Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's coverage of India At Paris Olympics 2024 Day 12 (7th August) as Indian athletes look for more medals at the Olympics. 

So far, India's three medals have come from shooting, and with the shooting event getting over, our focus has shifted to athletics.

Throughout the day, this is Abishek Goswami along with Payal Debnath and Koushik Biswas will bring you all the updates from the web desk. 

Follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels for all the news and scores. 

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):

Instagram has transformed into a vibrant platform where athletes can engage with millions of fans and followers. Sharing with us their experiences, their joys and their achievements on Instagram, these are some athletes who we may not know properly, but definitely deserve to.

In this article, we will take a look at 10 unknown Indian athletes to follow on Instagram in 2025.

Also Read: Most Popular Indian Sports You Didn’t Know Existed

Unknown Indian Athletes to Follow on Instagram in 2025

10. Pooja Bishnoi (Runner)

• Followers - 1.3M
• Account - poojabishnoi36

Pooja Bishnoi, a 13-year-old prodigy set a new meet record in the 3,000m race at the 2024 U-19 IPSC Athletics Tournament. She’s already won gold medals in the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m, showing the world that she’s not just a fast runner, she’s a future Olympic star.  

Her hard work and strong will caught the eye of the Virat Kohli Foundation, which now supports her training, food, and travel.  

Pooja is also becoming popular on social media, inspiring young athletes across the country. 

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9. Simran Verma (Boxing)

• Followers - 232k
• Account - simran12verma

Simran Verma is a prolific boxer and athlete who competes in the 52 kg category. Simran has won a Bronze at the Sub-Junior National and Silver in the U-17 School Nationals. After being selected to join IIS, Simran took her game to the next level and won her first international Silver Medal at the Junior Nations’ Cup in Serbia in August 2019.

Simran continued to train and fight hard and she went on the become the National Champion in 2021. She also bagged the bronze medal in the 2021 Khelo India Youth Games. She aims to be a part of the Indian Olympic team.

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8. Akash Shinde (Kabaddi)

• Followers - 169k
• Account - akash_shinde_3

In the heart of Nashik's Adgaon village, a young boy named Akash Shinde dared to dream big. Little did he know that his journey from playing in the muddy grounds of his town to becoming a PKL winner would inspire a generation of aspiring athletes.

In the PKL Season 9, Akash truly announced his arrival, becoming a formidable force on the mat. In the 22 matches that Akash played on the way to his first PKL final, he scored 139 raid points, averaging 6.32 raid point per match.

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7. Aishwarya Mishra (Track and Field)

• Followers - 32.8k
• Account - mishra_aishwarya8856

Aishwarya Mishra, one of India's top quarter-milers, has left behind the controversy of 2022 and re-established herself with strong performances at the Asian level and the National Games. The Maharashtra athlete, who was once under scrutiny for missing a dope test, has proved her abilities on the track with multiple medals and record-breaking performances.

In 2022, Mishra won gold in the women's 400m event at the Federation Cup in Kozhikode with a time of 51.18 seconds, making her the third-fastest Indian quarter-miler. 

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6. Murali Sreeshankar (Long Jump)

• Followers - 73.1k
• Account - sreeshankarmurali

Murali Sreeshankar is an Indian athlete who competes in the long jump event. He created a national record of 8.36 metres set in 2022. He also grabbed silver medal in Asian Games 2023.

The 26 year old set to make a comeback from what many would have perceived a ‘career-ending’ injury. Murali has been out of competitions since before the Paris Olympics.

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Also Read: 10 Sports Podcasts Every Indian Fan Should Listen To

5. Niharika Vashisht (Triple Jump)

• Followers - 251k
• Account - niharika.vashhisht

Niharika Vashisht is a national gold medalist in the triple jump. Vashisht grabbed eyeballs of everyone by beating local favourite Sandra Babu in the women’s triple jump at the National Federation Senior Athletics Championship.

A social media influencer, Niharika has quite a following on the internet. She is making prudent use of the revenue she earns from social media account by funding her own training expenses.

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4. Pyari Xaxa (Football)

• Followers - 39k
• Account - xaxapyari

Having made her senior team debut in 2015, just after turning 18, the girl from Kuarmunda – a small town in Odisha – was one of the most promising youngsters when the Indian women clinched gold in the South Asian Games in 2016.

Pyari recently voted best Women's Indian Player of the Year.

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3. Avani Lekhara (Para-shooting)

• Followers - 138k
• Account - avani.lekhara

Para-shooter Avani Lekhara is the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in the Para Olympic history. She is also the second Indian after javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia to win two gold medals at the Games. 

