Meet Gitika Talukdar, 1st Female Indian Sports Photographer To Cover Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has accredited Gitika Talukdar, a seasoned sports photojournalist from Guwahati, to cover the upcoming Paris Games, scheduled for July 26, 2024. She is the only woman from India to photograph the prestigious sporting event. She has been appointed as an IOC initiative to promote women sports journalists and photographers, according to a press release. Talukdar is also one of the few women in sports photojournalism who are accredited to cover the Olympics.

Who Is Gitika Talukdar?

Gitika Talukdar is the only woman from India accredited to cover the Olympics. She first photographed the Olympics in 2020 at the Tokyo Games. Despite the significant setbacks for journalists due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Talukdar showcased her professional prowess at the Olympics in Japan.

Talukdar boasts a career spanning over 19 years in sports journalism. She has worked with many leading publications in India and abroad, covering major sports events like the Women's FIFA World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022, and FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 in France.

Gitika Talukdar, senior sports and photojournalist, has received direct recognition from the International Olympic Committee for presenting the news of Paris 2024

With this unique recognition she becomes India’s first and only woman photographer to be bestowed with this honour.… pic.twitter.com/Fbi2uJFg1Z

— Nitumoni Saikia (@NitumoniSaikia0) June 18, 2024

Talukdar holds a master's degree in Sports Management from the prestigious Seoul National University in South Korea, earned through a scholarship from the Ministry of Sports, Republic of South Korea, in 2020. She believes that her accreditation to photograph the Paris Games would boost women's leadership qualities.

In a press release from the IOC, she highlighted this year's Olympic motto, "Games Wide Open," signifying inclusivity and equal opportunity in sports. She expressed, "It's an honour and privilege to receive accreditation from the IOC to cover the Paris Olympic Games 2024. I am grateful for their generous decision, which encourages me to work even harder."