India have participated in 26 Summer Olympics which is only 3 less than the US but they haven't been that much successful. India have won 10 Gold Medals, 10 silvers, and 21 Bronze medals, making it a total of 41. India's first athlete to win an individual medal was Norman Pritchard. He was the first Asian-born athlete to win medals in the Olympic Games. In this article on India at the Olympics, we'll have a look at every medal India have won in the Olympics.

Read Also: Full list of 29 India's athletic squad for the Paris Olympics 2024

India at Olympics: Every medal India won at the Olympics

1900 Paris Olympics

India debuted at the Olympics in 1900 in Paris under British rule. Norman Pritchard, born in Calcutta, was the lone athlete representing India. He won two silver medals in their debut campaign.

• Norman Pritchard - SILVER - Men's 200m hurdles

• Norman Pritchard - SILVER - Men's 200m sprint

1928 Amsterdam Olympics

India won their first-ever gold medal in men's hockey at the Olympics. Dhyan Chand led the Indian Men's Hockey Team to their first gold medal, beating the Netherlands by 3-0 in the Gold Medal match.

• India men's hockey team - GOLD - Fielindiad hockey

1932 Los Angeles Olympics

India secured their biggest-ever win (24-1 vs USA) on the way to their second consecutive gold in men's hockey. They beat Japan by 11-1 in the Gold Medal match.

• India men's hockey team - GOLD - Field hockey

1936 Berlin Olympics

Dhyan Chand made it a hat-trick of gold medals for India, defeating Germany by 8-1 in the men's hockey final.

• India men's hockey team - GOLD - Field hockey

1948 London Olympics

India won their first-ever Olympic medal as an independent nation. Balbir Singh Sr. continued India's dominance in the hockey tournament, winning the fourth Gold medal.

• India men's hockey team - GOLD - Field hockey

1952 Helsinki Olympics

The Indian men's hockey team made it five in a row following a 6-1 victory against the Netherlands. Balbir Singh Sr. scored five goals in the Helsinki 1952 final, a record to date. India also won their first-ever medal in wrestling in Helsinki. KD Jadhav won the bronze medal, earning independent India's first-ever individual medal.

• India men's hockey team - GOLD - Field hockey

• KD Jadhav - BRONZE - Men's wrestling (bantamweight)

Read Also: All-time Olympic medal tally: USA top with 2,629 medals; India placed at 58

1956 Melbourne Olympics

Balbir Singh Sr. led the men's hockey team to a second hat-trick of Olympic golds in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

• India men's hockey team - GOLD - Field hockey

1960 Rome Olympics

The Indian men's hockey team lost the gold medal match to Pakistan and had to be satisfied with a Silver medal.

• India men's hockey team - SILVER - Field hockey

1964 Tokyo Olympics

The Indian men's hockey team faced Pakistan in the final for a third consecutive time and won gold for the seventh time.

• India men's hockey team - GOLD - Field hockey

1968 Mexico City Olympics

The Indian men's hockey team failed to reach the final for the first time in the last eight Olympics. They lost the semifinal to Australia but beat West Germany to win the bronze medal.

• India men's hockey team - BRONZE - Field hockey

1972 Munich Olympics

The Indian men's hockey team brought another medal for the nation. They lost to Pakistan in the semifinal but won the bronze medal following a 2-1 win over the Netherlands.

• India men's hockey team - BRONZE - Field hockey

1980 Moscow Olympics

The Indian men's hockey team brought another gold medal home following a thrilling 4-3 victory over Spain.

• India men's hockey team - GOLD - Field hockey

1996 Atlanta Olympics

India had to wait 3 campaigns for their next medal after going medal-less in 1984, 1988, and 1992. Leander Paes ended the 16-year drought with a bronze in tennis. She beat Fernando Meligani to earn India's 15th Olympic medal and only the third individual medal.

• Leander Paes - BRONZE - Men's singles, Tennis

Read Also: Football at Paris Olympics: Here are the top 5 male superstars you will see in the Paris Olympics

2000 Sydney Olympics

Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal and only the fourth individual medal in the nation's history.

• Karnam Malleswari - BRONZE - Women's weightlifting (54kg)

2004 Athens Olympics

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won India's only medal at the Athens Olympics. He became the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal.

• Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore - SILVER - Men's double trap shooting

2008 Beijing Olympics

India won three medals at an Olympics for the first time. Abhinav Bindra, Vijender Singh, and Sushil Kumar made it India's then-most successful Olympics and took India's medal tally to 20. Bindra's gold was India's first-ever individual gold medal, while Vijender Singh won India's first boxing medal at the Olympics.

• Abhinav Bindra - GOLD - Men's 10m air rifle shooting

• Vijender Singh - BRONZE - Men's middleweight boxing

• Sushil Kumar - BRONZE - Men's wrestling (freestyle 66kg)

2012 London Olympics

India won six medals and took their overall tally to 26 in the 2012 London Olympics. Saina Nehwal won India's first-ever badminton medal while five-time world champion Mary Kom became the first Indian woman to win a boxing medal in the inaugural women's boxing edition at the Olympics. Sushil Kumar also became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals.

Gagan Narang brought a bronze medal in the men's 10m air rifle shooting. Vijay Kumar won a silver in men's 25m rapid-fire pistol shooting while Yogeshwar Dutt won a bronze in Men's Wrestling.

• Gagan Narang - BRONZE - Men's 10m air rifle shooting

• Vijay Kumar - SILVER - Men's 25m rapid-fire pistol shooting

• Saina Nehwal - BRONZE - Women's singles, Badminton

• Mary Kom - BRONZE - Women's flyweight boxing

• Yogeshwar Dutt - BRONZE - Men's wrestling (freestyle 60kg)

• Sushil Kumar - SILVER - Men's wrestling (freestyle 66kg)

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics

India could only win two medals in Brazil. PV Sindhu won her first-ever Olympic medal, while Sakshi Malik became the first (and to date, only) Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal.

• Sakshi Malik - BRONZE - Women's wrestling (58kg)

• PV Sindhu - SILVER - Women's singles, Badminton

2020 Tokyo Olympics

The Covid-affected Olympics was India's most successful ever. India won seven medals and took India's overall tally to 35. PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win multiple Olympic medals, while the Indian men's hockey team ended their 41-year medal drought by winning a bronze medal.

Ravi Kumar Dahiya won Silver while Bajrang Punia won Bronze in the Men's wrestling. Mirabai Chanu won silver in Women's Weightlifting while Lovlina Borgohain won bronze in Women's boxing. Neeraj Chopra won the nation's first-ever gold medal in Athletics and only the second-ever individual gold ever by an Indian after Abhinav Bindra.

• Mirabai Chanu - SILVER - Women's weightlifting (49kg)

• PV Sindhu - BRONZE - Women's singles, Badminton

• Lovlina Borgohain - BRONZE - Women's welterweight boxing

• India men's hockey team - BRONZE - Field hockey

• Ravi Kumar Dahiya - SILVER - Men's wrestling (freestyle 57kg)

• Bajrang Punia - BRONZE - Men's wrestling (freestyle 65kg)

• Neeraj Chopra - GOLD - Men's javelin throw

2024 Paris Olympics

• Manu Bhaker - BRONZE - Women's shooting (10m air pistol)
• Manu Bhaker-Sarabjot Singh - BRONZE - Mixed team (10m air pistol)
• Swapnil Kusale - BRONZE - Men's shooting (50m rifle 3 positions)
• Indian Men's Hockey Team - BRONZE - Men's Hockey
• Neeraj Chopra - SILVER - Men's Javelin Throw
• Aman Sehrawat - BRONZE - Men's 57kg Freestyle Wrestling

Two-time Olympic medallist and star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had a disappointing performance at the World Athletics Championships 2025, failing to win a medal and failing to defend his title at the event held at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Neeraj could only throw 84.03m and finished eighth among 12 athletes.

This is the first time since 2017 that Chopra has finished a World Athletics Championships event without claiming a medal. 

Also Read: World Athletics Championships 2025: Medal Tally and India's Results

Neeraj and Nadeem both knocked out

Olympic medalist and Pakistan's star athlete Arshad Nadeem also suffered disappointment. Nadeem, who has thrown over 90m at the Olympics, had a best throw of just 82.73 and was eliminated after his fourth attempt. Neeraj Chopra was eliminated after his fifth attempt, thus ending both Olympic heroes' failures at the World Athletics Championships 2025.

