With just two months left for the 2024 Paris Olympics, ESPN India continues to track the progress of the country's top ten Indian prospects/hopes for a medal: how have their recent performances been, what they are currently doing and how they are shaping up for the big event.
Here is how India's best are doing 60 days out from the start of the Olympics:
Neeraj Chopra
The reigning Olympic and world champion has hit a little roadblock after competing in two events to start his season. He finished second in the Doha Diamond League and won the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar, where he didn't need to exert himself fully.
Since, he has pulled out of the Ostrava Golden Spike event on May 28 due to a concern with his adductor that he picked up during training. Neeraj stressed that he isn't injured and has only pulled out as a precaution to ensure no risks are taken in an Olympic year.
- Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) May 26, 2024
It's Neeraj Chopra's world, and he keeps us all part of it
Vinesh Phogat
A third Olympic Games beckons for Vinesh. Last week it was confirmed that she would be fighting in 50kg, which is one weight category below where she did in Tokyo. The Wrestling Federation of India announced that no trials would be held prior to the Olympics, enabling the quota winners to participate in Paris.
Explained: What no Olympic trials means for Vinesh Phogat, competing one weight class down
Vinesh Phogat's Paris Olympics quota: Why it's more than just a big sporting moment
PV Sindhu
Sindhu's quest for history in Paris took a positive turn last week in Kuala Lumpur, as she made the final of the Malaysia Masters 2004. She had a great chance to win the title as well, having led 11-3 in the deciding game of the final against China's Wang Zhi Yi, but she let that slip.
Physically, she says she's 100% now, but there's a little more finetuning to do mentally, and the next two weeks, with tough, big-ticket events in Singapore and Indonesia, will provide her with an opportunity to do just that.
Malaysia Masters 2024: Solid week ends in loss after several sightings of vintage PV Sindhu
Singapore Open presents tough tests for Sindhu, Lakshya; Sat-Chi look to continue good form
Sift Kaur Samra
In the closely fought Olympic Selection Trials to decide who gets to represents India in Paris, Sift Kaur Samra bossed the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event. Her dominant gold medal at last year's Asian Games introduced her as a leading contender for Paris, and now she's likely to be one of the leading faces of India's shooting contingent, when the squad is announced imminently.
Can Sift be the one to heal Indian shooting's scars from the last two Olympics?
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
First things first, Satwik and Chirag are world No 1 again. They had a great week in Thailand, as they didn't drop a single game on their way to their second BWF World Tour title of the year.
They've got a tricky draw at the Singapore Open which begins this week. Much like Sindhu, Singapore and Indonesia will represent one of the best chances for Satwik and Chirag to compete at the highest level before the Olympics.
Satwik-Chirag peel off rust to claim Thailand Open silverware ahead of Paris Olympics
Path to Paris: After historic 2023, 'hungry' Sat-Chi embrace pressure, master the mind games
Men's hockey team
Craig Fulton's team were in action in the FIH Pro League in Belgium over the last few days, and the results were mixed. They drew against Argentina, before winning in a shootout, then lost heavily to Belgium before going down to them in a shootout, and then they beat Argentina 5-4, in a game that was a stark contrast from the coach's desire for his team to control games.
Elsewhere, Ireland beat Belgium twice in the space of a few days in Antwerp, which will give India another headache, as they look ahead to a tough group in Paris, which consists of Australia, Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland.
FIH Pro League: India beat Argentina as performance finally translates to result
Path to Paris: Indian hockey picks control over chaos in bid for Olympic glory
Nikhat Zareen
India's boxing contingent is training overseas ahead of the Olympics and are switching between training camps and competitions.
Last week, Zareen won the Elorda Cup in Kazakhstan, as she continues her preparations for Paris.
Path to Paris: Why Nikhat Zareen wants that Olympic medal - and has a good shot at it
Mirabai Chanu
With just two months to go, Mirabai Chanu's focus will soon shift from complete physical recovery to meeting her own target, which she thinks would be enough for a medal in Paris.
She told ESPN that a combined weight of more than 200kg should be enough to secure her a second Olympic medal, but at the moment there's work to be done as her body continues to be on the mend following her injury at the Asian Games last year.
Mirabai Chanu sets marker for Paris Olympics medal: 205-207kg
Path to Paris: Mirabai Chanu goes back to basics for a shot at second Olympic medal
Aditi Ashok
In her latest outing on the LPGA tour, Aditi Ashok didn't make the cut at Mizuho Americas Open. Before that, she had finished tied 35th in the Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey, an improvement from tied 66th and tied 62nd in her previous two tournaments.
Played in a lot of different weather and course conditions these last few weeks which was fun. Thanks to @JMEagleLAChamp @LPGAfounders @MizuhoLPGA and to all the volunteers and course staff at the host venues Wilshire, UpperMontclair and LibertyNational. pic.twitter.com/5IDFL6jxeW
- Aditi Ashok (@aditigolf) May 20, 2024
Heading to Paris to a course that plays to her strengths, Aditi will be looking to improve on her near-miss at Tokyo.
Path to Paris: Aditi Ashok has form and experience, can she shake off big-event bogey?
Lovlina Borgohain
One of India's medalists from Tokyo, Lovlina has now moved to a different weight category (75kg). She's currently training in Turkey, after winning her Olympic quota at the Asian Games last year.
Asian Games: Lovlina loses final but wins Olympics berth and validates her weight switch