Avani's journey did not stop at the Paralympics. She continued to shine in various international competitions, including the World Cups and Asian Para Games, where she consistently won medals and set new benchmarks. 

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2. Ayhika Mukherjee (Table Tennis)

• Followers - 18k
• Account - ayhika.m

An Arjuna Awardee, Ayhika Mukherjee from West Bengal has been representing India at the global stages since multiple years, having won many medals. She most recently won a historical Bronze Medal along with Sutirtha Mukherjee at the 2022 Asian Games, beating the Chinese World Champion duo in the Quarter Finals. 

Having already won multiple international medals, Ayhika’s career is on an upward graph as she continues to rise the ranks and improve her play.

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Also Read: Best Indian Sports Biopics of All Time

1. Sheetal Devi (Para-Archery)

• Followers - 607k
• Account - sheetal_archery

Teenaged Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, clinching the bronze medal in the mixed compound archery team event alongside Rakesh Kumar. At just 17 years old, she became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist and only the second armless archer in history to win a Paralympic medal.

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India's journey in Olympic Games began in 1900, but for many decades, success was limited. The nation's presence on the medal tally was defined by mostly one or two medals per edition, with the success of the Men's Hockey teams being the main reason for it.

However, the 21st century marked a turning point, as it saw India's rise at the Olympics. Their success at the Games picked up pace in several new ways.

Check out the full article to see how India's journey transformed:

1996-2008: Individual medals emerge

After years of triumph in Men's Hockey, 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw a change for India, as Leander Paes won a Bronze medal in Tennis. This victory brought in the first individual medal for India in Olympics after 44 years (previously: K.D. Jadhav won in 1952 in Wrestling).

Following this breakthrough, other individual athletes began to make their mark. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Karnam Malleswari made history with her Bronze medal win in Weightlifting, and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.

Moving to the next edition, the 2004 Athens Olympics saw another individual triumph, with a Silver medal this time. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore brought home India's first-ever medal in Shooting, laying the groundwork for India's extended talent pool beyond hockey.

In 2008, the momentum continued with Abhinav Bindra's Gold (Shooting), Vijender Singh's Bronze (Boxing), and Sushil Kumar's Bronze medal (Wrestling) in the same edition.

Read Also: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

2012: Six Medals and India's Olympic Rise

The 2012 London Olympics was a truly historic moment for India. For the first time ever, India secured six individual medals in a single Olympic edition, that too in five different sports. This was not just a jump in numbers, but a clear rise for India in the Olympic Games.

Here, take a closer look at the medalists:

Gagan Narang: Bronze Medal in Shooting

Gagan Narang won India's first medal at London 2012, taking bronze in the men's 10m Air Rifle event with a final score of 701.1. He opened the medal books for India in this historic edition.

Sushil Kumar: Silver medal in Wrestling

Sushil Kumar became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals (previously in 2008), securing silver in the men's 66kg freestyle wrestling after a hard-fought tournament.

Saina Nehwal: Bronze medal in Badminton

Saina Nehwal earned India's first-ever Olympic medal in Badminton, securing a bronze in Women's singles. With this victory, she also became the second woman, after Malleswari, to win a medal at the grandest stage.

Yogeshwar Dutt: Bronze medal in Wrestling

Yogeshwar Dutt overcame injuries and fought through brilliantly in the men's 60kg freestyle wrestling to secure a bronze medal.

Mary Kom: Bronze medal in Boxing

In the debut of women's boxing at the Olympics, Mary Kom won a bronze in the flyweight (51kg) category, making her the first Indian woman boxer to achieve this milestone.

Vijay Kumar: Silver medal in Shooting

Vijay Kumar clinched silver in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, finishing behind Cuba's Leuris Pupo.

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

2016-2024: Sustaining the momentum in India's modern Olympic era

India has consistently built upon its Olympic success since 2012, with athletes dominating in different categories of sports. The period from 2016 to 2024 has seen new talents emerge and solidify India's rise on the global stage.

India, a nation with a rich history and diverse culture, has made significant strides in the world of sports over the years. While cricket often dominates the headlines, India’s achievements in the Olympic Games have also brought huge pride to the country. From the early days of independence to recent successes, Indian athletes have showed their talent and determination on the grandest stage of all – the Olympics.

Also Read: 10 Indian Women Who Made Olympic History

In this article, we will take a look at some of best Indian performances in Olympic history.

Best Indian Performances in Olympic History

10. Karnam Malleswari – Bronze Medal in Weightlifting (2000 Sydney Olympics)

Karnam Malleswari’s bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympics was a historic achievement for India, as she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.

