In the realm of Indian sporting history, the Tokyo Olympics 2020 will forever be marked as a unforgettable moment. With a remarkable tally of seven medals, India shattered records and expectations as this was country's best medal haul ever at the Olympics. Some sections of the sporting fraternity were disappointed that India’s medal total did not touch double figures, but the fact is that Tokyo Games saw a stupendous show by the Indian athletes at the highest level. 

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

Since the Paris Olympics 2024 are about to start in a few months (July 26), let's relive some old memories of Tokyo Olympics 2020. 

India's 7 medals at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Neeraj Chopra | Gold

Neeraj Chopra etched his name in history books by clinching India's first-ever Olympic gold in track and field. Neeraj started with a throw of 87.03m and stunned the world by throwing 87.58 meters in his second attempt in the final of the javelin throw event of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. No one came close to the mark set by Neeraj, including the likes of Germany’s Johannes Vetter and Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan. This is India's first Olympic medal in athletics in more than 100 years. Neeraj is also the second Indian player to win an individual gold medal. Earlier, shooter Abhinav Bindra had won the gold medal in men's 10-meter air rifle at the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Also Read: 'I will try to breach the 90m mark before Paris Olympics': Neeraj Chopra aims to retain his Olympic gold in Paris

Mirabai Chanu | Silver

Manipur's Mirabai Chanu registered India's name in the medal tally Tokyo Olympics 2020. She ended a 21-year medal drought in weightlifting by winning a silver medal in the 49 kg category during her four successful attempts across the competition. This 29-year-old player removed the disappointment she faced in the Rio Olympics (2016) by lifting a total weight of 202 kg. Mirabai is also a former world champion and holds the world record in the clean and jerk event in the 49kg category.

Ravi Dahiya | Silver

Ravi Kumar Dahiya, born in Nahari village of Sonepat district of Haryana, proved his strength and technique by winning the silver medal in men's 57 kg freestyle wrestling. He is the only second Indian wrestler, after Sushil Kumar, to win an Olympic silver medal. Dahiya secured his Olympic berth by winning the bronze medal at the 2019 World Championship and then won the Asian Championship in Delhi in 2020 and defended the title in Almaty this year.

PV Sindhu | Bronze

PV Sindhu was already considered a strong medal contender for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and she did not disappoint anyone by winning the bronze medal. This 28-year-old player had earlier won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is the only woman from the country to win multiple medals in the Olympics. Her performance in the Tokyo Games can be gauged from the fact that she had not lost a single game before losing two games against Tai Tzu Ying. The Hyderabadi shuttler made her mark at the international level in 2014 after winning bronze medals at the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships. 

Also Read: From Abhinav Brinda to PV Sindhu: Every First for India at Olympics

Lovlina Borgohain | Bronze

Lovlina Borgohain of Assam created history by winning a bronze medal in her first Olympics. She is the third Indian to win an Olympic medal in boxing after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012). Before going on a 52-day tour of Europe to prepare for the Olympics, she got infected with Covid 19 but she made a spectacular comeback and defeated former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the 69 kg category. The 26-year-old signed off with a bronze medal after a 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli.

Bajrang Punia | Bronze

Before these games, Bajrang Punia was also considered the biggest contender for the gold medal in the Tokyo Games. After losing in the semi-finals, he could not fulfill his dream of gold medal due to multiple injuries. Bajrang suffered a knee injury in Russia in a tournament and then also pulled his left hamstring. Despite this, he brought glory to the country by winning the bronze medal. Bajrang beat Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0 in the 65kg bronze medal bout. With his bronze, Indian wrestlers matched their best performance at the Tokyo Olympics.

Also Read: $50000 per Gold medal winner in Athletics at Paris Olympics

Indian Men's Hockey Team | Bronze

The Indian Men's Hockey Team ended a 41-year drought in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning the bronze medal. Although this medal was not gold, it was enough to make hockey popular again in the country. After losing badly by 1-7 against Australia in the second match of the group stage, the team made a great comeback under the leadership of Manpreet Singh. After defeating Belgium in the semi-finals, the team defeated Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal play-off. This was India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two before this were won in the 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games.

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.

In a country where sports is often dominated by men, some Olympic stars chose to challenge the ordinary and pave a path for Indian sports women. Indian sport has seen a massive rise in the number of it's female athletes shining at the world stage since the turn of the millennium.

In this article, we will take a look at those Indian female Olympians who made Olympic history.

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

Indian Women Who Made Olympic History

1. Karnam Malleswari

Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari created history and became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Olympics. During the Sydney 2000 Games, Karnam Malleswari lifted 110kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk categories for a total of 240kg and finished the competition with a bronze medal. She is also the first Indian weightlifter (male or female) to win an Olympic medal.

2. Saina Nehwal

Former world No.1 Saina Nehwal put Indian badminton on the global map when she finished with a bronze medal in the women’s singles at the London 2012 Olympics.

Saina Nehwal clinched the medal after her opponent Wang Xin of the People's Republic of China retired due to injury during the bronze medal playoff match. After this, Saina became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal and has represented the country in three Summer Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016).

3. Mary Kom

Star boxer Mary Kom etched her name in Indian sports’ history books by clinching a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics. The Manipuri boxer beat Poland’s Karolina Michalczuk and Tunisia’s Maroua Rahali in the first two rounds but lost her semi-final bout to Great Britain's Nicola Adams, settling for the bronze medal.

