India’s journey at the Olympic Games is a story of determination, pride, and remarkable achievements. From winning its first medal in 1900 to shining in hockey dominance and excelling in modern disciplines, India’s Olympic history is filled with milestones that inspire generations.
India’s First Olympic Medal
India made its Olympic debut at the 1900 Paris Games, thanks to Norman Pritchard, an athlete of Indian origin. He won two silver medals in athletics—200m and 200m hurdles—becoming the first Asian to win an Olympic medal.
The Golden Era of Hockey
When people talk about India at the Olympics, hockey glory shines the brightest.
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India won its first team gold medal in 1928 (Amsterdam), defeating the Netherlands.
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From 1928 to 1956, India won six consecutive gold medals in men’s hockey, dominating the sport with legends like Dhyan Chand, known as the “Wizard of Hockey.”
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In total, Indian men’s hockey has won 8 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals, making it the country’s most successful Olympic sport.
Expanding Beyond Hockey
For decades, hockey was India’s only Olympic strength. But slowly, athletes in other sports began to break barriers:
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Leander Paes won a bronze medal in tennis (1996, Atlanta).
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Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal with bronze in weightlifting (2000, Sydney).
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Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore secured a silver in shooting (2004, Athens), opening the doors for future shooting stars.
India’s First Individual Gold
In 2008 (Beijing), Abhinav Bindra created history by winning India’s first-ever individual gold medal in shooting (10m Air Rifle). This was a turning point, inspiring a new wave of athletes.
London 2012: India’s Best Performance (at the time)
The 2012 London Olympics became India’s most successful edition with six medals:
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Silver: Sushil Kumar (wrestling), Vijay Kumar (shooting)
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Bronze: Mary Kom (boxing), Saina Nehwal (badminton), Yogeshwar Dutt (wrestling), Gagan Narang (shooting)
Tokyo 2020: A New High
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 due to COVID-19) gave India its best-ever medal tally—7 medals:
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Gold: Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw), India’s first-ever athletics gold.
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Silver: Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (wrestling).
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Bronze: Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), PV Sindhu (badminton), Bajrang Punia (wrestling), Men’s Hockey Team (ending a 41-year medal drought).
India at the Olympics in Numbers
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First appearance: 1900 (Paris).
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Total medals won (till 2021): 35 medals (10 gold, 9 silver, 16 bronze).
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Sports with most success: Hockey, Shooting, Wrestling, Badminton, and Weightlifting.