The Ace golfer Aditi Ashok is the first-ever golfer who represented India at the Olympics. She made her debut in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. She also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she finished the tournament in fourth place.

Read also: Aditi Ashok qualifies for British open

On the eve of the AIG Women's Open (British), Aditi had an interview with TOI. On being asked about the popularization of golf in India, she said that schools can help in popularizing golf. She feels that introducing golf in every school will popularize the sport in India.

Her interview with the TOI:

Aditi said, "The best way to help golf grow in India is to take it to schools. Schoolchildren don't get exposed to golf. In games or PE periods, they play hockey, cricket, basketball, football, etc. Whereas golf is something where you have to be at a golf course."

The 23-year-old also added, "The way to grow it is to expose it to school kids, but it's not an easy job. People have to go to schools, put a mat or net and allow the kids to try and hit and explain what golf is and show them a few videos. If the people concerned can come up with programmes to do that in schools, you will have more kids picking up the game, which is what the country needs."

Aditi was hopeful about her performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and she felt that her heroics in the Olympics had the ability to bring golf into the spotlight in India. She felt that the popularity of golf can increase in India like Sania Mirza's contribution in popularizing tennis and PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal's performances bringing a badminton revolution in India.

She further added, "I hope in the next few years people take to golf, start watching more and following it more online. That will obviously lead to more support and do great things for the sport. Although the population is huge in India, the golfing community is small, so bringing people from outside the community to follow the sport and build that interest will be amazing."

Read also: Anirban Lahiri: Only Indian golfer to make it to Tokyo 2020

She also stated, "I didn't win a medal, but Sindhu, Saina, and Sania have achieved great heights. If I could do that (popularise the sport) even without winning a medal that's already a great thing that's happening."

Her advice for the youth:

While asked to give some advice to the youth regarding golf she mentioned, "Everybody has their own journey. My advice would be to not follow anybody's path. Everybody has their own growth cycle. Their learning curve so it's more important to focus on yourself and make sure you are improving every day. As long as you are better than you were yesterday, that is good enough, and you have to be better tomorrow than you were today."

The Paris Olympics 2024 started on 26th July with a grand opening ceremony. This time the Olympics is being organized in Paris, the capital of France. For which complete preparations have been made. This time a total of 10,500 athletes are participating in the Olympics 2024. The eyes of these athletes will be on winning medals for their respective countries. It's time we look at India's Paris Olympics 2024 Day 14 (August 9) schedule.

Also Read: Explained: What is the weigh-in rule in Wrestling? Why was Vinesh Phogat disqualified from Paris Olympics 2024?

From India, 117 athletes have participated in the Olympics. Among these athletes, 72 players are part of the Olympic Games for the first time. The eyes of the entire country are fixed on these athletes. 

On the Paris Olympics 2024 Day 14, all eyes will be on Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar in the women's golf individual stroke play round 3. Apart from that, the men's and women's 4 x 400m Relay team will play their round one match. So, let us tell you in detail which sports Indian athletes will be seen in action on Day 14.

Also Read: India at Paris Olympics 2024 Day 13 (8th August) Live Updates | Indian Men's Hockey Team in action for bronze medal match; Aman Sehrawat reaches semi-finals; Jyothi Yarraji finishes fourth in the repechage heat

India at Paris Olympics 2024 Day 14 (9th August) Schedule

Golf

• Women's Individual Stroke Play Round 3 - Aditi Ashok & Diksha Dagar - 12:30 PM

Athletics

• Women's 4 x 400m Relay Round 1 - Indian Team (Kiran Pahal, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Machettira Raju Poovamma, Vithya Ramraj, and Subha Venkatesan) - 2:10 PM
• Men's 4 x 400m Relay Round 1 - Indian Team (Amoj Jacob, Rajesh Ramesh, Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan, Muhammad Ajmal Variyathodi, Muhammed Anas) - 2:35 PM

The Paris Olympics 2024 started on 26th July with a grand opening ceremony. This time the Olympics is being organized in Paris, the capital of France. For which complete preparations have been made. This time a total of 10,500 athletes are participating in the Olympics 2024. The eyes of these athletes will be on winning medals for their respective countries. It's time we look at India's Paris Olympics 2024 Day 13 (August 8) schedule.

Also Read: Explained: What is the weigh-in rule in Wrestling? Why was Vinesh Phogat disqualified from Paris Olympics 2024?

From India, 117 athletes have participated in the Olympics. Among these athletes, 72 players are part of the Olympic Games for the first time. The eyes of the entire country are fixed on these athletes. 

