Page 13 - Masala Lite Issue 164 August 2024

EXPECTATIONS AND PREDICTIONS

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics promises to be a pivotal moment for Thai and Indian
athletes, with many experts predicting a strong showing in various disciplines. Among
the standout Thai athletes, Panipak Wongpattanakit in taekwondo, who won the
world championships at the 2015 World Taekwondo Championships and who won
Thailand’s first Olympic gold medal in taekwondo in the 2020 Summer Olympics, is
one to look out for. Golfer Atthaya Thitikul, who was the youngest golfer to win a
professional golf tournament until 2023, is also a leading medal contender. Thailand’s
weightlifting prodigy, Supachai Harncharoen, has also been making waves with his
record-breaking performances; while Ratchanok Intanon, a Thai badminton player
known for her agility and strategic play, and the first Thai badminton player to reach
No. 1 in women’s singles, is poised to clinch gold.

Meanwhile, India boasts top prospects such as track and field athlete and the reigning
world champion for javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra; and badminton superstar P.V. Sindhu,
who is the only Indian to have won the badminton world championship. Having won
bronze and then silver in her last two Summer Olympic showings, hopes are high
that the latter will finally clinch gold in Paris. Mirabai Chanu is also another athlete
that hopes to win gold this year, this time in weightlifting. Despite a few injuries that
have taken their toll, her prospects look good this year.

In wrestling, both Bajrang Punia, who has won the world championships several times
and who won bronze at the Tokyo 2020; and Vinesh Phogat, who recently won gold
in the Women’s 50kg category at the 2023 Grand Prix of Spain; could very well take
home gold this year. Boxing is another sport that India historically performs well in,
and this year, hopes are high that Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen will both
take home medals – the former won bronze at Tokyo 2020 and silver at the World
Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem 2024, showing a strong upward
trajectory; while the latter won gold at the Elorda Cup 2024 just a few months back
in May. Meanwhile, in a less close-contact sport, Sift Kaur Samra is an Asian Games
champion in shooting, and currently holds the world record in the sport. She is easily
one of the top contenders in this category, having given an incredible showing at the
Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions Summer Olympic trials.

India is also set to do well in a few team sports: Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag
Shetty are the country’s current badminton doubles darlings, currently ranked World
Number 1 in men’s doubles; while hopes are high that the Indian Men’s Hockey Team
will improve on their bronze medal win in Tokyo 2020.

All these athletes exemplify excellence in their sports and are inspiring future generations,
igniting dreams of Olympic glory among young enthusiasts in their home countries.
Expert analysis suggests Thailand and India could achieve their best-ever Olympic
performances, potentially boosting sports infrastructure and training programs for a
new era of athletic achievement in both nations.

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