Olympic Medalists in India: 5 Inspiring Heroes of Success

Published on March 3, 2025
|
6 Min read time

Table of Contents

Many countries compete in the Olympic Games every year. This article is about the Olympic medalists in India 2024 winners and their gold medal winners in the Olympics.

Interesting Facts about Olympic medalists in India

India has been one of the top favorite countries to watch the Olympics since 1948.

  • An Olympic medalist in India won a gold medal for the first time in 1948.
  • In 1951, the Olympic medalist in India got a second gold medal.
  • In 1964, Indian sportspeople were awarded a third gold medal and a silver medal each.
  • India has since won 41 medals across 25 Olympic Games.
  • India ranked 71st in the Olympics in 2024.

Overall, Olympic medalists in India have so far won 796 medals in various competitions, including

  • One bronze at the London 2012 Games,
  • One bronze and one silver in Rio 2016,
  • Two bronze medals each in the Beijing

List of Olympic Medalists in India in Paris 2024

No.AthleteEventSportMedal
1Manu BhakerWomen’s 10m air pistolShootingBronze
2Manu Bhaker-Sarabjot SinghMixed team 10m air pistolShootingBronze
3Swapnil KusaleMen’s 50m rifle 3 positionsShootingBronze
4Team IndiaMen’s eventHockeyBronze
5Neeraj ChopraMen’s javelin throwAthleticsSilver
6Aman SehrawatMen’s freestyle 57kgWrestlingBronze

Vineshn Phogat’s Case- A Brief

Vinesh stormed into the women’s 50kg final after three stunning wins. She defeated reigning Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba in the semi-finals after getting the better of former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, she was disqualified as she was 100 grams over the weight limit.

She has three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and a gold medal at the Asian Games. As one of India’s celebrated Olympic Medalists, she has consistently showcased her talent on the global stage. However, on August 14, the Court of Arbitration for Sports denied wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s petition for a shared silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

List of Olympic Medalists in India in Tokyo 2020

In the javelin throw final in Tokyo, Neeraj Chopra won India’s first gold medal in athletics in history. Here are some of the prominent Olympic medalists Results in India from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

No.PlayerAchievements
1Neeraj ChopraGold medal in Men’s Javelin throw
2Mirabai ChanuSilver medal in women’s 49kg weightlifting
3Ravi Kumar DahiyaSilver medal in men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling
4PV SindhuBronze medal in women’s singles badminton
5Lovlina BorgohainBronze medal in women’s welterweight boxing
6Bajrang PuniaBronze medal in men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling
7Men’s hockey teamBronze medal

List of Indian Olympic Medalists Who Won Gold Medals: Year, Venue, Competition, etc

India has won 10 gold medals at the Olympics since the 1900 edition. Here’s a brief about each of the Olympic India medal winners and notable sports figures:

Year & VenueMedalCaptain
1928 – AmsterdamGoldJaipal Singh
1932 – Los AngelesGoldLal Bokhari
1936 – berlinGoldDhyanchand
1948 – LondonGoldKishan Lal
1952 – HelsinkiGoldK.D. Singh
1956 – MelbourneGoldBalbir Singh Sr
1964 – TokyoGoldCharanjit Singh
1980 – MoscowGoldVasudevan Bhaskaran
2008-BeijingGoldAbhinav Bindra
2021-TokyoGoldNeeraj Chopra – Javelin throw

What is the Paralympics?

The Paralympics is a significant international sporting event specifically designed for athletes with disabilities. Held every four years after the Olympic Games, it features a diverse array of sports tailored for individuals with various physical and intellectual challenges. Like Olympic Medalists, Paralympic athletes exemplify dedication, resilience, and excellence on the global stage.

Organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the games include competitors with conditions such as amputations, visual impairments, and cerebral palsy, among others. The event aims to promote inclusivity, celebrate the capabilities of athletes with disabilities, and foster a shift in societal attitudes toward disability. The inaugural official Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960. Since then, the event has expanded considerably, encompassing more sports and attracting a greater number of countries and athletes. Beyond showcasing athletic talent, the Paralympics highlight the importance of accessibility and equality in the world of sports, standing alongside the achievements of Olympic Medalists in inspiring future generations.

Since the Paralympic Games began in 1960, 16 Summer Paralympic Games were held in 17 separate cities, and 14 Winter Paralympic Games were held in 14 separate cities.

For this year, the Paralympics is scheduled for 28 August 2024 to 8 September 2024 in Paris, France.

Paralympics Medalists 2024

Paralympics Medalists 2024

Having competed in 12 editions of the Paralympic Games since its introduction in 1960, India has won 60 medals, including 16 golds, 21 silvers, and 23 bronze. These achievements reflect the dedication and perseverance of Indian para-athletes, who continue to make the nation proud alongside Olympic Medalists.

Paris 2024 was India’s most successful Paralympic Games ever, with a historic 29 medals, including seven golds. India secured 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze medals, achieving its best-ever performance at a single edition of the Paralympic Games. This milestone highlights India’s growing excellence in both the Olympics and Paralympics, showcasing the nation’s rising dominance in global sports.

This remarkable feat highlights India’s growing dominance in para-sports, showcasing the resilience, determination, and exceptional talent of Indian para-athletes. Government support, improved training facilities, and initiatives like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) have significantly contributed to this success. Athletes such as Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil, and Mariyappan Thangavelu have been instrumental in bringing glory to the nation.

With this upward trajectory, India’s Paralympic future looks even more promising, inspiring the next generation of athletes to pursue excellence on the global stage.