Competing in the 69 kg weight category, Malleswari lifted a total of 240 kg (110 kg in snatch and 130 kg in clean and jerk) to secure the bronze medal. She is also the first Indian weightlifter (male or female) to win an Olympic medal.

9. Lovlina Borgohain | Bronze, Boxing (Tokyo 2020, Welterweight)

At Tokyo 2020, Lovlina Borgohain won bronze in the women’s welterweight category (69kg) to become the third Indian boxer with an Olympic medal, following in the footsteps of Mary Kom and Vijender Singh.

With an Olympic bronze and gold medals at the world and Asian championships, Lovlina Borgohain has carried forward the legacy of women in Indian boxing that was founded by the legendary Mary Kom.

8. Ravi Dahiya | Silver, Wrestling (Tokyo 2020, 57kg)

Ravi Kumar Dahiya clinched silveredal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With it, the then 23-year-old Ravi is the sixth Indian wrestler to win a medal at the Games and only the second to bag a silver after Sushil Kumar.

Ravi fell short of winning an Olympic gold medal following a 7-4 loss to Zaur Uguev of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

7. Sushil Kumar | Bronze (Beijing 2008), Silver (London 2012), Wrestling

Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar has never let the odds slow him down. A three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a former World Wrestling Championships winner, Sushil Kumar earned most of his stripes defying the odds on the back of his iron will. And, perhaps, the best case studies of his dogged perseverance are Sushil Kumar’s Olympic medals – a bronze at the 2008 Beijing and a silver at the 2012 London Games.

While the London silver put him in the history books as the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals, the bronze at Beijing was a significant milestone for Indian wrestling as a whole.

6. PV Sindhu | Silver (Rio 2016) & Bronze (Tokyo 2020), Badminton

PV Sindhu is the first woman from India ever to become a double Olympic medallist.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Sindhu put in a spirited fight in the final but ultimately ended up with the silver medal, a monumental effort that brought the world and India to its feet. Four years later, Sindhu left Tokyo 2020 having carved out a slice of history for her own by winning the bronze medal match against China's He Bing Jiao.

Also Read: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

5. Leander Paes | Bronze, Tennis Singles (Atlanta 1996)

Leander Paes created history after beating Brazilian Fernando Meligeni in the men’s singles bronze medal match in the Atlanta Olympics 1996. It was India’s first Olympic tennis medal and the first individual medal after 44 years.

What made the victory even more special is the fact that Leander Paes battled through a serious wrist injury, sustained during his semi-final clash against Andre Agassi, to claim his place in Indian sports’ hall of fame.

4. Mirabai Chanu | Silver, Weightlifting (Tokyo 2020, 49kg)

Indian weightlifting ace Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The then 26-year-old managed a total lift of 202 kgs (87kgs in snatch + 115 kgs in clean and jerk) to finish behind the Olympic champion Hou Zhihui of China, who set an Olympic record with a lift of 210 kgs (94+116). 

Mirabai Chanu’s win comes two decades after Indian trailblazer Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. Competing at the 2000 Sydney Games, the Malleswari ace won a bronze medal in the women’s 69kg weight category.

3. Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold (Amsterdam 1928 to Tokyo 1980, 8 Golds)

India’s dominance in field hockey during the early 20th century is one of the most remarkable chapters in Olympic history. The Indian hockey team has won eight Olympic gold medals in all, six of them in a row (from 1928-1956) and added two more at Tokyo 1964 and Moscow 1980.

In the Paris 2024 Games, the team finished with a bronze for their first successive medals at the Olympics since Munich 1972. 

2. Abhinav Bindra | Gold, 10m Air Rifle (Beijing 2008)

Abhinav Bindra will forever hold a place in sporting history as India's first individual gold medallist at the Olympics. A near-perfect 10.8 on his last shot in the men’s 10m air rifle shooting event at the Beijing 2008 Olympics helped the then 25-year-old Abhinav Bindra become an Olympic champion.

Before Bindra India had won eight Olympic gold medals, all of which came in men’s field hockey (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980).

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

1. Neeraj Chopra | Gold, Javelin Throw (Tokyo 2020)

Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of 87.58m. It was India’s first-ever Olympic medal in athletics and the realisation of a long-standing dream - one which legends like Milkha Singh and PT Usha had also chased but fallen short of by agonisingly narrow margins.

Moreover, Neeraj Chopra’s Tokyo crown was India’s second individual gold medal at the Summer Games after Abhinav Bindra’s shooting title at Beijing 2008.