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K9s Vast and Denby, both Belgian Shepherd Malinois, aged 5 and 3, respectively, were selected for the Paris Olympics security.
K9s Vast and Denby, both Belgian Shepherd Malinois, aged 5 and 3, respectively, were selected for the job after going through a series of stringent tests held at the Dog Breeding and Training School of CRPF
Dog squads from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) — two K9 teams — left for Paris on the July 10, as part of the 10 K9 teams selected to provide security to various venues of the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
K9s Vast and Denby, both Belgian Shepherd Malinois, aged 5 and 3, respectively, were selected for the job after going through a series of stringent tests held at the Dog Breeding and Training School of CRPF. They also underwent specialised training for nearly 10 weeks before their deployment, focussing on the assignments they were likely to be given. Their handlers, too, were put through rigorous physical training, besides basic classes in French language before their departure.
The Belgian Shepherd Malinois breed is considered the most preferred combat dogs by the security forces across the world.
The deployment is likely to be up to the completion of the summer Olympic games-2024, wherein athletes from 196 nations are likely to participate.
IOA Releases List of 117 Athletes, 140 Support Staff for Olympics
India will be represented by 117 athletes at this month’s Paris Olympics after the sports ministry cleared the final contingent that also features 140 support staff and officials, of which 72 have been approved at “cost to the government” to meet the “requirements” of the travelling sportspersons. The only qualified athlete missing from the list is shot-putter Abha Khatua.
The rest of the contingent that has been cleared is on expected lines with London Olympics bronze medal-winning former shooter Gagan Narang as chef-de-mission. Narang is also a vice president in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
“The permissible limit for stay of support personnel in the Games Village against accreditation as per norms of the Paris Organising Committee for the 2024 Olympic Games is 67 including 11 1OA Contingent Officials, which includes five Medical Team Members,” stated a letter from the ministry to IOA President P T Usha, explaining the ratio of support staff allowed as per the size of the contingent.
“For catering to the requirements of the athletes, additional coaches and other support staff numbering 72 have been approved at cost to the Government and arrangements for their stay have been made in Hotels/in locations outside the Games Village,” it added.
Despite Khatua’s absence, athletics will make for the biggest group in the contingent with 29 names (11 women and 18 men), followed by shooting (21) and hockey (19). Table tennis will be represented by eight players, while badminton (7) will feature seven competitors, including two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu. Wrestling (6), archery (6), and boxing (6) will have six representatives each, followed by golf (4), tennis (3), swimming (2), sailing (2), and one each for equestrian, judo, rowing and weightlifting. The shooting contingent, which is the second biggest, consists of 11 women and 10 men, while table tennis will have four players each in both categories.
Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu is the lone weightlifter in the contingent and will compete in women’s 49kg category.