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Olympics 2024: The Thala Connection to Indian Olympians

Currently, the 2024 Paris Olympics is happening and we are hearing stories of a connection between the Indian athletes and M.S. Dhoni

Whenever India achieves anything, be it in any field, internet communities and meme pages find a way to connect it to M.S. Dhoni in the most hilarious way. In short, a connection to our beloved Thala is bridged all the time. Given the Olympic Games 2024 is in progress, the Thala connection has hit a few of Indian athletes. 

In the following paragraphs, let us look at two instances where Dhoni’s name has been associated with Indian Olympians. 

'The MS Dhoni of Indian rowing'

From a small village of Haryana to the Paris Olympics, the story of Balraj Panwar is about courage and willpower. Orphaned early, Balraj sought a stable future in the Indian Army to support his family. It was there, in 2020, that a coach noticed his potential due to his imposing six-foot frame, suggested rowing, and shifted to the Army Rowing Node. The hard work paid off for Balraj in the form of a gold medal at the national championships as early as 2023 after an initial setback and slow start.

This win sent him to the Asian Games, where he finished fourth, starting to believe in himself. He was a reserve for a quadruple team but surprised everyone by becoming the only Indian sculler at the Games. Balraj went on to win a bronze at the Asian and Oceanian Rowing Olympic Qualification Regatta held in South Korea, booking his spot for the Paris Olympics.

Balraj created history by reaching the quarter-finals in rowing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite his efforts, he fell short, finishing sixth in the men’s single sculls semi-final C/D with a time of 7:04.97. He will now race for positions 19 to 24, moving out of medal contention.

Despite being dubbed the "M.S. Dhoni of Indian Rowing," on the Olympics website, Balraj remains humble and said "He is such a big athlete; how can I be compared with him? My name can be alongside his only when I achieve something big. Maybe if I win a medal then it would be fine [laughs]."

The Indian shooting star

Swapnil Kusale has been etched in Indian sports history as the first shooter from the country to make it to the 50m rifle three position final at the Olympics. This 29-year-old lad from Kambalwadi village near Kolhapur, Maharashtra, rose through the ranks through a decade-long journey to the Paris Games from 2012. Inspiration came to Kusale from a surprising parallel of M.S. Dhoni. 

Like the cricket icon, Kusale has worked as a railway ticket collector for Central Railways since 2015. The shared experience and Dhoni's trademark calmness profoundly influence Kusale's approach to shooting. He has watched Dhoni's biopic multiple times and hopes to measure up to the achievements conquered by the cricketer.

Kusale even draws motivation from his family's support. His mother is the Sarpanch of Kambalwadi village, and his father and brothers are district school teachers. During the qualification rounds, Kusale excelled with 197 in prone, 195 standing, and 195 kneelings; he stood out with the highest number of inner 10s-38.

Although the two Czech rivals, Jiri Privratsky and Petr Nymbursky, also shot 590, Kusale's showing put him in the final. At the same time, another Indian contender, Aishwary Pratap Tomar, finished 11th with 589. Quite dramatically evoking tension, Kusale learned about his final qualification through his coach. It becomes part of the story of his skill, and Dhoni-inspired calmness has guided his journey through Indian sport towards an ambitious top-three finish in the final.