India's history in the Olympic Games is 124 years old. From Paris 1900 to Paris 2024, India at Olympics has been very special. Tokyo Olympics 2020 was the most successful year for India and the country had the second best performance in the Paris Olympics 2024.

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

In the Olympic history spanning over 100 years, India has won a total of 41 medals, which include 10 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze. Hockey has been the most fruitful sport for India in terms of medals. Interestingly, India has won 8 out of 10 gold medals only in men's hockey. Apart from this, India has succeeded in winning medals in boxing, wrestling, tennis, badminton, shooting, athletics and weightlifting. Here is India's Olympic medal tally by every edition. 

India at Olympics

1900 Paris Olympics | 2 Medals

• Norman Pritchard - Silver - Men's 200m hurdles
• Norman Pritchard - Silver - Men's 200m sprint

India first participated in the Paris Olympics in 1900, with Norman Pritchard winning 2 silver medals in athletics (men's 200 m and men's 200 m hurdles). He became India's first medal winner in the Olympics. With this, India became the first Asian country to win an Olympic medal. Pritchard was the first Indian (British-Indian) athlete to win more than one Olympic medal for the country.

1928 Amsterdam Olympics | 1 Medal

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

India won their first-ever gold medal at the Olympics in men's hockey. Dhyan Chand led a dominant team to gold, kicking off a streak of six consecutive gold medals.

1932 Los Angeles Olympics | 1 Medal

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

India secured their biggest-ever win (24-1 vs USA) en route to their second consecutive gold in men's hockey.

1936 Berlin Olympics | 1 Medal

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

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

1948 London Olympics | 1 Medal

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

India won their first-ever Olympic medal as an independent nation, with no surprise as to its origin. A new generation of hockey players led by Balbir Singh Sr. continued India's dominance.

1952 Helsinki Olympics | 2 Medals

• India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
• KD Jadhav - Bronze - Men's wrestling (bantamweight)

India got its first individual Olympic medal in the 1952 Olympics when Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav created history in wrestling. Initially he was not selected in the team and later on the request of the Maharaja of Patiala, he got a place in the team. Jadhav, who won the bronze medal, could not get a chance to play in the Olympics again and he started working in Maharashtra Police.

The Indian men's hockey team made it five in a row, with Balbir Singh Sr. increasing his legend with a superb performance in the final.

1956 Melbourne Olympics | 1 Medal

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

As far as team sports are concerned, the Indian men's hockey team had set a record by winning 6 consecutive gold medals in the Olympics between 1928 and 1956. This is an Olympic feat not bettered in a team event apart from USA's basketball teams. 

1960 Rome Olympics | Medals

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

India reached double digits in their Olympic medal tally but it wasn't a gold in men's hockey as expected, with a Balbir Singh Sr. - less India losing to Pakistan in the final.

1964 Tokyo Olympics | Medals

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

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

1968 Mexico City Olympics | 1 Medals

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

The Indian men's hockey team failed to reach the final for the first time in the last eight Olympics, losing in the semifinal to Australia and then beating West Germany to win bronze.

Also Read: 10 athletes to watch out for at Paris Olympics 2024

1972 Munich Olympics | 1 Medal

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

India made it 10 consecutive medals for the men's hockey team, as well as the nation, which went medal-less in 1976. A loss to Pakistan in the semifinal was followed by a win over Netherlands to win bronze.

1980 Moscow Olympics | 1 Medal

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

The Indian men's hockey team returned to the summit, after a catastrophic 1976 Olympics and won gold. It would be Indian hockey's last medal until the bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

1996 Atlanta Olympics | 1 Medal

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

Leander Paes did the work of getting the country, which was very enthusiastic about hockey, interested in tennis. In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Paes made it to the semi-finals and there he had to face defeat against Andre Agassi. The bronze medal won by Paes is India's first and only Olympic medal which has come from tennis. This medal came after returning empty-handed from 3 consecutive Olympics.

2000 Sydney Olympics | 1 Medal

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

Karnam Malleswari is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. She won a bronze medal in weightlifting in the 2000 Olympics. In this event, she lifted a weight of 240 kg.

2004 Athens Olympics | 1 Medal

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

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is the first Indian to win a silver medal in shooting. He is also the first Indian to win an individual silver medal. He achieved this feat in 2004.

2008 Beijing Olympics | 3 Medals

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

• Vijender Singh - Bronze - Men's middleweight boxing

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

Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in shooting in the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing. He became the first player to win an individual Olympic gold for India.

2012 London Olympics | 6 Medals

• 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)

India doubled their best-ever tally at the Olympics, with six medals taking their overall tally to 26. Saina Nehwal won India's first-ever badminton medal, with five-time world champion Mary Kom becoming the first Indian woman to win a boxing medal (only because this was the first edition of women's boxing at the Olympics). Sushil Kumar also became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals.

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics | 2 Medals

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

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

India were swiftly brought back down to earth after the success of London, with only two medals in Brazil. PV Sindhu won her first Olympic medal, while Sakshi Malik became the first (and till date, only) Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal.

Also Read: How many sports will there be at the Paris Olympics 2024? Which are the new ones?

