India at the 2024 Olympics: Celebrating Our Athletes

Introduction

The 2024 Paris Olympics was a landmark event for India, with athletes breaking new ground and achieving historic milestones across multiple sports. India’s performance at the Paris Olympics 2024 was nothing short of impressive, securing a total of six medals, comprising one silver and five bronze. This marked India’s third-best performance at the Summer Games, following Tokyo 2020 and London 2012.

Standout Achievements

Shooting: A Historic Haul Shooting emerged as India’s most successful sport at the Paris Olympics, with a record-breaking three medals. Manu Bhaker became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting, securing a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event. She then partnered with Sarabjot Singh to win another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol, making her the first Indian athlete to win two medals at a single Olympic Games. Swapnil Kusale also made history by winning India’s first-ever Olympic medal in the 50m rifle three positions event. This marked the first time India secured three medals in a single sport at any Olympic Games.

Javelin Throw: Neeraj Chopra’s Consistent Excellence Neeraj Chopra continued his Olympic success by winning a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw with an effort of 89.45 meters. This made him the only Indian athlete to win two individual medals in athletics at the Summer Games, adding to his gold from Tokyo 2020. His consistent performances have further solidified his status as one of India’s greatest athletes.

Hockey: A Return to Glory The Indian men’s hockey team matched their success from Tokyo 2020 by winning another bronze medal. This marked the first time India secured back-to-back Olympic medals in hockey in 52 years, since Munich 1972. The team also achieved a long-awaited victory over Australia, defeating them in Olympic competition for the first time since the Munich Games in 1972.

Wrestling: Aman Sehrawat’s Historic Win Aman Sehrawat became India’s youngest Olympic medalist, earning a bronze in the Men’s Freestyle 57 kg category at the age of 21. His victory marked a significant milestone for Indian wrestling and inspired a new generation of athletes.

Other Notable Performances

Archery: Best-Ever Result Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat achieved India’s best-ever result in Olympic archery by finishing fourth in the mixed-team event. They narrowly missed a historic win, losing 6-2 to the USA’s Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold in the bronze medal match. This was the first time an Indian archery team had reached the semi-finals in any Olympic event.

Table Tennis: Breaking Barriers Manika Batra became the first Indian table tennis player to reach the pre-quarterfinals of the Olympics, a feat matched by her compatriot Sreeja Akula. Their performances highlighted the growing prominence of table tennis in India.

Badminton: New Heights Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen made history by achieving the best result for Indian men in badminton at the Paris Olympics. He became the first Indian male badminton player to reach the semi-finals of the men’s singles competition.

Celebrating the Journey

The success of India’s athletes at the 2024 Olympics is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and perseverance. It also reflects the growing investment in sports infrastructure and athlete development programs in the country. The government’s initiatives, such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), have played a crucial role in providing financial assistance, world-class training, and international exposure to top athletes.

As India celebrates its achievements at the 2024 Olympics, it is important to recognize the journeys of these standout athletes. Their stories inspire millions of young Indians to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence in sports. The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered as a significant milestone in India’s sporting history, paving the way for future generations to achieve even greater heights.