Neeraj also faced disappointment at Diamond League

Earlier, Neeraj had also faced disappointment at the Zurich Diamond League. He managed a throw of 85.01m, finishing second. Julian Weber of Germany won the Diamond League title with a throw of 91.51m.

Sachin Yadav outshines Neeraj

It was a memorable day for Sachin Yadav of India who finished fourth in the final standings, four rungs ahead of compatriot and former champion Neeraj. Yadav recorded 86.27m in his first attempt. Yadav also joined Neeraj in the finals as second Indian after his 83.67m effort placed him at sixth in Group A and 10th overall.

Two other Indians, Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh missed out after finishing 28th and 30th respectively out of 37 competitors in Group A and Group B together.

In the last edition in 2023, India had three javelin throwers in the finals with Kishore Jena and DP Manu finishing fifth and sixth respectively while Chopra won the gold.

World Athletics Championship 2025: Men's Javelin Throw Final Results

1. Keshorn Walcott (TTO) - 88.16m (Season Best)
2. Anderson Peters (GRN) - 87.38m
3. Curtis Thompson (USA) - 86.67m
4. Sachin Yadav (IND) - 86.27m (Personal Best)
5. Julian Weber (GER) - 86.11m
6. Julius Yego (KEN) - 85.54m
7. Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (SRI) - 84.38m
8. Neeraj Chopra (IND) - 84.03m
9. Dawid Wegner (POL) - 83.03m
10. Arshad Nadeem (PAK) - 82.75m
11. Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) - 78.71m
12. Cameron McEntyre (AUS) - 75.65m

World Athletics Championships 2025 Final: Neeraj Chopra's performance

• First attempt: 83.65m
• Second attempt: 84.03m
• Third attempt: Foul
• Fourth attempt: 82.86m
• Fifth attempt: Foul
• Sixth attempt: Not allowed due to elimination

India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has qualified for the men's javelin throw final in the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo on Wednesday. Neeraj secured his place in the final with a throw of 84.85m in the first round. The final of this event will be held on Thursday, September 18th.

Also Read: World Athletics Championships 2025: Medal Tally and India's Results

All it takes is one throw. 🌟

Wake up, throw, qualify. #TeamIIS star Neeraj Chopra storms into the Tokyo World Championships final with an 84.85m throw on his very first attempt.#WorldAthleticsChamps #CraftingVictories 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/YYcvXH59wA

— Inspire Institute of Sport (@IIS_Vijayanagar) September 17, 2025

Neeraj is the defending champion

Neeraj Chopra needed to cross the 84.5m mark to reach the final of this event and he achieved this feat by crossing this hurdle in the very first round. Neeraj Chopra is the winner of the javelin throw event at the World Championships and won the gold medal in the year 2023. He was the first Asian to win a gold medal in the javelin throw event at the Championships. 

So, Neeraj is competing in the event as the defending champion and will be aiming to become only the third player in history to win the World Javelin title twice in a row, after Jan Zelezny (1993, 1995) and Grenada's Anderson Peters (2019, 2022).

Neeraj won the gold medal in 2023 with a throw of 88.17m, while Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem finished second with a throw of 87.82m and Jakub Vadlejch finished third with a throw of 86.67m.

Neeraj recently breached 90m barrier

Earlier this year, Neeraj breached the 90m barrier with a 90.23m throw at the Doha Diamond League, but has also mixed in a few modest distances along the way. He had failed to breach the 85m in two competitions, and narrowly crossed the mark on two other occasions, with his second-best throw in the calendar year being 88.16m.

Weber qualified for the final

This time, apart from Neeraj Chopra, world number one Julian Weber qualified for the final by throwing 87.21m in the second attempt. Weber threw 82.29m in his first attempt. Neeraj was joined in Group A by India's Sachin Yadav, who threw 80.16m in his first attempt.

Other athletes in the 19-man Group A included 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, as well as Brazil's Luiz da Silva, 

While the 18-strong Group B comprises reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, Anderson Peters and rising Sri Lankan Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage among others. The men's javelin also has three other Indian athletes - Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav, the biggest number among participating nations in the event.

Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, popularly known as 'Mondo' Duplantis, has broken the men's pole vaulting World Record for the 14th time, a record which he previously set himself.

The 25-year-old Swedish pole vaulter improved his own men's pole vault world record to 6.30m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 15, 2025.

