The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has released the final list of athletes' contingent for the Paris Olympics 2024. Under this, a total of 117 players will participate. Apart from them, 140 support staff have also been approved to go with them. This includes sports officials as well. Out of 140, 72 support staff will go to Paris at government expense to help the athletes. Controversy has started after the release of this list, because a total of 118 players had qualified for the Paris Olympics, but there is one less name in the new list. The name of shot putter Abha Khatu is missing from the new list of the Sports Ministry.

Why did Abha Khatu's name disappear?

The Sports Ministry has not given any reason for removing Abha Khatua's name. There is no information yet about whether her name has been removed due to injury, doping violation or any other technical problem. Let us tell you that Abha had secured a quota for the Paris Olympics through world ranking. A few days before her name was removed from the Indian team, her name was also removed from the World Athletics' list of players participating in the Olympics. Despite Abha Khatua's name not being included, the highest number of players in the list of players, 29 (11 women and 18 men), are from athletics. After them comes shooting (21) and hockey (19).

Why are 72 staff going at government expense?

The Sports Ministry has informed in a letter to the IOA that as per the guidelines of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games 2024, only 67 members of the support staff can stay in the sports village, including 11 officials of the IOA. 5 members of the officials will be from the medical team. Therefore, the Sports Ministry has approved 72 additional coaches and support staff at government expense to meet the needs of Indian athletes. Accommodation for all these has been arranged in hotels in the surrounding area outside the sports village.

Gagan Narang will be the Chef de Mission

Other players who qualified for the Olympics got approval as expected. London Olympics bronze medalist former shooter Gagan Narang has been made Chef de Mission i.e. head of the team. Narang is also the Vice President of IOA. 119 players from India participated in the Tokyo Olympics, out of which seven won medals. This also included Neeraj Chopra's historic gold medal in javelin throw.