India’s Olympic Journey at Paris 2024: Successes and Setbacks

As the Paris Olympics 2024 approaches its conclusion this Sunday, a 117-member Indian contingent has competed with determination and grit, securing a total of six medals—one silver and five bronze.

India’s medal journey at the Games began with Manu Bhaker, who not only clinched the nation’s first medal, a bronze in shooting, but also made history as the first Indian woman to medal in Olympic shooting. She further etched her name in history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals at a single Olympic event, adding another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh.

Swapnil Kusale added a third medal in shooting, helping India achieve its largest medal haul in this sport at a single Olympics. The Indian men’s hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, repeated their bronze-medal success from Tokyo 2020. Meanwhile, Neeraj Chopra continued to build his Olympic legacy by claiming silver in the javelin throw, becoming India’s most successful individual Olympian.

Aman Sehrawat emerged as the youngest Indian to medal at the Olympics, winning bronze in wrestling.

However, the Games also saw moments of heartbreak for India. The nation narrowly missed out on six potential medals, with athletes such as Lakshya Sen, Mirabai Chanu, and Manu Bhaker coming close but ultimately finishing fourth. Additionally, Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification just before her historic final added to the nation’s disappointments.

India’s participation spanned 69 medal events across 16 sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and tennis. The contingent also included returning Olympic medallists like Neeraj Chopra, badminton star PV Sindhu, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, and members of the men’s hockey team.

Throughout its Olympic history, India has accumulated 41 medals. The journey began at Paris 1900, where Norman Pritchard secured two silver medals. Over the years, milestones such as KD Jadhav’s bronze at Helsinki 1952, Karnam Malleswari’s weightlifting bronze at Sydney 2000, and Abhinav Bindra’s historic gold in shooting at Beijing 2008 have marked India’s path. Neeraj Chopra’s gold in Tokyo 2020 was the first in athletics, matching the unprecedented achievement of Bindra.

India’s best-ever Olympic performance came at Tokyo 2020, where the country secured seven medals, including one gold.