This is what 6.30m looks like btw, outrageous.

A 14th World Record for Mondo Duplantis.#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/09zT9zXvov

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) September 15, 2025

This marks the 14th time Duplantis has broken the world record in his career, first achieving it in February 2020 with a height of 6.17m.

Duplantis, who was coming off a victory at the Diamond League in Zurich, reached the 6.29m mark at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Budapest last month and now has cross it by one more centimetre, as he brought the claw back.

"I am so happy, I cannot explain it," Duplantis said after winning the competition in Tokyo. "For the past two weeks, I really enjoyed being in Tokyo. I have been enjoying everything so much. I feel the only way to leave Japan was to set the world record. That was my mentality," he added.

However, in this article, Sportz Point will explore all the 14 times Mono Duplantis broke the World Record.

Mondo Duplantis: 14 times the pole vaulter broke the World Record

1. 2020 - 6.17m

Back in 2014, France's legendary pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie marked the world record with a clearance of 6.16m.

The record nearly stood for six years, until the 20-year-old Mondo Duplantis broke the previous record with a 6.17m height at the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland.

This was the first time Duplantis broke the world record, previously breaking the 10-year age group record with a jump of 3.86m in 2010.

2. 2020 - 6.18m

Only a week after creating the World Record in Poland, Duplantis bettered his record with a 6.18m jump at the Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow, Scotland.

Duplantis stated the following after setting new record in Glasgow;

It’s the best little split second that could ever be,

Everything builds up to that one tiny little moment. That little free-fall is a magical moment.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Mondo Duplantis (@mondo_duplantis)

3. 2022 - 6.19m

Mondo Duplantis earned the crown as an Olympic Champion, following his maiden gold medal win in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

However, the Swedish athlete surpassed his own record for the third time in 2022, after securing a 6.19m jump in the Belgrade Indoor Meeting, Serbia.

WR!!!! #6.19 #borntofly pic.twitter.com/UghhIVutxv

— Mondo Duplantis (@mondohoss600) March 7, 2022

4. 2022 - 6.20m

Breaking his own world record in a span of 15 days, Duplantis again stunned the world in 2022. 

Following his 6.19m jump in the Belgrade Indoor Meeting on 7 March 2022, Duplantis promised "something higher" in the upcoming world championship. 

He kept his word in the best possible way, securing a 6.20m jump at the world indoor championships on 21 March 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. 

5. 2022 - 6.21m

Mondo Duplantis clinched his first-ever outdoor world title on 24 March 2022 at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

Duplantis, again improved his own record and set his third world record in 2022, soaring over 6.21m, and breaking the world record for the first time in the outdoors.

Along with this record, Duplantis also surpassed Sergey Bubka, one of the greatest pole vaulters of all-time, for career six metre-plus clearances. Bubka's 46-time record was overshadowed by Duplantis' 48 after this championship. 

6. 2023 - 6.22m 

On 25th February 2023, Mondo Duplantis broke his own record, clearing 6.21m to win the All Star Perche 2023 event in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where he again has broken the record in 2025.

Duplantis was congratulated by Renaud Lavillenie after the win, whose record he first broke back in 2020 and who is a co-founder of the All Star Perche event.

Mondo Duplantis ends his indoor season with brilliant last attempt at 6.22m WR in Clermont-Ferrand, France! https://t.co/1qVXmHuOhS , #mondoduplantis, #polevault, #swedishathletics, #europeanathletics, @mondohoss600, @PUMA, @euroathletics, #PUMA, #PUMArunning, pic.twitter.com/HVAJ9AmENX

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) February 27, 2023

7. 2023 - 6.23m 

Duplantis broke the world record for the seventh time following his 6.23m clearance to win the 2023 Diamond League Final in Eugene on 17 September 2023.

🚨 WORLD RECORD🚨@mondohoss600 clears 6.23m at the first attempt to claim his 3rd successive #DiamondLeague title 🤯

Get that man a brewski! 🍺#DLFinal#EugeneDL 🇺🇸
📸 @GorczynskaMarta pic.twitter.com/aUjbuFPQjp

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 17, 2023

8. 2024 - 6.24m (Xiamen, China)

Duplantis opened his 2024 season in style, soaring 6.24m to set the world record for outdoors at the Diamond League event in Xiamen, China.