It was the first Olympic medal in boxing by an Indian woman and only the second after Vijender Singh’s bronze at Beijing 2008. Women’s boxing made its Olympic debut at London 2012.

4. PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu built on what Saina Newhal had achieved at London 2012 and took Indian badminton a step further by reaching the women’s singles final at the Rio 2016 Games.

PV Sindhu lost the final to Spain’s Carolina Marin and finished with a silver medal after a hard-fought 83-minute title battle. Despite being the runner-up, PV Sindhu created history by becoming India's youngest individual Olympic medallist, a record which has since been surpassed. She also became the first Indian woman to bag an Olympic silver medal.

5. Sakshi Malik

Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal in the women’s 58kg category at Rio 2016 to become the first Indian woman to win a medal in wrestling at the Olympics.

After notching up wins in the earlier rounds, Sakshi Malik lost to Valeria Koblova of Russia in the quarter-finals. However, with Koblova making the final, Sakshi Malik entered the repechage round and came home with the bronze medal following an 8–5 victory over Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan. Sakshi’s win at Rio was a memorable one as she turned the bout on its head despite trailing 5-0 at one stage.

6. Mirabai Chanu

After a disappointing outing at Rio 2016, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, with a total lift of 202kg, won the silver medal in the 49kg category at Tokyo 2020. With the feat, Mirabai Chanu of Manipur became the first Indian weightlifter to bag a silver at the Olympics.

Mirabai Chanu also became the second Indian weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win a medal at the Summer Games as well as the second Indian woman, after PV Sindhu, to win a silver medal at the Olympics.

7. Lovlina Borgohain

Assamese boxer Lovlina Borgohain emulated the legendary Mary Kom by clinching a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. Lovlina Borgohain defeated Germany’s Nadine Apetz in the round of 16 and outpunched Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin in the quarter-finals to secure herself a bronze medal.

However, Turkish world No. 1 Busenaz Surmeneli proved too strong for her in the semi-finals as the Indian finished with a bronze medal.

8. Sania Mirza

Inspired by stalwart Serena Williams, who returned to the tennis circuit after having a baby, Sania Mirza has begun to feel her way back into the sport as well. The Indian tennis ace gave birth to a boy late in 2018 and was on maternal duty ever since. But 2020 saw Sania Mirza return to the court.

Building form with every passing match, Sania Mirza made a fourth Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, where she made a first-round exit in the women’s doubles alongside Ankita Raina. Sania retired in 2023 as easily the best women's tennis player to emerge from India.

9. Dipa Karmakar

Dipa Karmakar, the shining star in Indian gymnastics, has made Olympic history by becoming the first Indian female gymnast to compete in the Olympic Games. She is among the only five women who have been able to master the Produnova vault. Her awe-inspiring performances and fearless spirit have inspired young gymnasts to aim for the stars.

10. Manu Bhaker

Manu Bhaker won India's first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol shooting event. She thus became India's first woman to win a medal in Olympic shooting. A day earlier, she had become the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic shooting final in 20 years.

Manu Bhaker scored 221.7 to finish third in the eight-woman final. Oh Ye Jin of the Republic of Korea clinched the gold medal with the new Olympic record of 243.2 and was followed by her compatriot Yeji Kim, who pipped Bhaker to enter the gold medal round and won the silver with the final score of 241.3.

Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to return to Paris for his second Diamond League meet of the year, scheduled for June 20th on Stade Charlety stadium in Paris, France.

Also Read: Watch: Neeraj Chopra finishes second with a best throw of 84.14m at the Janusz Kusociński Memorial competition

Fourth competition of the year

Neeraj will continue his Paris Diamond League 2025 season after a magnificent start in Doha last month, where he achieved his first-ever 90m throw, attaining a distance of 90.23m to finish second. He finished second behind Germany’s Julian Weber, who threw a world-leading 91.06m.

This will be his fourth competition of the year, and he will be aiming to return to the top of the podium after missing out on the last two events in Qatar and Poland.

Paris Diamond League 2025 will be Neeraj's first competition of the month, which will be followed by the Ostrava Golden Spike, a World Athletics Continental Gold meet, in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 24th. Neeraj Chopra has a busy month ahead as he will return to India within 10 days after these two events to compete in the nation's first-ever javelin-only meet, the NC Classic, in Bengaluru on July 5th.

Neeraj skipped 2024 edition to prepare for Paris Olympics

Neeraj was expected to compete at the 2024 edition but skipped the meet to prepare for the Paris Olympics. Neeraj’s most recent outing came at the Janusz Kusociński Memorial in Chorzów, Poland, on May 23. Battling wet conditions, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion produced a best of 84.14m on his final attempt to finish second. Weber, once again, claimed top spot with an 86.12m attempt.

Neeraj Chopra started his 2025 athletics season in April by winning the Potch Invitational Meet in Potchefstroom, South Africa, with an 84.52m throw. He is also in the entry list for the Golden Spike athletics meet in Czechia scheduled on June 24 and will headline the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on July 5.

Also Read: List of athletes to participate in Neeraj Chopra Classic

The top javelin throw athletes with the most points at the end of the Diamond League series will qualify for the 2025 Diamond League Final to be held in Zurich on August 27-28. Neeraj won the 2022 edition of the Doha Diamond League but had to settle for second-place finishes in 2023 and 2024.