Record hundred Indian athletes already make cut for Rio Olympics

New Delhi: India is all set to send it's biggest ever delegation for the forthcoming Olympics in Rio. In last two days, five Indian athletes have qualified for the biggest sporting extravaganza, which helped India to touch the hundred-figure mark for the first time.

Thus far, India has qualified for 13 sports disciplines at Rio, with swimming and golf still to be accounted for.

On Saturday, if Dutee Chand and Muhammad Anas booked a quota place for the quadrennial event, then on Sunday, Ankit Singh, Srabani Nanda and Mohammad Anas too sealed their places.

Interestingly, Anas, who qualified for his first Olympics became the 100th Indian to do so for Rio.

And more Indian athletes are likely to add to the list before the end of the Olympic qualification period.

In London Olympics in 2012, India sent its previous highest delegation, which had 83 athletes. 

Certainly, the qualification of 16-member women’s field hockey team has helped India swell the number of participants this time around. But the number of individual qualifiers too has seen an increase since 2012.

Icing on the cake is that Indian athletes have raised the bar. If at London, 14 Indians had met the qualifying standards in 11 events, then this time 23 have made the the cut in 16 events. 

Rio Games are scheduled to start from August 5.