At the Paris 2024 Olympics, India competed with 117 athletes and won six medals: one silver and five bronze. Key achievements included Manu Bhaker’s historic first shooting medal for Indian women and Neeraj Chopra’s silver in javelin. However, the Games also saw missed opportunities and disqualifications, underscoring challenges alongside impressive performances.
The Paris 2024 Olympics saw a total of 117 Indian athletes competing from July 26 to August 11, resulting in India securing six medals: one silver and five bronze. The standout performance was by Manu Bhaker, who not only won a bronze medal in individual shooting but also made history with another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh, marking her as the first Indian woman to achieve such a feat.
In addition to Bhaker’s achievements, Swapnil Kusale’s medal brought the shooting tally to three, a record for India in that sport in a single Olympic event. The Indian men’s hockey team replicated their success from Tokyo 2020 by earning a bronze, while Neeraj Chopra made headlines again by winning silver in javelin throw, becoming the most successful individual Olympian for India.
The Olympics were also marked by Aman Sehrawat’s triumph in wrestling, making him India’s youngest Olympic medallist with his bronze. Unfortunately, darker moments overshadowed these achievements, with significant missed opportunities, including four fourth-place finishes from competitors like Lakshya Sen and Mirabai Chanu, as well as Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification before a crucial final.
Indian participation extended across 69 events in 16 sports, including archery, athletics, and badminton. Notable returning Olympians included Neeraj Chopra, PV Sindhu, and Lovlina Borgohain amongst others, all of whom contributed to India’s growing presence in the Olympic medal tally. Historically, India has amassed a total of 41 Olympic medals, with the first being Norman Pritchard’s dual silver at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900.
Men’s hockey has been the most prolific contributor to India’s Olympic success with 13 total medals, including eight golds, followed closely by wrestling at eight medals. The pinnacle of India’s Olympic performance occurred during the Tokyo 2020 Games, where the contingent achieved its best-ever medal haul of seven, including one gold.
In summary, the Paris 2024 Olympics yielded six medals for India, showcasing remarkable performances in shooting, hockey, and wrestling. While there were significant achievements, including historic milestones for athletes like Manu Bhaker and Neeraj Chopra, there were also notable disappointments with missed podium finishes. The overall experience highlighted the strength and potential of Indian athletes on the global stage as the nation continues to build its Olympic legacy.
Original Source: www.olympics.com
