Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the accomplishments of the Indian Olympic contingent at the Paris Olympics, calling each athlete a champion during a meeting at his residence on Thursday. He expressed the government’s continued support for sports development, stating, “The Government of India will continue to support sports and ensure that a top-quality sporting infrastructure is built.”
This meeting took place on India’s Independence Day, and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse were also present. Following the meeting, PM Modi tweeted, “It was a delight to interact with the Indian contingent that represented our nation in the Paris Olympics. Heard their experiences from the games and lauded their feats on the sports field.”
Earlier on Independence Day, India’s Olympic medalists were invited as special guests at the Red Fort, a symbolic gesture highlighting their achievements. India’s Paris Olympics campaign resulted in six medals – five bronze and one silver.
A significant highlight was the performance of shooter Manu Bhaker. The 24-year-old secured two medals in the Games, becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to achieve this feat. She earned a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol, making her the first Indian woman to achieve this in the event. Along with Sarabjot Singh, she won another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event, marking India’s first medal in this category. Bhaker narrowly missed out on a third medal, finishing fourth in the women’s 25m pistol event.
Other medalists included Swapnil Kusale, who secured bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3P event, and javelin star Neeraj Chopra, who brought home silver with a throw of 89.45m, though he fell short of defending his Tokyo gold. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat, making his Olympic debut, clinched a bronze medal with a 13-5 victory over Darian Cruz of Puerto Rico.
The men’s hockey team secured back-to-back bronze medals at the Olympics for the first time in 52 years, defeating Spain 2-1. This impressive performance further adds to India’s growing legacy in international sports.
