Indian Olympic Medal Winners
India’s journey in the Olympics has evolved remarkably from its early days to the present, with the country making significant strides across various sports. While India’s Olympic debut occurred in 1900, its true rise began much later, with athletes from different disciplines achieving glory.
K.D. Jadhav became the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal in 1952, securing a bronze in wrestling. This breakthrough was crucial in encouraging future generations of athletes in individual sports.
| Year | Athlete/Team | Medal | Sport | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | Norman Pritchard | Silver | Athletics | 200m, 200m hurdles |
| 1928 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1932 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1936 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1948 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1952 | K.D. Jadhav | Bronze | Wrestling | Bantamweight |
| 1952 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1956 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1960 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Silver | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1964 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1968 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Bronze | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1972 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Bronze | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1980 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 1996 | Leander Paes | Bronze | Tennis | Men’s Singles |
| 2000 | Karnam Malleswari | Bronze | Weightlifting | Women’s 69kg |
| 2004 | Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore | Silver | Shooting | Men’s Double Trap |
| 2008 | Abhinav Bindra | Gold | Shooting | Men’s 10m Air Rifle |
| 2008 | Vijender Singh | Bronze | Boxing | Middleweight |
| 2008 | Sushil Kumar | Bronze | Wrestling | Men’s 66kg Freestyle |
| 2012 | Gagan Narang | Bronze | Shooting | Men’s 10m Air Rifle |
| 2012 | Vijay Kumar | Silver | Shooting | Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol |
| 2012 | Saina Nehwal | Bronze | Badminton | Women’s Singles |
| 2012 | Mary Kom | Bronze | Boxing | Women’s Flyweight |
| 2012 | Yogeshwar Dutt | Bronze | Wrestling | Men’s 60kg Freestyle |
| 2012 | Sushil Kumar | Silver | Wrestling | Men’s 66kg Freestyle |
| 2016 | P.V. Sindhu | Silver | Badminton | Women’s Singles |
| 2016 | Sakshi Malik | Bronze | Wrestling | Women’s 58kg Freestyle |
| 2020 | Neeraj Chopra | Gold | Athletics | Men’s Javelin Throw |
| 2020 | Ravi Kumar Dahiya | Silver | Wrestling | Men’s 57kg Freestyle |
| 2020 | Mirabai Chanu | Silver | Weightlifting | Women’s 49kg |
| 2020 | Lovlina Borgohain | Bronze | Boxing | Women’s Welterweight |
| 2020 | Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Bronze | Hockey | Men’s Team |
| 2020 | P.V. Sindhu | Bronze | Badminton | Women’s Singles |
| 2020 | Bajrang Punia | Bronze | Wrestling | Men’s 65kg Freestyle |
| 2024 | Neeraj Chopra | Gold | Athletics | Men’s Javelin Throw |
| 2024 | Mirabai Chanu | Silver | Weightlifting | Women’s 49kg |
| 2024 | Amit Panghal | Bronze | Boxing | Men’s Flyweight |
The 1996 Turning Point: Leander Paes
India’s individual medal drought ended after a long gap when Leander Paes won a bronze in tennis at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. His success opened doors for Indian athletes to pursue other sports, showing that individual excellence could shine on the Olympic stage.
The 2000s: Rise in Individual Sports
Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal with a bronze in weightlifting in 2000. The 2000s also saw a boost in shooting, with Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore winning silver in shooting at the 2004 Athens Olympics and Abhinav Bindra claiming India’s first-ever individual gold in 2008 in the 10m air rifle event.
This era marked India’s increased investment in sports beyond cricket, with multiple disciplines gaining traction.
The 2010s: A New Era of Indian Sports
The 2012 London Olympics were a high point for India, with a total of six medals across wrestling, boxing, badminton, and shooting. Prominent medalists like Sushil Kumar, Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, and Gagan Narang became household names, further increasing the visibility of these sports.
P.V. Sindhu and Sakshi Malik became iconic figures after winning silver and bronze, respectively, at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Sindhu’s performance in badminton, in particular, made her a global star and an inspiration for young Indian athletes.
The 2020 and 2024 Olympics: India’s Golden Moments
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics were a historic moment for India, thanks to Neeraj Chopra, who won the country’s first-ever gold medal in athletics with a stellar performance in javelin throw. India finished the games with seven medals, its highest tally in history, marking a significant leap in its Olympic performance. Other notable winners included Mirabai Chanu (silver in weightlifting), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver in wrestling), and the Indian men’s hockey team, which won a bronze, ending a 41-year medal drought.
In 2024, Neeraj Chopra continued his dominance in javelin throw, winning another gold, while athletes like Amit Panghal (boxing) and Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting) continued to bring home medals, solidifying India’s reputation as a rising force in the Olympics.
Conclusion
India’s Olympic journey has been a story of perseverance, from early hockey dominance to breakthroughs in individual sports. The country’s consistent rise, especially since the 2000s, indicates a bright future for Indian athletes on the global stage. With increased support and infrastructure for sports, India’s Olympic medal tally is expected to grow in the coming years, inspiring a new generation of athletes.
