Tokyo Olympics: Haryana, Punjab have 4% of India's population, 40% of Olympic squad

Athletes from Haryana and Punjab are once again leading the way for the country at the Olympics. The two states, with just 4.4% share of India’s population, have together sent 50 athletes to the Tokyo Games, accounting for 40% of the Indian contingent. Haryana has 31 athletes in the contingent, nearly 25% of the total, while Punjab has 19.

Tamil Nadu comes next, having sent 11 athletes to Tokyo, 8.7% of the contingent. Others in the top five are Kerala and UP – each with 8 athletes.

Uttar Pradesh, which is nearly 17% of India’s total population, is contributing 6.3% of the country’s Tokyo Olympics contingent, while Kerala with a population share of 2.6% percent has a representation of 6.3% in the Olympics squad.

For Haryana, nine of 19 women hockey players, seven wrestlers (four women, three men), four boxers (three men, one woman) and four shooters (two women, two men) make up most of the numbers.

While for Punjab, 11 out of India’s 19-member men’s hockey squad swell the tally. Two shooters (a man and woman), three from athletics (two men, one woman), two women’s hockey team members, and one boxer make up the total.

Tamil Nadu has five from athletics, three from sailing, two table tennis players and one from fencing making up the numbers.

Kerala, known for its legacy in athletics, has six in track and field events out of the eight it is sending to Tokyo. One each is in swimming and the men’s hockey team.

With a total of 127 athletes, India is sending its largest-ever contingent to the Olympic Games and will take part in 18 disciplines: archery, athletics, boxing, badminton, equestrian, fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, judo, rowing, shooting, sailing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.