From Olympic medals to historic cricket victories, Indian sports in 2024 witnessed remarkable achievements, unforgettable performances, and emotional retirements.
New Delhi, January 1: The year 2024 was a monumental chapter in Indian sports history, marked by Olympic triumphs, cricketing glory, and emotional farewells from sporting legends. Athletes across disciplines brought home prestigious titles, etched their names in the record books, and inspired millions with their resilience and excellence.
Grand Slam Glory for Rohan Bopanna
Tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna started the year with a bang, winning the Australian Open Men’s Doubles Title alongside Matthew Ebden. At 43 years and nine months, he became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title and achieved the World No. 1 ranking in ATP doubles.
Historic Win for Indian Women’s Badminton Team
In February 2024, the Indian women’s badminton team, led by PV Sindhu and rising star Anmol Kharb, clinched their first-ever gold at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Malaysia. Kharb’s heroic performances against top-ranked opponents stood out as a defining moment.
India’s T20 World Cup Triumph
The Indian men’s cricket team, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, reclaimed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title after 17 years, defeating South Africa in a nail-biting final. Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Tournament. The tournament marked the end of an era as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20I cricket.
Emotional Farewells in Indian Sports
- Sunil Chhetri bid farewell to international football after a remarkable career, retiring as India’s top goal scorer with 94 goals in 151 matches.
- PR Sreejesh, the legendary hockey goalkeeper, retired after helping India win a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, with his crucial saves becoming iconic.
- Dipa Karmakar ended her illustrious career after securing gold at the Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Olympic Brilliance at Paris 2024
India bagged six medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, including one silver and five bronze:
- Neeraj Chopra won silver in men’s javelin, becoming one of the few Indian athletes with multiple Olympic medals.
- Manu Bhaker made history with two bronze medals, including India’s first-ever women’s Olympic shooting medal.
- Swapnil Kusale clinched bronze in the men’s 50m rifle event.
- Aman Sehrawat, aged 21, became India’s youngest Olympic medalist with a bronze in freestyle wrestling (57 kg).
- The Indian men’s hockey team secured bronze, with Harmanpreet Singh emerging as the top scorer with 10 goals.
Chess Dominance on the Global Stage
2024 was a golden year for Indian chess:
- Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest World Chess Champion.
- Koneru Humpy clinched her second World Rapid Chess Championship title.
- India also secured double gold at the Chess Olympiad.
Paralympic Excellence
At the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, India achieved 29 medals (7 gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze):
- Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil defended their Paralympic gold titles.
- Harvinder Singh created history by winning India’s first gold in archery at the Paralympics.
Other Notable Achievements
- Lakshya Sen became the first Indian male badminton player to reach the Olympic semi-finals.
- Anahat Singh, the squash prodigy, won nine PSA Challenger titles and entered the Top 100 PSA rankings.
A Year of Inspiration and Legacy
From Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic silver to Team India’s T20 World Cup victory, 2024 showcased the spirit of determination, passion, and resilience in Indian sports. As athletes retired with pride and new stars rose to the occasion, 2024 will be remembered as a landmark year for Indian sports on the global stage.