2020 Tokyo Olympics | 7 Medals

• 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

The Covid-affected Tokyo Olympics proved to be India's most successful ever, with seven medals taking India's overall tally to 35 medals. 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. Neeraj Chopra won the nation's first-ever gold medal in Athletics (and only the second individual gold ever by an Indian).

2024 Paris Olympics | 6 Medals

• Silver - Neeraj Chopra - 2024 Paris - Athletics men’s Javelin throw
• Bronze - Manu Bhaker - 2024 Paris - Shooting women’s 10m air pistol
• Bronze - Manu Bhaker - 2024 Paris - Shooting 10m air pistol mixed team
• Bronze - Sarabjot Singh - 2024 Paris - Shooting 10m air pistol mixed team
• Bronze - Swapnil Kusale - 2024 Paris - Shooting men’s 50m rifle 3 positions
• Bronze - Men’s Hockey Team - 2024 Paris - Men’s field hockey
• Bronze - Aman Sehrawat - 2024 Paris - Wrestling men’s 57kg freestyle

The Paris Olympics 2024 proved to be India's second joint most successful ever, with six medals taking India's overall tally to 41 medals. Manu Bhaker brought two bronze medals home, one in individual event and one in mixed event with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol. Swapnil Kusale also won bronze in shooting, winning in the Men's 50m rifle 3 positions. 

The Indian Men's Hockey Team also won bronze and held their postiion at the top in terms of winning the most medals at the hockey event at the Olympics. Neeraj Chopra couldn't bring gold home this time but clinched a silver medal to extend India's medal tally. India were missing out on the Wrestling and Aman Sehrawat filled that gap by winning the fifth bronze medal for India at the Paris Olympics.

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.

The 29th edition of the BWF World Championships 2025, officially known as the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025, was held from 25th to 31st August 2025 at the Adidas Arena, Paris, France. This was the first time since 2010 that Paris hosted the championship. The tournament featured 383 competitors from 53 nations and witnessed historic victories across categories.

SHI Yu Qi of China won his first-ever World Championship crown, defeating defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the men's singles final. His earlier notable achievement was a runner-up finish at the 2018 BWF World Championships.

Also Read: Best Indian Performances in Olympic History

On the other hand, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi clinched her third World Championship title in the women's singles category, defeating China’s CHEN Yu Fei. She previously won in 2021 and 2022, and now equals Spain’s Carolina Marin’s record of three titles.

South Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae won their first Men’s Doubles World Championship title, defeating Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi of China. Seo Seung Jae had earlier secured Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles in the 2023 BWF World Championships.

In the women’s doubles, Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China won their maiden world title by defeating Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan. This marks China’s 24th Women’s Doubles title out of 29 editions.

Meanwhile, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei created history by defeating China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin in the mixed doubles.

BWF World Championships 2025: India's Performance

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were the only medal winners in the championship. They won the bronze medal in men’s doubles after losing to China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi in the semifinals. Earlier in the event, they assured India a medal by defeating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (two-time Olympic medallists). This was their second World Championship medal after the 2022 bronze, extending India’s medal streak since 2011.

On the other hand, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu lost to Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the quarter finals and failed to achieve her 6th championship medal. Sindhu remains India’s most successful shuttler, with 5 BWF World Championship medals, including India’s only gold in 2019 (Basel, Switzerland).

Also Read: 10 Indian Women Who Made Olympic History

BWF World Championships 2025: Meda Tally

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has made it to the quarter-finals of the BWF World Championships after she knocked out World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China in straight games in the women's singles round of 16 match on Thursday.

Also Read: India’s Next Badminton Superstar: The Rising Stars to Watch in 2025

PV Sindhu (WR: 15) wins against Wang Zhi Yi (WR: 2) in STRAIGHT GAMES! 😱

She will face Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani in the quarter-finals 💪

➡️ Read more: https://t.co/qaC42cLT79 pic.twitter.com/fUHmek1DlX

— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) August 28, 2025

Sindhu dominates against World No. 2

Sindhu maintained her dominance against Wang Zhi Yi. She defeated Wang for the third time in the 5th head to head match. Sindhu was the underdog against Wang, who was coming off a title triumph at the China Open last month.

World No. 15 Sindhu won the first game by a margin of 21-19 after a tough fight. After winning the first game, Sindhu took a lead of 12-6 in the second game as well. She maintained this lead and won the match by winning the second game by a margin of 21-15. 

Sindhu continued her perfect run in the tournament

With this win, PV Sindhu continued her perfect run in the tournament. She has not dropped a single game in her three matches so far. The two-time Olympic medallist is now just one win away from securing her sixth World Championships medal.

For Sindhu, this victory also marks her first quarter-final appearance at the World Championships since her title-winning run six years ago. It also sends a strong message to rivals that the seasoned campaigner is far from done on the big stage.

Also Read: Puma ropes in PV Sindhu as brand ambassador

Sindhu to face Wardani in the quarters

Sindhu will now take on World No. 9 Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia in the last eight. Sindhu has faced her four times and won twice.

The 23-year-old Wardani has been in good form this year, having won 27 matches and lost only 12 games. Sindhu, on the other hand, has lost 12 games in 2025 and won just nine. Wardani’s best performances this year have been third-place finishes at the Thailand Masters and Swiss Open.

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.