Paris (France): With the conclusion of the closing ceremony on Sunday, the world's biggest sporting extravaganza, the Paris 2024 Olympics, has come to an end. It has been a record-breaking event in terms of crowd attendance, athletes' performances, medal wins, etc. So, as the Paris Games are concluded, let's take a look at the medals tally and understand which country has done best and where India stands.
India didn't have a tournament to remember as at least six players missed out on a medal by the nearest margin, finishing fourth in their respective events. Neeraj Chopra had to settle for silver after Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem registered his personal best with a throw of 92.97m, and Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from women's 50kg freestyle wrestling was nothing short of a heartbreak. However, with Vinesh's appeal being accepted by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), the hope of equalling the country's previous best in terms of medals remains high. Notably, a contingent of 117 Indian athletes had competed for medals in the Paris Games this year.
Manu Bhaker clinched India's first medal at these Games, earning bronze and becoming the first Indian woman to medal in Olympic shooting. She then made history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic edition, following her mixed team 10m air pistol bronze with Sarabjot Singh. Her medal with Sarabjot was also the country's first team medal in shooting. Swapnil Kusale contributed a third medal in shooting, marking India's largest haul in this sport at a single Olympics. It was India's first-ever medal in the 50 m rifle three positions.
The Indian men's hockey team repeated their Tokyo 2020 success by securing bronze in Paris. Neeraj Chopra further enhanced his Olympic legacy, claiming silver in the javelin throw and becoming the most successful individual Olympian from India. Aman Sehrawat added to the tally, becoming India's youngest Olympic medallist with a bronze.