India’s quest for Olympic glory at the Paris 2024 Games concluded with the country winning six medals, but the elusive gold medal remained out of reach. The Indian contingent, comprising athletes across various disciplines, brought home four silver and two bronze medals, marking a commendable but bittersweet campaign.
Silver medals
The four silver medals were achieved in different sports, reflecting the country’s growing prowess in multiple disciplines. The Indian men’s hockey team, which had rekindled hopes of gold, ultimately settled for silver after a hard-fought final against Australia. This result, while disappointing, underscored the resurgence of Indian hockey on the global stage.
In athletics, Neeraj Chopra once again demonstrated his consistency by winning a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw. Chopra, who had won India’s only gold in Tokyo 2020, was unable to replicate that success in Paris, but his performance remained a highlight of India’s campaign.
Boxing also contributed to the silver tally, with Lovlina Borgohain securing her second Olympic medal, this time in a higher weight category. Borgohain, who had won bronze in Tokyo, moved up to the middleweight division and delivered a stellar performance, narrowly missing out on the top podium spot.
The final silver medal came from wrestling, with Bajrang Punia repeating his Tokyo performance in the men’s freestyle category. Punia, a seasoned campaigner, fought valiantly but was edged out in the final bout, adding another silver to his decorated career.
Bronze medals
India’s two bronze medals were claimed in shooting and weightlifting. In shooting, the mixed team event in the 10m air pistol saw India securing a bronze after a closely contested final round. This medal was a testament to the depth and skill present in the Indian shooting contingent, which has been consistently performing at international levels.
In weightlifting, Mirabai Chanu, who had earlier won a silver in Tokyo, added a bronze to her Olympic medal tally in the 49kg category. Chanu’s performance was marked by determination, as she lifted her way onto the podium, reaffirming her status as one of India’s top athletes.
A campaign of mixed fortunes
India’s overall performance at the Paris Olympics highlighted both progress and areas needing improvement. While the country matched its previous best medal tally from Tokyo 2020, the absence of a gold medal was a significant miss. The athletes showed resilience and skill across various sports, but the narrow misses in several events left a lingering sense of what could have been.
The focus now shifts to the future, with the Paris experience offering valuable lessons for athletes and sports administrators alike. The hope remains that with continued investment and support, India will soon overcome the final hurdle and secure the gold medals that have so far remained elusive on the grandest stage of all.
