The countdown for the Paris Olympics 2024 has begun with almost the entire world's athletes reaching France to participate in the historic event. The 2024 Paris Games will officially kick off on Friday, July 26. However, India's Paris Olympics 2024 schedule will start a day earlier with archery on July 25. As per reports, a total of 10,000 athletes across 206 National Olympic Committees will participate in the Paris Games 2024. India too has sent a strong 117-member contingent who will represent the tricolour in Paris and look to surpass their previous best medal tally that came during the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Now, the question arises who is the youngest & oldest athlete, part of India's team at the Olympics 2024? Below is everything you need to know-
Who is the youngest Indian athlete at Paris Olympics 2024?
The answer is Dhinidhi Desinghu. 14-year-old Dhinidhi Desinghu will make his Olympics debut in Paris. He is also the youngest athlete representing India at Paris Olympics 2024. He will challenge the world in swimming. Dhinidhi trains at Dolphin Aquatics in Bengaluru. Dhinidhi Desinghu will compete in women's 200m freestyle on a universality quota. The 14-year-old was quoted by a portal in which she revealed that her parents involved her in a sport and swimming was an obvious choice as they had a pool right next to their home. In her early days, Desinghu had a fear of water.
Dhinidhi Desinghu currently holds the national record in women's 200m freestyle. In terms of international exposure, she has been to the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Notably, Swimmer Aarti Saha who competed in the women's 200m breaststroke at the age of 12 during the 1952 Helsinki Olympics remains the youngest.
Who is the oldest Indian athlete competing at Paris Olympics 2024?
The answer is Rohan Bopanna. Hailing from Kodagu, Karnataka, Rohan Bopanna is the oldest athlete representing India at the Paris Olympics at the age of 44. It will be Rohan Bopanna's third Olympics. Tennis star Rohan Bopanna made history in 2024 by winning the Australian Open with his doubles partner Matthew Ebden of Australia - the first Grand Slam men’s doubles win of the Indian’s career. Consequently, he also became the oldest world No. 1 in doubles tennis rankings at the age of 43.
(Rohan Bopanna in left)