India’s Performance at Paris 2024 Olympics: A Historic Journey
The Paris 2024 Olympics, held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, saw 117 Indian athletes competing across 16 sports, making it one of the largest contingents ever sent by India. Despite numerous close finishes, India secured six medals—one silver and five bronze—marking another significant chapter in the nation’s sporting history.
The 2024 edition was a blend of historic achievements and heartbreaking near-misses, with Indian athletes performing valiantly on the global stage. Let’s take a closer look at the medal winners, the standout performances, and India’s overall journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
India’s Medal Winners at the Paris 2024 Olympics
| No. | Athlete | Event | Sport | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manu Bhaker | Women’s 10m Air Pistol | Shooting | Bronze |
| 2 | Manu Bhaker & Sarabjot Singh | Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol | Shooting | Bronze |
| 3 | Swapnil Kusale | Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions | Shooting | Bronze |
| 4 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Team Event | Hockey | Bronze |
| 5 | Neeraj Chopra | Men’s Javelin Throw | Athletics | Silver |
| 6 | Aman Sehrawat | Men’s Freestyle 57kg Wrestling | Wrestling | Bronze |
India’s campaign in Paris saw a mix of veteran champions and new faces making history, with standout performances from both shooting and wrestling. Manu Bhaker became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting and secured two medals in the same edition—an unprecedented achievement.
Key Highlights of India’s Performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Manu Bhaker’s Historic Achievements
Manu Bhaker made history by winning two medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, a remarkable feat for the young shooter. She bagged her first bronze in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol event, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. Later, she teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to secure another bronze in the Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol event, making her the first Indian athlete to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.
Shooting: India’s Best-Ever Performance
India’s shooting contingent had its best outing at an Olympics, with three bronze medals in total. Swapnil Kusale added another bronze in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions, rounding off India’s most successful shooting campaign at a single edition of the Games.
| Event | Medals |
|---|---|
| Women’s 10m Air Pistol | Bronze |
| Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol | Bronze |
| Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions | Bronze |
Neeraj Chopra: A Silver for India’s Javelin Superstar
India’s javelin throw sensation, Neeraj Chopra, continued his Olympic success by winning the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Chopra, who had earlier won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, solidified his status as India’s most successful individual Olympian. His consistent throws and calm demeanor under pressure were a source of national pride, even though he narrowly missed defending his gold.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team: Another Bronze Triumph
The Indian men’s hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, replicated their success from Tokyo 2020 by securing a bronze medal in Paris 2024. This marked a continuation of India’s resurgence in international hockey, with a hard-fought victory to claim a podium finish, reaffirming India’s prowess in the sport.
Aman Sehrawat: India’s Youngest Olympic Medallist
Aman Sehrawat emerged as India’s youngest-ever Olympic medallist, winning a bronze in the Men’s Freestyle 57kg Wrestling event. His remarkable agility and resilience at such a young age have made him one of India’s most promising athletes, and his victory is expected to inspire the next generation of Indian wrestlers.
India’s Close Misses at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Despite the six medals, India faced multiple heartbreaks, finishing just outside the podium in several events. Lakshya Sen, Mirabai Chanu, and Manu Bhaker narrowly missed out on medals, while Vinesh Phogat faced a disqualification ahead of what could have been a historic final for India.
India finished fourth in several events, underscoring the growing competitiveness of Indian athletes on the world stage, but also highlighting the fine margins between success and failure at the highest level of sport.
India’s Medal Tally by Sport at Paris 2024 Olympics
| Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Hockey | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Shooting | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Wrestling | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
India’s Olympic Legacy: From Paris 1900 to Paris 2024
India’s journey at the Olympics began at Paris 1900, when Norman Pritchard won two silver medals, marking India’s first appearance on the global stage. Since then, India has steadily improved its performance, with several notable milestones:
- KD Jadhav won India’s first individual medal (bronze in wrestling) at Helsinki 1952.
- Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, securing bronze in weightlifting at Sydney 2000.
- Abhinav Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold in shooting at Beijing 2008.
- Neeraj Chopra secured India’s first-ever gold in athletics at Tokyo 2020.
Paris 2024 Olympics: India’s Position in the Global Medal Tally
India finished 71st in the overall medal standings at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with one silver and five bronze medals. Despite several near-misses, the tally underscored India’s growing competitiveness on the global stage.
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 40 | 44 | 42 | 126 |
| 2 | China | 40 | 27 | 24 | 91 |
| 3 | Japan | 20 | 12 | 13 | 45 |
| 4 | Australia | 18 | 19 | 16 | 53 |
| 6 | France | 16 | 26 | 22 | 64 |
| 71 | India | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
Conclusion: India’s Growing Presence at the Olympics
India’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics reflects the nation’s growing presence in the global sporting arena. With a strong showing in shooting, athletics, and wrestling, India continues to build its legacy at the Olympic Games. As the nation looks ahead to future editions, the focus will be on converting close finishes into podium victories, further strengthening India’s standing in international sport.