As 2024 dawns on us, ESPN India's staff list out their one big wish (each) for Indian sport in this new year:
A medal in Paris for Neeraj Chopra
Jayaditya Gupta
This is pretty specific, but there's a good reason why. Since winning gold at Tokyo, Neeraj Chopra has won every major event he's competed in and is now arguably India's greatest ever sportsperson. What makes him first among equals, though, is what he does away from the field of play: He is a statesman and leader; as we put it recently, he's the best of us.
Winning a second Olympic medal - any colour will do - will be a huge sporting achievement (only two Indians have won multiple Olympic medals in individual events, and none in track & field) and affirmation of Neeraj the athlete. It will also be validation of Neeraj the human being - and in today's world, who can argue with that?
A gentler, kinder reaction to the 'failure' / reality check that inevitably happens in an Olympic Year
Sunaadh Sagar
India's 107 medal haul at the Asian Games have inevitably raised hopes, but there is a very real possibility that India will walk away from the 2024 Olympics with a lesser medal tally than Tokyo. The shooting contingent's painful showing in 2021 saw plenty of brickbats thrown the way of mere teenagers, and it can have a crippling effect on some potential superstars.
India have plenty of emerging young talent, and they deserve better than the vitriol that flows so freely when they falter. Money invested is not an invitation for a free-for-all.
Success at Paris... and inclusivity at home
Zenia D'Cunha
I'll be greedy and ask for two wishes, seemingly contrasting and ironic, but reflective of Indian sport.
A successful Paris Olympics that builds on the gain from Tokyo. There were a record 7 medals in 2021 and the hopes of adding to it, maybe a first-ever double-digit haul is not entirely fanciful.
A good space for women in sport. To wish for complete equality is far-fetched, but the space can become more inclusive. To wish for complete safety is unlikely, but let there be established, approachable avenues to raise concerns and be heard without having to interrupt their training or sleeping on the streets. (like an unbiased, functional ICC, as mandated by the law)
Ending a 44-year hockey wait
Aaditya Narayan
The Indian Men's Hockey Team's bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics was the 10th successive time the team won a medal at the Olympics. 52 years have passed since, and only two more medals have been added to the collection.
Tokyo was a great achievement, but it was still only bronze. They have qualified for Paris without any drama and at the first attempt, which is much unlike a lot of Indian teams in the 21st century. Germany, Belgium, Australia will all have their own things to say, but 100 years since India's first Olympic gold in Hockey, Harmanpreet and co. putting a golden stamp of their own in Indian sporting folklore would be a nice fairytale.
The return of the Hockey India League
Anish Anand
From the national team coaches to Hockey India officials, from senior players to hockey fans, everybody seems to be on the same page when it comes to resumption of Hockey India League. The game in India needs the league to restart as soon as possible.
The year 2024 is important for Indian hockey, mainly because at the upper level, there's the Paris Olympics. But for the overall development of the sport at the domestic level, Hockey India League is much needed. Hockey is at a good place right now in the country, but without a proper domestic league, both men and women's teams cannot make it to the next level. Here's hoping we'll get to witness the league's first season in 2024 after a long break.
To have India's first female Olympic champion
Shyam Vasudevan
My wish for 2024 is something that has never happened earlier: for India to have a female Olympic gold medallist. Women athletes have won 8 of the 20 Olympic medals India has since 2000 -- five of those came in the last two editions -- but the yellow metal has remained elusive. I hope that changes come the Paris Games. I'd go a step further and say it would be incredible if Vinesh Phogat could achieve the feat, especially after all that she has gone through over the last year.
P.S - Neeraj, please cross the 90m mark this season so we can all stop bugging you with the "when's the 90m mark throw coming?" question.
The (electoral) system gets shaken up
Anirudh Menon
It's an idealistic, naïve wish; but if you don't have silly hope in the first few days of the year... so here it is: a shakeup of the system in a manner where someone like a Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh cannot ensure dabdaba (dominance) hiding behind the façade of a supposedly 'fair and democratic' process. This could include completely changing up the sports code, involving more athletes in administration (right from grassroots level), and ensuring the voices of the weak and underrepresented are heard.
Start from scratch across sport and rebuild - as painful as that may sound right now.