The Paris Olympics 2024 is going to start from July 26, all the countries of the world including India are busy in preparations for these games. The last few Olympic events have seen a steady increase in the number of Indian athletes. This time too, India is already busy in preparations for its Paris 2024 mission.

Read Also: Vinesh Phogat wins Paris Olympics Quota in Women's 50kg category

India won maximum number of medals in Tokyo

Earlier a total of 124 players from India had participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This was by far the largest contingent of Indian players who had participated in the Olympic Games. This team of India also won the maximum number of medals in the Games. It was in this Olympics itself that Neeraj Chopra created history by winning a historic gold medal in the men's javelin throw event.

Also Read: Looking back at India's 7 medals at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Bhowneesh Mendiratta couldn't make it to the final team

This time many new athletes are getting a chance in the Paris Olympics 2024. Trap shooter Bhowneesh Mendiratta secured India's first Paris 2024 quota at the 2022 ISSF World Championships. But Bhowneesh could not make it to the final team after the national trials. After this, Prithviraj Tondaiman was given a quota in the men's trap event.

Shooters secure quotas in every category 

Notably, for the first time, Indian shooters have secured quotas in every Olympic shooting category. Earlier, 15 shooters from India had participated in Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Also Read: India at Olympics: India's medals at the Olympics by sports

Paris 2024 flagbearer

Famous badminton star PV Sindhu will lead the Indian contingent along with famous table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal during the opening ceremony of the upcoming Paris 2024. However, no name has been announced yet for the closing ceremony, which is expected to be announced later. 

There are 82 quota places from India so far have confirmed for the Paris 2024. Here is the list of players who have qualified for the Games.

Indian athletes who qualified for Paris Olympics 2024

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.

India has had many Olympic heroes, but when the conversation turns to the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) among Indian Olympians, two names dominate - Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra. Both have made history in their own right, but who truly deserves the GOAT crown? Let's compare them across several key dimensions.

Also Read: Best Indian Performances in Olympic History

Abhinav Bindra vs Neeraj Chopra: Olympic Achievement

Abhinav Bindra

• Gold Medal - 2008 Beijing Olympics (10m Air Rifle)
• India’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medalist
• Participated in five Olympics (2000–2016)

Abhinav Bindra will forever hold a place in sporting history as India's first individual gold medallist at the Olympics. The gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle at Beijing 2008 was the crowning glory in Abhinav Bindra's stellar sporting career.

Neeraj Chopra

• Gold Medal - 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Javelin Throw)
• India’s first Olympic medal in athletics, and only the second individual gold
• Silver Medal - 2024 Paris Olympics (Javelin Throw)

Despite his young age, Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has already etched his name in the history books by becoming the first and only track and field athlete from the country to win an Olympic medal, that too a gold.

Chopra’s gold medal at Tokyo 2020 was also India’s second individual Olympic gold medal after shooter Abhinav Bindra’s 10m air rifle glory at Beijing 2008.

In 2024 Paris Games, Chopra once again made India proud at the Olympics, this time securing a Silver medal in the men's javelin throw event. Neeraj did this with his season-best throw of 89.45m.

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

Abhinav Bindra vs Neeraj Chopra: Global Achievement

Abhinav Bindra

• Former World Champion (2006) in 10m air rifle
• Consistently ranked among the best shooters globally
• Known for scientific precision and longevity in his sport

Bindra holds the distinction of being the first Indian to win a World Championship gold in air rifle shooting.

Over his two-decade-long career, Bindra won over 150 individual medals, earning recognition as one of India’s greatest sports icons. His exceptional service to sport was further acknowledged when he was awarded the Blue Cross in 2018, the highest honour by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

Neeraj Chopra

• World Champion (2023) in javelin - the only Indian to win both Olympic and World Championship gold
• Also won Asian Games and Diamond League titles
• Still active and dominating a highly competitive field

Even looking beyond the medals and major wins, Neeraj Chopra’s numbers speak for themselves. Since 2012, Neeraj Chopra has appeared in finals over 76 different javelin throw competitions, both in India and abroad, and won a whopping 42 of them outright.

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

Neeraj Chopra’s best throw, a national record, measures 90.23m and came at the Doha Diamond League in 2025.

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.