about his Indian origin.
ALSO READ: Ajit Agarkar explains why Suryakumar Yadav was made T20I captain instead of Hardik Pandya, says 'We want someone who is likely to be available...'
ALSO READ: 'Very good for the TRPs but my relationship with him is not public': Gautam Gambhir's no-nonsense answer on his on-field spats with Virat Kohli
Prithika Pavade (Table Tennis, France)
Hailing from Puducherry Prithika Pavade's father moved to Paris after getting married in 2003. Prithika was born a year later. Her father was himself a table tennis player and introduced the game to her when she was six years old. Prithika participated in her first Olympic Games in Tokyo at the age of a mere 16 years. For the Paris Olympics 2024, she was seeded 12th in the women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles tournaments.
Kanak Jha (Table Tennis, USA)
Kanak Jha, a prominent table tennis player who will represent the USA at the Paris Games, has deep Indian roots. His mother, Karuna, comes from Mumbai, while his father, Arun, has roots in Kolkata and Prayagraj, both working in IT. Kanak's journey in table tennis began at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, where he and his sister Prachi were inspired to take up the sport. Despite his small stature, he quickly began outplaying his opponents, prompting his mother to enrol him in Jainshala and Hindishala to stay connected to his heritage.
At 24 years old, Kanak boasts an impressive record, having clinched the U.S. National Champion title four times consecutively from 2016 to 2019. He has also represented the USA twice at the Olympics, debuting as the youngest American athlete at Rio 2016 and later securing distinction as the first American to medal at the Youth Olympics in Argentina in 2018. In Paris, he will be competing in the men's singles event, aiming to further solidify his place among the world's top table tennis players.
Shanti Pereira (Singapore, Athletics)
Another athlete of Indian origin making waves is Veronica Shanti Pereira, known as Singapore's Sprint Queen, whose familial ties trace back to Kerala. Her grandparents hailed from Vettukad near Thiruvananthapuram, establishing her deep-rooted connection to her heritage amidst her athletic achievements on the global stage. Awarded “Sportswoman of the Year,” Pereira ended Singapore’s 49-year-long wait for a track and field medal at the Asian Games after she clinched a silver in the women’s 100 m.
Amar Dhesi (Wrestling, Canada)
Amarveer was born in Surrey, a small province on the western coast of Canada. His father was Balbhir Dhesi, a former Greco-Roman national champion who belongs to the village Sanghwal in the district Jalandhar in Punjab. In 1979, Balbir moved to Canada and started the Khalsa Wrestling Club for Youth in Surrey in 1985.
Amar made his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where he finished 13th in the men's 125 kg freestyle event. He clinched his first senior gold medal a year later at the Pan American Championships and then captured 125 kg of gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The 28-year-old will compete in the men's 125 kg freestyle event at the Paris Olympics.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
CSK share a cryptic post with Ruturaj Gaikwad's photo during Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar's press conference
Gautam Gambhir makes big statement on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's retirement, says the duo can play till this tournament if they are fit
'I don't know if that is his timeline for recovery..': Ajit Agarkar expects Mohammed Shami to be back before this series but has a contingency plan too
‘It would’ve been pointless to take him and Axar for this short series’: Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar clarify Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI exclusion
