MEERUT: Four districts of the National Capital Region (NCR) — Meerut, Bulandshahr, Gautam Budh Nagar and Muzaffarnagar — are account for nine of the total 13 — nearly 70% — sportspersons being sent by Uttar Pradesh to Tokyo Olympics commencing from July 23. The selection process is, however, still on and there are possibilities of more sportspersons from the Meerut zone making it to the month-long competition that will conclude on August 8, say officials. “Numbers may increase as the selection process is still on,” said regional sports officer Ale Haider.
The athletes are from various fields such as javelin throw, discus throw, shooting, etc. Meerut district is sending the maximum five medal aspirants to Tokyo, followed by Bulandshahr — three. Out of these nine players, two — archer Vivek Chikara and athlete Praveen Kumar from Gautam Buddh Nagar district — will participate in the Paralympics.
From Muzaffarnagar, race walking champion Priyanka Goswami will be representing the nation. She also got a mention in the recent episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about her life’s journey as an example to follow.
Elaborating upon the profiles of the sportspersons who made it to the Olympics, district athletic association secretary Anu Kumar said, “Priyanka Goswami was selected in February after she set a national record at the women’s event at the 8th National and International Race Walking Championships 2021 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. It will be her first Olympics. Anu Rani holds a national record for javelin throw at 63.24 meters. She is the first Indian woman javelin thrower to have gone beyond 60 meters.”
Apart from athletes, there are shooters, too. Saurabh Chaudhary from Meerut was the youngest Indian gold medallist in the 10-meter air pistol shooting at the 2018 Asian Games. He had also participated in the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Argentina and won gold. In 2019, he again won gold in ISSF World Cup held in Delhi.
Another player chosen from Meerut is Vandana Kataria, a hockey player who has played for the senior national team in both the 2014 Asian Games and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