PlayerMedalSportCategoryYear
Avani LekharaGoldShootingWomen’s 10m air rifle standing SH1Paris 2024
Mona AgarwalBronzeShootingWomen’s 10m air rifle standing SH1Paris 2024
Preethi PalBronzeAthleticsWomen’s 100m T35Paris 2024
Manish NarwalSilverShootingMen’s 10m air pistol SH1Paris 2024
Rubina FrancisBronzeShootingWomen’s 10m Air Pistol SH1Paris 2024
Preethi PalBronzeAthleticsWomen’s 200m T35Paris 2024
Nishad KumarSilverAthleticsMen’s high jump T47Paris 2024
Yogesh KathuniyaSilverAthleticsMen’s discus throw F56Paris 2024
Nitesh KumarGoldBadmintonMen’s singles SL3Paris 2024
Manisha RamadassBronzeBadmintonWomen’s singles SU5Paris 2024
Thulasimathi MurugesanSilverBadmintonWomen’s singles SU5Paris 2024
Suhas YathirajSilverBadmintonMen’s singles SL4Paris 2024
Rakesh Kumar / Sheetal DeviBronzeArcheryMixed team compound openParis 2024
Sumit AntilGoldAthleticsMen’s javelin throw F64Paris 2024
Nithya Sre SivanBronzeBadmintonWomen’s singles SH6Paris 2024
Deepthi JeevanjiBronzeAthleticsWomen’s 400m T20Paris 2024
Sharad KumarSilverAthleticsMen’s high jump T63Paris 2024
Mariyappan ThangaveluBronzeAthleticsMen’s high jump T63Paris 2024
Ajeet SinghSilverAthleticsMen’s javelin throw F46Paris 2024
Sundar Singh GurjarBronzeAthleticsMen’s javelin throw F46Paris 2024
Sachin KhilariSilverAthleticsMen’s shot put F46Paris 2024
Harvinder SinghGoldArcheryMen’s individual recurve openParis 2024
DharambirGoldAthleticsMen’s club throw 51Paris 2024
Pranav SoormaSilverAthleticsMen’s club throw 51Paris 2024
Kapil ParmarBronze JudoMen’s -60kg J1Paris 2024
Praveen KumarGoldAthleticsMen’s high jump T64Paris 2024
Hokato Hotozhe SemaBronzeAthleticsMen’s shot put F57Paris 2024
Simran BronzeAthleticsWomen’s 200m T12Paris 2024
Navdeep SinghGoldAthleticsMen’s javelin throw F41Paris 2024

Olympic medals by the numbers:

Olympic Medals by the Numbers

For the Paris Games, around 5,084 medals have been crafted, with 2,600 for the Olympics and 2,400 for the Paralympics. Each medal carries a special touch—18 grams of iron from the Eiffel Tower’s renovation scraps have been incorporated into them.

When it comes to weight, a gold medal weighs 529 grams (1.17 pounds), slightly heavier than a silver medal at 525 grams (1.16 pounds). Meanwhile, bronze medals are the lightest, weighing 455 grams (1 pound). These medals are a symbol of the dedication and hard work of Olympic Medalists, who push their limits to achieve greatness on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Indian Olympic medalists of the Paris Olympics 2024 have not only showcased exceptional talent and determination but have also ignited a sense of pride and inspiration across the nation.

Their remarkable achievements reflect years of hard work, dedication, and resilience, serving as a testament to the growing prowess of Indian gold medalist athletes on the global stage. As we celebrate their victories, it’s essential to recognize the support systems, training facilities, and grassroots initiatives that have contributed to their success. India’s Olympic Medalists have showcased outstanding performances, inspiring millions. With the total gold medals won by India in Olympics till now reflecting our sporting evolution, we can anticipate a brighter future for Indian sports, encouraging the next generation to dream big and strive for excellence. We look forward to witnessing even greater accomplishments in the years to come.

olympic medalist in india

You can also read our blogs on:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How Many Medals India Win in the Olympics in 2021?

Ans. India won 7 medals in the Olympics 2021 held in Tokyo: 1 gold medal by Neeraj Chopra, two silver medals by Mirabai Chanu & Ravi Kumar Dahiya, and four bronze medals by PV Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain, Bajrang Punia, Men’s Hockey Team. This was India’s best Olympic medal haul ever since 1900.

Q2. Who Won India’s First Olympic Medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020??

Ans. India sent 124 athletes to the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021), which set a new record. India earned a medal on the first day of an Olympics for the first time as Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting division in the 2021 Olympics.

Q3. How many golds did India win in the Olympics?

Ans. Indian Gold Medal Winners List of the Olympics. India has 10 Olympic gold medals to its name. Eight of them belong to the men’s hockey squad. Neeraj Chopra is the second individual Olympic champion after Abhinav Bindra.

Q4. Who is the first Olympic gold medalist in India?

Ans. Abhinav Bindra was the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. The first individual gold medalist from India said, “Relief floods my thoughts.” It’s the first feeling when four years of work have paid off.

Q5. Who were the first Indian women to win an Olympic medal?

Ans. Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari cemented her place in Olympic and Indian sports history at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. She won the bronze medal after lifting 110 kg in the “snatch” and 130 kg in the “clean and jerk” for a total of 240 kg, making her India’s first Olympic medalist.

Q6.Which country has won the most Olympic medals in history?

The United States holds the record for the most Olympic medals in history, with over 2,900 total medals, including the highest number of gold medals.

Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor

Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.

Editor's Recommendations