The Paris 2024 Olympics marked a bittersweet chapter for India, as the contingent returned with six medals, including one silver and five bronze, but fell short of claiming a single gold. Despite sending 117 athletes across various events, India finished 71st in the medal standings, with the United States leading the tally with 126 medals.
One of the standout stories from the Paris Olympics was the remarkable rise of shooter Manu Bhaker, who made history by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two Olympic medals in a single Games. Bhaker opened India’s medal tally by securing a bronze in the women’s individual 10m air pistol event, becoming the first-ever Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal. She followed up with another bronze alongside Sarabjot Singh in the mixed 10m air pistol event, marking India’s first-ever shooting team medal. However, Bhaker narrowly missed a third medal, finishing fourth in the women’s 25m pistol event.
Other notable performances included Swapnil Kusale, who clinched a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, becoming the first Indian to medal in this category. Neeraj Chopra, India’s “golden boy,” secured a silver in the men’s javelin throw, falling short of defending his title, as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem claimed the gold with a new Olympic record.
The Indian men’s hockey team made history by winning back-to-back bronze medals, their first in 52 years, after defeating Spain 2-1. Another highlight came in wrestling, where debutant Aman Sehrawat bagged a bronze in the men’s 57kg freestyle, becoming the seventh Indian wrestler to medal at the Olympics.
Despite these successes, India experienced significant disappointments, missing out on six potential medals. Lakshya Sen, Mirabai Chanu, and Manu Bhaker all finished fourth in their events, while the mixed archery duo of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat made history by becoming the first Indian archers to reach an Olympic medal match, though they ultimately lost the bronze medal bout.
Other setbacks included Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who failed to secure a medal in men’s doubles badminton despite strong performances. PV Sindhu, aiming for a third consecutive Olympic medal, fell short, and veteran archer Deepika Kumari also left Paris empty-handed, despite her extensive success in non-Olympic events. Boxers Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, both high hopes for India, were unable to secure medals, while Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification just before a historic final added to the nation’s disappointments.
India participated in 69 medal events across 16 sports at the Paris Olympics, but the Games also revealed the challenges faced by Indian athletes on the global stage.
Historically, India’s Olympic journey has seen significant achievements, starting with Norman Pritchard’s two silver medals at the 1900 Paris Olympics. The nation’s best-ever performance came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where India won seven medals, including one gold. The Paris 2024 Games will be remembered for both its highs and lows, as India continues its quest for Olympic glory.