On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Indian athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics, recognizing each participant as a champion. He reiterated the government’s dedication to supporting sports and fostering top-tier sports infrastructure. As part of the Republic Day celebrations, the Indian contingent from the recently concluded Paris Olympics was invited to the Red Fort. Following the festivities, PM Modi met with the athletes at his residence, where the Indian men’s hockey team presented him with a signed jersey and hockey stick.
Through his social media channels, PM Modi shared images from his interaction with the hockey team and other members of the Indian contingent. He commended their accomplishments and emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to sports development. India finished the Paris Olympics with a commendable six medals, including five bronze and one silver.
The Indian men’s hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, achieved a historic feat by securing back-to-back bronze medals for the first time in 52 years. This accomplishment followed a thrilling 2-1 victory over Spain in the bronze medal match.
In shooting, Manu Bhaker created history by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics. This extraordinary achievement was previously held by Norman Pritchard at the 1900 Paris Games. Bhaker won a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, making her the first Indian woman shooter to secure a medal in this category. She further solidified her position by winning another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event alongside Sarabjot Singh, marking India’s first-ever medal in this event. Manu narrowly missed a hat-trick of Olympic medals, finishing fourth in the women’s 25m pistol shooting event.
Swapnil Kusale secured a bronze medal for India in the men’s 50m rifle 3P event. India’s javelin ace, Neeraj Chopra, while unable to defend his Tokyo gold medal, earned a silver with a throw of 89.45m. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat, making his Olympic debut, won a bronze medal by defeating Darian Cruz of Puerto Rico 13-5. These impressive achievements showcased the talent and dedication of Indian athletes on the world stage.
