Led by veteran Rajeev Ram, sportspersons belonging to the Indian Diaspora representing different nations in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games have every reason to feel pleased about their performance in the 2024 Paris Olympic games.
After Rohan Bopanna, the oldest tennis player to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, made an early exit from his favorite men’s doubles event, his long-time arch-rival and friend, Rajeev Ram, finished on the podium. Though a gold medal eluded Rajeev Ram for the second time since the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, he doubled his silver medal tally of the Olympic Games. In partnership with left-handed Austin Krajicek, he lost the men’s doubles final to the Australian pair of Mathew Ebden and John Peers at 7-6, 6-7, 8-10.
Incidentally, Mathew Ebden is a long-time doubles partner of Rohan Bopanna.
Rajeev Ram has become the second player of Indian origin to win two Olympic medals in different editions. Earlier, hockey player, Kulbir Bhaura, representing Great Britain had won two Olympic medals – a Brown in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and a gold in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
Rajeev won his first Olympic medal, a silver, in partnership with Venus Williams in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. In the semi-final, Rajeev and Venus defeated Indian pair Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza.
The only tennis medal that has come India‘s way was a bronze won by Leander Paes in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He lost to the ultimate winner, Andre Agassi, in the semi-finals. Since then, India has not won any medal in tennis while Rajeev Ram, a player of Indian origin, has won two silver medals in 2016 and 2024. Rajeev Ram has represented the USA in three consecutive Olympic Games since 2016.
Another player of Indian origin who represented the USA in the third consecutive Olympic Games has been Kanak Jha, a table tennis player. Kanak Jha had a credible tournament as he qualified for the pre-quarterfinals, his highest finish since his Olympic debut in Rio in 2016.
Besides Rajeev Ram and Kanak Jha, who represented the USA In three Olympic Games each, wrestler Amarveer Singh Dhesi donned Canadian colors in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He made his Olympic debut in the 125 kg category at Tokyo. He finished 13th. This time, he won his pre-quarter-final encounter but lost the quarter-final and also the repechage to end among the top eight.
Another athlete of Indian origin who represented Canada has been Jasneet Nijjar, a runner. She was a part of the Canadian 4×400 m women’s relay quartet that finished sixth.
The third player of Indian origin to represent Canada was water polo player Jessica Gaudreault, a goaltender. Canada finished eighth in the women’s water polo event.
A player of Indian origin represented France in table tennis. Prithika Pavade competed in women’s singles. She lost to Manika Batra.