The Swedish pole vaulter registered the highest clearance in history to add 1cm to the record he had set in Eugene, USA in 2023.

💬"It was my first time jumping here in China, and I was really just trying to enjoy the moment. It's people that I really want to show what I can do."
- Says #Duplantis after elevating his world pole vault record to a new high of 6.24m at Diamond League in Xiamen. #XiamenDL pic.twitter.com/Uqt8g3x8mb

— CGTN Sports Scene (@CGTNSportsScene) April 21, 2024

9. 2024 - 6.25m (Paris, France)

Duplantis retained his Olympic Gold medal title in the 2024 Paris Olympics, breaking his own record to register a 6.25m clearance. 

The 25-year-old became the first athlete to retain the pole vault title, since American pole vaulter Bob Richards achieved the remarkable feat in 1952 and 1956.

Mondo Duplantis is out of this world! ✈️🌍

Listen to the roar inside the Stade de France as he set a new world record of 6.25m. 🔥#Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/0bxzWecxi4

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 15, 2024

10. 2024 - 6.26m (Silesia, Poland)

For the second time in his career, Mondo Duplantis shattered the world record three times in a calendar year in 2024.

Following the record he set at the Paris Olympics 2024, Duplantis bettered it by 1cm to soar over 6.26m at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on 25 August 2024.

He also broke his world record for the third time in the outdoor season and for the tenth time in his career.

11. 2025 - 6.27m (Clermont-Ferrand, France)

As the latest world record, Mondo Duplantis has broken the world record for a record 11th time in his career, to set a new high of 6.27m on 28 February 2025 at the All-Star Perche Event in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Here is the moment Mondo Duplantis broke the World Record in the Pole Vault with 6.27m in France!!🤯🤯

11 World Records so far in his career!! A LEGEND.pic.twitter.com/WCXfr1qe6I

— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) February 28, 2025

12. 2025 - 6.30m (Tokyo)

Mondo Duplantis broke his own pole vault world record for 14th time with a jump of 6.30 metres after securing a third straight world title as he won the Gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on 15 September 2025.

Mondo Duplantis 🇸🇪 clears a World Record of 6.30m in the men's Pole Vault in Tokyo!!🥇🥇

World Record No. 14 for him!!🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/9n32pVkMPO

— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) September 15, 2025

Bengal, a region known for its rich culture and long history, also has a special connection to the world of sports. Many athletes from Bengal have achieved great things, with some even winning medals at the Olympic Games.

It is important to remember these champions who, over the years and through various challenges, brought Olympic glory home.

Let's explore the list of all Olympic medal winners from Bengal and revisit those glorious moments of pride.

Norman Pritchard (1900 Paris Olympics)

• Sport: Athletics
• Medals Won: 2 Silvers (Men's 200m, Men's 200m Hurdles)

Born in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1875, Norman Pritchard was a British-Indian athlete who holds a unique place in Olympic history as the first Asian-born athlete to win a medal. This remarkable moment arrived in the 1900 Paris Olympics, where he represented India in Athletics.

Pritchard participated in five athletics events, and clinched 2 silver medals: one in Men's 200m sprint, and another in Men's 200m hurdles.

His achievements marked history as he became the first Indian athlete to win multiple medals in a single Olympic Games and also the first medalist from Bengal.

After his sporting career, he moved to the United States and became a successful actor in silent films under the name Norman Trevor.

Read Also: Olympic Trivia: 25 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About the Games

Carlyle Tapsell (1932 Los Angeles Olympics)

• Sport: Field Hockey
• Medals Won: Gold (Men's team)

Carlyle Tapsell, born in Adra, a town of Purulia district in West Bengal, was a vital part of India's field hockey team that brought the second Gold medal home for India in Olympic history. This period, followed by the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, is recognised as the "golden age" for Indian hockey.

Tapsell was known for his defensive strength and penalty expertise. He played along with stars like Dhyan Chand to secure a historic 24-1 victory over the host nation, the USA.

This achievement cemented India's status as the world's best hockey team and made Tapsell the second Olympic champion from Bengal.

