India's performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a mixed bag of triumphs and heartbreaks. The country won six medals, including one silver and five bronze, placing them 71st in the medal tally.
This was a slight drop from the 48th position achieved in Tokyo 2020, where India won seven medals. While the medals brought joy, several near misses left fans longing for more.
The close finishes of many Indian athletes show both their potential and the need for continued support. In today's story with The SportingNews, let's take a look at Indian athletes who finished 4th in their respective competitions.
Which Indians came close to winning a medal at Paris Olympics 2024?
India saw several athletes come heartbreakingly close to winning medals, finishing just shy of the podium.
| S. No. | Athlete | Event |
| 1 | Manu Bhaker | 25m Sports Pistol |
| 2 | Arjun Babuta | 10m Air Rifle |
| 3 | Anantjeet Singh Naruka & Maheshwari Chauhan | Skeet Mixed Team |
| 4 | Ankita Bhakat & B. Dhiraj | Archery Mixed Team |
| 5 | Lakshya Sen | Badminton |
| 6 | Mirabai Chanu | Weightlifting |
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Additionally, boxers Nishant Dev and Lovlina Borgohain faced tough quarterfinal losses.
Which Indians won a medal at Paris Olympics 2024?
Despite the near misses, there were several reasons to celebrate. India's six medal winners made the country proud.
| Athlete | Event | Medal |
| Neeraj Chopra | Javelin Throw | Silver |
| Manu Bhaker | 10m Air Pistol Individual & Mixed Team | Bronze |
| Sarabjot Singh | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team | Bronze |
| Swapnil Kusale | 50m Rifle 3-Position | Bronze |
| Aman Sehrawat | Wrestling | Bronze |
| Indian Men's Hockey Team | Hockey | Bronze |
A major disappointment came with the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat. After reaching the women’s 50kg final by defeating Olympic champion Yui Susaki, Phogat was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in.
She appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The final decision from CAS will determine if India’s medal count can match the seven medals won in Tokyo.
India’s six medals in Paris matched the country’s second-best Olympic finish, achieved in London 2012.
The heartbreaks and close calls should serve as motivation to further develop and support sports in India. With the country eyeing a bid for the 2036 Olympics, lessons from Paris 2024 can guide India’s journey towards becoming a leading sporting nation.