India’s Olympic contingent travelled to Paris with high expectations, aiming to surpass the seven medals won in Tokyo. While they achieved a respectable six medals, the absence of a gold medal was a significant setback, leading to a 71st position on the medals table. The absence of a gold medal from Neeraj Chopra, who won in Tokyo, impacted the overall ranking. India had a strong showing in several events, including shooting, wrestling, and hockey. However, disappointment struck in badminton, marking the first time in four Olympics that India failed to secure a medal. The men’s hockey team brought joy with a bronze medal win. Beyond the more popular events, India participated in less traditional sports like equestrian, with Anush Agarwalla becoming the first Indian to compete in dressage. However, he missed the medal round.
In archery, Deepika Kumari, a decorated athlete with numerous international medals, fell short once again, losing in the quarterfinals. Bhajan Kaur and Ankita Bhakat also competed in archery, with Bhajan reaching the round of 16, but both falling short of a medal. Similarly, the men’s archery team, despite being seeded third, lost to Turkey in the quarterfinals. Dhiraj Bommadevara made it to the second round individually, while Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav were eliminated in the first round. The mixed team event saw a close call, with Dhiraj and Bhakat finishing fourth after losing the bronze-medal match.
Tennis also saw disappointment with Sumit Nagal and Rohan Bopanna/Sriram Balaji failing to advance past the first round. Judo saw Tulika Maan lose in the first round to Cuban veteran Idalys Ortiz. In golf, Aditi Ashok, who had come close to a medal in Tokyo, finished tied for 29th place, while other Indian golfers also fell short of the podium.
India’s sole entry in rowing, Balraj Panwar, finished 23rd. In sailing, Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumaran secured 18th and 21st places respectively. In swimming, Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu were eliminated after the heats. Despite a tradition of success in weightlifting, Mirabai Chanu, who won silver in Tokyo, could only secure fourth place in Paris.
The Paris Olympics presented a mix of achievements and setbacks for India, highlighting both areas of strength and opportunity for improvement. The team’s efforts and dedication will continue to shape India’s journey in the global sporting arena.