On the Paris Olympics 2024 Day 13, all eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra in the men's javelin throw final, who will defend his gold. Indian Men's Hockey Team will also try to clinch their second consecutive bronze medal in the Olympics. Apart from this, Avinash Sable will be in action at midnight in the men's 3000m steeplechase final. So, let us tell you in detail which sports Indian athletes will be seen in action on Day 13.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra’s best throws: Here are all the top throws by javelin ace Neeraj Chopra

Paris Olympics 2024 Day 13 (8th August) Schedule

Athletics

• Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final (Gold Medal Event) - Avinash Sable - 1:13 AM
• Women's 100m Hurdles Repechage Round - Jyothi Yarraji - 2:05 PM
• Men's Javelin Throw Final (Gold Medal Event) - Neeraj Chopra - 11:55 PM

Golf

• Women's Individual Stroke Play Round 2 - Aditi Ashok & Diksha Dagar - 12:30 PM

Hockey

• Men's Bronze Medal Match - India vs Spain - 5:30 PM

The Paris Olympics 2024 started on 26th July with a grand opening ceremony. This time the Olympics is being organized in Paris, the capital of France. For which complete preparations have been made. This time a total of 10,500 athletes are participating in the Olympics 2024. The eyes of these athletes will be on winning medals for their respective countries. It's time we look at India's Paris Olympics 2024 Day 12 (August 7) schedule.

Also Read: Your Guide To Golf At The 2024 Paris Olympics

From India, 117 athletes have participated in the Olympics. Among these athletes, 72 players are part of the Olympic Games for the first time. The eyes of the entire country are fixed on these athletes. 

On the Paris Olympics 2024 Day 12, all eyes will be on Mirabai Chanu in the women's 49kg weightlifting bout and Jyothi Yarraji in the women's 100m hurdles. India's women's javelin thrower Annu Rani will also fight for the qualification in Group A. Apart from this, the Indian women's table tennis team will play their quarterfinal match against Germany. So, let us tell you in detail which sports Indian athletes will be seen in action on Day 12.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra’s best throws: Here are all the top throws by javelin ace Neeraj Chopra

Paris Olympics 2024 Day 12 (7th August) Schedule

Athletics

• Marathon Race Walk Relay Mixed (Gold Medal Event) - Suraj Panwar/Priyanka Goswami - 11:00 AM
• Men's High Jump Qualification - Sarvesh Kushare - 1:35 PM
• Women's 100m Hurdles Round 1 - Jyothi Yarraji - 1:45 PM
• Women's Javelin Throw Qualification Group A - Annu Rani - 1:55 PM
• Men's Triple Jump Qualification - Praveen Chithravel & Abdulla Aboobacker Narangolintevida - 10:45 PM

Golf

• Women's Individual Stroke Play Round 1 - Aditi Ashok & Diksha Dagar - 12:30 PM

Table Tennis

• Women's Team Quarterfinal - India vs Germany - 1:30 PM

Wrestling

• Women's Freestyle 53kg 1/8 Final - Antim Panghal vs Zeynep Yetgil (Turkey) - 2:30 PM

Weightlifting

• Women's 49kg - Saikhom Mirabai Chanu - 11:00 PM

There are only a few days left for the Paris Olympics 2024 to start. Veteran players from all over the world are now making final preparations to win medals for their country. 

Also Read: 10 athletes to watch out for at Paris Olympics 2024

Paris Olympics 2024 will begin on July 26 in Paris, the capital of France, in which 117 Indian athletes will show their mettle to reach the podium of the world's biggest sports stage. Neeraj Chopra appears to be standing at the forefront of the list of Indian names leading the country's medal hopes. Let take a look at the top 10 contenders of the Indian contingent going to Paris who can win Olympic medals for India.

1. Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw)

India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra would like to create history by winning his second consecutive Olympic gold medal. If he is able to do this, Neeraj will be the first Indian athlete to win gold medal two consecutive times.

Neeraj last participated in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June. He won the gold medal there with the best throw of 85.97 meters. Neeraj has also won gold medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games and a Diamond League Trophy. Despite not being able to breach the 90m mark, Neeraj has almost always emerged as the best thrower in the events that he has entered in the last few years.

2. PV Sindhu (Badminton)

India will hope for another medal from PV Sindhu, who won the silver medal in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics and the bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sindhu is the only Indian woman athlete to win two Olympic medals. If she wins an Olympic medal in Paris, she will become India's most successful athlete.

Sindhu has got an easy group where she faces Estonia’s Kristin Kuuba and Maldives’ Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq. She can face reigning Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei in the quarter-finals if she reaches that far. However that’s not her only concern, it’s also her poor form that saw her exit the Indonesia Open and Singapore Open early in 2024.

3. Vinesh Phogat (Wrestling)

Former world number one Vinesh Phogat, has established herself as one of the finest wrestlers India has ever produced. She has won two bronze medals in World Championships in 2019 and 2023. Phogat will have several eyes watching her as she participates in the women’s 50-kilogram category at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Wrestling champion Phogat had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. However, she could not win any medals.

Also Read: How many sports will there be at the Paris Olympics 2024? Which are the new ones?

