India's Highlights and Achievements at the Olympic Games 2024
The Paris Olympics 2024 was held from July 26th to August 11th, 2024, with athletes from 206 National Olympic committees along with the IOC Refugee Olympic team participating. The Olympic event this year celebrated global unity, sportsmanship, and athletics excellence. The United States of America stood at the no.1 position with a total of 126 medals (40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze medals), with China at the no.2 position after securing a total of 91 medals (40 gold, 27 silver and 24 bronze). India stood at 71st position with a total of 6 medals(0 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze) out of a total of 84 countries that participated in the Olympics 2024.
Manu Bhaker won the first medal for India by winning a bronze in shooting. She also became the first woman to win an Olympic shooting medal. Later on, she created history by winning another bronze medal in the mixed team 10m pistol bronze along with Sarabjot. Another medal was won by Swapnil Kusale, in the Men's 50m rifle 3 positions sports. Next in line was the hockey team, who also won a bronze medal. Neeraj Chopra won a silver medal in the javelin throw and became the most successful Indian Olympian at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The last in the row to clinch a medal for India was Aman Sehrawat, who is India’s youngest Olympic medalist to win a bronze in wrestling (Men's freestyle 57 kg).
History of the Olympic Games
The history of the Olympic Games started way back over 2000 years ago. It was in 776 BC that the Olympic Games were ever written and recorded. These games would happen every four years to honor God Zeus. In ancient times, these games featured various athletic competitions, including running, wrestling, chariot racing, and many other sports that were exclusive to men. These games held significant cultural and religious festivals which drew audiences from the Greek world.
India’s journey to the Olympics
India made its debut in the Paris Olympics 1900 with just one participant.
Later on, in 1920, India sent its first official contingent, marking an important milestone.
In 1924, at the Olympics, India made its debut in tennis with 5 players.
Then, in the year 1928, India won its first gold medal in Hockey, captained by the talented Dhyan Chand.
This feat made a huge mark in the international sports world, followed by further winning gold medals in hockey in Amsterdam in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932, and Berlin in 1936.
By now, India has become a dominant force in the field of hockey in the world.
Post-independence, India’s Olympic journey continued, whereas in the 1948 Games, India sent its largest contingent of 86 athletes.
In 1952, India clinched its first individual medal in wrestling from Kedhar Jadhav.
Marking a deviation from its usual position, India won bronze in hockey in Mexico in the year 1968.
In 1996, Leander Paes won bronze in men’s singles tennis.
In 2000, Karnam Malleswari became the first woman to win an Olympic bronze medal in weightlifting.
In 2008, Abhinav Bindra won the nation’s first individual gold medal in shooting, setting new standards for Indian sports.
In 2012, at the London Olympics, Saina Nehwal won India’s inaugural badminton Olympic medal. In the same Olympics, Shushil Kumar, Gagan Narang, Vijay Kumar, Mary Kom, and Yogeshar Dutt won a total of 6 medals.
In Rio 2016, only 2 women won Olympic medals; Sakshi Malik and PV Sindhu.
Tokyo 2020 was a historic Olympic rally for India, as they won 7 medals, where the Indian hockey team ended a 41-year-old drought and won a bronze medal. In the same event, Neeraj Chopra clinched a gold medal in the Javelin throw.
As for the Paris Olympics 2024, along with the medal winners, there were many other great performances by our Indian athletes, such as Vinesh Phogat in wrestling, Lakhay Sen in badminton, and Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting. Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification ahead of the finals match due to being overweight by 0.5 grams shattered all the hopes of Indians getting a gold medal in this Olympics. Overall, there was a possibility of winning a total of 69 medals across 16 sports.
India, in total, has won 41 medals in the Olympics till date, which represents a range of expertise and achievements in various sports from hockey, shooting, badminton, boxing, wrestling, and more. The athletes who have brought this glory to India are highly respected and celebrated sports personalities in India.
However, one question that is always under scrutiny is our low number of medals despite being the most populated country in the world. There isn’t just one answer to this question, there are several attributes such as historical and socio-economic challenges, because of which sports were never prioritized. Moreover, Indians have limited access to sports awareness. And we have more affinity towards pursuing and excelling in education over sports. The need is to have adequate investment in sports and sports infrastructure.
The government is now showing signs of improvement in this field by taking various initiatives, such as Khelo India, which is aimed at identifying and nurturing talent in sports, investments, and private sponsorships. Overall, India is on its path of transformation in the field of sports.