Despite sending a strong contingent, India returned with just six medals, leaving fans and athletes alike wondering what went wrong
NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic contingent returned from the Paris 2024 Olympics with a disappointing haul of six medals, a silver and five bronze, leaving fans and athletes alike to ponder what went wrong. The team had high hopes of breaking the double-digit mark, but it seems that near misses and unmet expectations were the order of the day.
Manu Bhaker became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal, while Swapnil Kusale added a third medal to make it India’s biggest haul in a sport in a single edition of the Olympics. The Indian men’s hockey team matched their Tokyo 2020 success with a bronze medal, while Neeraj Chopra became the most successful individual Olympian with a silver medal in the javelin throw event.
However, it was also a story of heartbreaks as several Indian athletes came agonisingly close to winning medals but fell short. Lakshya Sen in badminton, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, and Manu Bhaker in women’s 25m Pistol shooting all finished fourth in their respective events.
Legendary shuttler Prakash Padukone called for athletes to take responsibility for their performances, sparking a mixed reaction from top athletes. The sports ministry had spent crores on training, overseas exposure trips, and hired foreign coaches, but it seems that some athletes failed to deliver.
The wrestling contingent was also plagued by controversy as Vinesh Phogat was disqualified due to weight issues, while Antim Panghal struggled to make the medal rounds after starving for 48 hours. The Indian Olympic Association has defended its Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala and his team against allegations of neglecting weight management.
As the Indian Olympic contingent heads back home, there is a need for serious introspection into where they fell short of reaching the magical double-digit mark. Can they redeem themselves at the LA 2028 Olympics? Only time will tell.

KR Desk