New Delhi: With less than a week left for the Paris Olympics 2024 to get underway, there is a sense of optimism as India have named a 117-strong contingent for the showpiece event. The Indian athletes will be looking to make their campaign a memorable one and better country’s medal tally from the last edition in Tokyo. India recorded their best-ever show at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 with a total of seven medals, including one gold.
India surpassed their previous best of six medals from the 2012 London Olympics to create history in Tokyo. The athletes will be hoping to not only match the tally from Tokyo but beat it with their performances in the Paris Games. From golden boy Neeraj Chopra to the likes of PV Sindhu and Mirabi Chanu, India’s medal winners from the Tokyo Games will spearhead the country’s challenge in Paris this year.
Ahead of the start of India’s campaign at the Paris Olympics 2024 which gets underway on Wednesday, July 24, here is a look back at India’s performance at the last edition of the Games in Tokyo.
Mirabai Chanu scripted History on Day 1
India scripted history on their first day at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 after weightlifter Mirabi Chanu opened the country’s tally with a silver medal in the women’s 49kg category. Chanu became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal at the Olympics as India bagged a medal on the first day of the Games for the first time in history.
Her silver set the tone for India for the rest of the tournament as the athletes went on to shatter the all time record for most medals in a single edition.
Lovlina Borgohain won bronze in boxing
Lovlina Borgohain bit a piece of history on her Olympics debut as the boxer won the bronze medal in the women’s 69kg category. Borgohain became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing. She defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-Chin to make it to the semi-finals and confirm a medal. Borgohain failed to make it to the final but her bronze medal was a significant moment in Indian women’s boxing.
PV Sindhu achieved elite feat
Ace shuttler PV Sindhu failed to replicate her heorics from the Rio Olympics where she made it to the final. Nonethless, she once again finished on the podium as he bagged a bronze medal in women’s singles. She defeated China’s He Bingjiao in the bronze medal match to win her second Olympic medal after her silver at the Rio Games.
Sindhu achieved a mammoth feat as she became the first Indian shuttler to win two medals at the Olympics and only the second athlete after wrestler Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals. Sindhu will be bidding to become India’s most successful Olympian by adding a third medal to her cabinet in Paris this year.
Ravi Dahiya’s rise, Bajrang Punia clinched bronze
Ravi Dahiya witnessed a meteoric rise in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as he won a silver medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling. The expectations were not high from Dahiya, who was competing in his maiden Olympics. However, he punched above his weight to defeat a much superior opponent in Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev in the semi-final to confirm a spot in the final. He failed to beat Russia’s Zavur Uguev in the final but won a silver medal.
Senior wrestler Bajrang Punia headed into the Tokyo Olympics as one of the favourites for a medal and didn’t disappoint as he returned home with a bronze medal in the men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling. Punia lost in the semi-final against Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliyev but bounced back to beat Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov in the bronze medal match. He bagged India’s second medal in wrestling at the event.
Both Dahiya and Punia will not be taking part in the Paris Olympics 2024 as they didn’t qualify for the Games.
Indian hockey team ended a 41-year-long wait
The Indian men’s hockey team ended a 41-year-long wait for a medal at the Olympics by bagging bronze at the Tokyo Games. The Manpreet Singh-led side beat Germany in the bronze medal match under former head coach Graham Reid to win their first Olympic medal since 1980. India defeated Germany 5-4 in a goal-fest in the bronze medal match.
Neeraj Chopra won historic gold in men’s javelin
Neeraj Chopra scripted history at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as he became the first Indian to win an individual gold medal in athletics and track and field. Neeraj defeated the likes of Johannes Vetter, Jakub Vadlejch and Julian Weber among others with his best effort of 87.58m in the final to finish on the top of the podium in men’s javelin throw.
It was India’s only gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as Neeraj etched his name in history by becoming only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. Neeraj has been unstoppable ever since and has won multiple laurels for the nation while competing in major events.
Neeraj is not only the reigning Olympic champion but also the reigning world champion in men’s javelin final and will be looking to defend his title in Paris.
Neeraj Chopra scripted history by becoming the first Indian to clinch gold medal in track and field at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 while PV Sindhu won bronze medal in women’s singles to become the first Indian shuttler to win multiple medals at the Games. Here is a look back at India’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
