Published 14:07 IST, July 10th 2024

2024 Paris Olympics: Will India Shine Brighter This Time? Analyzing Their Performance in Tokyo Games

Before scrutinizing India's contingent for Paris, let's take a look in the past and analyze the Indian contingent's performance in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

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Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu | Image: PTI
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The Paris Olympics are swiftly approaching, and the Indian contingent has great expectations this year. Expectations for gold are at an all-time high, as some of the world's top athletes prepare to visit Paris and represent their countries. Before the Olympics begin, let's take a look at how India fared at the previous Summer Games, held in Tokyo in 2020.

Also Read: 2024 Paris Olympics: Will India shine brighter this year? A look at the country's top medal hopes

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Paris Olympics 2024: Analyzing the Indian contingent's performance in the preceding Tokyo Olympics

2020 marked the hundred years of India sending a contingent to the Olympics as they sent their first-ever representative to send a five-person contingent at the 1920 Antwerp Games. Since then, the country has seen a gradual rise of athletes. India's boom of medals began in the 2008 games when shooter Abhinav Bindra secured the country's first individual gold in the Air Rifle Event (10m). The country has seen a steady rise, but the best effort was at the preceding Olympics in Tokyo when India recorded a new highest medal tally. From Vijender Singh and Sushil Kumar to PV Sindhu and Mary Kom among many others have successfully clinched gold.

But it was the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when India showed potential and fighting spirit. Mirabai Chanu bagged the silver medal in the 49kg weightlifting category and became the first Indian to do so. PV Sindhu also won a bronze to become the first Indian female to win two Olympic medals, with her first one being a silver at the 2016 Rio Games.   

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Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu in action | Image: IWF via PTI
 

The Indian Men's Hockey Team broke a 41-year-old wait for a medal after securing bronze. Even the Women's Hockey Team delivered their best-ever finish for the number four standing.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra Ready To Retain His Gold! Shares First Glimpse From Practice

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But India's best performance was delivered by ace athlete Neeraj Chopra, who secured India's first-ever gold medal in the track and field category. His 87.58m throw at the event helped reach India's medal tally to seven, eclipsing the 2012 London Games' six medal haul. Neeraj also secured India's second individual goal medal.

Olympic Games

Athletes

Medals

Positions

Athens 200473165
Beijing 200857350
London 201283655
Rio 2016117267
Tokyo 2020126748

Although seven podium results gave them plenty of reasons to rejoice, there were a few close finishes outside the top three, and they have been working hard to perform well on the grand stage and exact revenge for the heartbreak of the previous edition. Moreover, India's numbers have gradually increased, which could be a good sign for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

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14:07 IST, July 10th 2024