Key Highlights Indian Army is sending 13 of its men to Rio Olympics.

This is the highest ever number.

Three more from the Army have qualified but cannot go as seats are limited.

In 2012, there were 12 Armymen representing India in London.



Chandigarh: As many as 13 soldiers from Indian Army would head to Rio de Janeiro on August 5 to compete at the world's biggest sporting spectacle - the Olympics. According to Army Sports Institute (ASI), Pune, the force would be sending its biggest ever group in the quadrennial event.

In the previous edition of the games at London in 2012, 12 Army players had represented India. Of the 13 Army personnel, eight would be participating in athletics events, three in shooting and one each in rowing and wrestling.

Three other athletes Havildar Devender Singh, Sepoy Sumit Kumar and Hav Irfan T K had also qualified for the Rio Olympics in 20km walk, 4x400 men's relay team and 20km walk respectively, but they could not be sent because of limited seats in these events.

Besides these 13 soldiers, Rio-bound Indian hockey team member Subedar Sunil S V was also groomed and trained by the Army. He has recently left the force. Boxer Shiv Thapa, who is representing the country in 56kg category, was also trained by the Army. Thapa, 22, has joined Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) after leaving the Army.

The Army sportspersons were trained at ASI, Pune, Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) Mhow and other institutes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

ASI Commandant Colonel P S Cheema told TOI the number of Olympians from the Army was increasing because of the scientific training, availability of world-class facilities in terms of infrastructure and coaching by foreign coaches. "Our training is designed in such a way that every sportsperson receives the technical, tactical, physical and mental training with an optimum learning environment to win," Cheema said.

Ecstatic over Army's presence in the Indian Olympics squad, Brigadier G S Sandhu (retd), founder of Indian Army's Boys Sports Company (BSC), which inducts young boys to nurture them as future international sportspersons, said it was indeed a proud moment that 'his baby' had started producing such large number of Olympians.

"I have been told that just because of the results shown by its players, the Army had recently increased the number of BSCs from 18 to 30 and two more would be setup in near future."

"If Army continued to focus in this manner, I am sure next the Olympics would be dominated by our players," said Brig Sandhu, who has also served as chairman of Army Sports Control Board. He added that players groomed by Army were psychologically stronger and had potential of winning more medals.

Soldiers in Indian Olympics squad

Name — Sports — event

Naib Subedar Jitu Rai — Shooting — 10m air pistol, 50m free pistol

Subedar Gurmeet Singh — Shooting — 10 m air pistol, 25m rapid pistol

Nb Sub Chain Singh — Shooting — 50m rifle prone, 50m rifle 3 position

Hav Sandeep Kumar — Athletics — 50km walk

Hav Nitender Rawat — Athletics — marathon

Hav Ganapathi K — Athletics — 20km walk

Hav Gopi T — Athletic — marathon

Nb Sub Kheta Ram — Athletics — marathon

Sub Kunhu MD — Athletics — 4x400m relay

Nb Sub Arokia Rajiv — Athletics — 4X400m relay

Nb Sub Jinson Johnson — Athletics — 800m

Hav Bhokonal Dattu — Rowing — single sculls

Hav Ravinder Khatri — Wrestling — 85kg (Greco-Roman)

