Journey of India's Olympics Athletes: A Struggle Against Odds

For example, consider Tulika Maan, the only Indian judoka participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She began judo to keep her post-school hours occupied, as a means to avoid hanging around at the police station where her single mother worked. Tulika's journey to the top was fueled by her mother's sacrifices and her own persistent efforts, confronting administrative neglect and eventually winning a Commonwealth Games silver.

Another such story is Balraj Panwar, who enrolled in the Indian Army primarily for financial stability to support his family. He took to rowing on the insistence of his coach and trained relentlessly, eventually emerging as the sole Indian rower at the Vaires-sur-Marne nautical stadium this summer.

Srihari Nataraj, a swimmer, is another part of this honourable list. His qualification was criticized heavily, but it stems from perseverance, countless hours of training in solitude, and the determination to excel in a field not conventionally dominated by Indians.

Often these athletes end up downplaying their own achievements due to their humility. They bear the pressure of representing a country of over a billion, facing criticism for not achieving a significant medal tally. Despite the doubts and questioning, what one cannot overlook is the incredible resolve in their journey - each one of these 117 athletes fought hard against their circumstances, against their own comfort, and adversity to just get to Paris. Competing at the Olympics takes a tremendous amount of effort, passion, and resilience.