Read Also: 8 unbreakable Olympic records: Bolt, Phelps, Kim and more

Leander Paes (1996 Atlanta Olympics)

• Sport: Tennis
• Medals Won: Bronze (Men's Singles)

Born in Kolkata, Leander Paes, who hails from a family with an incredible sporting background, wrote a memorable chapter at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. His bronze in Men's Singles Tennis ended the 44-year drought for an individual Olympic medal for India.

Paes is the only athlete to win a medal in Tennis for India. He is known for his strong will and unpredictable style, often called "junk tennis," that confused many higher-ranked opponents.

Despite suffering a wrist injury in the semi-final match, he did not give up and bagged the medal in the bronze medal match against Brazil's Fernando Meligeni, winning three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-4).

His father, Vece Paes, was also an Olympic medalist, who won a bronze medal in hockey at the 1972 Munich Olympics. With Leander's win in 1996, they became the only father-son duo to have both won Olympic medals in different sports.

The Olympic Games are the world's oldest sporting spectacle, uniting athletes globally every four years. Medals here represent the ultimate standard of international athletic excellence. In contrast, the Commonwealth Games, known as the "Friendly Games," gather athletes from Commonwealth nations. While a major multi-sport event, its scale and competitive depth differ from the Olympics.

We bring you a direct comparison of performance in Commonwealth vs Olympics and India's medal ratios, based on their historical participation.

India's Olympic medal journey

India debuted in the Olympic Games in 1900, where Norman Pritchard, a British-Indian athlete, won 2 silver medals in athletics. This victory marked the beginning of India's medal book at the grandest stage of sport.

For a significant period following this, India's Olympic identity was primarily defined by the success of Men's Hockey team. They dominated the sport, winning six consecutive gold medals from 1928 to 1956, and adding further golds in 1964 and 1980.

India's rise in the Olympics came after the 2000s, where individual athletes proved themselves and won medals for the nation.

Read Also: Timeline: India’s rise at the Olympics

Key individual breakthroughs:

• K. D. Jadhav (1952): Bronze in Wrestling. First individual medalist for independent India. 
• Leander Paes (1996): He brought the first-ever medal for India in tennis with his Bronze medal win.
• Karnam Malleswari (2000): First Indian woman to win an Olympic medal (Bronze in Weightlifting)
• Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (2004): Silver in Shooting. India's first medal in this sport.
• Vijender Singh (2008): First Indian athlete to win a medal in Boxing (Bronze).
• Abhinav Bindra (2008): India's first individual Gold medalist (Sport: Shooting)
• Saina Nehwal (2012): Second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. She also brought the first medal for India in Badminton with her Bronze.
• Neeraj Chopra (2020/2021): Gold in Javelin throw. India's second individual gold.
• Manu Bhaker (2024): Second Indian to win 2 medals (Bronze in shooting) in a single Olympic edition.

India's dominance in the Commonwealth Games

India's debut at the Commonwealth Games (then British Empire Games) was in 1934 in London, where Rashid Anwar won the nation's first medal – a bronze in wrestling. Over the decades, India's presence has grown, cementing its status as a leading nation within the Commonwealth sporting fraternity.

Notable achivements:

• Milkha Singh (Athletics): First Indian to win a Gold medal at the CWG, in 1958.
• Jaspal Rama (Shooting): Most successful Indian athlete at the commonwealth games. He won 15 medals overall (9 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze)
• Sharath Kamal (Table Tennis): Won 4 medals (3 gold, 1 silver) in 2022, making him India's most successful athlete at that event.
• Ami Ghia and Kanwal Thakar Singh (Badminton): First Indian women to win a medal in the CWG. They won a bronze medal in women's doubles badminton in 1978.
• Roopa Unnikrishnan (Shooting): First Indian woman to win a Gold medal at the CWG in 1998.

Read Also: Cricket removed from Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth vs Olympics – A direct comparison

OLYMPICS: India has won 41 medals in the history of Olympic Games, which includes 10 gold medals, 10 silver medals, and 21 bronze medals. India's most successful sport Olympic sport is Field Hockey (Men's team). They earned 13 medals in total.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES: India has won 564 medals in the history of CWG, with 203 gold, 190 silver, and 171 bronze medals. Their most successful sport at the games is Shooting, where they won 63 gold medals, and a total of 135 medals.

Read Also: Olympic Athletes to Watch in LA 2028 from India

India's Medal Ratios:

Most successful sport (Medals):