The Paris 2024 Olympics, held from July 26 to August 11, saw a total of 117 Indian athletes competing across various sports. India ended the Games with a total of six medals, including one silver and five bronze. While the Indian contingent celebrated several historic achievements, there were also moments of disappointment and near-misses.
Medal Highlights
- Manu Bhaker’s Historic Win
- Women’s 10m Air Pistol: Manu Bhaker won the bronze medal, becoming the first Indian woman to earn an Olympic shooting medal.
- Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol: Bhaker, alongside Sarabjot Singh, clinched another bronze, making her the first Indian to win two medals at the same Olympics.
- Swapnil Kusale’s Contribution
- Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Swapnil Kusale added a third bronze medal in shooting, marking India’s best performance in this sport at a single Olympics.
- Indian Men’s Hockey Team
- The team secured a bronze medal, replicating their success from Tokyo 2020 and continuing their strong performance in the sport.
- Neeraj Chopra’s Silver
- Men’s Javelin Throw: Neeraj Chopra earned a silver medal, enhancing his status as India’s most successful individual Olympian.
- Aman Sehrawat’s Achievement
- Men’s Freestyle 57kg Wrestling: Aman Sehrawat won bronze, becoming India’s youngest Olympic medallist.
Near-Misses and Heartbreaks
Despite the successes, India faced several disappointments at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
- Close Calls: Indian athletes finished fourth in six events, narrowly missing out on medals. This includes notable names like Lakshya Sen, Mirabai Chanu, and Manu Bhaker, who could have added more medals to India’s tally.
- Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification: Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification before a historic final was another setback for India.
Events and Sports
Indian athletes participated in 69 medal events across 16 sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and tennis.
Notable Returning Olympians
Several athletes from previous Olympics were part of the Indian team in Paris 2024:
- Neeraj Chopra: Continued his strong performance from Tokyo 2020.
- PV Sindhu: The badminton star made another Olympic appearance.
- Mirabai Chanu: The weightlifter returned with high expectations.
- Lovlina Borgohain: The boxer also competed once again.
- Harmanpreet Singh-led Hockey Team: The men’s hockey team, which had a strong showing in Tokyo.
Historical Context
India has won a total of 41 Olympic medals to date. The journey began with Norman Pritchard’s two silvers at Paris 1900. Notable milestones include KD Jadhav’s bronze in Helsinki 1952, Karnam Malleswari’s weightlifting bronze at Sydney 2000, and Abhinav Bindra’s gold in Beijing 2008. The Indian men’s hockey team has been the most successful, contributing 13 medals, including eight golds.
India’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a blend of historic achievements and frustrating near-misses. With six medals, including a silver and five bronze, the Games showcased both India’s growing prowess in various sports and the challenges that still lie ahead. The Indian contingent will undoubtedly look to build on these experiences for future competitions.