4. Satwik-Chirag (Badminton)

Satwiksairaj Renkireddy and Chirag Shetty have not played any tournament since the Singapore Open. Where they lost in the first round. India is hopeful of a medal from these two in men's doubles. They were the world’s No.1 men’s doubles pair recently.

At the Tokyo Olympics, both had missed out on a place in the quarter-finals despite winning two of their three group matches. After losing in the Malaysia Open and Indian Open finals earlier this year, Satwik-Chirag won the French Open and Thailand Open. They are in good form and are expected to medal at Paris but Satwik had a shoulder injury recently and how much he has recovered from it will matter a lot.

5. Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting)

After winning the silver medal with her brilliant performance in the Tokyo Olympics, Mirabai Chanu will once again try to reach the Olympic podium in Paris. The Manipuri weightlifter will enter the Paris Olympics 2024 as one of the favorites. She is one of the most experienced in her field.

However, It has not been an easy journey for Mirabai since her victory in Tokyo as she had to go through a very difficult phase due to injuries.

6. Aditi Ashok (Golf)

India's leading golfer Aditi Ashok won gold medal in the Asian Games after missing out on winning a medal in the Tokyo Olympics after finishing fourth. Aditi will represent India in the Olympics for the third time. She played her first Olympics in the year 2016. India also has hopes of a medal from Aditi.

7. Nikhat Zareen (Boxing)

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen would also like to hoist the tricolor in the Paris Olympics. This will be his first Olympics. She last played at the Elorda Cup in May where she won gold. Having only lost two bouts since 2022, Nikhat (50kg) is in top form and a strong contender but her semi-final defeat to Thailand’s Raksat Chuthamat at Asian Games 2023 is also a reminder that big tournaments can be unpredictable.

8. Men's Hockey Team

Indian Men's Hockey Team has won the gold medal in the Olympics a total of eight times (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, and 1980). While India have won the silver medal once (1960) and the bronze medal thrice (in 1968, 1972, and 2020). India would like to maintain its dominance again by winning the gold medal in the Paris Olympics.

India is in Pool B which also includes defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. With four teams qualifying for the knockouts, India has a bright chance but the toughest job will be progressing further. 

Also Read: India at Olympics: Every member of the medal-winning hockey teams

9. Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing)

Lovlina Borgohain won the bronze medal in Tokyo. Recently Lovlina participated in the Grand Prix tournament in Czech Republic where she won the silver medal. Last year she won World Championships gold in the 75kg event. She is seen as a big contender to medal once again.

Lovlina has now moved up to the 75kg category after the 69kg event was scrapped for the Olympics.

10. Sift Kaur Samra (Shooting)

Asian Games gold medalist Sift Kaur Sharma earned a place in the Paris team in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions after an excellent performance in the four-stage Olympic selection trials. Earlier last month, she played at the Munich World Cup, where she won a bronze medal. She recently completed the national camp in France and will now be seen in the Olympics.

Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar have clinched the Paris Olympics 2024 spot via the Road to Paris world rankings.

Aditi, the highest-ranked female golf player from India, made the cut by acquiring an OGR of 24 in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, while Diksha also sealed her spot by clinching an OGR of 40.

Also Read: Sumit Nagal officially confirms his qualification in the Paris Olympics 2024

Aditi finished fourth in Tokyo Games

Aditi Ashok, playing in the 30th major tournament in women's golf, scored 77 with five bogeys in the second round. Her total score after two rounds was 149 in five overs. Aditi is running at joint 64th position. She will compete in her second consecutive Olympics and third overall in the Paris Olympics 2024 in August. India’s best performance at the Olympics came from Aditi who finished fourth in the Tokyo Games 2020.

Second Olympic Games for Diksha

Meanwhile, Diksha will be competing in the Games for the second time. She is the first golfer in history to have competed in both the Olympics and the Deaflympics, where she is a two-time medallist. The 23-year-old won a silver in 2017 in Turkey and a gold in 2022 in Brazil. This is also Diksha's second consecutive appearance at the Olympics. In 2021, she competed at the Covid-19 pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics.

Top 15 players in the OWGR qualify for the Olympics

The Olympic entries are sent by the Indian Golf Union, and qualification for Olympics is determined by rankings, limited to 60 men’s and as many women’s players through the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). 

The top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) qualify for the Olympic Games, with a limit of four golfers per country. Beyond the top 15, the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) include up to the two highest-ranked eligible players from each country, provided that the country does not already have two or more players within the top 15.

Also Read: Shreyashi Singh joins Shooting squad for Paris Olympics 2024

Aditi and Diksha are set to join Sharma and Bhullar

Both Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar are set to join the likes of Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar as the four representatives from India. Sharma and Bhullar already qualified as India's representatives by being the highest-ranked Indian men's golfers. For them, it would be their maiden appearance at the Olympics.